Deer Hunting Archives - Page 61 of 196

16 11, 2021

Deer Season 2021: Will More COVID Hunters Be In The Woods?

Clay Hanback2021-11-01T11:22:23-04:00November 16th, 2021|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting|Comments Off on Deer Season 2021: Will More COVID Hunters Be In The Woods?

During this insufferable pandemic, longing to get outside and get fresh air for health and sanity, more people hunted deer last fall than in a decade. State game departments across the U.S. report that the sale of hunting licenses was up 5%, 10% or more in 2020. If you hunted public land, especially a national forest or WMA near a big city during a firearms season, you might have seen and felt it last season—more cars crammed into parking areas, more campers, more orange-clad hunters knocking around the woods. While most of the newbies had no choice but to hunt on public ground, some were able to get permission from landowners or acquaintances they knew or contacted. You might have [...]

14 11, 2021

Will Old Ammo In Your Basement Kill A Deer?

Clay Hanback2021-11-01T11:02:50-04:00November 14th, 2021|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, CZ-USA, Deer Hunting, whitetail deer|Comments Off on Will Old Ammo In Your Basement Kill A Deer?

The ongoing ammunition shortage is causing many of you to dig around in your basement in search of some old .270 or .30-06 cartridges. If you find some, are they safe to shoot? Will they kill a buck? Are Old Cartridges Safe? Generally, yes. If factory centerfire cartridges are stored in a dry, cool place with low humidity, preferably in an airtight container, they can have an amazingly long shelf life. Many ballistics experts report shooting 20- to 50-year-old ammo with no problems. Notice I said factory ammunition, which is manufactured using premium components and exacting specifications that extend the shelf life of cartridges. I do not advise shooting old reloads. If you can’t find new ammo and need to [...]

11 11, 2021

Best Whitetail Buck Rubs To Hunt

Clay Hanback2021-11-01T10:03:33-04:00November 11th, 2021|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, whitetail deer|Comments Off on Best Whitetail Buck Rubs To Hunt

Bucks start rubbing saplings and trees in September up to about October 20, and then a second major phase of rut rubbing kicks in. With testosterone pumping in their veins now, the bucks go to work, thrashing and gouging trees (and sometimes fence poles) to vent pent-up sexual energy. The act of rubbing thickens the muscles in a buck’s neck, and helps him to put his game face on. If he’s challenged by a rival in the coming weeks, he’ll be ready. Some scientists say these rut rubs also stimulate the does and help to synchronize breeding cycles. With the rut coming on all testosterone-addled bucks large and small join in the rubbing fun. But again, look for good-sized rubs [...]

8 11, 2021

4 Best Stands For The Whitetail Rut

Clay Hanback2021-11-01T09:30:20-04:00November 8th, 2021|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Bowhunting, Deer Hunting, whitetail deer|Comments Off on 4 Best Stands For The Whitetail Rut

Digital image One November Russ Van Zoeren hunted a public tract in Kansas for a week. For the first five days, the temperature was in the 70s, and the deer movement was predictably slow. But then one night, storms and a cold front crashed in. The mercury plummeted into the 30s, and a northwest wind shook the trees. Next morning at 8:15, a buck prowled out of the long, dense cedar thicket that Russ had been watching all week. The deer ripped a scrape and walked, grunting, beneath Russ’ stand. His arrow was true. At just under 200 pounds dressed, the animal was on the light side for a mature Kansas buck. But there was nothing light about [...]

6 11, 2021

RUT REPORT 2021: Virginia Piedmont

Clay Hanback2021-11-03T15:00:52-04:00November 6th, 2021|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Rut|Comments Off on RUT REPORT 2021: Virginia Piedmont

My buddy Frankie just shot this 9-point buck in Fauquier County with a muzzleloader, deer "had a swollen neck and started to stink," he said. Frankie saw several little bucks pushing does earlier in the morning. Getting multiple reports of small and medium-size bucks pushing/chasing, which indicates the peak chase for mature bucks is 7-10 days away. Trail cameras were slow until yesterday, when bigger bucks started showing up at scrapes (night mostly). Five shooter bucks showed up this week on one farm I hunt, and I expect more. Scraping phase in full swing now.