Big Deer Blog

28 08, 2015

Bowhunt Big Deer: When To Crowd A Buck’s Bedding Area

2020-06-10T09:19:35-04:00August 28th, 2015|Big Deer TV, Bowhunting, Deer Hunting, Deer Management|1 Comment

In late summer whitetails are genetically programmed to set up their home ranges near nutritious food sources and with heavy bedding cover close by. This way bucks can pile on the pounds (up to 20 percent of their body weight now through September) while only moving short distances. Finding bucks now is all about zeroing in on the best food sources. The top four: alfalfa, soybeans, clover and corn. If you have any of these fields on your land, or if the crops are planted on neighboring properties, you will have bucks in your woods to hunt. It’s fairly easy to glass, locate and pattern bucks that come to feed in the alfalfa and beans fields. But setting up to [...]

26 08, 2015

Missouri: EHD Kills Giant 225″ Buck

2020-06-10T09:19:35-04:00August 26th, 2015|BigDeer|7 Comments

On July 20 I first posted a huge non-typical buck that a hunter had been watching for several years. He said, “I really hope to see him this fall. He has been completely nocturnal for the last two archery seasons.” Yesterday I got the tragic news that this giant is dead. Here’s the story from Zach: Well…this isn’t how I wanted it to end, but looks like EHD got him. This deer was a legend on our farm, and it is sad to see him go. Three years ago, I was bow hunting during the Missouri youth season and this buck walked under my stand. He was an impressive 2-year-old. He made his way past me to where my brother [...]

25 08, 2015

How Much EHD in Whitetails 2015?

2020-06-10T09:19:35-04:00August 25th, 2015|Big Deer TV, Deer Science|2 Comments

From Drury Outdoors: DOD team member Rod Owen found this buck in a pond by Braymer, MO. This is one of several potential EHD reports that I have heard of over the last week. Has anyone else heard about or found any dead deer lately? Let us know where you are from and how many. EHD (epizootic hemorrhagic disease) typically occurs from mid-August through October, or until the onset of freezing weather stops the biting midges that carry this nasty virus. I am optimistic that outbreaks will be limited and spotty this year, as we had plenty of rain in many regions this spring and summer. EHD tends to be especially prevalent in drought years. BREAKING NEWS: I just received a heart-breaking email w/pictures [...]

24 08, 2015

Tree Stand Etiquette: Don’t Crowd Other Hunters

2020-06-10T09:19:35-04:00August 24th, 2015|BigDeer|1 Comment

Mike: I found a good spot hunted it regularly for 3 years without any problems. Last year, however, several new hunters to the land started coming into this area. I counted at least 4 tree stands set within 100 yards of mine. The closest guy put up a stand about 50 yards away, and he smoked out of it! Have you ever had a situation like this? How would you handle it? I had several hunts ruined by these guys, and I want to have a more enjoyable bowhunting experience this year. Ryan in SD Ryan: Yes, this has happened to me, and yes it is frustrating. First let me say that sometimes a guy hanging a stand too close to yours [...]

21 08, 2015

Trail Camera Photos: Big Bucks in Daylight!

2020-06-10T09:19:35-04:00August 21st, 2015|Big Deer TV, Deer Management|3 Comments

Mitch on Facebook says: My top hit-lister "Zeus" is starting to show up during daylight… I know he is 6.5 based on history with him. I hope this is the year we get to bring him home in the truck! Nathan emailed the unique buck below and said: Mike, love your show and website. My buddy and I picked up a new lease and had this big guy show up on camera. We call him Dagger! Is it unusual for a mature buck to show up in daylight this time of the year? It is not unheard of for bucks like these to be visible in daylight in August. Some bucks are simply not as nocturnal as others. I told Nathan that he needs [...]

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