Columbia Black-Tailed Deer

On this hunt we will spend time on public and private land. You will have the choice of how you would like to hunt. In the fall Craig and I will spend a lot of time out scouting and setting up tree stands and blinds. On top of stand and blind hunting, we will also be doing spot and stalk hunting. Oregon offers some of the best Blacktail hunting available, this time of year is always exciting and full of action as the deer will be rutting around. Fall Black Bear is during the same time as late archery Blacktail season so you will have the choice of hunting one or the other or both bucks and bears. Your stay with Fins and Feathers guide service will take place at the “ranch house”. The 4 bedroom 3 bath home is nestled in some of the most beautiful country that Douglas County has to offer. In the spring the surrounding hills and pastures are covered in fresh green grass. Oak trees covered in moss line the road to the lodge, among them you will find blooming daffodils in the spring and fall brings an array of autumn colors. No matter what season it is the setting is beautiful. The house has two televisions, one in the family room and the other in the master bedroom. The master bedroom has a separate entrance, deck, and hot tub. Each morning a guide will wake you up and let you know how much time you have until your departure. Ronnie, Craig’s mom, or Becky, will do the majority or the cooking during your stay. Occasionally the staff at Applebee’s pitches in. Breakfast will be available along with coffee and other beverages. Meals are flexible and we do our best to accommodate your taste. Lunch is always available; however it will not always be served at the house. If you are with us during Turkey season we may be eating in town at lunch time because a lot of the hunting leases are a bit of a drive from the house. Dinner will be served each evening when your hunt is complete. The house has two family rooms one with the television and the other a fireplace and two couches. Everyone here at the house strives to make your stay a lasting memory. We all enjoy what we do and getting to know all our guests. If you find pleasure in walking, the road’s on the ranch will be sure to satisfy you.

Offering fully guided Columbian blacktail deer hunts in the backcountry and wilderness of California’s B zones. Guides spend the summer scouting and patterning big bucks so that they can get you in the perfect position for the shot when the season comes. If you are interested in a spot and stalk hunt in truly spectacular country chasing mature blacktail bucks this may be the perfect adventure for you. We have a team of pack llamas to haul in comfortable camps and aid in game retrieval. We offer two styles of hunts to suit the guest(s) preferences: A true wilderness experience where we will camp deep in the backcountry and in many cases can glass excellent country right from camp. Hunts closer to the road system where we spike out for the day but make camp in dispersed or designated camping areas near roads. Both styles are physically demanding and require early mornings and long days of glassing. Days are often hot, but we get our fair share of cold or even snow at times. The reward for hard work can pay off in the memories, meat, and antlers of the unique Columbian Blacktail. The Hunt A “typical” day with your blacktail deer hunting guide consists of rising well before the sun and having a quick bite to eat. Wilderness hunting camps are placed at or very near prime glassing locations. Using high quality optics on tripods we will pick apart the mountainsides looking for any part of a deer. Once a shooter buck is spotted we will plan a stalk based on the weapon, wind, the animals direction of travel, and the contours of the land. During archery season, when bucks are in velvet, we see 3-4 times as many bucks than during the general season; however, stalks must be made with patience. Just prior to the general season bucks lose their velvet and have developed a sixth sense for staying alive. These bucks tend to hole up in thicker country. Spotting them becomes the more challenging aspect – once located we can often slip within rifle range for a shot. If a shooter buck has not been spotted by mid-morning, or if other hunters in your group have not yet had an opportunity, we may move locations slightly to get views of new territory. We move more with our glass than our bodies once in a good location. Bucks can be seen at any hour of daylight and we will glass all day if needed. As dusk approaches we will make sure to be in a strategic position to spot bucks as they rise from their day beds. At dark we will head back to camp for a good meal and to relive the days hunt before getting much needed sleep. After a kill we immediately field process the animal to get it cooled off. Depending on the weather we may hang the trophy and quarters in camp or have the llamas pack them out to the vehicle to get them on ice. Deer hunts may also be combined with bear hunts. During our summer scouting trips we see numerous quality black bears in the same areas deer hunts are conducted. Notes: Our guides work extremely hard, year-round to get you in the right location, however, there is no guarantees in hunting. Very few outfits offer fully-guided Columbian Blacktail hunts on public land; that’s because it’s one of the most difficult animals to hunt due to their elusive behavior and the rough terrain. Some of the biggest bucks live in the remote locations that we hunt and we wouldn’t have it any other way. If a shot is made and blood is drawn, that’s considered your animal whether recovered or not. Be proficient with your weapon of choice. Please contact us if you’re seeking a Columbian blacktail deer hunting guide. We’ll discuss your groups needs and we can tell you about the bucks we have been seeing and how best to get you on them.

Offering fully guided Columbian blacktail deer hunts in the backcountry and wilderness of California’s B zones. Guides spend the summer scouting and patterning big bucks so that they can get you in the perfect position for the shot when the season comes. If you are interested in a spot and stalk hunt in truly spectacular country chasing mature blacktail bucks this may be the perfect adventure for you. We have a team of pack llamas to haul in comfortable camps and aid in game retrieval. We offer two styles of hunts to suit the guest(s) preferences: A true wilderness experience where we will camp deep in the backcountry and in many cases can glass excellent country right from camp. Hunts closer to the road system where we spike out for the day but make camp in dispersed or designated camping areas near roads. Both styles are physically demanding and require early mornings and long days of glassing. Days are often hot, but we get our fair share of cold or even snow at times. The reward for hard work can pay off in the memories, meat, and antlers of the unique Columbian Blacktail. The Hunt A “typical” day with your blacktail deer hunting guide consists of rising well before the sun and having a quick bite to eat. Wilderness hunting camps are placed at or very near prime glassing locations. Using high quality optics on tripods we will pick apart the mountainsides looking for any part of a deer. Once a shooter buck is spotted we will plan a stalk based on the weapon, wind, the animals direction of travel, and the contours of the land. During archery season, when bucks are in velvet, we see 3-4 times as many bucks than during the general season; however, stalks must be made with patience. Just prior to the general season bucks lose their velvet and have developed a sixth sense for staying alive. These bucks tend to hole up in thicker country. Spotting them becomes the more challenging aspect – once located we can often slip within rifle range for a shot. If a shooter buck has not been spotted by mid-morning, or if other hunters in your group have not yet had an opportunity, we may move locations slightly to get views of new territory. We move more with our glass than our bodies once in a good location. Bucks can be seen at any hour of daylight and we will glass all day if needed. As dusk approaches we will make sure to be in a strategic position to spot bucks as they rise from their day beds. At dark we will head back to camp for a good meal and to relive the days hunt before getting much needed sleep. After a kill we immediately field process the animal to get it cooled off. Depending on the weather we may hang the trophy and quarters in camp or have the llamas pack them out to the vehicle to get them on ice. Deer hunts may also be combined with bear hunts. During our summer scouting trips we see numerous quality black bears in the same areas deer hunts are conducted. Notes: Our guides work extremely hard, year-round to get you in the right location, however, there is no guarantees in hunting. Very few outfits offer fully-guided Columbian Blacktail hunts on public land; that’s because it’s one of the most difficult animals to hunt due to their elusive behavior and the rough terrain. Some of the biggest bucks live in the remote locations that we hunt and we wouldn’t have it any other way. If a shot is made and blood is drawn, that’s considered your animal whether recovered or not. Be proficient with your weapon of choice. Please contact us if you’re seeking a Columbian blacktail deer hunting guide. We’ll discuss your groups needs and we can tell you about the bucks we have been seeing and how best to get you on them.

Douglas county has produced some of the largest Columbia Blacktail taken anywhere in the world. This area is known for having exceptional buck quality. We have over 10,000 acres of the best ranches Douglas County has to offer. We are local residents and manage these properties year-round and our experience ensures you have a positive hunting experience. Your stay with Fins and Feathers guide service will take place at the “ranch house.” The 4 bedroom 3 bath home is nestled in some of the most beautiful country that Douglas County has to offer. In the spring the surrounding hills and pastures are covered in fresh green grass. Oak trees covered in moss line the road to the lodge, among them you will find blooming daffodils in the spring and fall brings an array of autumn colors. No matter what season it is the setting is beautiful. The house has two televisions, one in the family room and the other in the master bedroom. The master bedroom has a separate entrance, deck, and hot tub. Each morning a guide will wake you up and let you know how much time you have until your departure. Ronnie, Craig’s mom, or Becky, will do the majority or the cooking during your stay. Occasionally the staff at Applebee’s pitches in. Breakfast will be available along with coffee and other beverages. Meals are flexible and we do our best to accommodate your taste. Lunch is always available; however it will not always be served at the house. If you are with us during Turkey season we may be eating in town at lunch time because a lot of the hunting leases are a bit of a drive from the house. Dinner will be served each evening when your hunt is complete. The house has two family rooms one with the television and the other a fireplace and two couches. Everyone here at the house strives to make your stay a lasting memory. We all enjoy what we do and getting to know all our guests. If you find pleasure in walking, the road’s on the ranch will be sure to satisfy you.