Deer Hunting Archives - Page 167 of 196

29 03, 2017

Is Old Ammo Safe to Shoot?

admin2020-06-10T09:16:30-04:00March 29th, 2017|Big Deer Stories, Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Guns & Loads, Deer Hunting|3 Comments

Mike: I have some boxes of Core-Lokt .270 loads that must be 10 years old? Are those shells still safe to shoot and hunt with? Love the blog, keep up the good work.—George from Nebraska George: For starters, let me say that I’ve been hunting with .270, .30-06 and 7mm loads from a test batch I got at least 10 years old. Some of the cartridges are 15 years old.They are still reliable and accurate, and I’ve killed dozens of bucks with them. If center-fire cartridges are stored in a dry place at moderate temperatures with low humidity—say on a shelf in a dry basement where you have a dehumidifier running—they can have an amazingly long shelf life. There are [...]

27 03, 2017

2017: It’s a Tough Economy for the Gun & Hunting Industry Right Now

admin2020-06-10T09:16:30-04:00March 27th, 2017|Big Deer Stories, Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Bowhunting, Deer Guns & Loads, Deer Hunting, Gear Reviews, Hunting News, Remington|12 Comments

The health care chaos last week on Capitol Hill notwithstanding, things have been looking pretty good since President Trump’s election last November. The stock market is up and consumer confidence is high as the President reduces burdensome regulations on business and moves to act on tax reform this summer. But ironically the election of our first pro-gun president in 8 years has slowed the sale of firearms and softened the overall shooting/hunting market. In recent years, with anti-gun Barack Obama at the helm and with the prospect of Hillary looming for another 8 years, law-abiding and freedom–loving Americans had a deep and well-founded concern that their gun rights were in serious jeopardy, and so we purchased guns and hoarded ammunition [...]

22 03, 2017

Need A Salvage Permit For Deer Skull/Antlers?

admin2020-06-10T09:16:30-04:00March 22nd, 2017|Big Deer Stories, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Shed Hunting|Comments Off on Need A Salvage Permit For Deer Skull/Antlers?

During the winter and spring shed hunt of 2017, hunters across the country have been finding, picking up and posting on social media some giant “deadheads,” like this 200-class skull making the rounds on Facebook. Let me remind you that if you find any-size skull w/antlers in the woods you might—actually you probably-- need to obtain a salvage permit (or at least permission) from the state to possess and transport that skull. In most states a deadhead—the skull and rack from a buck that died of disease, was hit by a car or was lost by a hunter last season—is treated like a roadkill buck, and subject to the same state roadkill laws, which in most cases means you need [...]

20 03, 2017

Study: Trees Know When Deer Feed On Them

admin2020-06-10T09:16:30-04:00March 20th, 2017|Big Deer Stories, Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Science|Comments Off on Study: Trees Know When Deer Feed On Them

Science continues to uncover interesting things in the deer world. The Deer Forest Blog reported that a recent study found that some trees know when they are being browsed by deer…and they put up a defense mechanism to stop it. The study looked at beech and maple saplings that comprised the regenerating under-story in a forest, and thus were often browsed by deer. The researchers simulated deer browsing by clipping buds off the saplings and then applying deer saliva to the wounds. They found that the saliva caused the saplings to increase production of salicylic acid, which signals a tree to produce more tannins. Tannins are bitter and not palatable to deer. The scientists concluded that the production of tannins may deter future [...]

16 03, 2017

How to Clean a Deer Skull Plate

admin2020-06-10T09:16:30-04:00March 16th, 2017|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting|1 Comment

Mike: What's the easiest way to get the skin and hair off the skull plate when I want to mount a buck's antlers only? Thanks, Dennis Hey Dennis: Lance Waln, who I watched grow up from a kid to a great hunter and accomplished taxidermist here in Virginia, says to cut and peel as much hide and hair off the skull plate as you can with your hunting knife. Getting the skin away from the bone and antler burr is tough sometimes; try a large flat-tip screwdriver and pry the skin away from the antler base. Use your knife to remove the last hairs that stick to the base and the burrs. Skin as much meat and tissue as you [...]