The Blacktail Coach Podcast

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The forecast changed overnight and that’s exactly why we don’t treat weather apps like gospel. We walk through our Five Factor Weather Report mindset for blacktail deer hunting, including how to read micro-fronts, find huntable rain breaks, and use barometric pressure trends to pick the hours when deer are most likely to get on their feet. If you’re hunting the Pacific Northwest, this is the kind of weekly planning that helps you stop guessing and start timing your sits with intent.

From there, we zoom in on the rut. We talk about what our trail cameras are showing, why “no buck activity” can actually mean does are in standing estrus and getting locked down, and how rattling, grunts, and even fawn calls can fit together when things get intense. We also share where we like to set up: tight to transition zones and bedding edges in the thick stuff where mature blacktail feel safe moving in daylight.

Then we hit listener questions: Is it too late to run scents with only days left in the season? What does it mean when a cat shows on camera and a buck walks through hours later? And for new hunters, what’s a smart first tree stand setup, how high is “high enough,” and what comfort and safety details keep you in the tree longer. We wrap with shout-outs, a reminder that we never shame legal tags, and an update on a new half-price option for minor kids at our Hunters Gathering. Subscribe, share this with your hunting buddy, and leave a review so more blacktail hunters can find the show.

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Tinks Scents

Blacktail Solution
Blacktail feed supplements. Use code BTCoach for 15% through March 31 2026

Bonded Outdoors
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skull mounting systems Ghost Hook Sale until March 31, 2026

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Deer don’t read your calendar, but they do react to patterns and this week is loaded with them. We’re Aaron and Dave, and we’re back with our Five Factors forecast for Oct 26 through Nov 1 to help you plan blacktail deer hunting sits across Washington, Oregon, and California with less guesswork and more purpose. We talk through real conditions we’re seeing on the ground, including a surprise heat wave, a sharp temperature drop, and what happens when extra human traffic floods your area with scent.

We break down the week using the same framework we rely on every season: the temperature window that keeps blacktails moving in daylight, barometric pressure trends that often precede feeding bursts, weather fronts and the “rain just ended” effect, and moon guide timing when magnetic pull lines up with normal movement windows. We also add the reality check that matters most: pressure changes deer behavior fast, so edges, transition zones, skid roads, and thick cover become even more important than wide-open glassing.

Because we’re in peak rut timing, we also get specific about tactics: when to go full throttle on buck urine and doe-in-estrus scents, how doe bleats can stop a cruising buck, and how to ramp rattling into louder, more realistic sparring with brush thrashing and patience between sequences. Then we wrap with listener success stories, including a truly giant blacktail, plus a reminder you can’t tag one from the couch.

Subscribe so you don’t miss next week’s forecast, share this with a hunting buddy, and leave a review if the Five Factors help you put more deer in front of your stand.

Nilch'i Wind Checks
Nilch’i Wind Checks - An easy to use, must have gear addition to our hunts

Dead Down Wind
Scent Elimination Products

Tinks
Tinks Scents

Blacktail Solution
Blacktail feed supplements. Use code BTCoach for 15% through March 31 2026

Bonded Outdoors
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skull mounting systems Ghost Hook Sale until March 31, 2026

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https://a.co/d/0iEbgSXd

A blacktail season can feel random until you start stacking the odds. We’re Aaron and Dave, and this week’s Five Factors Weather Report for October 19 through 26 focuses on what actually moves deer: meaningful temperature changes, light rain that creates short feeding windows, and a barometric pressure jump that can flip the switch from bedded down to on their feet. If you’re heading into Washington modern firearm season, or you’re already grinding in Oregon or California general season, we lay out where the best opportunities are shaping up and why morning hunts deserve extra attention this week.

We also get into the rut without the hype. Bucks are not fully in the heart of it yet, but the sparring, pushing, and inventory-taking is happening, and that changes how we call and rattle. We break down timing and intensity for rattling sequences, then clear up one of the biggest misunderstandings in deer hunting: estrus is not the same as standing estrus. That 72-hour window is the reason bucks throw caution to the wind, lock down does, and show up where you can finally kill them.

Then we talk scent strategy as a complete story. Bedding pheromone to signal safety, dominant buck urine to trigger competition, doe estrus to suggest the right time of year, and why we generally wait until late October to bring in standing estrus. We answer a listener question about whether a daylighting buck will “lose interest” if you can’t hunt for a few days, and we share practical tips for using drippers correctly so the illusion keeps working while you’re gone.

If this helps you plan your sits, share it with a hunting buddy, subscribe so you don’t miss next week’s update, and leave us a review so more blacktail hunters can find the show.

Nilch'i Wind Checks
Nilch’i Wind Checks - An easy to use, must have gear addition to our hunts

Dead Down Wind
Scent Elimination Products

Tinks
Tinks Scents

Blacktail Solution
Blacktail feed supplements. Use code BTCoach for 15% through March 31 2026

Bonded Outdoors
Personalized leather tags to remember your hunts

SkullCraft Collective
skull mounting systems Ghost Hook Sale until March 31, 2026

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

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The calendar says mid-October, but the woods say “things are starting to happen.” We lay out our five-factor weather report for October 12 through 18 and explain how we’d hunt it across blacktail country in Washington, Oregon, and California. If you’re trying to turn random sits into a real strategy, this is the kind of weekly forecast that helps you choose days with higher odds of deer movement, not just nicer weather.

We talk through the red moon timing and why afternoon and early evening movement can line up especially well this week, then bring it back to the simplest location truth we know: blacktail love edges. Field edges, swamp edges, clearcut edges, and the transition zones between bedding and feeding are where movement becomes predictable. We also flag the week’s weather fronts and get blunt about rain. A steady drizzle can shut things down, while the best action often pops right after the rain stops, even if the break is short.

From there we dig into temperature windows, layering for long sits, and why barometric pressure trends matter so much. When pressure rises after a front, we’re paying attention. We also answer listener questions on what calls we like (including fawn in distress, doe bleats, and grunt calls), how to time synthetic scents through Washington modern season, and what it means when your trail cameras show does and young bucks but not the mature buck you’re hoping for. We wrap with a trail-cam story about finding a buck’s core area and why it can feel like cheating when you finally get it right.

If this helped you think clearer about your next sit, subscribe, share it with a hunting buddy, and leave a quick review so more blacktail hunters can find the show.

Nilch'i Wind Checks
Nilch’i Wind Checks - An easy to use, must have gear addition to our hunts

Dead Down Wind
Scent Elimination Products

Tinks
Tinks Scents

Blacktail Solution
Blacktail feed supplements. Use code BTCoach for 15% through March 31 2026

Bonded Outdoors
Personalized leather tags to remember your hunts

SkullCraft Collective
skull mounting systems Ghost Hook Sale until March 31, 2026

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Get The Deliberate Pursuit of Trophy Blacktail by Dave Riley

https://a.co/d/08y7xFCr

You can feel it in early October: bucks are getting ruddy, does are syncing cycles, and blacktail are sliding out of summer patterns into thicker, safer cover. That’s exactly when most hunters start second-guessing their sits. We don’t guess. We build a weekly plan using the Five Factors that drive deer movement in the Pacific Northwest: rut phase, moon timing, temperature drops, barometric pressure, and weather fronts.

We also get practical about what to do on stand right now. After comparing notes with trusted voices like Tom Ryle and trail camera expert John Nicholson, we break down a simple, repeatable pre-rut calling approach. The big theme is curiosity over aggression: let the woods settle for 30 to 45 minutes, mix soft doe bleats with light antler tinkling, and give a buck time to commit. We also talk fawn distress calling, why it works even when you make mistakes, and why you should be ready for unexpected visitors like bears.

Then we answer a question every busy hunter feels in their bones: if you only have 6 to 10 total days for Oregon general season, where do you start? We share a high-percentage strategy built around bedding proximity when you’ve scouted, and edge-focused run-and-gun tactics when you haven’t. Finally, we shift into tree stands and saddle hunting, covering stand height, shot angle, scent control tools like nose jammer and Ozonics, and the underrated rule that what’s behind you matters more than what’s in front of you.

Subscribe for the weekly Five Factors forecast, share this with a hunting buddy, and leave a review that tells us what topic you want next. What’s your biggest challenge right now: finding bedding, calling confidence, or picking the right day to hunt?

Tom Ryle: www.pnwbowhunting.com

Nilch'i Wind Checks
Nilch’i Wind Checks - An easy to use, must have gear addition to our hunts

Dead Down Wind
Scent Elimination Products

Tinks
Tinks Scents

Blacktail Solution
Blacktail feed supplements. Use code BTCoach for 15% through March 31 2026

Bonded Outdoors
Personalized leather tags to remember your hunts

SkullCraft Collective
skull mounting systems Ghost Hook Sale until March 31, 2026

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

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The forecast is only useful if it helps you pick a sit and actually see deer, so we break down our five factor weather report for Sept 28 through Oct 4 with the stuff that moves the needle: moon guide timing, temperature trends, weather fronts, rut phase, and especially barometric pressure. Up here in the Pacific Northwest, fronts stall, conditions change fast, and pressure swings can show up bigger than expected, so we talk through how to keep your plan flexible without guessing.

Then we zoom out to the bigger seasonal picture and clean up a few rut myths that keep showing up every fall. We explain what we mean by pre-rut, why hormone buildup is gradual after velvet shed, how doe estrus cycles really work, and why trying to “pattern” a mature buck during the first rut can drive you crazy. If you’ve ever watched a target buck disappear off cameras right when you expected the most action, this will click.

We also answer listener questions that stretch from Oregon to Southern California. For Oregon muzzleloader and late-season pressure, we talk about hunting where the deer actually are: tight to bedding, along travel corridors, and in the thick stuff. For California hunters wondering why rut timing feels different, we share the most reliable move you can make: call a local game biologist and anchor your strategy to real regional data. We wrap with practical ground blind tactics, including why commercial camo can “glow” to deer due to UV and brighteners, how to brush a blind like a slash pile, and how to manage scent with Nose Jammer and smarter Ozonix placement.

If this helps, subscribe, share it with a hunting buddy, and leave a review so more blacktail hunters find the show. What’s the one weather signal or rut belief you’re most willing to rethink this season?

Nilch'i Wind Checks
Nilch’i Wind Checks - An easy to use, must have gear addition to our hunts

Dead Down Wind
Scent Elimination Products

Tinks
Tinks Scents

Blacktail Solution
Blacktail feed supplements. Use code BTCoach for 15% through March 31 2026

Bonded Outdoors
Personalized leather tags to remember your hunts

SkullCraft Collective
skull mounting systems Ghost Hook Sale until March 31, 2026

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

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You can waste a whole season hunting “good looking” days, or you can stack the odds with a repeatable plan. We run our weekly high-factor forecast for September 21 through 27 using the five factors we rely on for blacktail deer hunting in the Pacific Northwest: rut phase, moon phase and lunar activity, weather fronts, barometric pressure, and temperature drops. The goal is simple: help you choose the sits that give you the best chance of daylight movement when you only have a few windows to hunt.

The biggest teaching moment is the Moon Guide. We dug into what the gold star actually signals, why the strongest lunar pull isn’t always the most huntable, and how a “white” time can beat a “red” time if it overlaps normal morning or evening movement. We also translate the app’s whitetail-style location labels into blacktail reality where “field edge” and “bedding” can blur, and why we keep coming back to the transition right outside bedding.

From there, we compare rain timing and pressure swings across Bellingham, Woodland, and Eugene to show how a front can hit your area differently than the general forecast. We wrap with two practical tools: using AI to score mornings and afternoons (with verification), and a detailed breakdown of leapfrogging trail cameras to track a buck back to where he finally daylight’s. If you like concrete picks, we give them, including our top hunt windows for the week.

Subscribe for weekly forecasts, share this with a hunting buddy who’s trying to plan time off, and leave a review so more PNW hunters can find the show.

https://pnwbowhunting.com/

https://patreon.com/blacktailcoachpodcast.com/

https://podscan.fm/podcasts/the-fall-podcast/episodes/ep-483-the-red-moon-explained-with-adam-hays?utm_source=chatgpt.com

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Hunting blacktail can feel like roulette if you’re picking hunt days at random, especially when you only have one evening a week to get out. We’re changing that. Aaron and Dave lay out our new in-season format: a weekly Five Factors Weather Report built to help you decide when to hunt, where to sit, and what kind of movement to expect based on conditions you can actually track.

We break down each factor in plain language: the rut phase (and why bucks can spar well before the “real rut” kicks in), weather fronts in the Pacific Northwest (including those micro shower systems), barometric pressure trends (why rising pressure during hunting hours matters), temperature drops (sudden vs gradual), and moon phase timing using a deer hunter’s moon guide. You’ll hear how terms like transition zone and field edge translate into real blacktail setups near bedding and feeding, plus how to use moon overhead and underfoot windows and that gold star timing to tighten your plan.

We also zoom out to season prep that pays off fast: moving trail cameras from summer patterns into thicker cover near bedding, cutting access trails early so the woods settles, and staying flexible as bucks shift behavior after velvet shed. Along the way we talk gear and experimentation, including decoys, scent strategy, and why minerals and protein can matter for herd health and antler growth where legal. We also challenge the “just in case” mindset around cougar, bear, and coyote tags and share how Hunters Gathering helps turn predator hunting into a planned, purposeful season.

Subscribe so you don’t miss the weekly reports, share this with a hunting buddy, and leave a quick review if the show helps. Got a timely question you want answered on the next drop? Email us by Thursday at blacktailcoach at gmail.com.

Nilch'i Wind Checks
Nilch’i Wind Checks - An easy to use, must have gear addition to our hunts

Dead Down Wind
Scent Elimination Products

Tinks
Tinks Scents

Blacktail Solution
Blacktail feed supplements. Use code BTCoach for 15% through March 31 2026

Bonded Outdoors
Personalized leather tags to remember your hunts

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skull mounting systems Ghost Hook Sale until March 31, 2026

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Rattling for blacktail isn’t magic and it isn’t random. It’s a story you’re telling in the woods, and the buck decides whether he believes it.

We’re joined again by Tom Ryle and Kelly Riordan for a deep, practical breakdown of blacktail deer calling and rattling, from first principles to field-ready sequences. We start with the why: bucks fight over breeding rights, but a lot of the deer that respond are coming in out of curiosity, sizing up the scene, or looking for an opening. From there, we lay out a clear rut timeline you can actually plan around, including the long seasonal build after velvet-off, the more aggressive late-October window, peak breeding behavior, and why rattling can still shine in December when does cycle again and tired bucks still can’t ignore opportunity.

Then we get tactical. Tom walks through how he layers sounds the way real deer interactions build: soft doe bleats, natural movement in the brush, subtle grunts, and only then escalating into antlers. We talk duration, patience, and the real risk of getting busted when you go too long or get too aggressive. We also get into gear choices like shed antlers versus rattle bags in wet weather, how to tune grunt calls for a softer blacktail tone, and a simple cold-weather trick to help prevent reeds from freezing.

We close with setup and strategy: wind, topography, expecting the downwind circle, and how a partner can call while the shooter waits where the buck wants to verify the sound. If you want to call in blacktail more consistently, this is the playbook to build from. Subscribe, share this with a hunting partner, and leave a review so more blacktail hunters can find the show.

Learn more at https://pnwbowhunting.com/

Nilch'i Wind Checks
Nilch’i Wind Checks - An easy to use, must have gear addition to our hunts

Dead Down Wind
Scent Elimination Products

Tinks
Tinks Scents

Blacktail Solution
Blacktail feed supplements. Use code BTCoach for 15% through March 31 2026

Bonded Outdoors
Personalized leather tags to remember your hunts

SkullCraft Collective
skull mounting systems Ghost Hook Sale until March 31, 2026

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

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The woods are full of clues, but most hunters only see noise. We sit down and translate the signs that actually matter when you’re scouting for a mature blacktail buck: tracks, game trails, bedding edges, scat, and rubs, plus what each one can and can’t prove about daylight movement.

We start on the ground with tracks, including the small shape differences between buck and doe prints, how size can hint at age, and why genetics and habitat can make “rules” bend. From there we get practical about direction of travel and how it helps you decide whether a trail is a morning route into bedding or an evening exit to feed. If you’ve ever watched a buck creep closer to daylight on camera, you’ll like how we connect those patterns to where you hang a stand.

Next we move to terrain and strategy: finding the nastiest thick cover that bucks use for security, walking the edge, and picking the high-traffic trail that leads to a real bottleneck. We also talk about tight canopy and shooting light, why pushing too far into bedding can turn a spot into a one-hunt mistake, and why smart exits after dark keep deer from learning to look up.

We wrap with scat and predator pressure, then rubs and rub lines, including why rubs in open clear cuts can be nighttime dominance displays. If you want more consistent big buck decisions, not just more opinions, this one will sharpen your eye. Subscribe, share this with a hunting buddy, and leave a quick review with the sign you rely on most.

Nilch'i Wind Checks
Nilch’i Wind Checks - An easy to use, must have gear addition to our hunts

Dead Down Wind
Scent Elimination Products

Tinks
Tinks Scents

Blacktail Solution
Blacktail feed supplements. Use code BTCoach for 15% through March 31 2026

Bonded Outdoors
Personalized leather tags to remember your hunts

SkullCraft Collective
skull mounting systems Ghost Hook Sale until March 31, 2026

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

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Deer don’t move at random, even when it feels that way from the stand. We’re Aaron and Dave, and we lay out the five factors we watch for when we’re trying to predict blacktail deer movement and pick the highest-odds days to hunt. Each factor can help on its own, but when they stack together, the difference is real: more daylight activity, better timing, and fewer wasted sits when you’re short on time.

We start with barometric pressure and the threshold Dave keeps coming back to: around 30.2 and rising. Then we get practical about how to check pressure trends days in advance using the weather app on your phone or common hunting tools. From there, we dig into moon phase and why Adam Hayes’ Deer Hunter’s Moon Guide makes it simple to spot red moon week and the strongest daily pull windows, including how that can steer you toward a morning hunt or an afternoon hunt without overthinking the science.

We also cover a temperature drop of about 20 degrees between daily highs, how weather fronts can trigger feeding before a storm and right after it, and how deer often move in those short breaks between showers. Finally, we talk rut phases, why “the rut” isn’t one long blur, and how tactics like rattling change depending on whether bucks are seeking, locked down, or sliding into post-rut patterns.

To tie it all together, we share the story of our pro staffer Chris and a monster blacktail he calls Bambino. The conditions lined up, the plan held, and the buck showed up close before dark. If you want more consistent success in blacktail deer hunting, subscribe, share this with a hunting buddy, and leave us a review where you listen.

Nilch'i Wind Checks
Nilch’i Wind Checks - An easy to use, must have gear addition to our hunts

Dead Down Wind
Scent Elimination Products

Tinks
Tinks Scents

Blacktail Solution
Blacktail feed supplements. Use code BTCoach for 15% through March 31 2026

Bonded Outdoors
Personalized leather tags to remember your hunts

SkullCraft Collective
skull mounting systems Ghost Hook Sale until March 31, 2026

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

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Your best stand location means nothing if a mature buck smells one wrong detail and locks up. We dig into the real mechanics of deer hunting scent control and why the “spray it and wait 30 minutes” mindset sets hunters up to fail, especially on cautious blacktail deer that live and die by their nose.

We walk through the scent categories we actually use and what each one is designed to do. That includes calming pheromones like EverCalm for bedding areas, plus tools like Hodag Scent Rope to create a summer communication hub where deer leave orbital gland scent and establish a routine you can monitor. From there we get honest about doe estrus and dominant buck urine: they work best as part of an illusion, but only when you match the product to the correct phase of the rut. We also cover practical issues like CWD-related rules, synthetic urine options, and why gels and concentrates can matter in rainy climates.

Then we hit cover scents and full system scent management. We explain Nose Jammer and “vapor lock,” why you must introduce it progressively weeks ahead, and how scent-free detergent, dryer sheets, scent-free storage bags, rubber boots, body wash, deodorant, and field spray all fit together. We also talk merino wool for odor control on multi-day hunts and why ozone generators like Ozonics can be a true game changer when used responsibly.

If you want more consistent daylight movement and fewer blown encounters, listen through, try the framework, and tell us what’s worked where you hunt. Subscribe, share this with a hunting buddy, and leave a review so more hunters can find the show.

Nilch'i Wind Checks
Nilch’i Wind Checks - An easy to use, must have gear addition to our hunts

Dead Down Wind
Scent Elimination Products

Tinks
Tinks Scents

Blacktail Solution
Blacktail feed supplements. Use code BTCoach for 15% through March 31 2026

Bonded Outdoors
Personalized leather tags to remember your hunts

SkullCraft Collective
skull mounting systems Ghost Hook Sale until March 31, 2026

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

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Most hunters circle “the rut” on the calendar, then spend the best days wondering why their biggest buck disappeared. We take a step back and map the whole arc of blacktail deer hunting season, from early archery to pre-rut, full rut, and the second rut, with a simple goal: help you choose tactics that match how bucks actually behave, not how we wish they behaved.

We start with early season blacktail, when velvet and summer patterns can make mature bucks shockingly predictable. That’s where we’d rather pattern than call, using observation and trail intel to lock down entry trails, exit trails, and daylight windows. Then we dig into the “movement drivers” we track every year barometric pressure, moon phase, major weather fronts, and those game-changing 20-degree temperature drops plus how these factors can line up to create the kind of evening a giant finally shows in shooting light.

From there we move into October pre-rut strategy: when to rattle, when to grunt, why blind calling can hurt you, and why scents work best when you don’t overdo them. We also explain why the full rut can be the hardest time to target a specific mature buck, and why late season and the second rut can swing the advantage back to the hunter. With fewer does in estrus, a consistent, believable scent setup can make a buck cycle through repeatedly until he edges into daylight.

If you want a clearer plan for blacktail rut phases, late season tactics, and smarter calling and scent strategy, hit subscribe, share this with a hunting buddy, and leave a review. What part of the season do you trust most, early season or late season?

Nilch'i Wind Checks
Nilch’i Wind Checks - An easy to use, must have gear addition to our hunts

Dead Down Wind
Scent Elimination Products

Tinks
Tinks Scents

Blacktail Solution
Blacktail feed supplements. Use code BTCoach for 15% through March 31 2026

Bonded Outdoors
Personalized leather tags to remember your hunts

SkullCraft Collective
skull mounting systems Ghost Hook Sale until March 31, 2026

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

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Send us Fan Mail

Defeating a trophy blacktail's senses requires extraordinary dedication and methodical preparation. In this deep-dive conversation, Aaron and Dave explore the critical components of entering a hunting set without alerting deer through their incredibly sensitive ears, eyes, and nose.

The hosts begin by shattering a common misconception: "You're never as quiet as you think you are." Dave shares his philosophy on trail preparation, recommending gradual habitat modifications spread across multiple visits rather than dramatic one-time changes that make deer wary. For those who only visit their hunting areas occasionally before season, strategic pruning with hand shears creates just enough clearance for quiet passage without establishing obvious human trails.

Equipment selection proves equally crucial, with Aaron and Dave examining how expensive modern hunting gear can sometimes work against you. They discuss waterproof rain jackets that make unnatural sounds against vegetation, metal components that create alarming clanks, and practical solutions for each challenge. Visual concealment strategies follow, including the use of screen vegetation as artificial visual barriers and proper headlamp discipline when approaching sets in darkness.

Perhaps most vital is their comprehensive approach to scent control. The hosts outline their meticulous process: traveling to hunting locations in base layers, changing into scent-free hunting clothes stored in sealed bags, applying field spray, and reversing the process when departing. This level of dedication isn't necessary for harvesting average deer but becomes essential when pursuing record-book blacktails that simply won't tolerate human odor.

The conversation culminates with fascinating insights into extreme tactics like sleeping overnight in stands, hiking significant distances to approach from favorable wind directions, and studying thermal patterns to time entries perfectly. As Aaron notes approaching his third year of hunting, these might seem like extraordinary measures, but they represent the mindset difference between casual hunters and those consistently harvesting mature blacktail bucks.

Ready to take your blacktail hunting to the next level? Visit blacktailcoach.com to discover our upcoming boot camps and training opportunities designed to help you consistently pursue trophy-class blacktails.

Nilch'i Wind Checks
Nilch’i Wind Checks - An easy to use, must have gear addition to our hunts

Dead Down Wind
Scent Elimination Products

Tinks
Tinks Scents

Blacktail Solution
Blacktail feed supplements. Use code BTCoach for 15% through March 31 2026

Bonded Outdoors
Personalized leather tags to remember your hunts

SkullCraft Collective
skull mounting systems Ghost Hook Sale until March 31, 2026

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Most hunting problems don’t start in the timber. They start when we try to skip steps, rush a “perfect” setup, and then wonder why the season feels stressful. We break down a clean, repeatable way to plan your season around five questions: find your area, find your spot, decide what to do with your spot, choose when you’re hunting, and make sure you’re actually ready to hunt. If you can answer those in order, your season gets simpler fast.

We dig into how hunt style should match habitat, especially for blacktail deer hunting. Thick reprod and tight cover demand a different approach than clear-cuts, burns, or open hillsides where glassing and optics shine. We talk e-scouting with tools like OnX, HuntStand, and Google Earth, then how boots-on-the-ground confirms what the map can’t. From there, we narrow into “your spot,” including what we call the bedroom door, and how wind, entry and exit routes, stand or ground blind choice, and trail cameras fit into a real plan.

Timing is where good spots get ruined, so we also cover how we pick days using five factors: rut phase, moon phase, temperature drops, barometric pressure, and weather fronts including micro weather systems that trigger movement. We close with readiness: weapon practice, mental reps, visualization, and a practical gear checklist so opening day doesn’t sneak up on you.

If this helps, subscribe, share the show with a friend, and leave a review so more hunters can find it. What part of season planning do you want us to go deeper on next?

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A blacktail buck in coastal rainforest doesn’t live like a blacktail buck on a High Cascade ridge, and pretending they do is a fast way to waste a season. Aaron and Dave dig into the real-world differences between coastal, valley, and High Cascade blacktail hunting across Washington, Oregon, and Northern California, using one simple lens: every deer is hunting for food, safety, and the opportunity to breed, but each landscape delivers those needs in its own way.

We talk about how “thick cover” changes from a wall of brush on the coast to small, high-percentage bedding spots in steep mountain country, and why that drives everything from visibility to stalking tactics. We also get into regional genetics and what hunters notice in body size and antlers, including why heavy coastal vegetation often produces more basket-style racks while harsh Cascade winters can reward the strongest survivors.

Then we zoom in on movement and patterning. Valley bucks can hold tight to small home ranges, but High Cascade bucks may expand their range and shift elevation with the snow line, meaning one storm can reset months of scouting overnight. We wrap with practical food and habitat insights: blackberries, vine maple, fresh green shoots, trail vines, abandoned orchards, acorns in scrub oak country, plus how logging, clearcuts, and controlled burns can create the groceries and cover that help deer thrive. If you want more consistent results, this one helps you match your approach to your terrain.

Subscribe for more blacktail hunting strategy, share this with a buddy who’s trying to learn, and leave a review so more hunters can find the show.

Nilch'i Wind Checks
Nilch’i Wind Checks - An easy to use, must have gear addition to our hunts

Dead Down Wind
Scent Elimination Products

Tinks
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Blacktail Solution
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A turkey slam sounds clean on paper. Real life rarely is. Zach joins us to tell the full Washington turkey slam story, from years of grinding with almost nothing to show for it, to finally stacking an Eastern, a Merriam’s, and a Rio Grande turkey in one season. We talk about the moment the strategy changed, why “trying harder” wasn’t the answer, and how mentorship turned scattered effort into a repeatable plan.

We get specific about turkey hunting tactics that translate across states but matter a lot in Washington: roosting birds, slipping in tight without overcalling, and setting up where thick, brushy cover forces close-range decisions. Zach shares how e-scouting helped him identify likely turkey habitat before burning a five-hour drive, and how access and pressure can make birds feel impossible when they’re living on the wrong side of a property line.

Then the slam stories hit: an Eastern that closes the final yards fast, Merriam’s that stay glued to hens, and a Rio hunt defined by wind, snow, truck camping, and the mental fight to keep going when things pile up. We also announce Alex’s new Blacktail Coach turkey hunting tactics classes and what he’s teaching, from calls and locator calls to decoy setups and species-specific habitat.

If you want to hunt turkeys with more clarity and less chaos, hit play, then subscribe, share this with a hunting buddy, and leave a review so more listeners can find the show.

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One bad decision can change an entire bear season, and sometimes it takes a full year to see the consequences. We’re back with Heather Aldrich to wrap up spring bear season and turn those hard-earned lessons into a smarter plan for fall. Along the way we dig into what “success” really means in bear hunting, why learning the woods can matter more than punching a tag, and how experience reshapes the way you judge a season.

Heather walks us through two very different spring bear hunts in Oregon and Idaho, including a key mistake: taking a sow that was effectively holding a target boar in an area. That single choice shifted his movement, wiped out a previously hot spot, and forced a fresh strategy built around finding other sows, understanding spring rut behavior, and staying realistic about pressure and late-season dispersion. We also talk about how burns can trick you, why scat tells the truth about seasonal habitat, and what it takes to mentor a hunter when access and mobility define every setup.

Then we transition straight into fall bear season preparation in Washington State: trail camera strategy, travel routes, future food sources, and how to keep disturbance low while still collecting the intel you need. Heather also explains how blowdown, steep terrain, and missing “perfect” camera trees can force real-world adjustments, plus how to pivot when fire closures shut down your best area. From huckleberries and mountain ash to water and cool bedding cover, we keep the focus on practical bear hunting tactics.

To round it out, we get nerdy in the best way: hyperphagia timing, how fast bears can gain weight, den site selection, and why bear hibernation is often “not quite” what people think it is. If you’re trying to connect spring scouting to fall success, this one’s built for you. Subscribe, share this with a hunting buddy, and leave a review with your biggest bear-season lesson so far.

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A blacktail buck can live a whole season a few yards from you and never show itself, and that’s exactly why we love hunting them. We’re joined by Tom Ryle and Kelly Riordan for a wide-ranging talk that starts with how they each got pulled into the blacktail woods and quickly turns into what it really takes to improve at blacktail deer hunting in Washington and the broader Pacific Northwest. If you’ve ever felt like blacktails are “too thick, too dark, too hard,” you’re not alone.

We dig into the bigger picture of mentorship and the real-world need to pass down institutional knowledge. Hunting culture has shifted from “keep your mouth shut” to sharing methods, especially as R3 efforts and simple stewardship become more urgent. We also talk honestly about paying for coaching or a hunting class, why some hunters want to cut through information overload, and how to shorten the learning curve without stealing the joy of figuring it out yourself.

Then we get practical with scouting and sign. Tom breaks down why willow trees get absolutely shredded, what those bright orange rubs can tell you, and how soft bark trees can become repeatable rut magnets year after year. He also shares how he’s made mock rubs to create a signpost that pulls deer into a shooting lane, plus how he thinks about “rut zones” and why postseason scouting in winter can reveal rub lines and key terrain features you’ll miss in the summer salad bowl.

We wrap by zooming out to habitat edges, fresh logging disturbance, late-season food clues, and planning for closures, fire restrictions, and weather patterns that can lock up access. Subscribe, share this with a hunting partner, and leave a review so more blacktail hunters can find the show, then tell us: what’s the clearest scouting sign you trust most?

Nilch'i Wind Checks
Nilch’i Wind Checks - An easy to use, must have gear addition to our hunts

Dead Down Wind
Scent Elimination Products

Tinks
Tinks Scents

Blacktail Solution
Blacktail feed supplements. Use code BTCoach for 15% through March 31 2026

Bonded Outdoors
Personalized leather tags to remember your hunts

SkullCraft Collective
skull mounting systems Ghost Hook Sale until March 31, 2026

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show

Send us Fan Mail

Conservation doesn’t run on vibes, it runs on people showing up year after year. That’s why we brought on Tom Ryle (WDFW marketing and creative media manager and Washington’s R3 lead) and Kelly Riordan (R3 hunting coordinator) to break down the R3 program: recruit, retain, reactivate, and the “why” behind it. Hunting participation has declined nationally since the 1980s, and Washington is staring at an aging-out curve that can shrink license revenue and long-term support for fish and wildlife management.

We talk about the real funding mechanics that many outdoors folks only half understand: license dollars, Pittman-Robertson excise taxes on hunting gear, Dingell-Johnson support on the fishing side, and how those dollars keep science happening in the field. We also dig into the group that decides a lot of Washington’s future at the ballot box: the huge middle that isn’t anti-hunting or pro-hunting, just curious and often uninformed. If we want healthy habitat, thriving wildlife, and durable public support, we have to connect more people to the outdoors in ways that feel safe, welcoming, and practical.

Kelly lays out how retention actually works through mentorship and community, including the ORAM pathway from awareness to confident participation. We get specific about opportunities like turkey clinics, butchering clinics, foraging education, shooting sports as a gateway, and how partnerships with NGOs, landowners, schools, and even city programs can scale impact. Tom also shares why mywdfw.org exists as a more approachable resource for new hunters and anglers who get lost on a big government website.

If you care about Washington hunting, fishing, wildlife stewardship, and conservation funding, this conversation gives you clear next steps to participate or help others start. Subscribe, share this with a buddy, and leave a review so more people find the resources and mentorship that keep the outdoors alive.

To reach out to Kelly Riordan: kelly.riordan@dfw.wa.gov

To reach out to Tom Ryle: tom.ryle@dfw.wa.gov

Nilch'i Wind Checks
Nilch’i Wind Checks - An easy to use, must have gear addition to our hunts

Dead Down Wind
Scent Elimination Products

Tinks
Tinks Scents

Blacktail Solution
Blacktail feed supplements. Use code BTCoach for 15% through March 31 2026

Bonded Outdoors
Personalized leather tags to remember your hunts

SkullCraft Collective
skull mounting systems Ghost Hook Sale until March 31, 2026

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.

Support the show