Field Judging Whitetails

Just about everyone I know has experienced what many whitetail hunters call “ground shrinkage”. That is, the deer they recovered is not the deer they thought they killed. It’s not part of some government conspiracy to switch out the giant whitetail you arrowed with a smaller buck. No, he is the same size as he … Read more

How To Bait Bears And What To Use

Bear baiting is a “tricky subject.” Rules and regs vary greatly from state-to-state, and indeed, can vary from year to year – even season to season. Be cautious, and check out your state or area regs carefully before baiting. In a previous article we mentioned that you want to start baiting in early spring. In … Read more

Determining The Age Of A Deer By Tooth Wear

A deer rarely exceeds its average life expectancy of five years of age in the wild. They are capable of living over ten years but that does not happen very often. The main reasons are natural causes such as being hunted by predators such as humans, wolves, bear, and big cats. Other causes are accidents (when … Read more

Why Do Turkeys Fight?

It seems like every year a photo of two or even three giant bucks locked together and found dead is circulated across the internet. Whitetails battle for dominance every fall. The prize is first choice among does in estrus. Turkeys do the same thing but the fight doesn’t end in death. Turkeys obviously don’t have … Read more

World Record Whitetail Buck Found In Missouri

St. Charles, Mo — The king of bucks, the world-famous Missouri Monarch, was nearly overthrown a few weeks ago in St. Charles County. On the evening of Wednesday, March 13, an antler shed hunter discovered a large, near-record set of non-typical antlers while searching the August A. Busch Memorial Conservation Area in St. Charles. The shed hunter … Read more

10 Dumb Things Hunter Do to Miss a Shot

I guess no one told you, riding around on a four-wheeler all day will vibrate your scope out of zero; here are ten more dumb things we do to miss a deer. You bought a thousand-dollar deer rifle, with a scope and from my observations over the years, you don’t have the slightest idea how … Read more

Turkey Hunting Tips For Beginners

Pursuing turkeys is one of the most exciting forms of hunting. The birds are tough to hunt yet engaging. Hunters can be conversational with their quarry. While the conversations are exhilarating, the confrontations are what turkey hunters live for. The last 50 yards of enticing that big gobbler to your location can last for hours … Read more

The Interesting 22 Magnum

He had taken the Junior Division of the Top Gun Challenge, so this 11 year old was no stranger to accurate shooting with a squirrel rifle. That is when he and his dad heard that I knew of a place in Louisiana where you could hunt wild hogs year around. It is a good place … Read more

How To Clean Ducks

Cleaning ducks is an easy, yet necessary part of duck hunting. Doing the job correctly is the best way to be sure your next duck dinner is what it should be. If you follow these suggestions, all the hard work you put into shooting ducks will be worth it.If the temperature is over 50 degrees, … Read more

Understanding Deer Tracks – Scouting Deer Part 1

Because of the complexity of reading deer sign, we’re going to do a series of three articles. The first is “tracks,” the second will be “rubs and scrapes,” and the third, “deer droppings.” The best “teachers” of all are our Native American brethren who have forgotten more about reading deer sign then any hunter will … Read more

How To Prepare A Deer Pelt Or Deer Hide

There’s more to an enjoyable aftermath of a deer hunt than just venison — like using the pelt. Lots of hunters have discovered that with a little work, they can realize some extra dollars, a wall mount, or some very nice wearable items by preparing the deer pelt properly. There are a number of alternatives … Read more

Deer Hunting Jokes

A Professor was giving a lecture on “Involuntary Muscular Contractions”  to his first year medical students.  Realizing that this was not the most riveting subject, the Professor decided to lighten the mood slightly. He pointed to a young woman in the front row and said, “Do you know what your ass hole is doing while you’re having … Read more

Become A Better Deer Hunter – Deer Biology

You may not need to know what species and class the deer belongs to but some of the information on this page will help you become a better deer hunter by giving you in site into the deer’s physical characteristics. Whitetail biology studies have identified up to 30 different subspecies of whitetail deer across North … Read more

Whitetail Deer Facts

Impress your friends with these unusual deer facts or check out some popular deer hunting buyer guides below:Best Deer Hunting RiflesScopes for Deer HuntingComplete List of the Best Deer Hunting Gear29 Whitetail Facts We Bet You Didn’t KnowDeer have a four chambered stomach that allows them to digest tough plant foods.  Deer eat quickly with … Read more

Duck Hunting Glossary

Band – A duck band is the equivalent of trophy antlers to a duck hunter. Duck bands are highly prized and some even have bounties. Hunters who call in bounty bands are usually rewarded monetarily. Biologists use duck band information to study ducks. Breasting Out – A butchering technique often used by waterfowl hunters. The breasts contain … Read more

Deer Tracking And Recovery – Tracking A Wounded Deer

You’ve just shot the deer that you’ve patiently waited hours to find.  You’re excited and your anticipation is high, but you know that you have to exercise restraint and the proper course of action to track your deer.  What you do in the crucial moments after you shoot the deer will determine whether or not … Read more

How To Age A Whitetail In The Woods

If your goal is to shoot big bucks, you have to pass on younger bucks. In many states, filling a buck tag essentially puts an end to any opportunity of taking another buck that season. As a land manager, shooting young bucks does even more damage. The 2 1/2 year old buck you shoot today … Read more

Beginner Tips For Using Deer Calls

Calling is a common tactic in waterfowl hunting. In fact, most duck hunters wouldn’t even attempt to hunt without their calls. But many deer hunters have never used a call. Some question their effectiveness while others are afraid of messing up the hunt with calls. Most don’t really know how to use them. The following … Read more

Turkey Myths & Facts

With wild turkeys becoming prolific (populations are growing rapidly, even in areas that never were a major base for the birds), wherever one drives, it’s more usual than not to see turkeys right off the roadway, in fields or on roadsides – at times in flocks numbering 50 or more birds. So, you see these … Read more

The Skeleton Of A Whitetail Deer

Many hunters do not know much about bones or the skeleton whitetail deer have under their skin.  The bone structure is important when determining shot placement and also helpful when butchering your deer. The whitetail deer is a vertebrate, which mean they have an internal bone support structure to which muscles and ligaments are attached. This … Read more

Deer Hunting Tips For Beginners

Most deer hunting articles have titles like “Advanced Techniques” and “Beyond The Basics”. These articles are targeting folks who have hunted for many years and probably read hundreds of articles and tips. But what about someone who is hunting for the first time this season? Well, I’m here for you. I hope these seven tips … Read more

Shot Placement For Deer Hunters

Killing a deer is hard work. Getting close is the first job. Then accuracy comes into play. Before pulling the trigger or releasing an arrow, the deer needs to be in the correct position. Some shots are better than others. Knowing when and where to take the shot, then being able to deliver the arrow or … Read more

Deer Scrapes & Rubs – Reading Deer Sign Part 2

Part II of our series of three articles regarding how to read deer sign, focuses on “scrapes & rubs.” Deer “scrape” the ground with their hooves- – and at times will do so with their antlers. The scrapes will range from the size of a dinner plate to that of a child’s portable swimming pool. … Read more

The Art of Mapping Deer

Although I could write a narrative on each of the following landscape features, how they funnel deer, and how to hunt them, the most important thing to know is how to identify them on a map. With hunting season quickly approaching, scouting is likely on your agenda, and if you’re hunting the hill country, then here … Read more

Deer Hunting Glossary Of Terms

Definitions of commonly used deer hunting terms:Abomasum – the fourth, or digesting, chamber of the stomach of a cud-chewing animal, like the whitetail deerAlbino Deer – A deer that is lacking in color or has a white coat.Antler – the branched, annually shed, bony growth on the head of any animal of the deer family. … Read more