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6 01, 2014

Illinois: 2013 Deer Harvest Down 25%

admin2020-06-10T09:23:05-04:00January 6th, 2014|BigDeer, Hunting News|8 Comments

According to the Illinois DNR, hunters killed a preliminary total of 74,191 deer during the seven-day firearm deer season (first season was Nov. 22-24, second season was Dec. 5-8). Compare that to the 2012 when hunters shot 99,546 deer during the two gun hunts. What caused the big harvest drop? This article speculates that recent outbreaks of EHD the last two summers were worse than thought, and that coyotes are taking a measurable toll on the state’s herd (something we have been monitoring big time on the blog, plus we did a full BIG DEER TV episode on coyote-deer predation last year). But the story goes on to imply that the DNR might be mismanaging the deer herd by permitting [...]

3 01, 2014

White Virginia Buck!

admin2020-06-10T09:23:05-04:00January 3rd, 2014|BigDeer|12 Comments

John sent this photo and asked: “Mike have you seen this one? Supposedly shot last fall in Appomattox County in your home state of VA. “ I hadn’t seen it, but what a cool piebald buck! Check the mass of those antlers. Interesting to me that the snow-white deer was able to survive 3 or 4 years in that brown-green VA habitat that gets virtually no snow in the winter.

2 01, 2014

Deer Hair Loss: Is This The Mange?

admin2020-06-10T09:23:05-04:00January 2nd, 2014|BigDeer, Deer Science|2 Comments

From longtime blogger Dutch: Mike: I think some time ago there was a thread on the blog about hair loss in deer. This past Friday, I was hunting on my family’s farm in Virginia and had this little lady stop by. She was definitely the boss doe in charge of her group, and seemed perfectly healthy other than not having any hair on her back. I've never seen this before and my first thought was mange but whenever I've seen animals with mange in the past, it's been in random splotches on their bodies, usually with little sores. This just seemed so uniform. Just wanted to share and see if you or anyone else had any thoughts.—Dutch I reached out [...]

31 12, 2013

Mississippi Monster Buck 173”!

admin2020-06-10T09:23:06-04:00December 31st, 2013|BigDeer|4 Comments

Thanks to T.J. for this report from the deep South, where the rut rocks in December: Mike: I am sending you this picture to show how big the bucks can get down here. This buck was taken off a good friend of mine's hunting lease in Vicksburg, MS. He's a main-frame 8-point with a split G-2, split brow tine, and a lot of kickers off his bases. 20 inches wide, 26-inch beams and a green score of 173 inches! Well over 200 pounds, a true Mississippi stud. Wow, check the mass, awesome. Thanks T.J. I gotta get back down to Mississippi and hunt soon.

27 12, 2013

VA: 25” Wide Buck

admin2020-06-10T09:23:06-04:00December 27th, 2013|Big Deer Stories, BigDeer|3 Comments

We have been shooting some amazingly wide bucks here in VA the last couple of seasons, here’s another one that was shot December 20 not too far from my house: Hey Mike: This buck was shot by my buddy's dad in Orange County: 9- inch G-2, 23.5" main beams, 24.5" outside spread, heavy bases. Shot him at 75 yards with 30.06, 150-grain bullet. If you could give him a shout out that would be awesome!—Your friend Tanner Knecht Shout out given and well deserved for this beautiful VA deer, way to go man!

Big Deer Blog

Illinois: 2013 Deer Harvest Down 25%

White Virginia Buck!

Deer Hair Loss: Is This The Mange?

Mississippi Monster Buck 173”!

VA: 25” Wide Buck