1 02, 2017

Iowa Muzzleloader: Lady Smokes 240” Velvet Buck!

2020-06-10T09:16:31-04:00February 1st, 2017|Big Deer Stories, Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Guns & Loads, Deer Hunting|3 Comments

Hi Mike: My wife, Lyla, harvested this buck with her muzzleloader near Osceola, Iowa on December 22, 2016 at 3:30 pm. The deer known as "The Freak" has 26 scorable points, an inside spread of nearly 24 inches and main beams 27 inches plus. He was 6 1/2 years old. The Freak lived most of his life on a 4,300-acre farm located 10 miles south of our farm and managed by Steve Snow. Every year in mid-October the deer would come back to our farm, except for 2016, when our first picture of him was on Nov. 2. The Freak remained in velvet last year, we believe, because he was wounded by a neighboring bowhunter the previous year. This is [...]

18 01, 2017

Shed Hunting: Why Some Bucks Drop Antlers in December or Early January

2020-06-10T09:16:31-04:00January 18th, 2017|Big Deer Stories, Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Shed Hunting|3 Comments

Kelly aka “Shedhunter” from South Dakota sent this picture of a fresh shed he found the other day, and it got me to wondering: What causes bucks in some areas to shed their antlers early in late December or early January? QDMA biologist Kip Adams points to a couple of things. “Nutrition is important, as bucks in good physical condition generally retain their antlers longer than those who are nutritionally stressed,” he says. “Widespread early antler casting (in your area) may signify a nutritionally stressed herd resulting from too many deer for what the habitat can support.” Also, Kip says that in northern states mature bucks typically shed antlers earlier than younger, smaller deer. “(Older) bucks skip many meals during [...]

11 01, 2017

Photos: 3 Big Bucks from 2016

2020-06-10T09:16:31-04:00January 11th, 2017|Big Deer Stories, Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting|2 Comments

Three gentlemen sent me photos of bucks from the 2016 season: Mike, I’m 39 years old and have been hunting for as long as I can remember. I've always managed to fill the freezer with meat but never was able to get my "trophy buck.” That all changed for me this year--15 point, double drop tine. Woohoo!--Mark Hi Mike. My father bowhunted this deer in November on our farm in Kansas. He took a shot at it and skimmed his belly. Dad was devastated, but kept his head held high for his return trip in December. He went back a couple weeks later and the buck reappeared! Dad was fortunate to kill him with the muzzleloader at 30 yards, he was [...]

5 01, 2017

Maine Deer Hunt: Teamwork for a Great 8-Pointer

2020-06-10T09:16:31-04:00January 5th, 2017|Big Deer Stories, Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Guns & Loads, Deer Hunting|Comments Off on Maine Deer Hunt: Teamwork for a Great 8-Pointer

I have hunted the great state of Maine exactly once. We covered hundreds of miles and explored the magical big woods for a week and saw two moose but not a single deer, not even a doe. We traveled around and filmed everything we saw and everybody we met, and put together a TV show. It was a hit, and the episode remains one of the most popular we have ever produced for Big Deer TV. Today’s guest blog is from Kevin McKenna, who hunts in Maine every year. Although Maine is one of the toughest places in America to kill a deer, especially a good buck, Kevin’s post has me longing to go back again, maybe next year. (Dan, [...]

30 12, 2016

BIG DEER TV: Fall 2016 Hunting & Filming Recap

2020-06-10T09:16:31-04:00December 30th, 2016|Big Deer Stories, Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Bowhunting, Deer Guns & Loads, Deer Hunting, Remington|2 Comments

As 2016 draws to a close, it's a perfect time to recap my fall hunts that will begin airing in July 2017 during season 6 of BIG DEER TV. Thanks to Remington Arms, Trijicon, Wildlife Research Center and Sportsman Channel for their amazing support. And a special and heartfelt thanks to all of you who watch our show and read this blog. I hope you have a happy, healthy and prosperous 2017.--MH In September I traveled to South Carolina and hunted with Will (left) and Ethan for a few days. These kids are bravely battling cancer every day and I hope and pray for them. One evening Ethan shot this buck, and we all gathered round the skinning shed. Lots [...]

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