Clay Hanback, Author at Big Deer

5 05, 2022

Look For Small Public Lands To Kill Big Bucks

Clay Hanback2022-05-05T10:12:29-04:00May 5th, 2022|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, trijicon, whitetail deer|Comments Off on Look For Small Public Lands To Kill Big Bucks

One November I spent a week hunting on a private ranch out near Sheridan, Wyoming. Every day we sat on ridges, glassed the crops and creeks below, and spotted 30 to 50 whitetails. There were plenty of bucks, with racks ranging from 120 to 140 inches. What made the hunting totally cool as I waited for the buck I wanted to shoot was the fact that we were able to glass 20 to 30 muleys, 6 to 10 elk, and huge bands of pronghorns too. One morning as we drove to our spot I spotted a pickup on the side of the road. “Who’s that?” I asked Herb, the landowner. “There’s a small piece of state land in there that [...]

3 05, 2022

When Leasing Hunting Land, Be Careful And Don’t Get Cheated

Clay Hanback2022-05-03T10:29:38-04:00May 3rd, 2022|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Hunting News, whitetail deer|Comments Off on When Leasing Hunting Land, Be Careful And Don’t Get Cheated

Many individuals and businesses advertise online and through social media about private lands to lease for deer hunting across the U.S. Though I cannot vouch for the game or habitat quality of any land to be leased (undoubtedly some of it is decent while other lands probably suck), I believe most of these people run a legit gig. But not all of them. Case in point: An Ohio man pleaded guilty to wire fraud for operating a scheme where he solicited payment in exchange for purported hunting leases he had no rights to sell. According to court documents, throughout 2019, Nathanal L. Knox, 30, of Ohio, operated a scheme where he placed online advertisements for hunting leases supposedly available [...]

28 04, 2022

Black Bear Guns & Loads

Clay Hanback2022-04-28T11:20:42-04:00April 28th, 2022|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Predator Hunting, trijicon|Comments Off on Black Bear Guns & Loads

Years ago out in Idaho, I shot this heavy old chocolate bear that piled into an alder tangle, rolled around, popped his teeth, and roared for three minutes that seemed like three hours. I looked back and saw my buddy and guide running for the hills! Another time on a stalk in Canada, I aimed and hit a giant boar that waddled across a hillside above me. Before I could scram he was coming straight at me, rolling and flipping down the slope like a VW bug going off a cliff. I recovered both those animals, and turned out the shots had been fine, smack in the boiler room where I aimed. I think about those knee-buckling events every spring [...]

26 04, 2022

Sunday Hunting Legal In Virginia On Private And Public Lands

Clay Hanback2022-04-26T09:27:37-04:00April 26th, 2022|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Hunting News, whitetail deer|Comments Off on Sunday Hunting Legal In Virginia On Private And Public Lands

On July 1, 2022, it will be legal to hunt on Sundays on public land In Virginia, per a bill signed this week by Gov. Glenn Youngkin. In Virginia, a ban on Sunday hunting has been in place in one form or another since 1643, when it was passed by the House of Burgesses. Several years ago, state legislators passed a law allowing hunting on Sunday on private lands in Virginia, but not on public. Starting with the 2022-23 fall seasons, people can also hunt on state WMAs and national forests anywhere in the Commonwealth. “This legislation encourages Virginians to take full advantage of the many outdoor opportunities our great Commonwealth has to offer,” said Youngkin in a statement. “This legislation [...]

25 04, 2022