Blog - Page 299 of 348

14 02, 2014

Deer Q&A: Why Do Bucks Shed Antlers?

admin2020-06-10T09:23:04-04:00February 14th, 2014|BigDeer, Deer Science|2 Comments

Mike, just why do bucks shed their antlers every year?—Joan, Missouri Scientists have 2 theories. Bucks shed racks annually so they’ll have the ability to replace damaged antlers the next year. If a buck had to live his entire life with snapped tines or a broken main beam he couldn’t posture for does or dominance, or spar with rival bucks. A second theory suggests that bucks shed and grow new racks 10 to 20 inches larger in following years to keep pace with their increasing body size and weight as they mature from 2 ½ years of age to 3½ to 4 ½, and so on. Some more interesting shed facts: --Some weeks after the post-rut (December or January) bucks’ [...]

12 02, 2014

Nebraska: Rut-Crazed Bow Buck, 175”

admin2020-06-10T09:23:04-04:00February 12th, 2014|Big Deer Stories, BigDeer|2 Comments

Today’s guest blog is from Connor J. Chance-Ossowski, who shot this great buck on October 30 last year in south-central Nebraska: My stand is located in dense woods on a transition point between a bedding and a feeding area. In 2013, I harvested a mature 4x4 out of the same stand on October 26th. It's safe to say the last week of October is and will always be my favorite time to hunt. I believe one weather condition---the first true cold front of the year—helped with my recent success. When a cold front occurs in this area in the fall, we typically get heavy fog and humidity, and cooler temperatures. This is when I've observed the first heavy rutting activity; [...]

11 02, 2014

VIDEO: Texas Drop Tine Buck

admin2020-06-10T09:23:04-04:00February 11th, 2014|Big Deer Stories, Big Deer TV, BigDeer|1 Comment

A few weeks ago, our friend Wren sat in a new stand location on the ranch he hunts in South Texas and filmed this beautiful drop tine buck, which he aged at 3.5 / 4.5, in a sendero. “I filmed another really nice main frame 10 with a drop one weekend, too,” he said. “Can't help but think about you each time I see one of these unique racks.” There seems to be a strong drop-tine genetic on that ranch, and Wren has invited me down to hunt there next year. I am going to take him up on it. My desire for a drop-tine buck still burns deep.

10 02, 2014

Tweets of Monster Alberta Bucks

admin2020-06-10T09:23:04-04:00February 10th, 2014|BigDeer|4 Comments

The province of Alberta is home to some giant bucks. Check out these 3 amazing pictures that were recently tweeted by Outdoors: Photo #1: Buck supposedly shot in the Edmonton Bow Zone. Photo #2: 290” sheds found in Alberta Photo #3: This buck was reportedly found dead in Alberta in 1997 and scored 312” Wow… As you can see, Alberta has monsters, but it’s one of the toughest places I’ve ever hunted; I’ve tried there 4 times over the years with zero success. In my experience, what makes it so tough is the pressure, with both locals and outfitters running around and hunting the same areas. The giants go nocturnal quickly. Unless you hit the peak of the rut just [...]

7 02, 2014

Lost Video: Hanback’s 209-Inch Buck

admin2020-06-10T09:23:05-04:00February 7th, 2014|Big Deer Stories, BigDeer|7 Comments

My buddy Sheldon, who for years helped me find and shoot monster bucks up in Saskatchewan, now works in the oil patch in northern Alberta. One dark, frozen night last week Sheldon got bored and decided to clean out his laptop---and found this lost video, which he'd shot with his phone one morning in November 2010. I had never seen the video until now, but it brings back memories. I had killed the 300-pound giant less than an hour before Sheldon shot this clip. I remember I was in a daze as I sat there and jabbered. I remember how the woods smelled of spruce that morning...how thick and bristly the buck's hide felt...how hot his blood was on my [...]

Big Deer Blog

Deer Q&A: Why Do Bucks Shed Antlers?

Nebraska: Rut-Crazed Bow Buck, 175”

VIDEO: Texas Drop Tine Buck

Tweets of Monster Alberta Bucks

Lost Video: Hanback’s 209-Inch Buck