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DEER SLAM ROAD TRIP
THE SLAM YOU CAN AFFORD Story & Photos by Remi Warren
Although the goal of obtaining a sheep slam is almost impossible for the average hunter to afford, chasing a deer slam can be just as challenging and rewarding at a fraction of the cost. Deer are the most widely hunted big game species in North America. Their range extends from coast to coast with five species and numerous subspecies in between. The lower 48 is home to the whitetail, mule deer, Columbian blacktail, and the Coues deer. The fifth species, the Sitka blacktail, lives in Alaska. Many consider a deer slam to include four of the five species of deer. Completing a deer slam is possible without ever having to leave the west or pay outrageous guide fees that the average hunter can’t afford. As most hunters know, each deer species is so different, the habits and attributes of each one makes it its own challenge. Hunting mule deer is nothing like hunting whitetails, and if you throw in a blacktail or Coues deer to the mix you will have a completely new and exciting challenge ahead of you. It’s like your first deer hunt all over again. In order to be successful you will have to learn the varied habits
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Part 1: Columbian Blacktails
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of the different species and adjust your skill sets accordingly. hourhunters north of mypursue hometown, only an Some who the Cranbrook. Imagine, eighteen deer slam choose to havedriving their slam hours into the northern wilderness recorded through organizations such of B.C., hiking for for many, another and as SCI. However, thesixchance then watching whatdeer might be your to chase the different species is at nature. a legal It ram getpart shot oneonly of achance personal is in by aifman livesand in aintown to see it is who possible, partan to hour away from yours! experience what hunter’s across the nation call their native species of deer. nothave discouraged, As Disappointed hunters, most but of us a favorite Larry and I congratulated theinto pairthe deer species to chase, but to get ofand hunters and continued on,different hoping field see why hunters from that were in our future. parts ofbig therams country rave about their Two more species days passed withitsa weight lot of ram favorite is worth in sightings but nothing legal and the gas. hikinga mule was starting to put a heavyBeing deer fanatic wear Ion our feet andpartial knees.toOn the myself, figured I was calling day, the all pains were forgotten thefourth mule deer ultimate bow hunting when weByspotted pair ofenough rams, one challenge. sittingaaround easilycamps legal. IWe a long way off hunting waswere quick to learn and because of the wide-open almost every other hunter claimedterrain, thedeer stalk not as going to be worthy easy. their ofwas choice the most We kept moving forward, slow adversary. Being stubborn I had to and find With one the ram outeasy. for myself whoeye wasonright; was and it the hisdeer two hunter, eyes onthe us,whitetail we madehunter, our way mule a small hunter ridge about from theto blacktail or thehalfway Coues deer where the stalk had begun. We hunter? I made it a personal goal could tell the wastake getting nervous of mine to ram try and every North so Larry and I decided that we would American deer species with a bow. have already to shootharvested from where we were. Having a mule deer Larry ranged it and 468 yards was and whitetail the next on my list was determined distance. Both being thethe Columbian blacktail. confident that it was a makeable shot, Columbian Blacktail Hunt we flipped a coin to see who would shootHaving hunted blacktails while the other watched in the before with scope dismaland success, I was spotting directed gun fire if beginning to think the blacktail hunters the first shot missed. I was the lucky were right. My deer slam quest was winner, so with my .338 Winchester shaping up tojust be aover littletheharder mag held ram’sthan back, I expected. Looking for a hunt during squeezed the trigger. Following the theloud summer that wouldn’t conflict with crack, I quickly jacked another the seasons in Montana, I focused on hunting in California’s A- Zone. The July 14 opener had some real appeal. I researched the area and was pointed in the right direction by a friend. At the time July 14 seemed like the perfect time to hunt for deer, that is until you start hiking in the 110 degree heat all day. After a week of heat exhaustion, poison oak, and close but futile stalks over alarmingly loud dry grass and oak leaves, I was forced to surrender. I chose to head east to chase mule deer in Nevada for the August First opener. 20 • APR/MAY 2008 www.realhuntingmag.com
shell into the chamber but there was no need. Larry was yelling, “Nice shot, he’s down!”, and with that I had my first ram. What a great feeling to be rewarded with such a magnificent animal after all that hard work. The following December I got a call from a friend, Bruce Pelton. Bruce, an avid cat hunter, who knew I had some time off because of a short Christmas break, invited me to join him on a cat hunt. Never having cat hunted before, or having had the opportunity to hunt with dogs, I jumped at the idea. Bruce told me to be ready at three in the morning the following day and he would pick me up. The conditions couldn’t have been better, as we had received an inch or two of fresh snow overnight and this would make the task of finding fresh tracks a lot easier. After searching for only an hour we had found a track. Not a big track, but just knowing that a cat was in the area was exciting. We decided to mark it and continue on, knowing we could always come back if the rest of the morning turned up nothing. After the search for a bigger track turned dismal we returned to our first finding, unleashed the dogs and let them go to work. The hounds were eager to go but it seemed tough for them to pick up a scent and after circling for a good ten minutes we figured it was no use. We managed to get two dogs leashed, but the third and lead dog wouldn’t give up and as quick as you could blink he was gone! Bruce told me that his dog was onto
something and he could tell by the sound of his bark. We decided to let the other two dogs go and the chase was on. Just as we started to head in the direction the dog’s barks turned to howls and Bruce told me to hurry. He figured the dogs had treed something. When we got to the dogs they were at the base of a big fir tree barking, howling, and claiming victory over what was up the tree. It was not a small cat like we had expected but a really nice tom cat. Bruce asked me if I wanted him and without hesitation we were soon taking pictures of us, the dogs and this amazing tom. On the way home I jokingly said to Bruce, “Well, that was easy! Should we shoot another one tomorrow?” Bruce looked at me and said, “Ya know, you must be the luckiest hunter
alive, a nice tom cat on your first cat the pressures to shut down the spring hunt ever!” Indeed that was lucky, grizzly season by many activists, but as I would soon find out, my luck that this might be my one and only hadn’t run out yet. chance at one of these great creatures. It was January, and knowing that the It meant the pressure to find a good limited entry results for spring grizzly griz was unreal. Unable to hunt bear were to be posted that morning, during the week because of work, the I got up and immediately checked the first few weekends turned up nothing website. With odds of 50%, I wasn’t but black bears and the thought of getting my hopes up because I’d been not seeing any grizzlies haunted me. putting in for nine years without ever About halfway through the season, being drawn. I sat in front of the Matt and I both agreed we should computer in shock when I saw that check out a certain road closure that my number had been drawn. It felt had been known for its slide after won later the lottery. I quickly valleys, and we also wanted like I had A year I was back; this time slide hunting Northern called my good friend andfriend trusted to scout out for the upcoming elk California’s B- Zone with and blacktail guruit Ralph huntingRalph partner, withonthe season. hour of bike riding Sibley. hasMatt somePalmer, blacktails his wall that After wouldanmake goodthe news. was disappointed that drool, we came to the end even mostHe diehard mule deer hunters including one of the road and he hadn’t been drawn,monster. but excited continued foot on 6x4 Boone& Crocket Afterthat meeting up withonRalph wewhat was an old I had three been, hours because both knew trail. Itwewasn’t long after drove on we winding roads beforeoutfitter’s sun-up. There thatup wewith would be the grizzly hunting we encountered griz tracks. Knowing met Timnow Hurt, cattle rancher whose lease we would this spring on. andAfter that’sarriving what counted. there grizzlycamp in the area, we be hunting in our hunting areawas weaset-up The trophy buck and bear seen while scouting every slide in precise detail in a stand of oaks in hopes of getting awayglassed from the scorching TheAlthough winter of our 2003camp had remained brought shadedand wasn’t long sun. the it humidity madebefore we’d found some heavy snowfall and we knew our prize. About three hundred yards even the shade hotter than I was used to. access to the backcountry up the in front of us this meant While organizing my gear for thestraight next day’s huntslide a flock wasn’t to beinto easy. MattItand was were this magnificent creature, dark of quail going flew right camp. was like they there to tease I both knew they of several spots with a silver us, knowing couldn’t be we shot at untilbrown the following day. back. There was wanted to check concentrated one problem: Out of spite, I putand a blunt tip arrow in my only quiver daring themhe wasn’t a big RHM In order to be considered a true ontry south-facing slopestomorrow. which tend to evening, bear. as I remember thinking, he’s not to that stunt again That I scouted for blacktail the deer must be harvested west turnnext green earlier I knew, with40 yards bigofbut he sure is a pretty bear. Just the days hunt,on. I snuck within a bear feeding of I-5. Northern California is the leading on manzanita berries. We also spotted a nice 3x4 buck that was trophy producer of record book blacktails. decided to be the focus of the next morning’s hunt. Although the blacktail is similar to a I could have blamed my lack of sleep on the heat of the night, mule deer they have distinguishing but I knew it was my excitement that kept me awake. After characteristics that make them easy to seeing so much game the day before, the anticipation was tell apart. The blacktail, as it is named, like my first deer hunt all over again. With the ability to hunt has a black tail that covers the white deer, bear, and quail I knew I was going to have some kind of on its rear much like a whitetail. The shooting action on the first day. That morning Ralph and I set out on foot from camp average blacktail has an ear span of about in search of the buck we spotted the night before. I spotted 18 inches. they stand about 3-4 ft at the one buck early in the morning but he vanished into the shoulder and weigh anywhere from 100landscape like a ghost, his grey coat helped him blend into his 230 lbs. surroundings giving him time to slip away before I could even Pope & Young Minimum think about getting closer. We continued on around the mountain (typical) - 90 walking an old logging road until it disappeared into a deep (non-typical) - 125 wash. From there we continued on, picking our way through overgrown remnants of what seemed to be pieces of a skid road. Boone & Crocket Minimum We continued on through poison oak and brush until it turned (typical) - 135 into a single game trail that followed the steep ridgeline back to (non-typical) - 155 the top of the mountain. It was only ten o’clock in the morning and the suns rays seemed to almost burn us as we stepped out Side by Side Comparison from the shade. The extreme heat made us pour sweat, rendering my scent control products useless. As we intersected another < Mule Deer logging road toward the top of the mountain we decided to follow it back toward camp where the morning’s hunt began. Blacktail >
Columbian Blacktail Profile
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Photos: (left to right) The arrow that harvested the blacktail and a Nevada mule deer two weeks earlier Ralph Sibley helping blood trail the authors deer The steep descent down to the buck Meat hanging back at camp
As we walked I heard something run off from the bushes to my right. I quickly made a grunting noise and the animal stopped. The brush was so high I couldn’t see what it was. We waited a few minutes with no sound, then I could hear it walk off again. Once more I grunted, stopping whatever was behind the brush. We decided to start circling around in hopes of getting a look at what was there. As we moved I spotted the tail of a deer with its head down feeding. I slowly took off my pack and ranged the deer at 45 yards. As the deer picked up its head I could tell it was a buck. I whispered to Ralph to see what he thought. He said he was about 17 inches wide and it was up to me. Although he wasn’t as big as the deer we saw the night before he was a respectable blacktail and only forty-five yards away. I decided to not let my deer slam dream just slip off into the forest, I drew back and waited for the buck to turn broadside. As the buck turned he still offered no shot. There were too many limbs in-between the buck’s vitals and me. The deer continued to move on and quickly disappeared. I let down my draw and moved to cut him off. The buck continued walking down the game trail right in front of me. As the buck stepped out into the opening he stopped broadside to me, with his head and body behind a bush. I quickly ranged the deer, drew back and took two side steps to get a clear shot. I centered my forty yard pin on his chest and let the arrow fly. It was a perfect shot and the 22 • APR/MAY 2008 www.realhuntingmag.com
buck bolted off. The arrow made a complete pass-through and I was able to retrieve it intact (it was the same arrow I had used to harvest a 4x4 mule deer in Nevada two weeks earlier). We tracked the buck down to the bottom of a wash. It was so steep all I had to do was stand with my weight uphill and slide to the bottom. With all the excitement I had forgotten about how hot the day had been. I quickly skinned and quartered the deer and began to pack him out. We hung the meat in a tree at camp to help cool it down before putting it in the ice chest. The next few days were spent chasing quail and bears before all the ice completely melted out of the cooler. Not only did we get into covey after covey of birds but I found myself within 25 yards of three bigger bucks than the one I harvested. For hunters looking for an exhilarating challenge, chasing a deer slam especially with a bow gives you a new respect for all deer. I am quickly learning why every hunter has his favorite deer species and why each could claim their favorite is the most challenging. As you hunt the different species of deer you see how each one presents its own challenge and that in itself is reason enough to see if you can do it. A deer slam is a goal that isn’t so much about if a hunter can afford to pay top dollar like a sheep slam, or be lucky enough to draw a once in a lifetime tag, but it is more about the hunters’ willingness to try and sneak away and give it a shot.
Hot Weather Game When hunting in hot weather it is important to allow the meat to cool adequately. The animal needs to be skinned as soon as possible. To aid the cooling process quarter the meat and hang it in the shade when you reach camp. Use game bags to help keep dirt and flies from spoiling the meat. A Blacktail of your own
food for a week. Depending on how far you live from Whether you choose to try and accomplish it in one year blacktail country, hunting them can range anywhere from $500 - $1,500 including the tag, gas, and food. If you want or over the course of your life, achieving a deer slam is a goal that can be within reach of the average hunter. to increase your chance of harvesting a buck hiring a guide California, Oregon, and Washington all have Columbian or hunting private land is your best bet. Quality hunts can blacktail deer. If you choose to do it alone, the internet is a be booked for a very reasonable price. When you hunt great place to start your research. Once you have narrowedwith someone who knows the area your chance for success increases dramatically. down the state you want to hunt resources like the Looking to Go There are many different Department of fish and game as well as online articles and Tim Hurt of H-Bench blogs can help get pointed in the right direction. Look to methods to hunting blacktail deer. Ranch is no stranger to big National forests or recreational areas to start your search. Ralph Sibley likes to use a blacktails. He manages his combination of spot and stalk In California, areas like Cash Creek and Cow Creek property specifically for and still hunting. He will sit and management areas as well as the Humboldt National hunters. You can give Tim Forest and the Trinity Wilderness area are a good place to glass openings where bucks are a call at (707) 983-6276 start. Once you have found a general area to hunt call the likely to come out. He also fish and game office in that area and ask some questions. Ithas success quietly walking along trails and logging is a good idea to have a map out when you are going over roads, glassing as he moves especially in heavily timbered areas. Another tactic often employed to harvest blacktails areas that may hold game. is hunting over trails that are near water from a ground In most of the states blacktail tags can be blind or tree stand. Blacktails are seldom far from a water purchased over the counter, they average somewhere around $350 for Non-residents. In California, hunters are source especially when you are hunting them in the late able to get two tags. Having two tags in your pocket can summer. One of the most important tactics when hunting definitely help solve the dilemma of shooting or holding blacktails is to stay flexible. By using a combination of out for a trophy, it allows you to harvest knowing that you glassing , still hunting, and stand hunting you will have better success when trying to harvest a blacktail of your still have the ability to take a bigger deer later. own. One of the biggest expenses is gas; outside of that it is RHM HUNTING REAL
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