Quintessential Western Whitetail?

[Southern Elk]

Growing up in the 90s I used to watch the Realtree guys hunt the Milk River area in Montana. That's the first thing that comes to mind with western whitetails.

Same here. It was the hotspot for big bucks for a while.

 

[BigHornRam]

For me, it is hunting a couple miles in on a rainy day in mid to late November. I love sneaking through the woods looking for a rutting buck.

And beyond 20 yards, is a long shot.

 

[mtmuley]

And beyond 20 yards, is a long shot.

After killing a few mountain whitetails with a rifle, I have utmost respect to guys that do it with a bow. mtmuley

 

[BAKPAKR]

After killing a few mountain whitetails with a rifle, I have utmost respect to guys that do it with a bow. mtmuley

I was still hunting during rifle season with my week old Jennings Arrowstar when this buck came walking up the hill right to me.

I love rutting bucks!

 

[geetar]

Western to me means West. Like almost to Idaho. Mountain bucks. mtmuley

Idaho would work for me too.

 

[Frequently Banned Troll]

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[SagebrushSlayer]

I have only a couple WT hunts here in the West. iD and MT.

I have always wanted to do a Snake River/Clearwater river hunt in Idaho. MT mountain hunt in the Western half, WY/SD Blacks Hills mountain hunt. Those are in my mind the “ bucket list” hunts for western Whitetail.

Question I have is what expectations for mature western whitetails? 8 point? 10 point? My goal is a mature, heavy mass, 18-20” wide, equal tine rack.

 

[TheTone]

I have only a couple WT hunts here in the West. iD and MT.

I have always wanted to do a Snake River/Clearwater river hunt in Idaho. MT mountain hunt in the Western half, WY/SD Blacks Hills mountain hunt. Those are in my mind the “ bucket list” hunts for western Whitetail.

Question I have is what expectations for mature western whitetails? 8 point? 10 point? My goal is a mature, heavy mass, 18-20” wide, equal tine rack.

I’d say the vast majority of what Idaho locals call big bucks are two year olds that might be 75 inch bucks

There are some really strong 4 point genetics in the Clearwater region. Passing on bucks over 120 or so is a great way to eat a tag, especially on public. Ehd this year and in 2021 has really hammered deer numbers

 

[DFS]

I always am impressed with the bucks that come out of northwest Montana and the Idaho panhandle. I would think shooting one of those would be an ultimate whitetail hunt.

 

[Salmonchaser]

Snake river white tails.

 

[Tmbrgost]

What would be a quintessential whitetail hunt in the West?

For elk it would be Wall tents and pack horses with bugling bulls

For mule deer glassing sage covered basins and long stalks.

Sheep is a backpack hunt above timberline

What is the Western Whitetail version?

Rolling grassy hills with brushy bottoms leading to a major river system. Catching a big whitetail out in this country as he is heading back to cover at first light. The big bucks do some crazy, crafty things that never gets dull! They usually win too!

 

[Nameless Range]

Quintessential: Representing the typical example of a quality or class, embodying the pure, essential nature of something:

I am not a great deer hunter or hunter at all, but after 20+ years of shooting mule deer every year I am on year 6 of shooting just whitetails in Western Montana. Western MT and MT in general has great river bottom hunting, but when I think of "Western Whitetail", I think of a kind of hunting that is different than what's available in most of the rest of the U.S. Basically, forested mountain geography west of the continental divide. I know that technically that's just a subset of what western whitetail could be.

A few things.

-Nameless Deer
-Timber
-Mountains
-Hunting amongst predators (wolf,lion,griz)
-Logging roads
-Short (<100 yds) shots
-A lack of sagebrush
-The smell of conifers
-A lack of other hunters on foot

 

[Hem]

Quintessential: Representing the typical example of a quality or class, embodying the pure, essential nature of something:

I am not a great deer hunter or hunter at all, but after 20+ years of shooting mule deer every year I am on year 6 of shooting just whitetails in Western Montana. Western MT and MT in general has great river bottom hunting, but when I think of "Western Whitetail", I think of a kind of hunting that is different than what's available in most of the rest of the U.S. Basically, forested mountain geography west of the continental divide. I know that technically that's just a subset of what western whitetail could be.

A few things.

-Nameless Deer
-Timber
-Mountains
-Hunting amongst predators (wolf,lion,griz)
-Logging roads
-Short (<100 yds) shots
-A lack of sagebrush
-The smell of conifers
-A lack of other hunters on foot

View attachment 396087

Your photo made me feel a bit nostalgic....like I should take a break from composite stocks and return to wood .