Columbia Blacktail Proves a Formidable Challenge for Bowhunter
Over three seasons, bowhunter Haugen pursued a remarkable Columbia blacktail buck, which became the largest-bodied buck he has ever hunted. His only direct sighting of the animal occurred moments before darkness fell on Thanksgiving Day.
As darkness settled over Oregon’s Cascade Range, Haugen packed up after an intense 31 days of hunting during the 35-day season. Despite the challenging weather with rain and wind, ideal for blacktail hunting, the season ended without a harvest. He spotted just one buck—the coveted one—but did not manage to take it.
Post-Season Observations Highlight Blacktail Resilience
After the season, Haugen continued to scout the mountainous terrain and encountered the buck two more times. Once, during a late muzzleloader season, the buck was visibly chasing does, and another sighting came in late December amidst two feet of snow. The buck was the sole deer observed that day.
Such behavior aligns with what wildlife experts understand about large Columbia blacktails—they often maintain consistent home ranges and can endure deep winter snowpacks. Their physiological adaptations allow them to withstand harsh conditions that might challenge other deer species.
Extended Scouting Underscores Difficulty in Tracking the Buck
Scouting began in late May, but the first glimpse of the buck occurred only in early July. Despite dozens of following trips and multiple scouting missions, Haugen saw the buck just one more time before the season opener, without any trail camera captures.
During the subsequent hunting season, he hunted 21 consecutive days and encountered 23 bucks, including the elusive target animal.
Final Encounter Marked by Challenging Conditions
On November 4th, under strong westerly winds and rain, Haugen spotted the buck chasing a doe on the edge of a logged area over 800 yards away. After a lengthy approach, he set up shooting sticks and waited as the buck partially emerged from behind towering fir trees, with the doe feeding in the open.
His pulse quickened, recognizing this as the best opportunity after years of pursuit. However, a sudden thickening of clouds obscured the deer, ending the shot opportunity. Haugen waited three hours, but when the clouds lifted, the buck had vanished.
Late-Season Terrain Impedes Successful Hunting
Following tracks into dense young regrowth revealed visibility limited to mere arm’s length, conditions which are notoriously difficult for hunters. Such young forest stands typically require a decade or more to become suitable habitat for effective hunting due to dense brush growth.
Attempts to call and rattle deer out of the thick cover were unsuccessful. Haugen’s final approach, including moving and rattling multiple times, failed to provoke any response.
Wildlife Expert Perspective
- Columbia blacktails are known for their selective habitat use and often favor dense forest stands with ample cover, complicating hunting tactics.
- This buck’s persistence in a stable winter range reflects the species’ ability to adapt to snowy, rugged environments by relying on available thermal cover and food resources.
- The difficulty Haugen faced highlights the combination of behavioral wariness and environmental complexity typical of Columbia blacktail populations.
Haugen’s multi-year pursuit of this extraordinary Columbia blacktail underscores both the challenges and rewards of hunting one of North America’s toughest deer species. This encounter remains a notable example of perseverance aligned with an intimate understanding of blacktail ecology.
Additional reporting and sources from: Columbia Blacktails Are the Toughest Deer to Hunt
