Deer Science Archives - Page 11 of 44

9 07, 2020

3 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Velvet Deer Antlers

Clay Hanback2020-07-09T08:07:56-04:00July 9th, 2020|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Science|1 Comment

Velvet antlers grow via a complex system of blood vessels, which causes them to be hot to the touch. Top whitetail scientist Dr. Grant Woods notes, “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. Antler tines show up like neon signs when flying over with thermal cameras in summer.” Tiny hairs on the velvet stick out and make the antlers look bigger than they are. The hairs act as a radar system so the buck won’t bump into trees, fence posts, etc. and damage his soft antlers. Sebum, a semi-liquid secretion, on the hairs gives the velvet a shiny look. [...]

16 06, 2020

Video: How To Estimate A Deer’s Age By Jawbone

Clay Hanback2020-06-16T09:05:49-04:00June 16th, 2020|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Management, Deer Science|Comments Off on Video: How To Estimate A Deer’s Age By Jawbone

https://youtu.be/1hWeNM2mb4Q

10 06, 2020

Where Big Bucks Live: 2 Core Areas

Clay Hanback2020-06-10T10:21:32-04:00June 10th, 2020|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Science, sportsman channel, whitetail deer|Comments Off on Where Big Bucks Live: 2 Core Areas

Scientists tracked adult bucks fitted with GPS collars on a hunted property on the Maryland coast. Data collected from the GPS collars allowed the researchers to home in on the home ranges of mature bucks, and the “core areas” within those home ranges. The property was a mix of agricultural fields and woods, typical of whitetail habitat across the United States. “We saw core areas show up in places that (people) basically don’t hunt,” said Dr. Mark Conner, who headed up the study. Mark described 2 sites in particular that served as the core areas for multiple bucks. “One is a sanctuary because it is impenetrable to humans,” he said. “Very dense greenbrier and other thorny vegetation. The only way [...]

2 06, 2020

10 Cool Things About Deer Fawns

Clay Hanback2020-06-10T09:14:50-04:00June 2nd, 2020|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Science, whitetail deer|Comments Off on 10 Cool Things About Deer Fawns

It’s time to celebrate these beautiful little creatures that are being born right now! Did you know: A fawn weighs 4 to 8 pounds at birth; their weight doubles in 2 weeks. A fawn has a unique smell that the mother recognizes. A fawn spends its first month in hiding, separate from the doe, except to nurse 2 to 4 times a day. A healthy fawn can outrun you when it’s only days old. A fawn has about 300 white spots. 25% of twin fawns have different fathers. In a typical herd, twin fawns is the norm. In a prime habitat where the soil/feed/cover is outstanding, 20% to 30% of does might drop triplets. In a habitat with poor soils [...]

20 04, 2020

Rarest Breed: Melanistic (Black) Deer

Clay Hanback2020-06-10T09:14:50-04:00April 20th, 2020|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Science, whitetail deer|Comments Off on Rarest Breed: Melanistic (Black) Deer

We are editing the new season of BIG DEER TV, which will begin airing in July on Sportsman Channel. I was fascinated studying the interview and footage we shot with my friend Eddie Stevenson, who a few years ago shot one of the rarest whitetail deer in America. Here’s the story and some information: One day in the Texas Hill Country, a buck stepped out of the brush and Eddie Stevenson did a double take. It wasn’t the size of the rack, but the animal’s color—mahogany all over, with an even darker head and face. Eddie shot the buck, and the one-in-a-million mount now hangs on his wall. “I know he’s a young buck, but this deer was on a [...]