I am focusing on finally learning how to fish a bucktail jig effectively. I confess I have not spent hours on the internet searching but all the jigs I have looked at have artificial tails. I have found fly tying stores that sell real deer tail hair, but I don't tie my own anymore. Anyone know a source for quality, real deer hair bucktail jigs?

I don’t tie but get all mine from Jimmy Ds River bugs. He might be able to head you in the right direction

Bucktail is a really great material to fish with. Its naturally tapered and hollow, so its buoyant and moves very well under the water. Surf and Inshore guys that truly master the art of tying and fishing different types of bucktails are few and far between. Just coming proficient and knowing what color, density of tie, head style and trailer for max efficiency is a real accomplishment.

While it doesnt translate as well in the FW I fish, I've found that smaller/lighter ball and aspirin heads with hooks from #4-#1 are lights out in cold water. I just take the shorter lengths of tails I have left over tie then on a light wired crappie jighead, add some colored tinself or flashibou for an accent. I use a 2"-3" grub, swimbait or little jerbait style trailer on that tail and I can just shake the slack and stroll it dead slow in less than 2' of water on a sunny January day and just smash em. Really great to throw on a BFS outfit as well.

The availability for bucktail has recovered a bit, but its still scarce in comparison to a few years ago. The more colored whole tails, like white(natural), chartreuse, flor. yellow , red, wine (deep red) aren't terribly hard to get in smaller tail sizes for $10-$12 or $13. The more premium larger tails are with longer fibers, typically labeled Saltwater Tails are $15-$25 depending on quality.

Bucktail being a natural product means that there's a process to curing the product. Its time consuming and can be a little "too much" for people who aren't used to processing game or fish. Some companies like BPS's "White RIver" gets them from the cheapest bidder. I think they try to rush the process, especially with heavily dyed tails. When you bag up a bucktail that isnt cured, it gets moldy.

If youre willing to do go an extra step and save some money, ask a friend who deer hunts or if you know a butcher ask them. I don't go this far, but I know a couple guys who have cut tails off deer that been hit recently.

Its a fun little hobby that isnt as involved as fly tying. Its nice to do on a winter Sunday if the water is frozen or the inlaws come over.

Of course you can buy them premade. They arent as easy to find anymore, as most big companies are using cheaper craft hair, duck/chicken feathers or other synthetic materials. VMC still makes a bucktail. Works well, but doesn't last more than a few dozen bass or a couple pickerel.

Good Luck and tight lines.

I have a question related to this topic. My uncle insisted that only the tail of a buck deer could be used, Not...a tail from a doe. My question is, is there a difference other than male and female?

I don’t know how anyone would be able to tell. I’ve been to deer processing plants and seen tubs full of deer tails which were going to be sent off to some company.

6 hours ago, VTFan said:

I have a question related to this topic. My uncle insisted that only the tail of a buck deer could be used, Not...a tail from a doe. My question is, is there a difference other than male and female?

It depends when the animal was harvested. Female tails in the spring are pink to attract mates in the spring. The older more mature bucks have super bright chartreuse tails. That way the younger deer can easily see them coming and tell each other, "Get back! He's crazy."

Or they could be exaclty the same except that bucks are larger than does and subsequently have a larger/longer tail.

I'm one of the guys that goes to the deer processors and is given as many tails as I can use. I wash them, detick them, salt the hide and use them to tie real bucktails.

Tying your own isn't hard. You will need a vise, bobbin, strong thread. I recommend 3/0 or 200 denier. After tying, superglue the thread.

Jim’s creek side river flies.

Does a lot of buck tails and fishes what he ties.

I believe Beast Coast makes a hybrid of buck tail and silicon.