BigDeer Archives - Page 307 of 343

30 10, 2013

Why Does a Buck’s Neck Swell in Rut?

admin2020-06-10T09:23:20-04:00October 30th, 2013|BigDeer, Deer Science|3 Comments

Mike: My buddies and I were talking about how bucks’ necks swell up, and none of us can find any definitive information on what causes it. We know it’s based on the mating cycle. Is it muscle mass increase, blood flow, etc.? Thanks, Jason T. Jason: In the latest research from Delaware, biologists found that the circumference of a buck’s neck can increase 50% in the rut. I asked Sarge Vasquez, a wildlife biologist and member of the Big Deer Hunt Team, for more. Sarge says: One of my old college professors, Dr. David Hewitt, wrote and edited a great book entitled, Biology and Management of White-tailed Deer. We talked about why bucks’ necks swell, and while Dr. Hewitt said he wasn't aware [...]

30 10, 2013

Michigan: Deer Hunter Wolf Encounter!

admin2020-06-10T09:23:20-04:00October 30th, 2013|Big Deer Stories, BigDeer|7 Comments

This from our friend Tim O. in the Upper Peninsula, who writes, "I have 9 different wolves on trail-cam in the same area and I've seen 10 others…they're all different colors and are easily identifiable.” Here’s what happened to Tim the other day: I decided to take a 4-wheeler ride to swap out memory cards on a trail camera at one of my bow stands the other night. Instead of driving right into my spot I chose to walk in the last 150 yards. I swapped the cards and started walking out, but I took a wrong turn in the dark and didn't realize it right away. I walked up on a fresh wolf deer kill! Immediately I heard growling [...]

28 10, 2013

Indiana: Huge Buck Found Dead to EHD

admin2020-06-10T09:23:20-04:00October 28th, 2013|BigDeer, Deer Science, Hunting News|8 Comments

Dean W. reports that this beautiful buck, 170-class, was found in west-central Indiana by a friend of a friend and suspected to be an EHD fatality. As compared to last year, EHD has been light across North America in 2013, although there have been spotty outbreaks that have killed some bucks, like this Indiana giant. It is that way every year from Montana to the East Coast, EHD always gets some deer. Damn shame this tall-tined buck was killed by that dreaded disease.

25 10, 2013

BIG DEER RUT REPORT 2013

admin2020-06-10T09:23:20-04:00October 25th, 2013|BigDeer|4 Comments

This cool weather has the bucks moving—I’m getting reports of early rutting activity from Kansas to New Hampshire—but the best is still to come, this last week of October and especially in November through the full moon on the 17th. That is the time when the most giant bucks will fall. To monitor the rut in your area and see what your fellow hunters are seeing and shooting, go to the BIG DEER Rut Report, click on your region and join in the conversation. Be sure to post pictures of any big rubs or scrapes or other interesting stuff you find in the woods, and for sure post pictures of the deer you shoot. Good luck! For now while you’re [...]

24 10, 2013

Are You a Meat Hunter?

admin2020-06-10T09:23:20-04:00October 24th, 2013|BigDeer, Hunting News|16 Comments

A recent study by Responsive Management asked people, “Why do you hunt?” Of those polled, 35 percent said “for the meat.” That’s up 13 percent from a similar 2006 survey, when 22 percent of hunters said their primary motivation was for meat to eat. The people who conducted the survey said the ongoing slow economy is the primary reason for the uptick in meat hunting: “As households…started to feel the effects of significant financial pressures several years ago (including frozen or reduced salaries and/or prolonged unemployment) more Americans likely turned to hunting as a way of obtaining relatively inexpensive venison…to put food on the family table.” Another school of thought believes the recent increase in meat hunters (and hunting license [...]