Even a planer can leave mill marks. Here are three simple methods for cleaning tapers. This tool does a great job of cleaning up sawmarks. I generally go straight from the bandsaw to the jointer. I set the infeed table for a light cut and use a push stick.
Jointer cleans up tapers quickly.
A few light passes over the jointer should clean up any mill marks or other surface irregularities left after roughing out a leg by machine. To avoid tearout, you should cut with the grain. That usually means the narrow end of the leg is last to go over the cutterhead. Inspect the taper first, though, checking for grain direction as well as for any high spots that may need to be taken down by hand before you joint the whole length of the taper. Check, too, to see if one end or another needs more wood removed.