Bowhunting Archives - Page 21 of 65

19 04, 2022

Why You Should Scout For Buck Rubs In The Spring

Clay Hanback2022-04-19T08:34:18-04:00April 19th, 2022|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Bowhunting, Deer Hunting, sportsman channel, whitetail deer|Comments Off on Why You Should Scout For Buck Rubs In The Spring

Most of the trees that bucks rubbed last October and November are still whitish scars on the trees, and easy to spot in the spring woods. Look especially close for “signpost” rubs--large, scarred trees that mark some section of a mature buck’s core living area. Missouri whitetail scientist Grant Woods says that while mature bucks blaze the rubs on thick trees during the lead up to the fall rut, many deer interact with them year-round. “Big rubs act as communal pheromone wicks and are located in areas with high deer traffic,” he says. Bucks and does can easily see the rubs and sometimes veer over for a sniff. Many signpost rubs are rubbed again and again by rutting bucks each [...]

24 03, 2022

Pennsylvania Hunters Killed 376,810 Deer In 2021-22

Clay Hanback2022-03-24T12:08:37-04:00March 24th, 2022|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Bowhunting, Deer Hunting, Hunting News, whitetail deer|Comments Off on Pennsylvania Hunters Killed 376,810 Deer In 2021-22

Hanback note: Since some 900,000 people hunt deer in Pennsylvania each year (number of hunters is second only to Texas in the U.S.) the annual Pennsylvania harvest numbers are a big deal. Of the 376,810 deer killed during the 2021-22 season, the Pennsylvania Game Commission reports that 145,320 were bucks, and 231,490 were does. The total harvest was down about 13 percent compared to 2020-21, when hunters recorded the largest deer kill in 16 years (435,180 animals). Some highlights: • 22 percent of licensed hunters in Pennsylvania killed a buck last year. • 62 percent of the bucks were 2.5 years old or older; only 38% percent were 1.5 years old. That’s an almost complete reversal of how things were [...]

16 03, 2022

Indiana Hunter Finds Huff Buck’s Last Set Of Sheds!

Clay Hanback2022-03-16T13:04:08-04:00March 16th, 2022|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Bowhunting, Deer Hunting, Shed Hunting, sportsman channel, whitetail deer|2 Comments

Field report from Dean Weimer of the Big Deer Hunt Team: I was recently at the 2022 Indianapolis Boat, Sport, and Travel Show measuring deer for Indiana's Hoosier Record Buck Program. I noticed a large pair of shed antlers that were tied together with a piece of blue rope on the entry table and my brain instantly thought it recognized the sheds. I'm not sure what it is, but when I see a rack or set of antlers that I've seen before, my brain seems to instantly recognize them. I don't know if there is a term for this, but I'm guessing many of you experience this also. At any rate I found out the gentleman who had the sheds [...]

15 02, 2022

Big Deer’s Moon-Rut Guide Spot On For Two Giant Bucks

Clay Hanback2022-02-15T11:51:52-05:00February 15th, 2022|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Bowhunting, Deer Hunting, whitetail deer|Comments Off on Big Deer’s Moon-Rut Guide Spot On For Two Giant Bucks

Last September we posted that in a fall like 2021 with two “rutting moons”—October 20 and the second was November 19—the pump was primed for a classic “trickle rut” in the whitetail woods. We predicted that some adult does would cue off the first full moon and come into estrous in late October while other does would cue off the November full moon and be ready to breed in mid-to-late November. In between those full moons and time frames you would see ebbs and flows of rutting activity. Testimonials After the 2021 bow season Big Daddy wrote to us via Messenger: Mike, last year you predicted a good rut after the full moon in October. Here in northern Pennsylvania, you [...]

16 12, 2021

Should You Leave Tree Stands In The Woods All Year?

Clay Hanback2021-12-13T15:26:37-05:00December 16th, 2021|Big Deer TV, Bowhunting, Deer Hunting|Comments Off on Should You Leave Tree Stands In The Woods All Year?

Many bowhunters hunt several properties miles apart and sometimes in multiple states. At any given point in the season, they might have 10, 20 or more lock-ons and ladders pre-set in the woods. It’s always best to pull every metal stand down after hunting season, but sometimes this is more work than you are willing to do. If you decide to risk it and leave stands out all year, keep these things in mind. The straps, chains or cables that connect platforms and steps to trees are your foremost consideration if you decide to leave stands out. These connectors will weather and wear, and thorough inspection and service are a must. Tree stand guru Matt Cheever doesn’t skimp. On all [...]