2 11, 2018

October Velvet Mystery Bucks

2020-06-10T09:15:27-04:00November 2nd, 2018|Big Deer Stories, Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Science|Comments Off on October Velvet Mystery Bucks

Got this from Travis: Hi Mike: Thought you might be able to shed some light on this. We took this deer October 19 on the Texas/Oklahoma border north of Dallas. As you can see it’s still in velvet!  That’s not normal for around here. Any insight on this, and does this change how we plan for the rut? I emailed back: Did his nut sack look normal or small? If a buck injures his testicles (or if they didn’t drop as he grew) it affects his hormones and a buck might not shed the velvet. Let me know. From Travis: I finally heard back from my buddy. You called it. The testicles were small and not near what you’d expect. And [...]

1 11, 2018

Hot Tactic Now: Hunt Where Rutting Bucks Travel

2020-06-10T09:15:27-04:00November 1st, 2018|Big Deer Stories, Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting|1 Comment

In Oklahoma researchers fitted bucks with GPS collars and monitored their movements. They found that in early fall, most bucks stick to small core areas and have a maze of crisscross patterns. But from late October through November, those same bucks showed longer and more linear movements. The researchers surmised that by traveling in straighter lines, bucks can cover more country faster, and maximize their chances of contacting estrus does. To capitalize this season, as bucks begin to roam farther and in straighter patterns, expand your hunt area, too. Scout and hang more stands in long, linear travel corridors, like river bottoms and long ridges. Rotate hunt those stands for a week and you’ll see bucks on the move.

31 10, 2018

What Causes A Leg To Grow Out A Deer’s Body?

2020-06-10T09:15:27-04:00October 31st, 2018|Big Deer Stories, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Science|Comments Off on What Causes A Leg To Grow Out A Deer’s Body?

Okay, something freaky for Halloween. Saw on Twitter where somebody shot this deer the other day and said, “This is a first for me, an extra leg growing out his neck!” Scientists say the extra leg is likely that of a twin that didn’t form all the way. According to QDMA this is most likely a case of a “parasitic twin.” Twin fawns probably began to develop inside a doe, but the twin embryos did not completely separate and one of them stopped developing normally. The leg on this buck’s back neck may actually be a non-functioning remnant of the twin that failed to develop fully, but that remained attached to the healthy embryo. Parasitic twins are rare but have been documented [...]

29 10, 2018

Pennsylvania Bowhunter Goes 40 For 40!

2020-06-10T09:15:27-04:00October 29th, 2018|Big Deer Stories, BigDeer, Bowhunting, Deer Hunting|3 Comments

Big shout out to Big Daddy, who has stuck with me on the BIG DEER blog since I launched it 10 years ago: Mike: Got this guy October 16 from my place in Potter County. This is my 40th archery buck in 40 years from Pennsylvania, which is a 1 buck per year state. Good hunting, Terry Murphy, a.k.a. Big Daddy. Way to go Big Daddy, one heck of an accomplishment sir!

25 10, 2018

Gun Hunters: Protect Your Hearing

2020-06-10T09:15:27-04:00October 25th, 2018|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Guns & Loads, Deer Hunting|5 Comments

Had my annual physical recently, and glad to report that, knock on wood, I’m doing well. But doc did say, “You have slight high-frequency hearing loss in your left ear.” I have always been able to hear extremely well, able to pick up the crunch of deer hooves at long range and zero in on the direction and location of those sounds. Hearing has been my greatest attribute as a hunter, and to know I’ve lost even a bit of that is disturbing. Audiologists point out that exposure to noise greater than 140 dB can permanently damage hearing. Almost all guns create noise over that level. A .22 can produce noise around 140 dB, while larger calibers can produce sound [...]

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