Deer Science Archives - Page 11 of 43

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 [...]

15 04, 2020

Take QDMA’s Online Deer Course Now, Hunt Better Than Ever This Fall

Clay Hanback2020-06-10T09:14:50-04:00April 15th, 2020|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Management, Deer Science, Hunting News, sportsman channel, whitetail deer|Comments Off on Take QDMA’s Online Deer Course Now, Hunt Better Than Ever This Fall

When this pandemic resides and the stay-at-home orders are finally relaxed, we all look forward to 2 things: getting back to work, and going deer hunting this fall. In the wake of COVID-19, having seen and endured great disruptions to our supply chains and food supply, and facing the reality that we could be locked down again in the future, I believe that more Americans than ever will hunt whitetails come October and November. Most will hunt within 30 miles of their homes, hoping to shoot one or more deer (up to the legal limit) for the freezer. Whether you are a seasoned veteran or a newbie, you should strive to hunt your best this season, not only for the [...]

5 02, 2020

Should You Feed Deer In The Winter?

Clay Hanback2020-06-10T09:14:51-04:00February 5th, 2020|BigDeer, CWD, Deer Hunting, Deer Science, whitetail deer|Comments Off on Should You Feed Deer In The Winter?

Yes, natural food is scarce and whitetail deer are hungry and scavenging every bite they can find right now in late winter. NO, you should not feed them. No corn, no apples, no hay, nothing. “Congregation of deer is a way in which Chronic Wasting Disease is spread through nose to nose contact,” explains Ryan Brown, director of Virginia Game and Inland Fisheries. “We encourage the public not to feed deer, because the deer don’t need it in Virginia to survive, and number two, attracting deer to a particular feeding location simply ups the odds that the disease will be spread within the herd.” CWD can be spread by disease prions that live in the soil for years. “The prions [...]