Clay Hanback, Author at Big Deer

27 08, 2023

Texas Unicorn Velvet Buck

Clay Hanback2023-08-17T11:16:50-04:00August 27th, 2023|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Science, whitetail deer|Comments Off on Texas Unicorn Velvet Buck

My friend Wren from down in Texas sent me this photo and said, “Looks like we have another unicorn buck on the ranch!” Look close in the middle of the deer’s forehead and you’ll see it. You might ask, “Is possible a tine can grow out the middle of a buck’s forehead like that? How rare is it?” Yes, tines can grow in weird places. Mickey Hellickson, one of the top whitetail scientists in the world with a lot of experience in Texas, says: It is caused by trauma to the frontal bone. This entire region of the skull is capable of growing antler, and if an area of the frontal bone is injured (such as a tine puncture from another [...]

24 08, 2023

Rifle Deer: What’s Better, the Shoulder or Lung Shot?

Clay Hanback2023-08-17T10:53:24-04:00August 24th, 2023|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Guns & Loads, Deer Hunting, Hornady, sportsman channel, trijicon, whitetail deer|Comments Off on Rifle Deer: What’s Better, the Shoulder or Lung Shot?

Mike: I was just curious, where do you aim on a deer when you are hunting with a gun? I have had terrific success with the shoulder shot versus the standard behind-the-shoulder shot. The recovery rates and distances that deer run, margin of error and terminal performance are all superior when I use this aiming point. I think others could benefit if they changed where they shoot a buck and go for more shoulder. Thanks, Kenny from VA. Kenny: I have shot a bunch of bucks through the shoulders and agree that it is a tremendous shot. When you’re on target, you not only take out both shoulders but also get the front of the lungs and shock the heart. [...]

21 08, 2023

Pre-Season Hunting Rifle Check

Clay Hanback2023-08-17T10:34:39-04:00August 21st, 2023|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, CZ-USA, Deer Guns & Loads, trijicon, whitetail deer|Comments Off on Pre-Season Hunting Rifle Check

Just got back from the range and checking these 2 rigs that I’ll hunt with this fall as we film Big Deer TV Season 13 on Sportsman Channel: CZ-USA Model 600 Alpha bolt-action rifle in 6.5 PRC topped with Trijicon Accupoint 4X-16X scope, and CZ 600 in .30-06 topped w/Trijicon 3X-9X Huron. Here are 4 observations and tips I have from that range session. The 6.5 PRC rifle was dead-on last January in Texas, where I killed a nice buck and a huge boar hog with one bullet each. My first shot at the range today was 4 inches high and 3 inches left. I was not shocked. I traveled 2,000 miles back home with the rifle. That might or [...]

16 08, 2023

5 Tips for Bowhunting the Elk Rut

Clay Hanback2023-08-13T12:02:55-04:00August 16th, 2023|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Bowhunting, sportsman channel|Comments Off on 5 Tips for Bowhunting the Elk Rut

Won't be long until the bulls are bugling out West; these these tips to bring one in. If you are calling to a bull that is bugling and coming in, make sure he's coming from a direction that won't cause him to cut the track you just made getting to your set up. An elk's nose is very good and if he cuts your track, even if the wind is in your favor, he might shut up, turn around and bug out. Mark his bugles and move your setup if you must. Spray your clothes and boots heavily with scent-killer. It’s best to have a buddy call for you. Have him set up 75-100 yards behind you, downwind of where [...]

14 08, 2023

Whitetail Bow Season Q&A

Clay Hanback2023-08-13T11:24:11-04:00August 14th, 2023|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Bowhunting, Deer Hunting, sportsman channel, whitetail deer|Comments Off on Whitetail Bow Season Q&A

You scout and glass a couple of small bucks, a decent 8-pointer and a shooter 10 coming to a bean field like clockwork in the evenings. Will those bucks, and especially the 10-point, be around when bow season opens in late September or October? That bachelor’s club will start to break up in mid-September, but a few of the bucks may still run together into October. In what is known as the “fall shuffle,” some of the bucks will shift a mile or more to winter range while some of them—maybe that big 10--will stay right there, close to where you’re spotting them now. Keep glassing the fields and edges, and hang a tree stand or 2 in the [...]

About Clay Hanback

Texas Unicorn Velvet Buck

Rifle Deer: What’s Better, the Shoulder or Lung Shot?

Pre-Season Hunting Rifle Check

5 Tips for Bowhunting the Elk Rut

Whitetail Bow Season Q&A