BigDeer Archives - Page 125 of 345

26 03, 2019

Weird Deer: Longest “Unicorn” Tine Ever!

admin2020-06-10T09:15:25-04:00March 26th, 2019|Big Deer Stories, BigDeer, Deer Hunting|Comments Off on Weird Deer: Longest “Unicorn” Tine Ever!

The typical “unicorn” tine--third beam that sprouts out a buck’s forehead—is 1 to 4 inches long. The middle tine in this picture appears to be 13 inches or longer, likely making it longest unicorn tine ever on a whitetail. Biologists note that a unicorn tine is caused by trauma to the frontal bone on a buck’s forehead. This entire region of the skull is capable of growing antler, and if an area of the frontal bone is injured (such as a tine puncture from another buck) the trauma may cause a third antler to grow from the injury. How rare is a unicorn buck? Short answer, very. Noted whitetail scientist Mickey Hellickson says that during his days of researching wild whitetails on the [...]

22 03, 2019

Can You Salvage Roadkill Deer In Your State?

admin2020-06-10T09:15:25-04:00March 22nd, 2019|Big Deer Stories, Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Hunting News|3 Comments

From Popular Science: Jessica Mundall came across a dead buck while driving. The animal had just been hit and killed by a semi-truck, and was still “super fresh.” She and her husband, both hunters, processed the deer on the side of the road…. “After that, we were hooked,” says Mundall, 26, who works for the state’s fish and game department in Boise, Idaho. “We ended up getting our freezer filled off of roadkill.” Idaho is one of 20-some states that allow the free salvage of roadkill animals (you simply need to report your take to the state and answer a few questions within 24 hours). Other states that allow it include Washington, Pennsylvania, Oregon, West Virginia, Montana, Tennessee and Alaska. [...]

13 03, 2019

Dick’s Sporting Goods To Remove Firearms And Hunting Gear From 125 Stores

admin2020-06-10T09:15:25-04:00March 13th, 2019|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Guns & Loads, Deer Hunting, Hunting News|5 Comments

Dick’s Sporting Goods (NYSE: DKS) has announced it will remove firearms and other hunting gear from about 125 stores. The change, expected to begin August 1, will affect about 17 percent of the company’s stores. The announcement, coupled with continuing declines in sales since 2017 (adjusted same-store sales were down 3.1% last year) lead to a 11 percent decline in stock price yesterday. Dick’s closed at $34.45 on the NYSE, down $4.28/share. Dick’s CEO and major shareholder Ed Stack told the media that if the 125-store move “goes well” the company may remove hunting gear from more stores next year. According to the Outdoor Wire, Stack was one of four CEOs to sign a letter supporting a gun control bill [...]

7 03, 2019

An Open Letter To America’s Deer Hunters

admin2020-06-10T09:15:25-04:00March 7th, 2019|Big Deer Stories, Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting|3 Comments

To: All Deer Hunters, Please Read Only 5% of Americans age 16 and older hunt. That is half of what it was 50 years ago. More recently, the number of licensed hunters, mostly deer hunters, dropped from 14.2 million in 1991 to 11.5 million in 2016. The decline is expected to continue as baby-boomers, the largest and most passionate generation of hunters, age and leave our ranks. It’s a disturbing but very real trend. Many good people and organizations are working hard and spending money on ways to recruit new hunters. We obviously need that and I applaud it, but with all the technology and distractions of the world today and into the future, recruiting people, especially young people, to [...]

5 03, 2019

Grow Better Food Plots: Whitetail Institute Soil-Test Kit

admin2020-06-10T09:15:25-04:00March 5th, 2019|Big Deer Stories, Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Management|1 Comment

Whether you are a novice or expert at food plots for deer, whether you plan to plant 2 plots or 10 on your land this year, the first and most critical step to success is to do a soil test and determine the pH of the dirt you’ll be working. Some soils are heavier than others…other dirt is lighter. Some soils hold moisture longer…some dirt dries fast… You get the idea--not all dirt is created equal. By testing the soil where you’ll be planting to determine its exact pH, you’ll know how much lime and/or fertilizer you’ll need for the planting process and optimal forage growth. This test kit from Whitetail Institute gives you everything you need and makes it [...]