20 03, 2017

Study: Trees Know When Deer Feed On Them

2020-06-10T09:16:30-04:00March 20th, 2017|Big Deer Stories, Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Science|Comments Off on Study: Trees Know When Deer Feed On Them

Science continues to uncover interesting things in the deer world. The Deer Forest Blog reported that a recent study found that some trees know when they are being browsed by deer…and they put up a defense mechanism to stop it. The study looked at beech and maple saplings that comprised the regenerating under-story in a forest, and thus were often browsed by deer. The researchers simulated deer browsing by clipping buds off the saplings and then applying deer saliva to the wounds. They found that the saliva caused the saplings to increase production of salicylic acid, which signals a tree to produce more tannins. Tannins are bitter and not palatable to deer. The scientists concluded that the production of tannins may deter future [...]

16 03, 2017

How to Clean a Deer Skull Plate

2020-06-10T09:16:30-04:00March 16th, 2017|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting|1 Comment

Mike: What's the easiest way to get the skin and hair off the skull plate when I want to mount a buck's antlers only? Thanks, Dennis Hey Dennis: Lance Waln, who I watched grow up from a kid to a great hunter and accomplished taxidermist here in Virginia, says to cut and peel as much hide and hair off the skull plate as you can with your hunting knife. Getting the skin away from the bone and antler burr is tough sometimes; try a large flat-tip screwdriver and pry the skin away from the antler base. Use your knife to remove the last hairs that stick to the base and the burrs. Skin as much meat and tissue as you [...]

13 03, 2017

Shed-Hunting: Antler Trivia

2020-06-10T09:16:30-04:00March 13th, 2017|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Shed Hunting|Comments Off on Shed-Hunting: Antler Trivia

Did you know…some fun facts about antlers and shed-hunting: The #1 Typical Whitetail Antler in the Shed Record Book is a 6-point 104 6/8” left side picked up in Illinois 1992. The #1 Non-Typical Whitetail Antler in the Shed Record Book is a 24-point 156 5/8” right side found in Saskatchewan 2007. Individual bucks often shed their antlers the same week every year. Antlers are the fastest-growing tissue in the animal kingdom. Increasing daylight and a buck’s falling testosterone cause antlers to shed. Once a buck drops one antler, the other one usually falls off within hours. Huge whitetail antlers can be found in many city parks and suburbs. Get permission to shed hunt these type areas if you can. [...]

9 03, 2017

Alabama: New Bill Would Expand Baiting for Deer

2020-06-10T09:16:30-04:00March 9th, 2017|Big Deer Stories, Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Hunting News|Comments Off on Alabama: New Bill Would Expand Baiting for Deer

The Montgomery Adviser reports that a bill working its way through the Alabama legislature would allow hunters more options for using bait to lure deer and hogs. It passed the house Tuesday and heads to the state senate for consideration. The new bill would not only expand baiting in Alabama, but also clear up confusion due to a law that went into effect just last hunting season. That current law allows hunters to use “supplemental feed” if the feed source is at least 100 yards away from the hunter and out of his or her direct line of sight. That law caused confusion among hunters and, I suspect, game wardens last season. Just what does “out of sight” mean?  Suppose [...]

8 03, 2017

South Dakota Shed Hunter Up to 70 Antlers and Counting

2020-06-10T09:16:30-04:00March 8th, 2017|Big Deer Stories, Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Shed Hunting|Comments Off on South Dakota Shed Hunter Up to 70 Antlers and Counting

Update from our expert, Kelly “Shedhunter” Kirsch: Mike: Walked 17.8 miles on Saturday, it was very warm, and picked up 15. One real nice set, maybe in the 160s. I found the antlers about ¾-mile apart. Sunday I hurt, so I used the Quad to cover a sunflower field and picked 12 more. Total for the year is right on 70 sheds, not a bad start. Take a look at that sunflower field. A lot of people I run into that think that antlers have to be knocked off by tree, fence post, or something. But there’s really nothing like that out here in places. Sometimes the antlers just fall off, and I have watched bucks hit the ground with [...]

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