Big Deer Stories Archives - Page 60 of 113

12 06, 2017

2017 Whitetail Report: How Are The Deer Doing?

admin2020-06-10T09:16:12-04:00June 12th, 2017|Big Deer Stories, Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Management, Deer Science|1 Comment

I recently returned from the 2017 North American Deer Summit, a two-day event where the top deer biologists and scientists in the nation gather to discuss the health of our herds and the future of hunting. First on the agenda: How are whitetail deer doing across the U.S.? QDMA biologist Kip Adams kicked off the discussion with some good news. After several tough years (2011-2014) when winters were harsh in some regions and big outbreaks of EHD killed substantial numbers of deer in other areas, things are looking up for America’s most popular and widespread game animal. Kip pointed out that the buck harvest is up 4% (hunters in America shoot some 2.7 million bucks every fall). Furthermore, the percentage [...]

7 06, 2017

DIY Deer: Cheap, Easy Trail-Camera Fasteners

admin2020-06-10T09:16:12-04:00June 7th, 2017|Big Deer Stories, Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Management|3 Comments

It’s time to get your trail-cameras out at mineral sites and on food plots if you haven’t already. The 2017 buck season will be here before you know it! This guest blog from our good friend Kim might come in handy: Are the straps on your trail cameras getting old and worn, or do you just not like the way they attach a cam to a tree? Well, for under $6 you can make 4 tree fasteners that will hold your cams securely in place. Parts list: --Four 5-inch-long Eye Screws --8 Fender Washers --4 Lock Nuts --4 Wing Nuts --Four 2-inch-long round-head Stove Bolts. The diameter of the washers, nuts and bolts will be determined by the model of [...]

2 06, 2017

Can a Whitetail Buck Have Two Home Ranges?

admin2020-06-10T09:16:29-04:00June 2nd, 2017|Big Deer Stories, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Science|2 Comments

Ninety-nine percent of bucks have a home range of a mile or so where they spend 95% of their time year-round. The boys venture out of their core areas once in a while, especially during the November rut, when they often leave for days or weeks on doe excursions. But they eventually come back home where they feel safe and comfortable. Of course there is the rogue buck. Researchers with Pennsylvania’s Deer-Forest Study monitored GPS-collared Buck 12783, which had 2 distinct home ranges. Source:Penn State College Agricultural Sciences In the image above, his main home range is the eastern (right side) mass of blue. To the west is a “vacation home” that he used for 2 years. The researchers believe [...]

31 05, 2017

You Can Shoot a 20-Year-Old Whitetail Doe

admin2020-06-10T09:16:29-04:00May 31st, 2017|Big Deer Stories, BigDeer, Bowhunting, Deer Hunting, Deer Science|Comments Off on You Can Shoot a 20-Year-Old Whitetail Doe

Most of us who shoot a 5- or 6-year-old doe with bow and arrow think we’ve done something, and we have. A doe that lives that long in the wild is crafty, one of the smartest deer in the woods. Imagine a doe that lives 10 or 15 years longer yet! This Instagram post from wildlife biologist @MattRossqdma caught my eye: Camel Doe…throwback to the absolute oldest deer I will ever kill. September 18, 2002. She was easily in her late teens, if not older…my friends said she looked just like a camel. She tasted fine to me! Matt went on to say that he based the New York doe’s age on his experience of having aged thousands of jawbones [...]

26 05, 2017

Memorial Day 2017: Thank You Veterans and Heroes

admin2020-06-10T09:16:29-04:00May 26th, 2017|Big Deer Stories, Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting|Comments Off on Memorial Day 2017: Thank You Veterans and Heroes

Got this from a loyal blog reader this time last year. I could not have said any better myself. I reprint in honor of all those who have served and especially to those who gave all: Mike: A nice blog for the weekend would be a dedication to the REAL HEROES of our country. The men and women that serve and have served in our Armed Forces are owed well-deserved respect and gratitude from us. "To those who have fallen, you will never be forgotten.” We WOULD NOT be able to pursue our dreams of freedom and hunting if not for the men and women that we honor this weekend. At a minimum, raise a drink during a celebration this [...]