Big Deer Stories Archives - Page 25 of 113

31 10, 2018

What Causes A Leg To Grow Out A Deer’s Body?

admin2020-06-10T09:15:27-04:00October 31st, 2018|Big Deer Stories, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Science|Comments Off on What Causes A Leg To Grow Out A Deer’s Body?

Okay, something freaky for Halloween. Saw on Twitter where somebody shot this deer the other day and said, “This is a first for me, an extra leg growing out his neck!” Scientists say the extra leg is likely that of a twin that didn’t form all the way. According to QDMA this is most likely a case of a “parasitic twin.” Twin fawns probably began to develop inside a doe, but the twin embryos did not completely separate and one of them stopped developing normally. The leg on this buck’s back neck may actually be a non-functioning remnant of the twin that failed to develop fully, but that remained attached to the healthy embryo. Parasitic twins are rare but have been documented [...]

29 10, 2018

Pennsylvania Bowhunter Goes 40 For 40!

admin2020-06-10T09:15:27-04:00October 29th, 2018|Big Deer Stories, BigDeer, Bowhunting, Deer Hunting|3 Comments

Big shout out to Big Daddy, who has stuck with me on the BIG DEER blog since I launched it 10 years ago: Mike: Got this guy October 16 from my place in Potter County. This is my 40th archery buck in 40 years from Pennsylvania, which is a 1 buck per year state. Good hunting, Terry Murphy, a.k.a. Big Daddy. Way to go Big Daddy, one heck of an accomplishment sir!

18 10, 2018

October Deer Tip: Hunt Mast And Browse

admin2020-06-10T09:15:27-04:00October 18th, 2018|Big Deer Stories, BigDeer, Bowhunting, Deer Hunting|Comments Off on October Deer Tip: Hunt Mast And Browse

Some good hunters I know don’t hunt their best stands until around Halloween, and then they hunt them hard for the next 3 weeks. Their strategy is sound: put no pressure on bucks until they start rutting and moving more in daylight hours. Good in theory, yes, but I don’t believe that approach is practical for most of us. You’re busy…you hunt when you can. If that happens to be in October, great. The woods are beautiful, the weather is nice and there are fewer people in the timber than there will be come November. There are opportunities to get your buck, and here is one thing to keep in mind. Grant Woods, one of the premier whitetail scientists [...]

17 10, 2018

DIY Deer Project: Wood Pallet Ground Blind

admin2020-06-10T09:15:51-04:00October 17th, 2018|Big Deer Stories, BigDeer, Deer Hunting|1 Comment

Saw this and thought it was a cool way to save a few bucks. As the story indicates shipping pallets are usually free, as many businesses just want to get rid of them. You haul them off and everybody’s happy: The one-man, full-height blind consists of 6 pallets, two 2×2 corner strips, and a handful of wood screws…. have all your pieces cut (including shooting windows) and ready to assemble prior to going into the woods with it. Then all you need is a cordless screwdriver and you can erect the blind at your hunting spot… For a roof add a couple of wood slats and a scrap piece of tarp…staple roofing felt around the inside to make it warmer…wrap [...]

15 10, 2018

October 20: The Best Deer Hunting Starts This Weekend

admin2020-06-10T09:15:51-04:00October 15th, 2018|Big Deer Stories, BigDeer, Deer Hunting|Comments Off on October 20: The Best Deer Hunting Starts This Weekend

Historical “rut curves” assembled by whitetail biologists over decades show that bucks really begin to rev up their scraping around October 20. Better yet, the data show that 5 to 7 percent of a herd’s does are bred by bucks on October 21, give or takes a few days. That’s not a lot, but good things happen when bucks start to rip scrapes and prowl for the first estrus does. The more they are on their feet, the better your chances of shooting one. The big thing that can kill October hunting is warm weather. But when a cold snap blows in and drops the temperature 20 or 30 degrees, perfect. The cooler weather will kick deer into moving more. [...]