Okay you blacktail masters, I need your help

[Tbob]

Okay guys, need some strategic advice. Trying to fill my archery tag for the late season starting at the end of the week. I’ve got a tree farm permit and know the area pretty well. Just not sure of the best way to try and fill this tag?? Glass clearcuts and spot and stalk, sit trails in the timber, still hunt the edges of cuts??? These deer always get the best of me! What would you guys do? It’s the classic timber company type of area on the west side... clearcuts, timber, re-prod.  Thanks for any ideas to get this tag filled!!

[3nails]

 Have access to some apples? Bucks are REALLY hungry right now.

[Tbob]

Nope. I don’t unfortunately

[Dark2Dark]

Nope. I don’t unfortunately

I saw some at Fred Meyers the other day!

If you hurry, they might have some left!!

[Crunchy]

I would get the wind right and slowly walk the edges of clearcuts with some tall timber nearby. 

[Backstrap]

Get as far away from a road as you feasibly can. Find 5-10 year old reprod with good rubs or other sign. Still hunt (in to the wind of course) until you find a good setup, then Rattle.

Be ready to shoot. The rattled buck can come and go in the time it takes to pick up your bow.

Good luck, have fun.
.
.

[highside74]

Nope. I don’t unfortunately

Plenty of pate season apples still hanging on to so e trees in my area. Drive the older neighborhoods or rural areas and knock on doors that still have apples. They will let you take your fill I guarantee it. The apples have froze at least once and are no good to humans anymore.

[skagitsteel]

Have access to some apples? Bucks are REALLY hungry right now.

Very true.  I have a baited bind set up for my wife in late archery, it started getting hit pretty good this past week, doesn't take much 5 gallon bucket once a week keeps them coming back.  Wet cobb would be second to apples

[Tbob]

Thanks for all the advise. I’ll probably skip the apples/bait this year, but maybe I’ll try and be a little more prepared for next season.

[fishnfur]

If not baiting, then I would suggest a rattling setup as Backstap recommended.

I just went back through my old messages and found this short statement by PolarBear who is a very good hunter: 

"If I was hunting late season I would still do a drag line but sit in a spot and watch the edges of the timber or saddles where they cross to feed.  I usually don't call or rattle after the middle of November.  The bucks are not as interested in does and are now in the feed before it gets really cold mode. You could try some light rattling or doe bleats just don't go overboard with it.  I have seen bucks come back into rut at the end of December.  I helped an old timer kill a HUGE 5x5 on New Year's Eve a few years back that was pushing a doe really hard.  It was the one and only time I have seen a blacktail buck in full rut that late in the year." 

My first instinct would be to rattle loudly hoping to get noticed by every buck within earshot.  Perhaps his way first, then louder later.  Keep moving periodically to areas outside the sound range of the last location.  The quasi-biologist in me thinks that bucks don't come and go in and out of rut, they just continue to respond to an estrus doe until they loose their antlers.  The buck may have been focused on eating previously, but if a hot doe is close, food is quickly forgotten and all he wants to do is breed.   

[Lapua338]

Always get the wind right, put yourself between bedding areas and the edge of a 3-5 year old cut. Find a well used game trail, chill of the trail but in bow range. They are bound to pass by in the late evenings.