Black-tailed deer!

[VictoryHunter]

Today I got my first good up close look at a pair of blacktail bucks. This video is of the larger of the two. Does anyone know when they start growing their antlers because this one seems to have a pretty well formed rack already? I have some good private land to hunt on and a few spots on public I want to try.  I'm so excited for the season to open!

   

   

   

   

   

[VictoryHunter]

Here is a better view of the width and he has pretty good little eye guards as well. He's a shooter in my book!

 

 

[Outwest]

Nice buck.
Watch out for the neighbors car when you shoot him.

John

[Pheonixarcher]

Wow! Our whitetails are just in the beginning stages of antler growth up here. When does your season open?

[Mike Mecredy]

I grew up jusdt on the western edge of Yosemite, I notice the buck up ther had already started growing them as early as mid march. They grow pretty fast, but they also have velvet on them a long time.  I've seen them with velvet as late as early September up there.  I used to hunt the D-6 zone, lots of public land up there.

[VictoryHunter]

Archery season opens July 13th! I know I'm used to watching them grow all summer back home in TN. Well it should be an interesting season as this is my first time chasing these deer. Thanks for the info Mike!

[Thumper Dunker]

That buck might get 3-5" taller. Coastal black tails go into rut real early.

[VictoryHunter]

Wow! So he will end up being a really solid buck. That is a shame. The closest place I can hunt is a little over an hour away    :mad:

[Bivyhunter]

Those bucks are really far along for how early it is, even for A zone! I saw a nice buck a couple of weeks ago and it was just balling up where it was going to fork. Those bucks look like it is the end of June.

[petalumapete]

Ah, heck. thats just a baby. those little bucks running around Monterey are like park deer.

Just kidding! I remember you posting before you moved wanting to know where to find Black Tails around Monterey.

Well I guess ya found em. An hour away? ya should be able to find hunting alot closer. There's a lot of BLM land close by. Also if you go north around the Santa Cruz hills there are a ton of places.

Scout early. try knocking on a few doors and ask permission. I usally start early take it slow and easy if I don't know the land owner. I try to feel em out and offer to help out around the place in trade for hunting or share whatever I get. I even go as far as pointing out that by thinning the herd it helps keep them out of the wifes rose bushes.

[VictoryHunter]

Yeah that was my thought exactly! Pretty neat though. This is my first experience with anything other than whitetails. Haha, awesome I can't wait to see what an adult looks like!!! Really? I haven't been able to find anything at least online. petalumapete do think you could PM me some names of places to check out that are close by? I suppose my next step should be to contact the DNR here also and see where I can hunt.

[petalumapete]

Try Fort Hunter Liggett
Southern Monterey county
130,000 acres open for hunting on weekends and holidays.
You can google it to get the info.

[wildwood]

I'm up here in No. Calif. Ive noticed when we go over to the Coast the bucks are definatly a little ahead of the ones around here. Our season here starts in mid Aug. Its toughh hunting when the temps are 90-100%. This year I'm trying some thing new, I recently got a Guidos Web, and been playing with it.