From our partner Remington: For nearly 200 years, Remington Arms has been at the side of the American hunter and shooter as well as our nation’s great military personnel and law enforcement officers. As the discussion of gun control and firearms ownership continues to play out on televisions, at water coolers and in living rooms around the country, important facts are being left out and the voices of some 100 million gun owners silenced. Visit www.takeastandnow.com and make your voice heard today! I personally ask that every one of you BIG DEER bloggers click on that page and send letters to your legislators. As law-abiding gun owners and deer hunters, there has never been a more important time for us [...]

Mike: I was just curious, where do you aim on a deer when you are hunting with a gun? I have had terrific success with the shoulder shot versus the standard behind-the-shoulder shot. The recovery rates and distances that deer run, margin of error and terminal performance are all superior when I use this aiming point. I think others could benefit if they changed where they shoot a buck and go for more shoulder. Thanks, Kenny from VA. Kenny: I have shot a bunch of bucks through the shoulders and agree that it is a tremendous shot. When you’re on target, you not only take out both shoulders but also get the front of the lungs and shock the heart. [...]

Several hunters have asked me how much they should pay for shoulder mount…$400, $700, $1,000? Prices have definitely gone up, and they vary across the country. $400 seems on the low side, and 1K is high, though I have paid that much for some of my best Canadian bucks. What is the going rate for a GOOD taxidermy job in your area?

The best hunting in the VA Piedmont and Mountains occurs during the muzzleloader season the first 2 weeks of November. Many bucks are bonkers, either chasing or trailing does. Wayne Mills is an accomplished hunter who takes full advantage. Awhile back we profiled Wayne’s 2008 drop-tine giant. Here’s the story of the monster he killed on the same lease on Election Day last fall:   Mike: Two hunt club members saw this buck chasing does on 11/03, opening day of Virginia muzzleloader season. I took a doe on Saturday, so I had earned a buck according to club rules. I couldn't hunt on 11/5, but took off Tuesday morning, planning to vote around noon. I took along my decoy "Bucky" [...]