Greg saw this post on Twitter and tweeted me about another Indiana giant that likely succumbed to EHD this summer. Dave saw it too and tweeted: “Here is another west central Indiana giant that was taken by EHD. This one was found in 2012.” #shame Two more world-class bucks that this dreadful disease killed. I hope scientists can figure out some way to battle this buck killer, but to date there is nothing we can do.
Mike: My buddies and I were talking about how bucks’ necks swell up, and none of us can find any definitive information on what causes it. We know it’s based on the mating cycle. Is it muscle mass increase, blood flow, etc.? Thanks, Jason T. Jason: In the latest research from Delaware, biologists found that the circumference of a buck’s neck can increase 50% in the rut. I asked Sarge Vasquez, a wildlife biologist and member of the Big Deer Hunt Team, for more. Sarge says: One of my old college professors, Dr. David Hewitt, wrote and edited a great book entitled, Biology and Management of White-tailed Deer. We talked about why bucks’ necks swell, and while Dr. Hewitt said he wasn't aware [...]
Dean W. reports that this beautiful buck, 170-class, was found in west-central Indiana by a friend of a friend and suspected to be an EHD fatality. As compared to last year, EHD has been light across North America in 2013, although there have been spotty outbreaks that have killed some bucks, like this Indiana giant. It is that way every year from Montana to the East Coast, EHD always gets some deer. Damn shame this tall-tined buck was killed by that dreaded disease.
Mark Drury and I compared notes again and came up with our 5th annual prediction of the best days to shoot a monster in the 2013 rut. Any year, the first week of November, when bucks rub and scrape like fiends and troll for the first receptive does, is a great time to hunt for a big deer. If you take off this week, you ought to hunt all day every day, because you never know when you might see a shooter. But with the moon new and dark this November 3 and then waxing crescent, bucks should be most active at daylight. Get on stand extra early and hunt the mornings extra hard. The first week of November “will [...]
Bill wrote and talked about bowhunting an urban zone near Indianapolis: One of my best stand sites backs up against the interstate. Weird being in that tree before daybreak and hearing all those cars and trucks going behind me. But it turns out to be a great travel route. They (the deer) go from park property on the other side of the interstate, follow a creek under the interstate and move through the property. Two 10 pointers and a good-sized 8 were taken last year. Bill hits on a killer bow tactic. A bridge access or box culvert beneath a busy interstate or a lonely rural road is a great deer funnel. Whitetails are like us; they take the easiest, [...]