Deer Management Archives - Page 3 of 53

11 12, 2024

How to Shoot a Buck in December

Clay Hanback2024-12-11T10:07:08-05:00December 11th, 2024|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Management, Hunting News, Shed Hunting, sportsman channel, whitetail deer|Comments Off on How to Shoot a Buck in December

The calendar just flipped to December, and a buck tag is still burning a hole in your pocket. Most of your buddies have killed their deer, and you’re starting to worry. Maybe even panic. I’ve hunted hard like I always do every year…What am I doing wrong? Did I miss the rut? Will I get my buck? Take a deep breath and look at your predicament as an opportunity. You still get to roam the deer woods for a few more days, and the buck hunting is a lot better than you might think. Heed these tips to score at the buzzer. Post-Rut Plan I hunt in several states in early December, from Kansas to Oklahoma to Virginia. All over [...]

25 11, 2024

3 Michigan Hunters Die in Deer Woods

Clay Hanback2024-11-25T11:21:56-05:00November 25th, 2024|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Management, Hunting News, Shed Hunting, sportsman channel, whitetail deer|1 Comment

I recently wrote a piece for Realtree.com on the potential health risks of dragging out a dead deer, especially for us older guys. Emergency room physicians note that minor to serious injuries occur each season as lucky hunters drag out their deer... Unfortunately, that has become true once again as three older hunters (ages 57, 65 and 83) in Michigan recently died doing what they love. Two of the men suffered heart attacks as they dragged out dead deer, which is the top risks older hunters face. Cardiologist Dr. Bradley Serwer told foxnews.com that the risks associated with deer hunting include cold exposure, adrenaline surges and physical exertion. He went on to offer 5 tips to stay safe in the [...]

20 05, 2024

When Should You Harvest Does on Managed Land?

Clay Hanback2024-05-20T10:36:04-04:00May 20th, 2024|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Management, Deer Science, whitetail deer|1 Comment

Most hunters shoot does for meat toward the end of the season, but should you be harvesting one or two skinheads (legal limit) earlier in the fall? Famous whitetail biologist Dr. Grant Woods says to consider this: “If does are removed during the first part of the season, usually before the rut, then there are fewer does for the bucks to expend energy on chasing, breeding, etc. In addition, the does harvested during the early season obviously won’t consume critical resources that the rest of the herd animals need to consume later during the winter months, when deer are often short of quality forage.” Grant says, and I agree, that hunters that wait till the end of season to shoot [...]

20 02, 2024

How to Build the Best Food Plots for Deer

Clay Hanback2024-02-20T08:34:42-05:00February 20th, 2024|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Bowhunting, Deer Hunting, Deer Management, sportsman channel, whitetail deer|Comments Off on How to Build the Best Food Plots for Deer

This is a tutorial on how to create small and affordable food plots that whitetail deer will love, and which are actually easier to hunt than 2- to 4-acre green fields. The Plan Roll out an aerial photograph of your property, and pull up the Google Earth coordinates for a secondary source. Look closely for strips and openings where you might plant some clover, tucked away—and this is key—in areas where you don’t have to cut down many if any trees, or otherwise do extensive clearing and leveling. Look for easy-to-work spots that are part of the natural landscape and your herd’s habitat. Now think back to previous scouts and hunts on the property. Where are major deer trails and [...]

2 06, 2023

Deer Management: Why You Should Create a Diverse Habitat Plan

Clay Hanback2023-06-02T07:55:27-04:00June 2nd, 2023|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Management, whitetail deer|Comments Off on Deer Management: Why You Should Create a Diverse Habitat Plan

In any given year, spring/summer weather conditions—either drought or flood—can delay or in some way impact planting and seed germination. The conditions keep soybeans, corn, alfalfa and the like from producing throughout the growing season, and in turn deer do not pack on as much weight, or in the case of bucks grow their largest antlers. Each week that quality forage is not able to grow and mature (it’s either too dry or too wet) it reduces a deer’s ability to express its full genetic potential. The lack of ag crops can be buffered by quality native forage for deer. But then poor weather conditions can impact the growth and availability of forbs, woodland plants and other natural food sources. As [...]