Big Deer Blog

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 [...]

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 [...]

  I get lots of questions, especially now as everybody is revving up for the new season, and I’ll try to answer them all before I hit the road for the filming for months. I’ll post some Q&As here as often as I can in hopes some of the info will help you kill a good buck. If you could set a tree stand in only one spot, where would that be? On a hardwood ridge where the predominant wind will stay in my favor most days, and where I can see down into a creek or river bottom with thick cover. Across America, whitetails are bottomland animals. No matter where you hunt, if you watch a creek or river funnel with fresh [...]