Show Notes
Blacktail deer might be one of North America’s most underrated big-game hunts—and Mark Boardman is here to explain why. From Washington’s rugged high-country rifle hunts to the rain-soaked timberlands of the Pacific Northwest, he shares what makes these elusive deer so challenging and rewarding to pursue.
Mark has spent nearly 18 years at Vortex Optics, but his connection to blacktails goes back to growing up hunting them in western Washington. In this conversation, he explains what makes Columbia and Sitka blacktails unique, where hunters can find them, and how a memorable high-country hunt produced a buck of a lifetime.
You’ll hear about:
- Why access can be more challenging than getting a tag
- How to scout habitat edges, rubs, and overlooked logging roads
- Why rainy days can be productive for still-hunting
- When blacktail rut activity typically picks up
- How high-country hunts differ from low-country timber hunts
- Which whitetail tactics can also work on blacktails
Mark also shares stories from hunts in Washington and Alaska, discusses his upcoming Oregon hunt with his dad and brother, and explains why he keeps pursuing blacktails even when bigger-antlered deer are an option. For hunters looking to explore new country and try a different kind of deer hunt, this episode offers useful insight and plenty of inspiration.
