Deer Science Archives - Page 17 of 44

18 03, 2019

How Will “Bomb Cyclone” and Snowmelt Flooding Affect Deer?

admin2020-06-10T09:15:25-04:00March 18th, 2019|Big Deer Stories, Big Deer TV, Deer Hunting, Deer Science|Comments Off on How Will “Bomb Cyclone” and Snowmelt Flooding Affect Deer?

The recent bomb cyclone combined with spring snowmelt has swelled some Midwest rivers to record levels and forced the evacuation of hundreds of homes. The governors of Nebraska, Iowa and Wisconsin have declared emergencies. Some of the water-logged areas are bracing for more rain this week. How will all this flooding affect whitetail deer in the region? Biologists say that rising floodwaters of river and creeks won’t kill many if any adult deer, though it will displace the animals for days and weeks. But the deer will eventually filter back into their habitats once the waters recede. Good news is that pregnant does will move out of rising water now and for the next few weeks. The primary concern for deer herds [...]

28 02, 2019

More CWD Confusion: Is Deer Meat Safe To Eat?

admin2020-06-10T09:15:25-04:00February 28th, 2019|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Science|9 Comments

As if we needed more confusion about Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) and its impacts on deer populations and the future of hunting, not to mention the gathering of venison to feed our families, a PhD and public-health scientist has thrown gasoline on the fire by stating, “I think the risk is very high” that CWD could be transmitted to humans that consume infected deer meat. Mainstream media outlets, including U.S. News & World Reports, have picked up these recent statements and run with it, using terms like “death, dying and zombie deer” that have stoked yet more confusion and fright about the disease. The National Deer Alliance (NDA) responds in an editorial from its president and CEO, Nick Pinizzotto: The [...]

2 01, 2019

CWD Changing The Way We Process And Eat Venison

admin2020-06-10T09:15:26-04:00January 2nd, 2019|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Science|1 Comment

Starting out the new year with this guest blog from our friend Luke Strommen, who lives and hunts with his wife, Tara, and daughters out on the Milk River in northeastern Montana. Luke is one of the most ethical and responsible deer hunters I know: It was a tough year to get out and hunt with our girls because they were so busy with school stuff and extracurricular activities, etc. I'm sure you parents can relate. My oldest daughter, Summer, got to go the second to last day of the 2018 season. We hit the rattling sheds and made a ruckus with some leaves and low branches. After two close encounters on rack bucks, when an ethical shot wouldn’t present, [...]

2 11, 2018

October Velvet Mystery Bucks

admin2020-06-10T09:15:27-04:00November 2nd, 2018|Big Deer Stories, Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Science|Comments Off on October Velvet Mystery Bucks

Got this from Travis: Hi Mike: Thought you might be able to shed some light on this. We took this deer October 19 on the Texas/Oklahoma border north of Dallas. As you can see it’s still in velvet! That’s not normal for around here. Any insight on this, and does this change how we plan for the rut? I emailed back: Did his nut sack look normal or small? If a buck injures his testicles (or if they didn’t drop as he grew) it affects his hormones and a buck might not shed the velvet. Let me know. From Travis: I finally heard back from my buddy. You called it. The testicles were small and not near what you’d expect. And [...]

31 10, 2018

What Causes A Leg To Grow Out A Deer’s Body?

admin2020-06-10T09:15:27-04:00October 31st, 2018|Big Deer Stories, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Science|Comments Off on What Causes A Leg To Grow Out A Deer’s Body?

Okay, something freaky for Halloween. Saw on Twitter where somebody shot this deer the other day and said, “This is a first for me, an extra leg growing out his neck!” Scientists say the extra leg is likely that of a twin that didn’t form all the way. According to QDMA this is most likely a case of a “parasitic twin.” Twin fawns probably began to develop inside a doe, but the twin embryos did not completely separate and one of them stopped developing normally. The leg on this buck’s back neck may actually be a non-functioning remnant of the twin that failed to develop fully, but that remained attached to the healthy embryo. Parasitic twins are rare but have been documented [...]