whitetail deer Archives - Page 51 of 92

10 01, 2022

Winter Behavior Of Whitetail Deer

Clay Hanback2022-01-10T09:41:37-05:00January 10th, 2022|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Science, whitetail deer|Comments Off on Winter Behavior Of Whitetail Deer

After a mild fall across the Midwest and East (the new normal) whitetails are now in “energy conservation mode” notes Pennsylvania scientist Duane Diefenbach in this Deer-Forest Blog. At the peak of the rut back in November, bucks moved on average over 2 miles per day. Right now, 2 months later, movement is less than half that; just over a mile at night and only a 1/4-mile in daylight. For bucks, energy expenditure is at rock bottom. No need to prowl for does, and not time yet to grow new antlers. Just hang out, survive and wait for spring. Diefenbach says the winter movement of does (a mile or 2 a day) has not changed much since November. But does do [...]

6 01, 2022

How Far Apart Do Mature Bucks Shed Their Antlers?

Clay Hanback2022-01-03T10:02:50-05:00January 6th, 2022|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Shed Hunting, whitetail deer|Comments Off on How Far Apart Do Mature Bucks Shed Their Antlers?

Shed hunting season is coming, and here's new science to help you out. Nebraska researchers collected and analyzed cast bone in the Platte River Valley from 2009 to 2020. Here’s what they deduced from the 11-year project. Generally, the distance between matched sets of antlers from bucks 2.5 years old or older is twice as far apart as matched antler sets of 1.5-year-old bucks. If you find one small antler, chances are the other little antler from that young buck is close by. Some matched sets of sheds from 1.5-year-old bucks were found less than 5 yards apart. But when you find one big antler, you will likely have to walk and search farther to find the matching side. The [...]

3 01, 2022

Another Bullwinkle Buck W/Swollen Nose Shot In Alabama

Clay Hanback2022-01-03T09:28:12-05:00January 3rd, 2022|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Rut, Deer Science, whitetail deer|Comments Off on Another Bullwinkle Buck W/Swollen Nose Shot In Alabama

Field report from Johnny Sorensen down in Henry County, Alabama: I harvested this 8-point (nearly 17-inch spread with broken brow tine) on December 24, 2021 at approximately 8:00 am in Henry County, Alabama. The deer acted normal in all aspects of a buck in rut. He was emaciated a bit more than you would expect of a rutting buck. I did not weigh him but would guess 120 pounds. As poor as he was, he had obvious signs of fighting and rutting. Multiple bruises about the body were found. He was first observed traveling through woods on a neighboring property and responded to a doe in estrus bleat. He stayed in the wood line on our property and came to [...]

30 12, 2021

How To Choose A Deer Hunting Knife

Clay Hanback2021-12-26T12:09:20-05:00December 30th, 2021|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Gear Reviews, sportsman channel, whitetail deer|Comments Off on How To Choose A Deer Hunting Knife

Wood or stag knife handles are pretty, but handles of Kraton or a similar high-tech rubber are better for fieldwork on game. You can grip a rubber handle securely and tightly, even in wet or bloody conditions. This ensures better cuts on an animal, and there’s less chance a blade will slip and slice your finger. For all-around field care, a stainless-steel blade with a slight drop-point design is excellent. Whether you prefer a fixed-blade or folder, try one with a “gut hook” (picture) which works great for field-dressing a deer. Most people buy knives online these days, but for serious deer hunting I recommend you go to Cabela’s or Bass Pro and hand-test several blades before you buy. Some [...]

28 12, 2021

6 Late-Season Deer Tactics

Clay Hanback2021-12-26T11:58:59-05:00December 28th, 2021|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, whitetail deer|Comments Off on 6 Late-Season Deer Tactics

Only One Wind: Back in the rut you never knew exactly from which direction a buck would come, so some days you probably cheated and hunted one of your best stands on a marginal wind. But now that deer have been pressured, there is only one good wind and little margin for error. In the evenings, deer move straight from their beds to a cornfield, beans or other last food source. The wind can’t blow anywhere back toward that bedding cover, nor can it swirl out into a piece of field where the does will pop out first. Set up downwind of a trail or funnel where your scent will blow back into a dead zone where you figure no [...]