Whidbey Blacktail...Change their patterns?

[dimlight85]

I've been hunting piece of private land the last few weeks (late archery) and have about 7 deer (3 does, 4 bucks) coming in on my camera about 10 minutes after usable light.  I've changed spots and feed piles and the times are still the same and it's still the same deer.  The times are the same whether I'm there or not according to my camera so it doesn't seem that they know or care that I'm up in the stand.  Any tips on what I might be able to do to coax them out just 20 minutes earlier short of having buddy spook them out of their bedding area?  I've tried calls, estrous and now molasses.  They really seem to be most interested in the molasses.

Particularly, I have what seems to be a nice old 4x5 that is mostly white that may not taste great at this point but will look awesome on the wall.  He's the most cautious but is the most consistent with his timing.

[bobcat]

That's really frustrating when they're nocturnal like that and I don't think there's much you can do to change that. If you have lots of time just be persistent and keep on doing what you're doing. A change in the weather might be enough to cause them to move a little earlier. Good luck!

[dimlight85]

Thanks!  I did notice the first week of late archery we had colder weather and they were moving a little earlier but it's been relatively mild since (mid 40's).  They seem to not mind the rain and move the same but when the wind picks up heavily, I get nothing on the camera until it dies down and I never see them in the mornings.  Looks like some snow might be in the forecast next week so maybe that will help.  However, forever the optimist, my tag will be filled by then...probably.

[steeleywhopper]

Find the trail they come in on and set up further up trail as to catch them earlier.

[spin05]

i live on Camano and had like almost a 1,000 pics last year off my camera and only 5 of them where during shooting hours. So i feel your pain

[billythekidrock]

Find the trail they come in on and set up further up trail as to catch them earlier.

Yep. About the only thing you can do is leave your bait pile where it is and move your stand closer to where they are coming from.

[fishnfur]

 

Figure out where they bed and move closer to where they are when they depart to feed - and while it is still light out.  This probably means deep nasty brush.

[deerhuntr4885]

Put out less feed.  Create competition for it and a few hunger pains earlier.

[kodiak 907]

 

[sled]

Figure out where they bed and move closer to where they are when they depart to feed - and while it is still light out.  This probably means deep nasty brush.

yes, I like that idea.

[bobcat]

It's a great idea but the problem is trying to figure out where they're coming from.

[dimlight85]

I have a pretty good idea where they're coming from and where they're bedding down. The problem is, it's on someone else's property.  As is, I'm relatively close to that property line.  I'd guess I'm about 60yds away from the property line.  I did have one of the bucks on my camera work his way in a little earlier than usual today and I might have had a shot but something that didn't seem to be me, sent him another way.  I'm hoping it's because I trailed some blacktail estrous from that way.

At this point, I may need to just get lucky or...anyone got a big flashlight I can borrow? 

[sled]

I'd say 60'yards of a deer meandering is about 20 minutes atleast.  You could cut that in half to shooting light.

[fishnfur]

My gut tells me that if you're in there night after night, you'll never get them out of the nocturnal pattern.  With a 10 or so days left, I think you should target a doe and plan on hunting for that buck next September, when you haven't got your scent all over the spot.  Hunt it once a week and limit the bait. 

I'm not a bait guy at all, but if you're going to do it, put it out in the AM (next year), limit the amount and it will train the deer to get there early if they want to eat.  Late deer get no food.

[The Weazle]

I lived on Whidbey for 19 years...

If you aren't seeing the deer until 10 minutes after dark, you aren't going to until about May.  Once they go nocturnal, its over.  I would keep going out, you might get lucky, something might push them out earlier, maybe weather, maybe someone/something walking through their bedding area, but for the most part, they aren't coming out to play.

Good luck!

[bowtechian]

May just have to go for Brown it's down been watching 2 properties trying to help out a buddy & been the same thing but  I did see a couple does out midday

[fishnfur]

I had friends that lived on the east side of the island south of Penn Cove.  They had hand-fed deer come in to their door every night.  Those deer would never come out before dark either.  A mid-day doe may be the best option.

[bowtechian]

Keep your eyes peeled I just found my first drop of the season

[dimlight85]

Well fellas, that persistence patience thing worked out.  I've been trying to get this guy for over three weeks and today he made a mistake.  Not a big mistake, but early enough of a mistake to end up on my wall. He's got great character and is ooooold.  He has almost no bottom teeth! I thought I might be dealing with a piebald based on the pics but it turns out, he was just gray!

I got him just before dark at about 20yds.  He turned on me just as I released and I end up hitting him a little further back than I wanted but nonetheless, dead deer!

[bobcat]

Great job! Way to be persistent! Nice buck!

[spin05]

Beefy rack on tat old guy

[kodiak 907]

Way to stick with it! Looks heavy

[fishnfur]

Fantastic!  Love that you stuck with it and scored! Good mass on that rack!

Looks like he ate a basketball, maybe two.  Is that a tumor or is he lying on something to make him bulge like that?

[The Fin]

Awesome !!

[dimlight85]

Sorry for the late reply.  He was laying on some pretty uneven ground at the time.  The meat is delicious, even with the suspected old age of this deer!