Big Deer Blog

Most biologists I have talked to say the majority of antler growth was completed a week or so ago in early August. Now during mid- and late August, antlers are hardening. In early to mid-September the velvet dries and is shed, usually in only a matter of hours. BTW, the cue for the antler hardening and velvet shedding is the change in photoperiod caused by increasing darkness and decreasing daylight, which results in a buck’s increase in testosterone. And which means hunting season is right around the corner!    

I vent on some pet peeves of mine: I enjoy a cold beer or 2 after a hunt, especially around a camp fire, but I’ve got a problem with guys who drink long and hard into the night in deer camp. I know you’re on your fall vacation and doing some male bonding, but be cool. Drunks, even buddies, argue and fight. A couple of years ago I watched a soused little guy cold cock a 250-pound dude that had moved in on a spot where the skinny fellow was trying to kill a big buck. If you’re hung over you can’t hunt well, or safely. Stay out of the woods until you sober up. Why do people throw paper cups, cake wrappers and [...]

It’s almost time to hang your first sets of the season, keep these things in mind: --Rather than clumping cross country and deep into the woods, set your stands 50-100 yards from a logging road, power right-of-way or field edge if it works out with the deer sign and movement patterns. Much of the walking to the stand will be quiet and easy and you won’t jump many deer. Use Google Earth or an aerial photo to determine the best routes in and out. --After finding a potential tree for a stand, turn around and see where the various winds will push your scent, especially the predominant wind in that location. If an old doe circles behind your stand and catches a whiff she’s liable to stamp and [...]