Baiting blacktails during the late season?

[HunterofWA]

Hey everyone,

So I know it's only been two months since I tagged out, and I'm already thinking about next year...

I'm not sure if I want to continue archery, (not forever, just for a little while) because I had a whole bunch of bucks during MF season come in during daylight, and I'm positive they were there because of the rut.

So basically what's making the decision hard is that I had a whole lot of bucks during the rut, but getting time to hunt during week days is near to impossible, during late archery I have a 2 week long Christmas brake, which gives me a whole lot of time. But the problem is, I don't think the bucks will hang out very long afterward into the late archery season.

Granted, I ran out of apples about a week ago, and since then the bucks have disappeared. Before than I had a bazillion bucks of all sizes come everyday.

Has anyone had success with baiting black tail bucks throughout the late archery season, even though the bucks only seem to use that area as their rutting grounds?

Is there a way I can pull those mature bucks into daylight movement during late archery? or is it just better to buy the MF tag and hunting either archery or gun?

Thanks in advance!

[TONTO]

I'm not sure if I want to continue archery, (not forever, just for a little while) because I had a whole bunch of bucks during MF season come in during daylight, and I'm positive they were there because of the rut.

Pretty sure they were there because you didn't have a modern tag Buy a modern tag and you'll see em during archery.

[HUNTINCOUPLE]

Keep the bait out and keep the does around and the bucks will come. But then TONTOS theroy is pretty accurate. 

[Bango skank]

Granted, I ran out of apples about a week ago, and since then the bucks have disappeared. Before than I had a bazillion bucks of all sizes come everyday.

A bazillion bucks a day sounds like it would be some fierce competition for 10 gallons of apples.   

[HunterofWA]

OK, ok... Maybe not a bazillion a day, but when you pull the card after three days and see you just got 567 pics... maybe that a good amount of activity. There were at least 2-3 during daylight, and the rest at night. They ate I think a total of 900 pounds of apples. over a space of time...

[fishnfur]

No apple cider this year. 

[andr3wxmma]

I always seem to see bucks when I can't legally shoot them too. I saw a 3 by 3 last weekend bedded down within eye sight of a road in an area that was open for hunting....

[Firedogg]

Keep the apples around and you keep the deer around. This time of year they will go where the food sources are that require the least amount of energy expended.

[PolarBear]

Bucks get hungry after the rut and are looking to replace lost fat from pushing does

[crowinghen]

What area are you hunting?
We can't seem to  find anywhere to put out apples that the bear aren't all over them

[HunterofWA]

The edge of battleground in a forty acre 6-7 year old clear cut outside of a rural neighborhood.

So you guys are saying that the bucks will still most likely hang around after the rut? If that's so I should just by the archery tag next season?

[fishnfur]

There was a similar thread a day or two ago:  http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,205317.0.html

Bucks will likely be almost completely nocturnal again in the post rut except for the case of a second/third estrous doe coming into heat, which might have them out in the daytime.  They and the does will eat all the apples you put out, but mostly at night.

[bobcat]

I think your best chance of killing a good buck with an archery tag is during the early archery season the first week.

[blackveltbowhunter]

  Buy mulit season and hunt both. I have hunted both weapons and all seasons with the 2. Being fortunate to take nice bucks with both. I Love bowhunting and have only hunted with a rifle twice in the last dozen years, ( both times on multi tags). But I also love rifle season. If mature bucks are your thing , then IMO you will be better off hunting the limited time you have in rifle than 2 weeks in late December.  The one and only caveat would be if your hunting an elevation where snow is more likley to fall. Then rolling the dice may play out.

   My experience with bait (natural and not placed, if that matters) is food will never pull your top tier bucks out in the daylight unless we have a good run of very cold weather and the food source is near his bedding area. If you can get those ingredients theres a chance. Even in September you may get nice 2.5 and maybe some 3.5 year old deer, but the vast majority of 4.5 and up will not show in daylight hours until the rut.

[AKBowman]

  Buy mulit season and hunt both. I have hunted both weapons and all seasons with the 2. Being fortunate to take nice bucks with both. I Love bowhunting and have only hunted with a rifle twice in the last dozen years, ( both times on multi tags). But I also love rifle season. If mature bucks are your thing , then IMO you will be better off hunting the limited time you have in rifle than 2 weeks in late December.  The one and only caveat would be if your hunting an elevation where snow is more likley to fall. Then rolling the dice may play out.

   My experience with bait (natural and not placed, if that matters) is food will never pull your top tier bucks out in the daylight unless we have a good run of very cold weather and the food source is near his bedding area. If you can get those ingredients theres a chance. Even in September you may get nice 2.5 and maybe some 3.5 year old deer, but the vast majority of 4.5 and up will not show in daylight hours until the rut.

How does hunting in the snow change your tactics for BT bucks?