Blacktail in Southern Oregon

[Professor]

There are some monster hybridized Blacktail/Mule deer in southern oregon in the valley near Medford/Ashland. It is also much drier over there vs the rainforest at the coast!

What are these deer called?

 

[Hun10-freak]

We call them Benchlegs, they basically look like a blacktail with better genetics. Bigger antlers, bigger bodies. Here are a couple from my trail cameras.

 

[Professor]

We call them Benchlegs, they basically look like a blacktail with better genetics. Bigger antlers, bigger bodies. Here are a couple from my trail cameras.

So, how can you tell benchlegs from black tails. These are very nice deer.

 

[Hun10-freak]

Honestly you don't know 100% for sure.

 

[Professor]

Honestly you don't know 100% for sure.

Which means that every time you kill a big buck everyone says it is a Benchleg.

 

[HuntWyld]

There is a defined line based on geographic landmarks for what is scored as blacktail or mule deer for B&C, P&Y.

 

[eaglemountainman]

There is a defined line based on geographic landmarks for what is scored as blacktail or mule deer for B&C, P&Y.

How would one find out the location of that line.

 

[HuntWyld]

Category Boundaries for Big Game Records

Big-game records keeping for both Boone and Crockett and the Pope and Young Club deals only with certain native North American big game animals. For such purposes, the southern boundary is defined as the south boundary of Mexico. Only cougar, jaguar, and whitetail deer of the recognized trophy...

www.boone-crockett.org

Scroll down to Columbia blacktail deer

 

[eaglemountainman]

Category Boundaries for Big Game Records

Big-game records keeping for both Boone and Crockett and the Pope and Young Club deals only with certain native North American big game animals. For such purposes, the southern boundary is defined as the south boundary of Mexico. Only cougar, jaguar, and whitetail deer of the recognized trophy...

www.boone-crockett.org

Scroll down to Columbia blacktail deer

Thank you.

 

[Professor]

Thank you.

Thank you. Looks like east of Medford it’s a Mule deer and west it is a Blacktail.

 

[eaglemountainman]

Thank you. Looks like east of Medford it’s a Mule deer and west it is a Blacktail.

Yeah, I'm gonna be close to the line, but not exactly sure which side I'll be on. I'd prefer a large pure blacktail, but one of those big benchlegs with mass wouldn't break my heart either.

 

[Dshore]

Yeah, I'm gonna be close to the line, but not exactly sure which side I'll be on. I'd prefer a large pure blacktail, but one of those big benchlegs with mass wouldn't break my heart either.

If you prefer a true Blacktail, stick to the Oregon/Washington coast range and hunt the rainforest, or go to the BC, Alaskan coastline.

 

[Professor]

Yeah, I'm gonna be close to the line, but not exactly sure which side I'll be on. I'd prefer a large pure blacktail, but one of those big benchlegs with mass wouldn't break my heart either.

nobody in GA would know. I would take the big hybrid and call him a black tail.

 

[eaglemountainman]

Hey, it's only an arbitrary line on a map, right.

 

[HuntWyld]

The deer certainly dont know about the line in the sand. The locals and ODFW consider them all blacktail because they are clearly not full fledged mule deer which we do have on the east side of the state.

 

[repins05]

Any bucks west of Highway I 5 is considered a pure bred black tail..........

 

[FishDaddy10]

Any bucks west of Highway I 5 is considered a pure bred black tail..........

There are pure bred black tails east of i5......................................

 

[Huntforever]

I know Pope and Young boundaries can be a little different then B&C. Does anyone know the Pope&Young boundaries

 

[HuntWyld]

There are pure bred black tails east of i5......................................

For sure and that is where I guide at but if you care about putting those animals into B&C then they are not eligible.

I know Pope and Young boundaries can be a little different then B&C. Does anyone know the Pope&Young boundaries

P&Y refers to B&C designated boundaries for species. So they are the same.