Clay Hanback, Author at Big Deer

28 08, 2020

5 Tips for Fall Deer Food Plots

Clay Hanback2020-08-28T14:17:57-04:00August 28th, 2020|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Management, whitetail deer|1 Comment

As you read this it is time to plant a few cool-season food plots on your land. While these ½- to 2-acre green strips and patches provide deer with some nutrition for a short time, they are designed mainly to pull the animals out of cover and into shooting range and ultimately into your freezer. Note: If that sounds like baiting, it is indeed a controversy that pops up from time to time. I don’t see fall plots as baiting at all, but some people do. NO states consider food plots as bait—planted food plots are legal everywhere—so that is all matters. You might or might not kill a buck in or near one of the plots, but you will [...]

25 08, 2020

When Do Bucks Shed Velvet?

Clay Hanback2020-08-25T09:42:44-04:00August 25th, 2020|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Science, whitetail deer|Comments Off on When Do Bucks Shed Velvet?

In most parts of the country, the antler growth for whitetail deer is done for the year. Sometime between September 1 and 15 bucks will shed their velvet. The cue for antler hardening and velvet shedding is the change in photo-period caused by decreasing daylight and increasing darkness, which results in a significant increase in the bucks’ testosterone. Velvet shedding typically takes only a couple of hours, though it is not uncommon to see a deer walking around for day or two with bloody velvet tatters. One last thing you might not know: Bucks have been known to turn their heads and peel or even eat velvet that dangles off their new racks. Soon after shedding, the tree rubbing and [...]

19 08, 2020

Remington Model 58 Shotgun Finds Its Way Home

Clay Hanback2020-08-19T08:59:29-04:00August 19th, 2020|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Guns & Loads, Deer Hunting, Remington|1 Comment

Today’s guest blog from Gary Guth, who has stuck with me on the BIG DEER BLOG for many years: Mike, 5 years ago you shared a story on your blog of a Browning A-5 that used to be my dad’s and eventually came back to me through a friend. It was an awesome story, and I know it touched a spot in your heart as well as mine. Well, here’s a similar story. Last month I was approached by a friend that asked if I was interested in buying a shotgun. Not just any ordinary shotgun, it was a Remington Model 58! Little background to this gun. It used to belong to my wife’s first husband, Scott, who passed away [...]

17 08, 2020

Chronic Wasting Disease 2020 Update

Clay Hanback2020-08-17T16:35:45-04:00August 17th, 2020|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, CWD, Deer Hunting, Deer Management, Deer Science, Hunting News, whitetail deer|Comments Off on Chronic Wasting Disease 2020 Update

Here is a sampling of news from the National Deer Alliance’s (NDA) latest update on all things Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). Click here to read the full report. Kansas: In mid-July, the Kansas Department of Agriculture confirmed a case of CWD in a captive deer herd in Osage County. While CWD has been detected in wild deer populations in many western Kansas counties, this is the first documented positive case in eastern Kansas. Minnesota: The DNR announced a new process for hunters to get their deer tested for CWD. This year, testing will not be mandatory in an effort to mitigate the risk of spreading coronavirus during the pandemic. Last year, hunters in designated CWD zones were required to visit [...]

12 08, 2020

Will COVID-19 Lead To More Deer Hunters This Fall?

Clay Hanback2020-08-12T08:55:13-04:00August 12th, 2020|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Bowhunting, Deer Hunting, Hunting News, whitetail deer|1 Comment

Wildlife officials in Tennessee note that hunters flocked to the turkey woods in big numbers this past spring when life as we knew it shut down due to the pandemic, which left people out of work and looking for something to do. Fishermen followed suit and converged on Tennessee lakes and rivers this summer, too. The number of people in the state who purchased hunting and fishing licenses has risen by nearly 20 percent so far this year as compared to 2019. With the pandemic lingering into late summer and fall, TWRA officials believe a similar scenario could play out when deer seasons open. "The pandemic is still going on and we imagine people still have a lot of free time [...]

About Clay Hanback

5 Tips for Fall Deer Food Plots

When Do Bucks Shed Velvet?

Remington Model 58 Shotgun Finds Its Way Home

Chronic Wasting Disease 2020 Update

Will COVID-19 Lead To More Deer Hunters This Fall?