“The Grey Ghost of the West Coast” has a loyal following of hunters who pursue them in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, and California. Odocoileus hemonius columbianus, is more commonly refered to as the Columbian Blacktail deer, of just “blacktails”. For record keeping purposes, the Blacktail is found in the Western regions of the states named previously. The arbitrary line determined by the Boone and Crockett and Pope and Young clubs is placed so as to prevent entries of mule deer into the Blacktail class.
A Pope and Young Blacktail can be in one of four kinds
Typical
Non Typical
Typical Velvet
Non Typical Velvet
Velvet Entries are accepted in their own category, but to be “ranked” the velvet has to be removed
A typical Blacktail has measurements totaling more than 90 inches. Most good sized Forked horns with eyeguards will qualify for record book status. The “normal” main frame is 5 points on each antler (eye guard, front fork, back fork)
In order to be entered as a non typical the minimum score is 125 inches. A Non typical rack has “abnormal points in addition to the Forked main frame and eyeguards. While these points measurements are a deduction in typical scores, they are added in the nontypical scoring .
In order to be accepted in the non typical category, the antler score as a nontypical should be more points above the non typical minimum score than as a typical deer. Usually that level occurs when there are more than 7 4/8ths inches of abnormal points.
Oregon has the most Entries, as well as the world record Blacktail deer. Not far behind is California. With archery seasons that open in July, California leads the pack in Velvet entries.
Click on the Thumbnails below to see larger tables:
Washington and British Columbia certainly contribute their fair share of entries, but California and Oregon each have more entries than them combined. Late season hunts in Oregon have a higher likelihood of pursuing deer during the rut, but every bowhunter should know the joy of hunting in California heat in the 90-100′s! Either way the Columbian Blacktail is a worthy adversary, and has humbled many a bowhunter.
