Best late season Blacktail tactics

[pd]

Wow!! Some seriously great advise here! Thanks so much! So at the moment I don't have a treestand so I'm totally fine making a small make-shift blind on the ground. And yes, this unit is an "any buck unit". So for you guys with the apple tree scenarios, do you typically find old Apple orchards or trees on the private timber company lands?

Even in an "any buck" unit, look for the ladies.  Follow them, or, if they are not moving, then stay there.

Apple trees are anywhere/everywhere.  It is crazy.  But they are around only if somebody planted them (they are not natives).  You won't find them in clearcuts, or any timber less than 20 or 30 years old.  Look for abandoned orchards or farms, swampy areas--but be careful not to trespass on private lands.  Never in old growth timber. 

[JDHasty]

I used to hunt Ft Lewis and abandoned apple trees are all over Ft Lewis.  They are easy to locate from the air in the spring when they are in bloom if you have a friend w/a private plane, but that doesn't help ya' right now.

Asking kids is probably the most productive way to find abandoned homesteads/apple trees.  Since you are archery hunting I am assuming that being close to civilization and gaining hunting access is not going to be a major malfunction. I have not found it difficult to gain access w/a bow.  It sounds like you live there, if it were me I would be looking at hunting in close proximity to humans. 

[fishnfur]

I wish I had something good to offer.  I know you have a spot in mind, but if it were me, I'd be as close to Longbeach on public land as I could get.  The Longbeach peninsula has almost no hunting pressure and lots and lots of deer running the neighborhoods.   Perhaps somewhere like...... 

http://www.fws.gov/refuge/willapa/visitor_activities/hunting.html

Good posts everyone.

[sRaud]

Pretend your elk hunting they'll walk out right in front you.

[billythekidrock]

Still hunt the thicker cuts or uneven terrain in the larger timber.

[steeleywhopper]

I've killed more late season blacktails around 10am than any other time of the day.

[huntingbaldguy]

We saw a lot of deer while i was hoping to be a pack mule for my buddy in modern elk opening weekend.  We pushed through a lot of timber that should have held good elk numbers, but all we saw were blacktail.  So go to the ugly places elk usually go, and you will find blacktail.  Just be aware they will probably spot you first so be ready for a quick shot.

[RadSav]

My best late season blacktail tactic is simple...spend every single moment of light in the woods.  Don't take the afternoon off, don't sleep in, don't leave early.  Late blacktail are seen at any moment of the day regardless of weather.  And double down on your diligence between 1:am and 2:pm

[Tbob]

Thanks for all he great advise and tactics everyone! This place is awesome!! I'll be sure and let everybody know how it goes out there. I've got exactly 6 full days of hunting so hopefully between my brother and I we can get it done! Thanks again for all the advise! I'm praying that this is my year that I actually get to notch a tag and not just clean it out of my pack next year when I purchase a new one:-)

[Old Man Yager]

My best late season blacktail tactic is simple...spend every single moment of light in the woods.  Don't take the afternoon off, don't sleep in, don't leave early.  Late blacktail are seen at any moment of the day regardless of weather.  And double down on your diligence between 1:am and 2:pm

.  they will show up when you least expect it. Like Radav said, stay in the woods as much as possible, and keep you eyes wide open. I'm starting to really watch places that others don't even bother to look at. Areas near main roads that other hunters ignore are going to hold deer. If they think they are safe and nobody spooks them, they will just lay low and let people pass right by.

[Tbob]

For sure! I'll have a pack with water and lunch in it and plan on being out from dark to dark. Makes it a little easier to be out all day when the days are short.. Interesting about times of day you guys seem to see and shoot things..

[fishnfur]

I agree with that statement.  Hard to hunt from 0600 till 2030 without taking a serious break.

[Tbob]

Early archery kills me sometimes.. Up at 3:30am.. Hiking in the dark to where ever destination.. Wait for the sun to come up and then hunt until dark, 9:30 pm ish and then a few hours of walking out in the dark.. Usually to tired to make anything "real" for dinner.. Have a beer with whatever I could muster up for dinner and then repeat! Day 3 I'm usually pretty spent. I wonder how many animals have walked right by me while I've been napping under some random stump?!?! 

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

I agree with that statement.  Hard to hunt from 0600 till 2030 without taking a serious break.

Except it gets dark at 1700 during late season ...
You must really put on some miles.

[STIKNSTRINGBOW]

Early archery kills me sometimes.. Up at 3:30am.. Hiking in the dark to where ever destination.. Wait for the sun to come up and then hunt until dark, 9:30 pm ish and then a few hours of walking out in the dark.. Usually to tired to make anything "real" for dinner.. Have a beer with whatever I could muster up for dinner and then repeat! Day 3 I'm usually pretty spent. I wonder how many animals have walked right by me while I've been napping under some random stump?!?!

But September is soo much fun!!