whitetail deer Archives - Page 67 of 92

12 04, 2021

Which Buck Should You Shoot?

Clay Hanback2021-04-12T14:43:03-04:00April 12th, 2021|Big Deer TV, Deer Hunting, whitetail deer|Comments Off on Which Buck Should You Shoot?

I took this photo a few years ago at a hunting camp in Georgia. The camp boss uses it to show their guests which young bucks to pass (sets 1 and 2 top) and which to shoot (3 maybe, 4 for sure). The board is a good visual, it really does simplify "trigger finger management." I believe in deer management, though I will never preach to anybody that you MUST hold out for a fully mature monster. Maybe you only have a few days to hunt one season. Maybe you lost your job, are going through a divorce or had some other bad experience, so you just need to get in the woods and shoot a deer, get your hands dirty and clear your mind. If you are hunting [...]

5 04, 2021

2021 Pennsylvania Deer Harvest Tops 400,000

Clay Hanback2021-04-05T10:03:09-04:00April 5th, 2021|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Bowhunting, Deer Hunting, Hunting News, whitetail deer|Comments Off on 2021 Pennsylvania Deer Harvest Tops 400,000

HARRISBURG, PA - Pennsylvania hunters took an estimated 435,180 deer in the 2020-21 hunting seasons, the Pennsylvania Game Commission reported today. The 2020-21 estimated harvest topped the previous license year’s harvest of 389,431 by about 12 percent. Since 1993, Pennsylvania hunters have harvested more than 400,000 deer in a license year 10 times. The statewide buck harvest -- 174,780 – set a new record in the antler restrictions era. The buck harvest also increased 7 percent over the previous license year’s buck harvest of 163,240. “About a quarter of the state’s deer hunters took a buck in the 2020-21 deer seasons,” noted David Stainbrook, the Game Commission’s Deer and Elk Section supervisor. “It’s a trend that hunters have maintained over the [...]

29 03, 2021

Year Of COVID: 2020 Deer Harvest Up Across U.S.

Clay Hanback2021-03-29T11:12:21-04:00March 29th, 2021|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Hunting News, whitetail deer|Comments Off on Year Of COVID: 2020 Deer Harvest Up Across U.S.

A 5% increase in new deer hunters plus more time in the woods for longtime hunters led to increased whitetail harvests in many states. Maine: Some 33,157 deer were tagged, the highest total in 18 years. Wisconsin: Hunters registered 188,712 deer during the 9-day gun season, up 16% from 2019. The number of bucks harvested was 85,340, compared to 75,236 last year. Arkansas: The state reported an increase in license sales and a record-breaking harvest. Hunters checked more deer than any season since 1938, with a reported 214,022 animals and counting. Oklahoma: All-time record license sales led to a preliminary 2020 harvest exceeding 120,000 deer. Virginia: Hunters harvested 208,131 animals, up less than 1% from the 206,976 deer taken last year. West Virginia: [...]

26 03, 2021

#1 Key To Deer Hunting: Hunt Every Hour You Can

Clay Hanback2021-03-10T13:28:16-05:00March 26th, 2021|BigDeer, Bowhunting, Deer Hunting, whitetail deer|Comments Off on #1 Key To Deer Hunting: Hunt Every Hour You Can

One day in November a few years ago, Brian Larue and his buddy, Bob Evenson, cut out of work early. The rut was still on in Winneshiek Co., Iowa, and the bowhunters were pumped. They had scouted and hunted their land hard all season; they knew good bucks were there and actively rubbing and scraping. Brian sneaked toward one of his favorite stands in a walnut tree, even though he figured the northwest wind would be wrong there. When he got to the stand he found the wind was more of a straight west, okay for the deer movement in the area, so he climbed up and started hunting. He looked down and noticed a big, shiny rub, only a [...]

12 03, 2021

Tree Stand Maintenance Tips For Deer Hunters

Clay Hanback2021-03-10T10:59:21-05:00March 12th, 2021|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, whitetail deer|Comments Off on Tree Stand Maintenance Tips For Deer Hunters

Right or wrong, on private land, many of us leave our lock-ons and/or ladders up in trees and out in the woods all year, ready to hunt next fall. If you do this, here are some important things to keep in mind. The straps, chains or cables that connect the stands and steps to trees are your foremost consideration when left out in the elements. These connectors will weather and wear, and routine inspection and service is a must. Longtime BIG DEER blogger and tree stand guru Matt Cheever doesn’t skimp. On all 50 tree stands he maintains in Illinois, he uses 3 ratchet straps per climbing apparatus (ladder section or stick) and another 3 straps on each lock-on stand. [...]