Blacktail - Small private property - Tactics

[Theoutdoorsman]

Hunting a small private parcel (12acres) in king county area. Seeing deer and tracks all over place, including scat. Seen a few bucks following doe a couple times over last week and half. Wondering if any of you have hunted small tracks and what your tactics have been? Thinking about putting out some bait (apples or cob). You recommend bait? If so, what? This track hasn’t been pressured before in terms of hunters any edges and I think may be used to car noises and even some people as houses border parts of the track.

[lokidog]

Apples!

Dial your gun in for a good head/neck shot so no tracking is involved. Apples will help keep their head stationary as well.

[bobcat]

Best thing would be a tree stand both for safety and keeping your scent above ground level. For bait best thing is apples. If you get a tree stand try the ladder stand type. They're heavy and not quick to put up, but since it's private land you can leave it up all season.

[highside74]

Apples Apples and then add some apples for good measure.

[Coy86]

I use apples and  a tree stand or ground blind. They may take a week or 2 to start on the apples and the bucks my not est them at all with the rut starting but the does will which means the bucks will be around.  Goodluck

[bornhunter]

I put out apples yesterday and "whamo" took a pig of a four point this afternoon. Works every time! Out of a ground blind.

[lokidog]

I use apples and  a tree stand or ground blind. They may take a week or 2 to start on the apples and the bucks my not est them at all with the rut starting but the does will which means the bucks will be around.  Goodluck

Somewhat random spot had my target deer on the camera the morning after putting apples out.

I like to stomp some and grind others into the bark of the surrounding trees to get the scent out quickly. When archery hunting, I put some behind trees or in holes so the deer have to hide their head from me to eat.

[fishnfur]

From my experience, it takes doe less than 24 hours to find apples, especially if you cut some (or stomp) up and put them near the others.  At this point in the season, you're not trying to feed bucks.  Your efforts should be aimed at getting doe to hang around, which in turn will attract the bucks that you seek. 

12 acres is plenty of land if there is forested areas outside the property and in the immediate area.  Walk the perimeter to find the heaviest used trails and set up there and if baiting, put your apples out in an area where you have shooting lanes.

[Dark2Dark]

How long does it take them to go through the apples once they find them? A day?

I’m thinking about packing some in, so there won’t be that many. I’ll probably use buck jam to help with some lasting smell and flavor.

[Hilltop123]

 

[blackveltbowhunter]

I put out apples yesterday and "whamo" took a pig of a four point this afternoon. Works every time! Out of a ground blind.

Awesome!!! Congrats!

[lokidog]

How long does it take them to go through the apples once they find them? A day?

I’m thinking about packing some in, so there won’t be that many. I’ll probably use buck jam to help with some lasting smell and flavor.

I try to only have them available during daylight so don't put too many out at a time. You can also hand some out of reach in a mesh bag to provide scent. They are used to cruising trees to see if there are any newly fallen ones.
When hunting over them, keep some in reserve so you can restock if the does cruise through and eat them before a buck shows up.