BigDeer Archives - Page 171 of 342

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 [...]

9 06, 2017

Alberta Black Bear Hunt

admin2020-06-10T09:16:12-04:00June 9th, 2017|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Shed Hunting|Comments Off on Alberta Black Bear Hunt

Come to find out, Big Deer’s resident shed-hunting expert is also a bear hunter. Kelly files this report from the Alberta bush: Mike: Another great Canada bear hunt in the books. Very warm conditions this year, but many bears. Had to be selective when picking an animal to shoot, as there were many rubbed bears. The units I hunt in Alberta are two-bear units. I shot this black bear and waited for a colored bear to no avail. This was my fifth year up in Alberta and I have yet to shoot a color-phase, but there is always next year. I’m happy. The bear I shot squared 6’6” with a very clean coat. Already looking forward to next year!—Kelly K

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 [...]

5 06, 2017

“Extreme Hunting Rigs” on BIG DEER TV

admin2020-06-10T09:16:29-04:00June 5th, 2017|Big Deer TV, BigDeer|2 Comments

I just got back from Montana where we filmed these customized Dodge trucks. Earlier this year I traveled down near Lake Okeechobee and filmed a hog hunt out of the swamp buggy pictured here. There’s a jet boat, lifted 20-year-old camouflage Suburban and 1970s-era Land Rover fully customized for, get this, gopher shooting… You’ll see these extreme rigs and more on an all-new and totally unique episode of BIG DEER TV this fall. Hunters love their trucks, and you’ll love this show.

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 [...]