E-mail your ASK BOWHUNTER inquiries to bowhunter_magazine@outdoorsg.com.
December 17, 2021
Query: As a nonresident, I wish to hunt whitetails out west, nevertheless it simply appears intimidating. Any recommendation you possibly can share on learn how to make the expertise definitely worth the effort. Chuck Shaw, by way of e-mail
Reply: Western whitetails actually are the “forgotten deer,” and it’s good to see touring bowhunters keen to provide them a attempt. Though most Western hunters are likely to focus their consideration on mule deer and elk, there’s no scarcity of whitetails both — and there are many locations to search out them. That stated, something you do with a stick and string out west takes planning, preparation, and even a bit of luck should you anticipate to strike gold.
Step one is deciding the place to go. With pockets of whitetails present in Colorado and Wyoming, in addition to in Montana, Idaho, and Washington, choosing a spot can look like a frightening process. Nonetheless, should you’re making your resolution based mostly on sheer alternative, Idaho, Washington, and northwest Montana are arduous locations to beat. These usually are not your typical whitetails. They dwell in big-timber nation that always requires a unique strategy. Nonetheless, deer numbers are stable on this Northwest stronghold, with some huge bucks besides. Better of all, most alternatives are discovered on public floor. Whereas Montana tags are solely provided by way of an annual draw, each Idaho and Washington have over-the-counter choices.
Arguably, probably the most intimidating side of Western whitetails is the sheer vastness of the nation through which they name dwelling. With deer densities various from area to area, focusing on a selected buck and discovering high quality stand places can show tough should you haven’t carried out your homework. Half the battle is understanding the when, the place, and what the whitetails are doing throughout your deliberate hunt, and that in the end takes intel. Meals sources, journey patterns, and bedding cowl might be wide-ranging in comparison with the smaller woodlots in Center America. While you additionally throw within the potential for important climate adjustments, migration patterns will also be an element. That stated, in the case of scouting, it’s best to take a extra macro strategy and let your eyes do many of the work.
Like all good Western hunt, spending time behind your glass in search of little particulars is all the time an amazing begin. Be aware of terrain options they’re transferring by way of, whereas additionally pinpointing particular areas inside these options they have a tendency to make use of most. Cowl is commonly dense within the conifer hills of the Northwest, so discovering clearcuts, burns, and small openings deer are spending time in is vital. Having a great trail-camera technique round these places may also help slim down good stand places.
Apart from patterning an early season buck, the November rut is the most effective time to go west. Not like Midwest whitetail areas, these mountain bucks have extra room to roam and locations to cover, they usually are likely to reap the benefits of it. Though this typically means seeing much less exercise total, it will also be an enormous benefit for the hunter keen to make use of rattling and calling sequences, in addition to laying some estrous and buck scents. Identical to in every single place else in the course of the rut, discover the women and also you’ll be into bucks. And with deer densities typically unfold out extra, breeding competitors is excessive, which suggests a extra outlined and lively rut. These bucks additionally rely closely on scent to establish scorching does, in addition to different bucks visiting the neighborhood, so guarding lively scrapes and rub traces can imply paydirt.
Lastly, dedication is probably probably the most priceless asset in the case of looking these big-timber Western bucks. They’ll take even probably the most seasoned bowhunter to the woodshed, they usually’ve carried out that to me greater than as soon as. That stated, having a decided angle and staying targeted will maintain you within the recreation each mentally and bodily.
