Here is a feel good story for all the Elk lovers out there. Notice it was a Nevada rancher who spotted the elk and called Fish and Game. Thanks to my buddy “S&P” from Jesse’s Hunting pages for bringing this to my attention.

RENO, Nev. (AP) — It’s not all checking hunting and fishing licenses. Sometimes the issues are bigger. Like when a Nevada game warden was Handed the chore of figuring out how to separate two bull elk who locked horns while sparring and couldn’t untangle them.

The saga began Nov. 21 when a rancher in Reese River Valley spotted the two elk.

Read the rest of this entry »

California is one of the three lower 48 states that is home to the Columbian Blacktail Deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus). It is one of three species of deer in California as recognized by the California Bowhunters Big Game Club (Blacktail, Pacific Hybrid and Mule Deer)
Following is a listing of the counties in California and the species of deer present there. If you are coming to California in pursuit of the grey ghost of the west coast, then you should be sure that you are within the boundaries set by the record keeping organization. It should be noted that the blacktail deer is found in 24 of the 55 counties in California. Some counties such as Colusa, Glenn, Fresno,  Tehama, Siskyou, Sacramento, and Stanislaus may have Mule Deer in them as well. While we know that deer don’t read and follow maps very well, where a deer is taken determines its species. (For record keeping purposes anyway.)

There is a map at the bottom of the county list for your reference. 

ALAMEDA- Blacktail deer
ALPINE- Mule deer
BUTTE- Mule deer
COLUSA- Mule/Blacktail deer.
Deer taken east of the Sacramento River are mule deer. Deer taken west of the Sacramento River are blacktail deer.
CONTRA COSTA- Blacktail deer
DEL NORTE- Blacktail deer
FRESNO- Mule/Blacktail deer
Deer taken east of highway 99 are mule deer. Deer taken west of highway 99 are blacktail deer.
GLENN- Mule/Blacktail deer
Deer taken east of the Sacramento River are mule deer. Deer taken west of the Sacramento river are blacktail deer.
HUMBOLT- Blacktail deer
IMPERIAL- Mule/Pacific Hybrid deer
Deer taken east of highway 86 are mule deer. Deer taken west of highway 86 are pacific hybrid deer
INYO- Mule deer
KERN- Mule/Pacific Hybrid deer
Deer taken east of highway 99 and east of Interstate 5 are mule deer. Deer taken west of highway 99 and Interstate 5 are pacific hybrid deer.
KINGS- Pacific Hybrid deer
LAKE- Blacktail deer
LASSEN- Mule deer
LOS ANGELES- Mule/Pacific Hybrid deer
Deer taken north of highway 138 and east of Interstate 5 and east of highway 14 are mule deer. Deer taken south of highway 138 and west of Interstate 5 and west of highway 14 are pacific hybrid deer.
MADERA- Mule/Pacific Hybrid deer
Deer taken north of highway 152 and east of highway 99 are mule deer. Deer taken south of highway 152 and west of highway 99 are pacific hybrid deer.
MARIN- Blacktail deer
MARIPOSA- Mule deer
MENDOCINO- Blacktail deer
MERCED- Mule/Pacific Hybrid deer
Deer taken north of highway 152 are mule deer. Deer taken south of highway 152 are pacific hybrid deer
MODOC- Mule deer
MONO- Mule deer
MONTEREY-Pacific Hybrid deer
NAPA- Blacktail deer
NEVADA- Mule deer
ORANGE- Pacific Hybrid deer
PLACER- Mule deer
PLUMAS- Mule deer
RIVERSIDE- Mule/Pacific Hybrid deer
Deer taken north of Interstate 10 and east of highway 86 are mule deer. Deer taken south of Interstate 10 and west of highway 86 are pacific hybrid deer
SACRAMENTO-Mule/Blacktail deer
Deer taken north of walnut grove and east of the Sacramento River are mule deer. Deer taken west of the Sacramento River and south of Walnut Grove are blacktail deer
SOLANO-Blacktail deer
SAN BENITO- Pacific Hybrid deer
SAN BERNARDINO- Mule/Pacific Hybrid deer
Deer taken north of highway 138 and east of highway 15 and north of Interstate 10 are mule deer. Deer taken south of highway 138 and west of highway 15 and south of interstate 10 are pacific hybrid deer
SAN DIEGO-Pacific Hybrid deer
SAN FRANCISCO- Blacktail deer
SAN JOAQUIN- Mule/Blacktail deer
Deer taken east of the Mokelumne River and east of the San Joaquin River are mule deer. Deer taken west of the Mokelumne River and west of the San Joaquin River are blacktail deer
SAN LUIS OBISPO-Pacific Hybrid deer
SAN MATEO- Blacktail deer
SANTA BARBARA- Pacific Hybrid deer
SANTA CLARA-Blacktail deer
SANTA CRUZ- Blacktail deer
SHASTA- Mule/Blacktail deer
Deer taken north 299 and east of the Sacramento River are mule deer. Deer taken south of highway 299 and west of the Sacramento River are blacktail deer.
SIERRA- Mule deer
SISKIYOU- Mule/Blacktail deer
Deer taken east of R8W and south of the Klamoth River and east of Scott River Rd and east of highway 3 are mule deer. Deer taken west of R9W and north of the klamath river and west of Scott River Rd and west of highway 3 are blacktail deer
SONOMA- Blacktail deer
STANISLAUS- Mule/Blacktail deer
Deer taken east of the San Joaquin River are mule deer. Deer taken west of the San Joaquin River are blacktail deer
SUTTER- Mule deer
TEHAMA- Mule/Blacktail deer
Deer taken east of the Sacramento River are mule deer. Deer taken west of the Sacramento River are blacktail deer
TRINITY- Mule/Blacktail deer
Deer taken east of highway 3 and north of highway 299 are mule deer. Deer taken west of highway 3 and south of highway 299 are blacktail deer
TULARE- Mule/Pacific Hybrid deer
Deer taken east of highway 99 are mule deer. Deer taken west of highway 99 are pacific hybrid deer
TUOLUMNE- Mule deer
VENTURA- Pacific Hybrid deer
YOLO- Blacktail deer
YUBA- Mule deer

I recently expanded my Hi Mountain Jerky Cure and Seasoning repertoire with an order from Sage Creek Outfitters. Since I had made 11 pounds of jerky previously the procedure was much the same as before.
Materials and methods:
Ingredients:
Hi Mountain Jerky Cure mix
Hi Mountain Jerky Seasoning mix – Original Flavor
Hi Mountain Jerky seasoning mix- Garlic and Black Pepper
Ground Bull elk meat (ground meat uses a higher level of cure and seasoning)
Treatments (1 pound of meat per batch)
Batch 1: Original Flavor Seasoning
Batch 2: Garlic and Pepper Seasoning
I mixed each of the batches of ground elk meat with the cure, water and seasonings according to directions. The seasoned meat then spent the night in the refrigerator. The next day, I rolled the meat mixture out between 2 sheets of waxed paper, and cut it into strips about 2 inches wide, and ¼ inch thick. Getting those strips onto the drying racks of the dehydrator was tough but by the third batch, I had the knack. Hi Mountain has a “Jerky Shooter” that would have made this easier. The jerky dried in the dehydrator for around 8 hours and I removed it when the strips were a rubbery texture, and stored them in the refrigerator in Ziploc bags.
Results: The original flavor is a no nonsense jerky mix that is mild and suitable for people who are not fans of particularly spicy or flavorful foods. My daughters and wife deemed it the best with no complaints about burning mouths or excess salty taste. If you aren’t sure about the tastes of other folks in jerky, this is a safe bet all the time.
The Garlic-Pepper variety is one of my favorites. There is a hint of heat in the seasoning, but it is not overpowering. The Garlic is noticeable and tasty, while the pepper gives it a little extra kick to keep the salivary glands working. I had no complaints from my family or coworkers after eating so I think the garlic flavor level is safe for polite company. If you are concerned, then make sure those around you get a piece of jerky to prevent their complaint of garlic breath!
Some notes on Jerky in General:
Ground meat jerky is a great way to use your lean ground meat. When dried, it holds together well, and doesn’t splinter like sliced whole muscle cuts. I expected my jerky to be crumbly, but the opposite was true, it held together well and traveled great.
Ground Meat Jerky requires a higher addition of Cure and Seasoning. A package of the Hi Mountain product will make 15 pounds of whole meat sliced jerky, but only 11 pounds of ground meat jerky.

Living in California, we are cognisant of the Pacific Crest Trail. In fact it runs through much of the country that I have hunted and worked in. It it kind of strange to be on a narrow road in Shasta County and see yellow bootprints (that designate the trail) crossing the highway in the middle of nowhere. I look forward to experiencing this trail as well as the continental divide trail some day. It seems that there is an enthusiastic group of young people who will ensure that the trail will continue to be there for years to come.

Pine, Colorado - Engaging young people in the completion of the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) is the best way to ensure its long-term protection and to create the next generation of public land stewards. The participants in the Continental Divide Trail Alliance’s (CDTA) 2007 Youth Corps program spent more than two months out on the CDT, working on very remote sections of the Trail and sharing a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

This year, 50 crew members between the ages of 18 and 24 lived and worked on the Trail in New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming and Montana. The crews built or reconstructed more than 57 miles of the CDT, including the installation of 1,413 linear feet of rock cribbing, 84 drainage structures, 20 signs and 200 feet of turnpike.

Working with our partner conservation corps organizations, the CDT is the only trail to have its own dedicated youth corps. During the 10-week program, the crews spent much of their time in the backcountry, helping to complete the CDT through trail building and repair projects. Crews learned valuable leadership and teamwork skills, as well as gained advanced knowledge of Leave No Trace outdoor ethics, wilderness living principles and trail construction techniques.

Joining Rocky Mountain Youth Corps and Southwest Conservation Corps as a partner organization for the fifth year of this program was Bozeman-based Montana Conservation Corps. This partnership will give the CDTA increased trail building opportunities in Big Sky Country.

Outdoor gear and apparel company Recreational Equipment, Inc (REI) provided the initial grant to start CDTA Youth Corps in 2002 and has been a major sponsor ever since. “We are committed to increasing the participation by young people in outdoor recreation so that they lead healthy lives, and preparing them to be our nation’s future environmental stewards,” saidKevin House, REI Retail Director and board member of CDTA. “The CDTA Youth Corps combines engaging youth with the national goal of completing the CDT.”

To engage the public about the CDT and the Youth Corps, crew members made more than 25 presentations to local communities, school groups, libraries, service organizations, and public forums. For more information about CDTA’s Youth Corps Program, please contact Field Operations Manager Teresa Martinez at (303) 838-3760 or teresa@cdtrail.org.

____________

The Continental Divide Trail was established by Congress as a National Scenic Trail in 1978. When complete, the “King of Trails” will be the most significant trail system in the world. Stretching 3,100 miles along the backbone of America from Canada to Mexico, it accesses some of the most wild and scenic places left in the world while conserving the environment and promoting personal well being.

Since 1995, the Continental Divide Trail Alliance has played a central role toward the completion, management and protection of the Trail and it is the voice for unity in the diverse story of the Trail.

For more information about the Continental Divide Trail, call (303) 838-3760 or toll-free (888) 909-CDTA (2382). Or visit www.cdtrail.org .

There are a number of ways to get your down elk out of the hills and back to camp.  Since elk live in big country, horses are a big part of our hunting success.  We can get to our daylight lookouts before dawn and let our mounts pick their way back to camp in the dark.  We conserve our energy for hunting, and we cover lots of ground a-foot and a-horseback. 

 Here is a brief discussion of the various ways you can get your elk out on horseback.

What we had luck with this year was to hitch the sawed quarters on to the riding saddles.  For this task I recommend 50 feet of 3/8 ” kernmantle rope (braided).  It doesn’t stretch, and has all the strength we needed to do the job.  It rode in my back pack wtithe intent being to hang quarters over night if needed.  I would recommend that horseback hunters just keep this in their saddle bag for this very reason.  Below is a front quarter with a Basket hitch (which hold the quarter up), and a crows foot (which goed to the Cinch and puts tension on the load.  Then we finished off with a Trucker hitch over the seat of the saddle to pull the tops together.

On the Rear Quarters, we were able to use 100 feet of Parachute cord to sling them in a Barrel Hitch.  This is known as “Makin’ do with what ‘cha got!”
 

All of these hitches were designed for a pack saddle, but we adapted them to a riding saddle.

Saddle Panniers

These are popular with folks who don’t feel comfortable using rope slings.  The idea is that you ride out with the panniers tied behind the cantle and then when needed, the one piece panniers fit over the seat of the saddle with cut outs for the cantle and horn

On a Pack Horse with Panniers

Special Care must be taken when when packing out antlers on horseback.  If the antlers are sufficiently wide, the main beam may be pointed down as this points the tines back.  With a more narrow rack, the antlers need to be kept above the horses hips to prevent the tips from poking your steed and sparking a rodeo (as shown in the saddle pannier photo).

Either way you choose to pack out your meat on horseback, I guarantee you will be singing the praises of your pack stock a few miles down the trail!

For more information on the topic, check out these titles, available at your local bookstore or at Amazon.com

Horses, Hitches, and Rocky Trails, by Joe Back

Packin’ in on Mules and horses by Smoke Elser and Bob Brown

Horse packing in pictures 

I don’t remember what the actual date was I killed my first blacktail. I think it was in August of 1986. However it was memorable. It was in California’s A zone. I was 12 years old, and I was hunting with a Winchester model 64 in 25-35 with Buck horn sights.

We were hunting a canyon that emptied out into a creek that flowed from a large reservoir. I was stationed on a rise with a saddle on either side of me. My grandfather was a couple saddles over from me. When he dropped me off, he pointed out where the shoot and no-shoot zones were. There were other guys pushing through the brush so I had to choose my shots where I was shooting into the hill as a backstop, and not into the canyon.

As soon as the drivers got to the top of the canyon I could here the men and dogs working down the side of the canyon opposite me. Occasionally a dog would bump out a deer and you could hear the deer bouncing through the brush headed down the canyon with a dog or two in pursuit. Through my bino’s I could occasionally catch a glimpse of hunters pushing through the thick chemise. I watched the dogs as they darted through the openings, testing the air currents. After an hour or two, the line of drivers was below my stand position. I couldn’t hear the people below me since they were down below the curve of the hill, and the folks cross-canyon had moved under thick cover of pepperwoods.

I heard the brush in the bottom of the saddle on my right start popping and saw the top of the 8 ft tall brush moving. I watched the branches rattle for 200 yards as the path of the disturbance moved up towards the top of the saddle to my right, 50 yards away. As the brush got lower, I could see a buck had snuck back through the line of drivers and was sneaking out as quiet as he could “out the back door” that I was stationed on.

All I could see was his head and neck. So I raised my rifle, eased the hammer back, and steadied the quivering bead that was wavering between his nose and ear. Suddenly he stopped as he saw me out of the corner of his eye, just as I squeezed the trigger. He froze in place, as the rifle roared, he disappeared in the brush.

I think I sat there and shook for 30 seconds before I stood up on shaky legs and began walking down the slope to the brush patch where I could see the patch of hide in the brush. I had hit the buck below the ear, breaking his neck instantly. He had fallen stone dead with his head under his body. When I grabbed his antler to pull his head out, the air still in his lungs was released and he gave a “BLAAAT” as I pulled on his head. It startled me so much that I jumped back confused. Pretty soon I could hear the other folks on stands laughing as they watched the scene through binoculars from their vantage points on the other side of the canyon.

Before long, my grandfather was there patting me on the back, and he helped me pull the buck out of the brush into a clear spot where we could open him up and eviscerate him. I admired my buck, a small fork, and relished the feeling of accomplishment, and a beginning of my hunting career.

 Solo Hunters who go hunting and don’t come back are rare, but stories like this one from the BC Hunting Blog about missing hunter Tom Leonard make you pause when you contemplate a solo venture.

Emergency plan - Leave this with someone at home, or the base camp if you are spiking out alone.  The info necessary includes:

• When You plan to return, and especially, when they should begin to worry.  On a weekend hunt I tell my wife, that I will contact her with a status report by midnight sunday night.  After that, she can call the Search and Rescue.
• Where  you are going.  I leave a map with the name and trailhead I’m going in at.  I also circle the approximate area I will be hunting, and I don’t go beyond that since any search attempts will concentrate on those areas.  I  leave her a copy of the National Forest map with the locations marked of where I will park my truck, and if I am exiting a different location, where that will be.
• How Long You will be gone.  How long you will have supplies for. How long to wait before your contact should start to worry.
• Who to contact if the contact does not hear from you.  That would include the local Sheriff’s department (who coordinate the S&R efforts), The District Ranger station, and other people who are familiar withthe area and would know where I would be hunting and perhaps hurt. 

Emergency supplies -

Should be on your person.  Not on your horse or in your pack.  It is too easy to drop your pack for a stalk and end up a mile away from shelter and first aid supplies.  Likewise, if your horse dumps you and runs off to the trailhead, you don’t want to be afoot, unarmed with no way to make a fire, or shelter yourself

• Fire Supplies Not only for staying warm, but signalling for help from passing aircraft, and search parties.  a column of smoke will catch the eye for miles on a clear day. 
  Fire starter - Fire sticks, or cotton balls soaked in Vaselline, pine pitch knots,
  Matches - Strike anywhere, waterproof
  Waterproof Matchcase with whistle, compass, mirror and flint
  
  
• Flint and Steel or other sparking firestarter 
  
• Candle
• A Kotex pad - This can stop bleeding and also will serve as tinder for fire starting.
• Space blanket -
  
• Duct Tape - a milion uses and counting. 
• Parachute cord
• A knife with a sturdy blade
• 
  Other Items that make an unexpected night out more bearable
• water treatment drops
• high energy bars

All of these Items can be put in a fanny pack or in a lightweight vest. Some people store their emergency kit in a Nalgene container.

Primos makes vests for both rifle hunters and archery hunters that have numerous pockets to keep survival materials in.  REMEMBER ON YOUR PERSON!  It could save your life.

My recent posts about my 2 week pilgrimage to Elk Country has raised some questions from my readers, so I thought I would respond to those I’ve received so far.

How many miles did you travel?  How long did that take?

I drove about 2400 miles total in my 2001 GMC Crew Cab who I affectionately call “Mighty Whitey”.  I made it to Oregon Elk Camp (550 miles) in 10 Hours.  From Eastern Oregon to Western Wyoming was a 2 part trip, but was a total of 14 .5 hours and 650 miles.  The return trip through Nevada was 940 miles. 

What did your bull score?

When I scored him in camp he was 259 before deductions for symmetry.  He netted 241.  That is still bigger than my 2006 Oregon Archery bull.

How much meat did you get?

I delivered 4 quarters totalling 360 pounds to the plant.  I got back nearly 250 pounds of boneless steaks, roasts, and ground meat.

What did you do with the meat? 

The meat I had custom cut and wrapped in Jackson by JH processing, a division of Cowboy natural meats.

What rifle, scope cartridge and caliber were you using?

I shot my bull with a Ruger Model 77 .300 Winchester Magnum.  Ammunition was a Federal Premium factory load with 180 grain Nosler Partition Bullets.

What was the weather like?

We had everything from sun to rain, sleet, snow, hail, and wind. The coldest was in the morning just before sunrise. It was as cold as 19 degrees, and as warm as 65 degrees.

What did you wear on your elk hunt?

In a situation like that layering is essential. I always wore Under Armour Cold Gear as my base layer. I wore Merino wool blend socks from wigwam, and REI. I wore Cabelas Microtex pants and shirt. I also had good results with a Woolrich wool shirt and Army surplus wool pants. For insulation I had a Cabelas Jacket, under Rain Suede Raingear, when I needed it, from Cabela’s. On my feet I had either uninsulated Danner Quarry boots or Hoffman 14″ pacs with 200gram Thinsulate liners. For my hands and head, I wore heatmax gloves, a polar fleece beanie or a Sage Creek outfitters ball cap.

Where were you hunting?

My typical Answer is “Up No Tellum Creek. For the exact location the person who can point it out is named Helen Hunt. If you REALLY want to know, go to Helen Hunt.” By the way that is a smart aleck answer for folks that are prying, trying to find out my “honey hole”.
But let it suffice to say Western Wyoming.

Idaho has three general-season deer tags in 2008. You can hunt
only in the units specified for that tag. A nonresident deer tag may
be used to take black bear or mountain lion where a deer season and
bear/lion season are both open. The tag cannot be used for deer after
it is used to tag a bear or mountain lion. All tags are available on
a first-come, first-served basis on December 1 at midnight, except
nonresident Selway B elk tags which are available December 1 at 10
a.m. mountain time.
SOUTHEAST DEER TAG: Southeast deer tags are only valid in
units 75, 76, 77 and 78. Sale begins on December 1 at noon mountain
time.
WHITE-TAILED DEER TAG: The white-tailed deer tag is valid
in any unit in Idaho except the Southeast units (75, 76, 77, and 78).
The white-tailed deer tag can be used to harvest a white-tailed deer
only and allows hunting opportunities in September, October, and
November hunts. If you plan on hunting during the later November
white-tailed deer rut hunts, the white-tailed deer tag is the right tag.
REGULAR Deer Tag: The regular deer tag is valid in any unit
in Idaho except the Southeast units 75, 76, 77, and 78). The regular
deer tag can be used to harvest either white-tailed or mule deer and
is valid for any general hunt PRIOR to November 3. If you plan on
hunting during September or October, and prefer to hunt both whitetailed
and mule deer, a regular deer tag is the tag you will want to
purchase. Deer tags will likely be sold out before September.
Elk hunting
For general season elk hunting the state is divided into 29 zones. See
Big Game Rules for tag types. Nonresident Selway B elk tags go on
sale at 10 a.m. mountain time on December 1. All other nonresident
tags go on sale December 1 at midnight.
You may exchange your elk tag for one in another zone until the
opening of the first season for which your tag is valid. Cost is $3.75.
If you have purchased a tag, you may apply for a controlled hunt in
any zone and if you are drawn your tag will be exchanged for the
proper controlled hunt permit and tag. Elk tags will likely be sold out
before September.

Important Dates in 2008
Jan. 15–Feb. 15—Application period for wild turkey and spring black bear controlled hunts.
April 1-30—Application period for mountain goat, bighorn sheep, and moose controlled hunts.
May 1-June 5 — Application period for deer, elk, antelope and fall black bear controlled hunts.
June 15–July 15—Application period for sandhill crane and early Sept. Canada goose hunts.
December 1—Nonresident 2009 licenses and general season tags available.

To get the Hunting Rules and Regulations for 2008, you can go to the Idaho Fish and Game Website.

Below are some thumbnail photos of bucks killed in the 2006 Season, from coastal California.  It goes to show how large deer can get in the region.  Notice the dark antlers they both have.  These deer were both taken in a heavily treed, brushy canyon that burned in 2005. 

Click on the thumbnails to see the full size photos.

The buck on the left was shot by my friend Matt , a businessman from Petaluma, California.  Matt had missed the majority of the 2006 A zone season due to his wife delivering twins that July. It wasn’t until the last weekend of the season that he was able to make it out to the Marin County ranch for a hunt.
“I was getting like 2 hours of sleep a night, cause I’d be up with one baby, and then the other one would wake up…I’d get a little sleep and then I’d get up and go to work all day. I was a zombie.”

He managed to stay awake long enough to spot the buck coming over the ridge toward him. Matt said he saw the buck and knew he was going to shoot.  “I saw this buck and I say to myself ‘Hey he’s got good backs’, and I let him have it.”

Matt became overwhelmed after the shot.  Immediately he was physically sick to his stomach even after he saw the buck fall.  He lost his lunch again when he saw the size of the buck up close.  While Matt’s reaction to the big buck might surprise some, he forewarns his hunting partners before they go out hunting.

“You should have seen the guide’s face this one time in Wyoming.  I told him ‘Hey , now don’t be alarmed if I puke after I shoot at a buck.  It’s just something I do.’”  Matt’s hunting partners have gotten used to it.   They just don’t stand next to him if a buck shows up…

The buck on the right was shot by my neighbor Frank, a builder from outside of Petaluma.  When his son skinned the buck, he suggested to his father that he have a shoulder mount done.  Frank dismissed the idea.  The antlers hung in the garage until this May when his son surreptisiously took them and a cape from another deer to the taxidermist. He hung the finished shoulder mount on the wall before an evening get together at the deer club and stated “Let’s see how long it takes for him to notice it.”

When Frank arrived he studied the pair of bucks pretty closely, and it wasn’t until one of his friends asked him if the big fork looked familiar that the light went on.

“I think I know that buck.” Frank said cautiously. When the rest of the crowd erupted in laughter, Frank’s son stepped forward and admitted his part in mounting the buck. Frank hadn’t even missed the skull hanging in the shop. He admitted that it was a good taxidermy job, and that the buck did indeed look good.

Both of these bucks go to show that while neither will make the Boone and Crockett book, that a mature blacktail deer is certainly a trophy to be proud of.  Both bucks weighed over 150 pounds field dressed. The combination of age and high quality browse regrowth after a fire both contributed to the great size of body and antlers for both of these bucks.