Bowhunting Archives - Page 21 of 65

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 [...]

13 12, 2021

Gene Wensel’s 222” Recurve Buck

Clay Hanback2021-12-13T14:36:15-05:00December 13th, 2021|Big Deer Stories, BigDeer, Bowhunting, Deer Hunting, whitetail deer|1 Comment

I ran across an article written by legendary bowhunter Gene Wensel, whom I have long admired for his knowledge of the whitetail, his fine writing and most of all his genuine and deep-felt love of the outdoors and hunting. This passage is from from the story of Woody, the giant buck that Gene shot on December 30, 2004 (that's Gene in the foreground of the photo and his brother Barry in the back). The 222” non-typical is likely the highest-scoring whitetail ever killed with a recurve bow, arrow and broadhead. Gene wrote: “Hunting is a basic human instinct no different from eating, breathing, sleeping or reproducing. Every human is born with an instinct to hunt. I heard someone say that [...]

20 11, 2021

Illinois Bowhunter Shoots Huge Buck At 3 Yards!

Clay Hanback2021-11-20T13:41:15-05:00November 20th, 2021|Big Deer Stories, Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Bowhunting, Deer Hunting, whitetail deer|1 Comment

Zach and Ellie Atkins are our favorite hunting couple. Zach reported in with this great news: Well Mike, yesterday afternoon I got it done. 27 days it took and I finally got it done. Best early birthday present ever! This buck was my #1 hit lister. We named him “Scar” because he doesn’t have a right eye, the whole eye is missing. I got in the stand around 12:00 and this bad boy was out in the field dogging a doe about 100 yards away. He started working my way so I got everything ready to go. Then all of a sudden he started to turn the doe away from me. I thought, “Oh hell no!" Grabbed my bow, climbed [...]