Blog - Big Deer

2 07, 2025

How Velvet Deer Antlers Grow

Clay Hanback2025-07-02T11:34:48-04:00July 2nd, 2025|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Science, whitetail deer|0 Comments

July: Zoom Month for Antler Growth Velvet antler is the fastest-growing tissue in the mammal world. In mid-summer, each beam and tine may grow a quarter-inch per day, the process driven by a buck’s hormones, photoperiod and the availability of good forage. According to Missouri whitetail scientist Dr. Grant Woods, a buck’s rack will have developed most of its points by mid-June, and most of the beam length will fill in by late June into early July. “Those are general rules, but the growth of individual racks can vary,” he says. “Some bucks will show a lot of antler growth early, while others will add a bunch to their rack during July.” July is the zoom month. Right now, fast-growing [...]

18 06, 2025

Everything You Need to Know About Food Plots for Whitetail Deer

Clay Hanback2025-06-18T13:09:24-04:00June 18th, 2025|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Management, whitetail deer|0 Comments

Why should you plant food plots for deer? Two reasons. One is to provide feed and attract deer to your property. The other is to keep deer on your land by decreasing the size of a herd’s home range. If you hunt a 200-acre property, will planting a plot or two keep deer on it all the time? No. But food plots can help you go from 50/50 (deer on your property/off it) to maybe 70/30 or even 90/10. For the small landowner (or hunting club), decreasing the range of bucks is the biggest benefit of food plots. How many plots should you plant? That depends, depending on the size of your land and especially the deer density in an [...]

9 06, 2025

Do Predators Really Kill Large Numbers of Deer Fawns?

Clay Hanback2025-06-09T14:40:31-04:00June 9th, 2025|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Predator Hunting, whitetail deer|0 Comments

Most all scientific studies conducted during the past 30 years have documented predation, largely by coyotes, as the leading cause of whitetail fawn mortality. Leading hunters to run out and buy AR .223s and holler, "Gonna save a fawn and kill every coyote I see!" But wait a second. Sure, coyotes eat some little deer, but maybe not as many as once thought. “Predation may have less of an impact than we think,” writes Justin Dion in this article posted to the National Deer Association’s website. In the springs of 2016 and 2017, Dion and his fellow researchers at the University of Delaware captured and collared 109 newborn fawns in Sussex County in the southern portion of the state. The [...]

5 06, 2025

8 Great Muzzleloader Deer Hunting Tips

Clay Hanback2025-06-04T10:07:31-04:00June 5th, 2025|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Guns & Loads, Deer Hunting, trijicon, whitetail deer|0 Comments

The popularity of blackpowder hunting is making a comeback! Here are 8 things to remember when you go out to smoke a buck this fall. Pour a measured charge of your powder of choice down the bore of your .50-caliber rifle, or drop in 2 or even 3 50-grain Triple 7 pellets in modern rifle that will handle 150 grains, like my trusty 700 Ultimate Muzzleloader. Some rifles shoot best with 2 pellets 9100 grains), while others like 3 pellets (150grains), so do some range testing. Insert your bullet of choice at the muzzle, and start it down the bore with a short starter. With your ramrod, seat the bullet firmly all way down and on top of the powder, [...]

4 06, 2025

New for 2025: Tennessee Hunters Can Now Bait Deer

Clay Hanback2025-06-04T09:48:11-04:00June 4th, 2025|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, CWD, Deer Hunting, whitetail deer|0 Comments

Effective July 1, 2025, hunters in Tennessee can now purchase a special bait license and hunt deer and hogs over a corn pile on private land. The bill, SB869, passed in the state legislature and allows for the creation of a special bait license (in addition to a hunting license). KEY POINTS: The bait license will cost $50 for residents and $100 for non-residents. The TWRA can suspend bait privileges on a county, regional, or statewide basis to manage wildlife populations and prevent the spread of disease, namely chronic wasting disease. This law applies to hunting and baiting on private land and leased private land. Baiting is NOT permitted on any public lands in Tennessee.

Big Deer Blog

How Velvet Deer Antlers Grow

Everything You Need to Know About Food Plots for Whitetail Deer

Do Predators Really Kill Large Numbers of Deer Fawns?

8 Great Muzzleloader Deer Hunting Tips

New for 2025: Tennessee Hunters Can Now Bait Deer