"Southern" bucktail

[OkobojiEagle]

I've seen sites promote "Northern" bucktail, but I'd like to find some "Southern" bucktails.  Any help?

 

 

oe

[smalljaw67]

You won't find them because the hair from white tail deer in the south and mule deer isn't of good quality. The bucktails and body hair from northern white tails is taken when they have their winter coat, the hair has a neutral color which makes it accept dye better and the body hair is thicker and stronger. I asked Bob Clouser a longtime ago about tying with black tail or mule deer and he told me the hair isn't any good, he also said that white tail deer that is harvested in southern areas is kind of the same, they get winter coats just like the deer that live in the north but it is still too thin to really tie anything of quality with.  I asked because the day I saw him at a show I just happened to be watching a hunting program on T.V. and they were going after mule deer, and it made me wonder about using it for hair jigs so when he was at that show I got to ask him that question since it was fresh on my mind. Coming from him it satisfied my curiosity and I never looked into it after that.

[OkobojiEagle]

I've read that "southern" bucktails are softer than northern bucktail and was interested in trying a little to compare... well I'll continue to be quite selective in choosing my tails.

 

 

oe

[WRB]

Buck tail could also be a doe tail if either sex hunting is allowed and most states do allow that.

What is important regarding deer tail hair is length with good taper in lieu of short coarse hair. When tying with animal hair it's important not to cut off the tapered ends.

If you want soft hair use rabbit hair, either northern or southern.

Tom

PS, good info Smalljaw67

 

[OkobojiEagle]

45 minutes ago, WRB said:

 

If you want soft hair use rabbit hair, either northern or southern.

 

 

Bunny wouldn't make a very good shoulder... I do use palmered cross-cut rabbit as body material though.

 

 

oe

[teamhillbilly2012]

Try calf fail or Fox tail,Squirrel is a little short most of the time but if you're able to find a big foxsquirrel your in business,I've used many many southern deer tails both buck and doe. Some are better the others, you might want to lookup preacher jigs.David Fritts won the classic back in the day using them if memory serve me. I still make a few Dozen every year.

Edited February 20, 2018 by teamhillbilly2012
Fat fingers small keyboard

[thinkingredneck]

I live in MS and have access to local bucktail.  Not as good as the northern bucktail.  I will try to dig one out for you, if you'd like.

[OkobojiEagle]

Thinkingredneck... I was told by an aquaintance that they thought bucktail from southern deer was softer than that most often found from northern bucks.  This is probably just an individual opinion with no basis in fact.

 

oe