Post by: HunterofWA on December 03, 2016, 08:05:42 AM
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!
Post by: TONTO on December 03, 2016, 08:13:11 AM
Quote
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 :chuckle: Buy a modern tag and you'll see em during archery.
Post by: HUNTINCOUPLE on December 03, 2016, 08:19:52 AM
Post by: Bango skank on December 03, 2016, 08:26:45 AM
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. :chuckle:
Post by: HunterofWA on December 03, 2016, 08:29:57 AM
Post by: fishnfur on December 03, 2016, 12:00:42 PM
Post by: andr3wxmma on December 03, 2016, 01:26:54 PM
Post by: Firedogg on December 03, 2016, 01:41:59 PM
Post by: PolarBear on December 03, 2016, 02:39:32 PM
Post by: crowinghen on December 03, 2016, 02:57:29 PM
We can't seem to find anywhere to put out apples that the bear aren't all over them :(
Post by: HunterofWA on December 03, 2016, 03:17:37 PM
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?
Post by: fishnfur on December 03, 2016, 03:22:25 PM
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.
Post by: bobcat on December 03, 2016, 03:23:15 PM
Post by: blackveltbowhunter on December 03, 2016, 10:31:10 PM
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.
Post by: AKBowman on December 05, 2016, 07:58:11 PM
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?
Post by: HunterofWA on December 06, 2016, 02:22:39 PM
Has anyone experienced a second rut in battleground wa before, if so how to the bucks act like?
I only had a some yearling spikes, a couple 2.5 yr olds, and one 3.5 year old. So I guess I'm not looking for a big ol' brute, just basically looking into getting a nice decent buck with a bow. I'd probably shoot a spike if given the opportunity... :)
Post by: AKBowman on December 06, 2016, 05:06:08 PM
The second time I unknowingly dumped a backpack full of apples within 50 yards of a mature bucks bed. It got really cold and he showed up out of nowhere. I got lucky by checking my camera then went back and killed him the next evening. I never would've hunted that stand without seeing him on camera. I dumped apples in that spot two years in a row after that during the late archery season and never got a single picture of a deer. Goes to show how lucky I got.
Ive found hunting BT bucks in late archery to be EXTREMELY challenging.
Post by: outlawbuck on December 06, 2016, 06:40:37 PM
Not sure if the deer I seen were rutting but I seen a monster buck Saturday hanging with 3 does in the middle of the day, and a tall antlered 2pt hanging with 4 does Sunday. Both deer in daylight and they all stuck together when they took off, this is up in the Doty area.
Post by: HunterofWA on December 07, 2016, 06:22:10 PM
So your saying that the daylight movement was really because of the rut and they would just turn to complete nocturnal movement patterns?
No prob if I should, just thought It'd be fun to hunt in snow and colder weather.
Post by: bobcat on December 07, 2016, 06:32:17 PM
Post by: JDHasty on December 07, 2016, 06:36:31 PM
Post by: HunterofWA on December 07, 2016, 07:39:11 PM
Wish you all a merry Christmas and safety on the roads!
Post by: huntingbaldguy on December 08, 2016, 08:54:47 AM
Sweet COB will hold them in the late season and through the winter, but it can take a while to get them to start on it. I don't know why that is, but once they are on it it will keep,them coming.
Start with an apples and corn mix. I haven't found they'll come to a new spot for corn but they will for apples. Once there they'll remember there's still some tasty corn stuff left once the apples are gone.
Post by: JDHasty on December 08, 2016, 10:00:53 AM
Sweet COB will hold them in the late season and through the winter, but it can take a while to get them to start on it. I don't know why that is, but once they are on it it will keep,them coming.
Start with an apples and corn mix. I haven't found they'll come to a new spot for corn but they will for apples. Once there they'll remember there's still some tasty corn stuff left once the apples are gone.
Yes, either apples or carrots to get the party started with COB there if they want it. Once they get going on COB they seem to stick with it and it can be a lot more convenient than apples or carrots.