Potential hunting property to buy question

[LeeRay]

My husband and I just looked at a property for sale in Mason county around the Tahuya-Blacksmith Road area which is not too far from Pope Resources land where my husband shot a black tail buck this season. It has everything we want in a hunting property: trails, open areas, shelter, and it backs up to logging company land which we would have access to.

The problem is that we don't know if there are deer there. We walked some of the trails and saw no deer scat. We think we recognized three rubs, but not 100% certain of them. We don't know if this is normal at this time of year and the deer will be there come summer and fall, or if this is a bad spot. We went back to our favorite hunting area (on Pope land about 10 minutes away) and saw fresh scat there, so it concerns us that we saw no scat on the for sale property.

The whole area, in general, seems to have deer, so we don't know if the fact we saw no scat is important or not. We'd be able to bait if we owned the land...would that bring deer in?

We will also be contacting the neighbors at some point if we decide to seriously consider buying it.

We were told by the realtor that the prior owner's children had hunted deer on the property, but she didn't say if they had success or not. She will be asking them more questions about this.

In your opinion or experience, do people have success with deer hunting when they can bait on their own land?

The land would be a fun project for us, but seeing as the purpose is to hunt deer, we don't know if it is worth it.

[Yelper Guy]

From your description it sounds like it's got potential.
Set-up a game cam if you can.
It would be a good candidate to put in a food plot - if deer are in the area they will come.

[duckmen1]

The talk on this website is that Pope resources is selling there land to Rayonier. If that's the case it could require a permit or lease to access those timberlands. Something to look into or keep an eye on.

[birdshooter1189]

I have property near the Bremerton airport in Kitsap county.  I see deer on my property about 10 times a year.  Usually about 7 of those 10 times are when the apples are ripe on my apple trees.

I think if you plant some apple trees, the deer will come.  "Liberty" apples do well in this area.  Disease resistant and heavy producers.  Not the greatest taste for human consumption.

[fishngamereaper]

If your buying the property to hunt on I wouldn't waste the money honestly.  That area is a shadow of what it once was. Predators, poor land management, rampant poaching by brush pickers...and yes Rayonier is buying Pope so access will be limited and require the purchase of a pass..

Even if you plant the appropriate food sources the amount of deer you draw in will be limited. 

[buckfvr]

Look for DNR or NF as neighbors rather than always changing names and policies of timber companies.

[MADMAX]

If your buying the property to hunt on I wouldn't waste the money honestly.  That area is a shadow of what it once was. Predators, poor land management, rampant poaching by brush pickers...and yes Rayonier is buying Pope so access will be limited and require the purchase of a pass..

Even if you plant the appropriate food sources the amount of deer you draw in will be limited. 

Agree
Sad to say it’s not where I would Invest in any kind of hunting property
Used to see 10-20 a day 15 years ago
Anymore maybe 1-2 usually none
Head East on I 90 and drive for at least 10 hours would be a better choice

[Mudman]

Uh, NO! 

[LeeRay]

Wow, thank you all for the input. Had no idea that Pope was selling  . That is something that we will definitely take into consideration.

[jackson7]

might also consider the population increase in Kitsap which will eventually spread out to mason county.
Kitsap is fastest growing county in the state. good luck.

[lokidog]

Buy land on Decatur Island, lots of deer!

[LeeRay]

Any idea if Manke intends on selling it's land as well? The property in question actually backs up to Manke (not Pope, even though it's Pope we hunted on this past fall).

[Boss .300 winmag]

Buy land on Decatur Island, lots of deer!

I can vouch for that.

I know someone who is going to put up there property for sale on Decatur soon too.

[Alan K]

I wouldn't purachase a property banking on any private party holding their land, timber company or otherwise. 

[OutHouse]

I wouldn't purachase a property banking on any private party holding their land, timber company or otherwise. 
[/quote

He’s got a good point but assuming the land next to it stays timberland, if you bait aggressively they will come. Not sure about black tail, but deer-chow and apples put down at the same will bring in whitetail sometimes in a matter of hours.

[JimmyHoffa]

yeah, just plant a garden with things you really like...the blacktail will be all over it.

[duckmen1]

Hi Leeray. Contact Kellen manke in the sumner office and discuss with him about manke property. Nice guy and knowledgeable. He will answer any questions you have.

[LeeRay]

Thank you duckmen1!

[Remnar]

I wouldn't purachase a property banking on any private party holding their land, timber company or otherwise. 

Especially in this day,age,and region .

[jrebel]

I assume if you bait anywhere on the west side.....you will have to be selective with what you use.   Cob (sweet or dry), deer chow, other grains, etc. will likely bring more bear than deer.  A food plot would likely be the best to keep bears away. 

As for purchasing property, If it is close to home and you will use it......it is never a bad investment.  A lot of guys on here, including myself, recommend land further east than most are willing to drive.  If it is local / close, you are far more likely to use it.  If there are deer 10 miles away.....there are deer on or around that property.  Make it a project and go for it.  If it doesn't pan out, sell it 5-10 years from now and make money.   

[Bango skank]

If there are deer 10 miles away.....there are deer on or around that property. 

A lot can change in 10 miles

[follow maggie]

I also live in Kitsap and have hunted several years close nowhere you're talking about. If you're buying it strictly for the hunting, I'd not recommend it. The hunting on this peninsula has declined a lot in the last 10 years. The woods here are pressured with tons of people year round, much like what's helps wreck the hunting in the Okanogan. Rayonier is buying Pope- it's in the Seattle Times- so you'll have to pay to access that land. I've never been able to find any contact info for Manke Timber, so I've never been able to ask about access to their land for hunting.

House & apartment building is going crazy over here, and it's spreading down to where you're talking about. If you're not looking strictly for the hunting and hang onto it for 5-8 years, maybe less, you can probably make some good money.

[Alchase]

I also live in Kitsap and have hunted several years close nowhere you're talking about. If you're buying it strictly for the hunting, I'd not recommend it. The hunting on this peninsula has declined a lot in the last 10 years. The woods here are pressured with tons of people year round, much like what's helps wreck the hunting in the Okanogan. Rayonier is buying Pope- it's in the Seattle Times- so you'll have to pay to access that land. I've never been able to find any contact info for Manke Timber, so I've never been able to ask about access to their land for hunting.

House & apartment building is going crazy over here, and it's spreading down to where you're talking about. If you're not looking strictly for the hunting and hang onto it for 5-8 years, maybe less, you can probably make some good money.

 

If you are buying just for the Hunting, No, I would not.

If you want an area to live in with lots of local lakes to fish, also within close distance to the Canal for salt water fishing, crabbing, etc..., with a slight chance of hunting Blacktail close, but a great chance of hunting Blacktail with a 30-40 minute drive, and the best part, away from the East side crazy, then yes I would buy it!

I have Family that live near there, and a cabin on Hood Canal.
The quality of life is so much better there than on the East side, providing you do not have to commute for work.

[fishngamereaper]

I've been in and out of Kitsap for over 40 year's. That area will never get developed. Closes town is belfair, I mean who wants to purposely go to belfair. It's a good area to get away from it all, but it's by no means an investment opportunity.  Case in point I'm halfway between that area and Silverdale, so 15 minutes from a decent town, 25 minutes to a ferry boat, my land value has gone up about 30% in 17 years...so not a huge increase. Land values out in dewatto have been steady for the last few years. Just to long of a drive for people.

[MADMAX]

Plenty of brush pickin , trash dumping, dirt bikes  and beer drinking
Deer hunting not so much
Plenty of guys during modern
Seldom see any success though
Sketchy folks abound
Good luck

[follow maggie]

Plenty of brush pickin , trash dumping, dirt bikes  and beer drinking
Deer hunting not so much
Plenty of guys during modern
Seldom see any success though
Sketchy folks abound
Good luck

  If you hunt around here, especially on the public land, I'd bring a pistol.