8 09, 2024

Deer Science: Bucks Change Bedding Sites Every 6 to 10 Hours

2024-09-08T12:02:06-04:00September 8th, 2024|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Science, whitetail deer|0 Comments

In a recent study, Understanding Buck Movement, scientists at the vaunted Mississippi State Deer Lab found that each day during hunting season, mature bucks use many different resting and bedding areas rather than one major sanctuary. The MSU researchers tracked GPS-collared adult bucks and found out that they visit and revisit different “focal areas” within a property with varying levels of regularity throughout hunting season. While the biologists could not determine exactly why the bucks frequented these areas, they believe that, based on slow and concentrated movement data emitted from the tracking collars, that the bucks were most likely bedding and resting in one spot before getting up and moving to another focal area. Nearly all the adult bucks in [...]

30 06, 2024

Why You Should Make Mock Buck Scrapes in Summer

2024-06-30T12:11:10-04:00June 30th, 2024|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Science, whitetail deer|1 Comment

Several years ago, in hopes of reducing the spread of CWD, Virginia wildlife officials prohibited the use of minerals, and bait, to attract deer. Since I’ve been now forced to give up monitoring mineral licks, I’m making mock scrapes and setting trail cameras beside them. Several studies have shown that whitetail bucks will visit scrapes with fresh scent year-round, and especially in the summer months. The fake scrapes are good places (not as good as mineral licks, but the next best thing) to get images of bucks that will roam your area this fall. A mock scrape is not only scent-based, but also a visual sign. Rake out at least a 2 foot by 3 foot area below an overhanging [...]

24 06, 2024

June and July: How Much Do Whitetail Deer Antlers Grow?

2024-06-21T13:12:32-04:00June 24th, 2024|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Bowhunting, Deer Hunting, Deer Science, whitetail deer|Comments Off on June and July: How Much Do Whitetail Deer Antlers Grow?

I looked off my back porch the other morning and saw a single deer feeding on weed sprouts on our recently mowed lake berm. He was 300 yards away, and although I could not count tines with the naked eye, I could not miss the tall, thick, velvety beams. One glimpse through my binocular and it was clear this was going to be an above-average to exceptional deer for this part of the Virginia Piedmont. My excitement grew as I realized the rack had a good 6 more weeks to grow. How much bigger will those antlers get? June and July: Zoom Months for Antlers Velvet antler is the fastest-growing tissue in the mammal world. In mid-summer, each beam and [...]

11 06, 2024

4 Things to Know About June Deer Antlers

2024-06-11T10:52:25-04:00June 11th, 2024|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Science, whitetail deer|Comments Off on 4 Things to Know About June Deer Antlers

Scientists at the Mississippi State Deer Lab say velvet antlers grow rapidly, as much as ¾-inch a week for yearling bucks and 1 1/2 inches per week for adults during the peak growing season in June! Velvet antlers have a complex system of blood vessels which causes them to be hot to the touch. There is so much blood carrying protein and minerals to a buck’s antlers this time of year that even small antlers are easily detected by thermal imaging devices. Tiny hairs on the velvet stick out and make the antlers look thicker than they actually are. The hairs act as a radar system so a buck won’t bump into trees, fence posts, etc. and damage his soft antlers. Sebum, [...]

30 05, 2024

Do Whitetail Does Have More Buck Fawns in Hunted Areas?

2024-05-30T09:54:58-04:00May 30th, 2024|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Rut, Deer Science, whitetail deer|Comments Off on Do Whitetail Does Have More Buck Fawns in Hunted Areas?

I just ran across a study conducted by the University of Florida years ago. It found that in areas where hunting is permitted, whitetail does give birth to more male fawns than female fawns. Researchers examined the reproductive tracts of 380 legally harvested does from four tracts across Florida. Two of the areas were off limits to general hunting, and the other two WMAs were regularly hunted. More than 90 percent of the does in all the areas were pregnant, the research found. Males comprised 56 percent of the fetuses in the hunted areas but just 39 percent in the non-hunted areas. Additionally, the researchers found 38 percent of does on hunted sites carried twins, compared with just 14 percent [...]

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