BigDeer Archives - Page 65 of 342

20 01, 2022

New Research On Whitetail Fawn Mortality And Survival

Clay Hanback2022-01-18T10:05:37-05:00January 20th, 2022|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Science, whitetail deer|1 Comment

Most all scientific studies conducted during the past 30 years have documented predation, largely by coyotes, as the leading cause of whitetail fawn mortality. But wait a sec. “Predation may have less of an impact than we think,” writes Justin Dion in this article posted to the National Deer Association’s website. In the springs of 2016 and 2017, Dion and his fellow researchers at the University of Delaware captured and collared 109 newborn fawns in Sussex County in the southern portion of the state. The study area had about 50 deer per square mile, but a noticeable lack of predators. No confirmed sightings of bobcats and no bears. Only 9 coyotes had ever been reported harvested statewide in Delaware at [...]

18 01, 2022

Best Time To Scout For Whitetail Deer

Clay Hanback2022-01-18T10:02:10-05:00January 18th, 2022|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, whitetail deer|Comments Off on Best Time To Scout For Whitetail Deer

As you reflect on last deer season and think, Man, what a killer or bummer year, guess what? It’s time to get out there and start scouting again. Snooping around for old sign gives you a leg up on the bucks you’ll hunt 7 or 8 months from now. Core of the Matter When scouting in late summer and early fall, the times when most hunters do it, you want to cover lots of ground, but you’re leery of laying down scent and jumping the deer you’ll hunt in a few weeks. So you play it safe and poke around the fringes of fields, woods and thickets. Sure, you find fresh tracks and maybe some early rubs. But these are [...]

14 01, 2022

94-Year-Old Virginia Huntress Shoots 30th Deer

Clay Hanback2022-01-10T11:22:02-05:00January 14th, 2022|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, whitetail deer|Comments Off on 94-Year-Old Virginia Huntress Shoots 30th Deer

There were lots of big deer shot across North America in the fall of 2021, but this little story from Torrey, Virginia tops them all. Virginia “Gin” Dunning went out one day during the early antlerless season last September and shot a fat old doe for the freezer. Look at the picture, Gin made a perfect high shoulder shot. My favorite shot, I’m pretty sure that deer dropped on the spot. This would not be a remarkable feat save for the fact that the Virginia huntress is 94 years young! Gin’s daughter, Betty, who was along on the hunt, says her mom has killed 30 deer over the past 50 years, most of them bucks. But she was absolutely thrilled [...]

13 01, 2022

First Case of CWD Confirmed In Alabama

Clay Hanback2022-01-10T10:46:44-05:00January 13th, 2022|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Science, whitetail deer|Comments Off on First Case of CWD Confirmed In Alabama

A sample recently collected from a hunter harvested deer in west-central Lauderdale County has been confirmed positive for Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). This is the first case of CWD detected in Alabama’s deer herd. CWD was first detected in west Tennessee and Mississippi in 2018 and has been moving slowly toward Alabama. The Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) implemented multiple proactive regulations to combat the spread into Alabama. Compliance from the public, notably hunters, helped delay the spread into the state for several years. The sample from the CWD-positive deer was submitted as part of the state’s ongoing CWD surveillance and volunteer testing program. Due to CWD detection in Lauderdale County, ADCNR has enacted a new regulation [...]

10 01, 2022

Winter Behavior Of Whitetail Deer

Clay Hanback2022-01-10T09:41:37-05:00January 10th, 2022|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Science, whitetail deer|Comments Off on Winter Behavior Of Whitetail Deer

After a mild fall across the Midwest and East (the new normal) whitetails are now in “energy conservation mode” notes Pennsylvania scientist Duane Diefenbach in this Deer-Forest Blog. At the peak of the rut back in November, bucks moved on average over 2 miles per day. Right now, 2 months later, movement is less than half that; just over a mile at night and only a 1/4-mile in daylight. For bucks, energy expenditure is at rock bottom. No need to prowl for does, and not time yet to grow new antlers. Just hang out, survive and wait for spring. Diefenbach says the winter movement of does (a mile or 2 a day) has not changed much since November. But does do [...]