27 06, 2018

Whitetail Science: Young Bucks Breed 30% Of Does

2020-06-10T09:15:52-04:00June 27th, 2018|Big Deer Stories, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Management, Deer Science|3 Comments

For many years biologists and hunters believed that most adult does were bred by bucks 3.5 years and older, a theory I always questioned. In many areas of the U.S., deer herds are overloaded with does, and there are relatively mature bucks 4.5 years and older. So in peak rut, when many does come into estrus at one time, which bucks are actually doing the breeding? According to research published in the Journal of Mammalogy, immature bucks (1.5 and 2.5 years of age) are breeding does at a much higher rate than once thought. In one study, researchers analyzed the DNA samples of more than 1,200 whitetails in 3 different populations (Mississippi, Texas and Oklahoma) and found that young bucks [...]

25 06, 2018

DNA Testing Confirms Montana Mystery Animal Was Gray Wolf

2020-06-10T09:15:52-04:00June 25th, 2018|BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Hunting News, Predator Hunting|Comments Off on DNA Testing Confirms Montana Mystery Animal Was Gray Wolf

In May a mystery creature was shot and killed on a ranch outside Denton. What the heck is it? Locals buzzed about the possibilities. Some said wolf with weird genetics…others grizzly cub…conspiracy theorists screamed Dire Wolf, an extinct prehistoric carnivore that some people swear still lives…or Dogman, a relative to Sasquatch, a large cryptozoological creature that looks and walks like an upright canid. The DNA results are in and, ho-hum, it was a common old gray wolf. This press release from Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks explains: The canine creature shot in Montana a month ago that captured the curiosity of the nation is actually a gray wolf. DNA from the animal, which was shot legally by a rancher near [...]

21 06, 2018

DIY: Man Turns 250-Pound Tank Into BBQ Cooker (Plus How To Roast Deer)

2020-06-10T09:15:52-04:00June 21st, 2018|Big Deer Stories, Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting|4 Comments

Just in time for the first weekend of summer, our friend Matt "Flatlander" Cheever tells us about his awesome DIY BBQ project, plus provides tips for roasting venison: Sometimes sitting around a campfire dreaming up projects, schemes and adventures with our buddies is the best part of deer camp.  In one of those conversations among friends I was offered a free 250-gallon propane tank. “Wouldn’t that make a great BBQ pit,” we all reckoned. “You could put it on a trailer and make it mobile.” I like a challenge… But maybe I bit off more than I could chew? Six years and several thousand dollars later my “free” project is finished! It’s worth every penny! Fifty-five pounds of welding wire, [...]

20 06, 2018

Why Do Deer Jump The Bow String?

2020-06-10T09:15:53-04:00June 20th, 2018|Big Deer Stories, Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Bowhunting, Deer Hunting|Comments Off on Why Do Deer Jump The Bow String?

Hey Mike: Wondering if you could settle a friendly argument. A buddy and I were discussing deer jumping the string. I say it is all noise related and they instinctively react; he says it could also be visual—they see the arrow coming. Wondering your thoughts? Also, do you ever see a bow being fast enough that you don’t have to worry about them jumping the string or is that impossible? Thanks--Jake in WI Jake, you win, it’s an instinctive reaction. I heard a guy say one time, “It’s like when somebody blows a horn or sets off a firecracker close, you jump.” When a deer hears your bow go off in his natural environment, same thing. I’ve heard people say [...]

18 06, 2018

Summer 2018: First Trail Cam Bucks

2020-06-10T09:15:53-04:00June 18th, 2018|Big Deer Stories, BigDeer, Bowhunting, Deer Hunting, Deer Management|Comments Off on Summer 2018: First Trail Cam Bucks

Our friend Dan says, “I’m keeping an eye on this one.” He just did his first card pull of the summer and has more than 1,300 pics from just 2 cams…”15 different bucks so far, this one is the biggest for now…3 others have potential with a lot of growing to do in the next 2 months.” Dan says more bucks are likely to show up on their “summer range” soon in his area. Last summer, by mid-July, Dan had accumulated more than 10,000 images of deer, and 30 different bucks. It’s a unique and interesting situation, click here for details. By Dan’s standards the buck action at my Virginia mineral/camera sites is minimal right now, though the wide rack [...]

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