Mike: Every time I walk into my favorite stand I jump four or five deer that blow up and crash away. I have the wind right, and I am quiet. What am I doing wrong? Travis from NY Travis: Oftentimes the shortest and easiest route to a stand or blind is not the best way. In your case since you repeatedly jump deer, it sounds like you are walking through (or very close to) a thicket, ridge or similar spot where deer like to hang out and browse, or bed down. Whitetails are habitual animals that eat, walk and hang in the same general areas so long as they feel safe and comfortable there. You need to avoid them and find a new way to [...]

Folks loved our recent discussion on how to choose a deer taxidermist, and several of you asked for a follow-up post on how to care for and preserve a mount once you get it home and on the wall. Hunting expert and long-time blogger Matt “Flatlander” Cheever, who has been covering this topic for us, explains: Hi Mike: Let me share some tips that will keep that buck of a lifetime on your wall looking good throughout your lifetime and beyond. First, the biggest enemies to a professionally mounted game head are light and heat. If at all possible don’t hang a mount directly over a heat source like the fireplace--I know it looks the best there, just be sure to [...]

Right now, a lot of hunters are getting their 2013 bucks back from the taxidermist. From the pictures of the shoulder mounts I have seen, most of the work has been good, but a few of the bucks have been average at best. Since you’ll pay $500 and up to mount that big 10-pointer you’ll kill this fall (think positive) you’ll want the taxidermy work to be in the good to excellent category. Long-time BIG DEER blogger and great hunter Matt “Flatlander” Cheever says that now is the time to lay the groundwork and find a taxidermy shop. Flat sent us this list of things to look for 4 years ago, and it’s still great, solid advice: Start looking around [...]