Clay Hanback, Author at Big Deer

30 06, 2024

Why You Should Make Mock Buck Scrapes in Summer

Clay Hanback2024-06-30T12:11:10-04:00June 30th, 2024|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Science, whitetail deer|1 Comment

Several years ago, in hopes of reducing the spread of CWD, Virginia wildlife officials prohibited the use of minerals, and bait, to attract deer. Since I’ve been now forced to give up monitoring mineral licks, I’m making mock scrapes and setting trail cameras beside them. Several studies have shown that whitetail bucks will visit scrapes with fresh scent year-round, and especially in the summer months. The fake scrapes are good places (not as good as mineral licks, but the next best thing) to get images of bucks that will roam your area this fall. A mock scrape is not only scent-based, but also a visual sign. Rake out at least a 2 foot by 3 foot area below an overhanging [...]

24 06, 2024

June and July: How Much Do Whitetail Deer Antlers Grow?

Clay Hanback2024-06-21T13:12:32-04:00June 24th, 2024|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Bowhunting, Deer Hunting, Deer Science, whitetail deer|Comments Off on June and July: How Much Do Whitetail Deer Antlers Grow?

I looked off my back porch the other morning and saw a single deer feeding on weed sprouts on our recently mowed lake berm. He was 300 yards away, and although I could not count tines with the naked eye, I could not miss the tall, thick, velvety beams. One glimpse through my binocular and it was clear this was going to be an above-average to exceptional deer for this part of the Virginia Piedmont. My excitement grew as I realized the rack had a good 6 more weeks to grow. How much bigger will those antlers get? June and July: Zoom Months for Antlers Velvet antler is the fastest-growing tissue in the mammal world. In mid-summer, each beam and [...]

18 06, 2024

5 Best Bowhunting Stands

Clay Hanback2024-06-18T11:38:56-04:00June 18th, 2024|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Bowhunting, Deer Hunting, whitetail deer|Comments Off on 5 Best Bowhunting Stands

ONE: Elevated Ridge Stand An elevated ridge that situated 100 yards or so from a field of corn, soybeans or alfalfa is one of my favorite spots for the pre-rut. Like most early-season setups, it is killer for the afternoons. But if access is good and the wind allows it, you might be able to sneak in and hunt the stand one morning too. If you have a flat of oak trees on your property that runs up a ridge from an ag field, jackpot. Does will come from back in the cover and move through in the afternoon on their way to the field. Some bucks will come and stage on the ridge in late afternoon before moving out [...]

11 06, 2024

4 Things to Know About June Deer Antlers

Clay Hanback2024-06-11T10:52:25-04:00June 11th, 2024|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Science, whitetail deer|Comments Off on 4 Things to Know About June Deer Antlers

Scientists at the Mississippi State Deer Lab say velvet antlers grow rapidly, as much as ¾-inch a week for yearling bucks and 1 1/2 inches per week for adults during the peak growing season in June! Velvet antlers have a complex system of blood vessels which causes them to be hot to the touch. There is so much blood carrying protein and minerals to a buck’s antlers this time of year that even small antlers are easily detected by thermal imaging devices. Tiny hairs on the velvet stick out and make the antlers look thicker than they actually are. The hairs act as a radar system so a buck won’t bump into trees, fence posts, etc. and damage his soft antlers. Sebum, [...]

3 06, 2024

Pennsylvania’s CWD Surveillance of Deer

Clay Hanback2024-06-03T13:55:45-04:00June 3rd, 2024|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, CWD, Hunting News, whitetail deer|Comments Off on Pennsylvania’s CWD Surveillance of Deer

Since July 1, 2023, the PA Game Commission has collected nearly 11,000 CWD samples from deer. Hunter harvested samples from last season made up the bulk of those with over 7,000. CWD was detected in a total of 291 of those hunter-harvested deer. To date, over 440 deer have tested positive for CWD in the 2023-2024 sampling year, up from 426 CWD-positive samples in 2022-23. “CWD surveillance is crucial to managing the disease,” said agency CWD Section Supervisor Andrea Korman. “CWD is a serious threat to deer and elk. Knowing where the disease is allows us to focus our efforts to keep more deer from becoming infected.” One of those efforts is using CWD Deer Management Assistance Program (DMAP) units [...]

About Clay Hanback

Why You Should Make Mock Buck Scrapes in Summer

June and July: How Much Do Whitetail Deer Antlers Grow?

5 Best Bowhunting Stands

4 Things to Know About June Deer Antlers

Pennsylvania’s CWD Surveillance of Deer