The Best Food Plot for Blacktail Deer

   After a couple years of experimenting with what food plots work best for blacktail deer I stumbled across the easiest food plot ever.  I was actually clearing brush to extend my food plot further up an old logging road about 30' when I quit.  I came back the next day and this four point was devouring what brush I had cut down.  It was interesting because last year this happened as well.  I would suggest to everyone that wants to create a plot or scout for deer that during the months of May-July.  That they cut down salmon berry, ferns, blackberries, etc and place a camera overlooking the cutout.

   This year I planted more biologic outfitters blend and alfalfa from another company.  I have yet to see any results that would warrant more planting of either but I will wait to definitively conclude on those results.  I also plan on experimenting with attractants such as; trophy rock, apple jam, c'mere deer, and swamp donkey.  As I have mentioned before swamp donkey brings in the deer.  But during August and September activity switches to nocturnal feeding and less frequent visits.  So in conclusion food plots great for scouting but not for hunting over.

Pre-season blacktail scouting

Check out the long guard hairs on these blacktail deer.  Even the young fawn has them.  These photos were taken earlier in the year across the Hood Canal Bridge.  But its June and these guys are still packing winter coats.  Over on the Kitsap Penisula I haven't observed blacktail deer with the thick winter coats that these deer have right now. 

More Bachelor Blacktail Bucks

 These two blacktail bucks love to hang out with each other.  The picture on the right is of a small two-point buck and the one below is a goofy spike that has one point longer than the other.  Reasons for this abnormality are still unclear but it does add character.  Well its still mid July and these blacktail bucks are enjoying a good blackberry patch one of their favorite foods.  Earlier in the year they dined mostly on Salmon berry brush.

Bachelor Blacktail Bucks

Summer time is great for observing deer overlapping feeding grounds.  These two bucks are traveling together in another bucks territory.  It's hard to see in the second photo but the buck is a small spike, which is accompanying the small two point on their feeding loop.

Right side of the picture is a small spike.

Skinny Black Bear

This bear has seen better days, it frequently raids my food plot but has been missing for sometime.  Apparently suffering severe weight loss.  His hips are really poking out and I bet this bear is a problem bear in the area.  It wouldn't surprise me if this bear is bold enough to raid trash cans and garbage.  Beware of the skinny bears.

Blacktail Deer Sharing Space

             Bears and deer share a lot of the same resources and live within close proximity to each other.  I have yet to catch predator and prey in the same image but these pictures catch them almost overlapping space.  As you can see from the time stamp they just missed each other by only a couple hours.  I believe the deer waited for the bear to finish and moved in as soon as it sensed the bear was finished.

The lettuce, oats and other vegetables are growing nicely but as I found out they aren't a major food source for the deer.  As you can see very little has been eaten from the planted vegetables.

Swamp Donkey

  If you want to try experimenting with blacktail deer bait.  I would recommend trying swamp donkey.  I have tried salt blocks, Purina deer blocks, apples, but swamp donkey works the best so far.  I do need to experiment with other attractants, but so far swamp donkey is what brings them in and keeps them coming back for more.  Try it and you might be surprised.  That's what this buck is eating as he is avoiding the salt and food block in the pictures.