Estimated reading time: 6 minutes
A Sitka Blacktail deer hunt in Alaska has been on my bucket list for years. This year I decided to make it happen. I wanted to go DIY, and after extensive research, I decided to travel to southeast Alaska early in the season and climb to the alpine country with a bivy camp on my back. It would be a lot of work, but I could do things my way and on my schedule.
Table of contents
The climb turned out to be the gnarliest I’ve ever made. I’ve climbed farther and higher, but never before had to fight such a tangled jungle of Devil’s Club, massive downed logs, slippery boulders, and truly steep, wet terrain.
My friend Sam who lives in the area warned me about how hard it could be, and he was spot on – to do this hunt you must be in good shape and tough. My hunting buddy Nathan Robinson and I eventually made the top, breaking into the alpine country just as dusk settled over the landscape.
Rifle, Ammo, And Optics
My rifle for this hunt was a proven Browning X-Bolt chambered in 6.8 Western. Snugly mounted in Talley rings is a lovely Leupold VX6 HD 2-12X42 riflescope, complete with a CDS ZL2 Turret. I don’t have a custom dial installed on this scope, instead choosing to utilize the MOA turret paired with the ballistic software on a new Revic Acura BLR10b smart binocular.
When I range a target the binocular factors in my ballistics and current atmospherics, and then provides a dial-to solution in MOA. I crank the dial to that number and hold the crosshairs dead on target.
My ammo was Winchester’s 162-grain Copper Impact load, sporting a G1 BC of .564 and traveling at 2897 fps. This load shoots well from my X-Bolt, grouping well under an inch at 100 yards.
The Hunt For the Sitka Blacktail
Morning of our second day on the mountain found Nathan and I glassing the undulating ridges and hummocks of southeast Alaska’s alpine country. Much to our delight deer seemed to be everywhere, and I eventually spotted a good buck feeding his way up the face of a ridge. He was within range, but the shot would be slightly long at just under 400 yards. I found a good prone position on the mossy ground and snapped my Spartan bipod to my rifle, settling in for the shot. The buck was relaxed and feeding, working his way higher on the ridge face.
The morning was chilly, and in a stroke of pure stupidity, I had left my coat at the cabin down below before we climbed to the alpine two days earlier. I’d been okay until now, but the combination of chill temperatures, adrenaline, and being belly-down on cold wet moss was giving me the shakes. I breathed slow and deep and focused on staying relaxed, needing to be calm to make this cross-canyon shot.
Finally, the buck turned broadside and partially emerged from the brush. The distance was 392 yards, and my turret was set. There was no wind at all. I snicked off the safety and placed my finger on the trigger.
Take The Shot?
Place yourself in my position, belly down in the alpine moss in S.E. Alaska’s mountains, a good Sitka blacktail buck in your crosshairs. The shot is a little long but you’re prepared for that. Your scope is dialed for the distance. There is no wind, and the shot should be very doable.
Two elements complicate the situation; first, you’re cold and adrenaline-ridden, and having to focus hard to stay steady. Second, the buck is in deeply dappled shadows, making it tough to see his outline and locate the vitals. He’s broadside, with his hindquarters obscured by several small tree trunks. His vitals are completely open (finally), and the buck is relaxed and feeding. The safety is off, your finger on the trigger. Will you take the shot?
Here’s What Happened (True Story)
I took the shot. I was steady and calm enough to feel good about pressing the trigger, and I managed to see the buck well enough through the shadows to get a semi-clean sight picture. At the shot, the buck bolted downhill and was gone, seemingly shot through both shoulders. And that’s in fact what we found – the buck lay dead in a small rivulet. My shot was a bit low, going through the heart and breaking bone on both sides. Thanks to the solid copper bullet I still had full penetration despite impacting so much bone.
Sitka Blacktail Hunt: Conclusion
Would I take that shot again? Yes, I would. However, I think I would wait even longer (I’d already waited 15 minutes or so), hoping the buck would step into the sunshine so I could see him better. I would risk becoming even colder and thereby getting the shakes for real, but I could have done some pushups as I waited, warming myself a bit.
What do you think? Would you take that shot?
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