Deer hunting in and around standing corn is hard. When the corn is up, success is usually down. The challenges that standing corn presence both gun and bowhunters can be extremely difficult to overcome. But it can be done. And we’ve got a whole bag of tips to help make...
First and foremost, it’s important to clarify that it’s no easier or harder to kill a 195-inch 5-year-old buck than a 120-inch 5-year-old. Antler size doesn’t directly affect behavior in whitetails. (It can indirectly, because they attract attention. But more on that later.) As for killing these mega-giants, it takes...
Target panic is something that practically all archers go through at some point. Even the best shooters go through it. World champions like Levi Morgan and Travis “T-Bone” Turner have experienced it. So, don’t feel like you’re alone if you are too. It happens. And there’s certainly nothing to be...
Waterfowl hunting journals let us relive our days afield, reveling in previous success, laughing at past folly and mentally transporting us to treasured places. But if that’s all they accomplish, we might have missed a great opportunity. A complete waterfowl journal should document the facts and circumstances behind every hunt,...
Good waterfowl mounts immortalize birds and extend our memories of special days afield. Bad taxidermy, however, only serves to embarrass a substandard artist and perhaps a hunter who wanted to save money. No serious waterfowler wants to be that guy, of course. When we save a bird for taxidermy, we...
You hear it every season. “Yeah, I’ve got a ton of pictures of him but they’re all at night. He’s nocturnal. Won’t be killing that big guy.” Insert sigh here. I might catch a little flack for saying this — but there’s no such thing as a nocturnal buck. Sure,...
Antlerless harvests are a hot topic every year. Some say take a bunch of does. Others say you shouldn’t take any. Some question what’s right for their area. The truth is, the answer will be different from location to location. What’s right for one place may not be right for...
With fertilizer costs on the rise, it is tempting for landowners to skip fertilizing their food plots this fall and assume that soil nutrients are adequate. As long as the soil has ample residual nutrients for the next planting, skipping fertilizer won't hurt. But testing the soil in food plots...
Sometimes deer hunting seems like a simple thing. But most of the time our better judgment reminds us that there’s truly nothing simple about it. Whitetails are complex critters that take decades to understand. And while biologists and researchers have dispelled many myths and made huge strides, we’ve only begun...
We can feel it. Duck season approaches, and our long national nightmare will soon pass. When that opening bell rings, life will take a familiar turn : early mornings, chilly boat rides, brilliant sunrises, muddy dogs and fresh protein. Yet even during duck season, nothing stays the same. Instead, we...
Haven’t tried this “second season” turkey hunting tradition? It's legal in 42 states around the country. Not yours? Road trip? Here's why you should . . . 1. Scouting Deer It will help you scout for deer firearms season, which often arrives later than fall turkey dates. 2. Improve Skills...
Tournament archery is an activity and pastime that most people can enjoy. If you can draw a bow, it’s for you. It’s fun and provides a great opportunity to get outside with family and friends and enjoy the great outdoors. And if you’re good, the bragging rights aren’t too bad,...
“Mature bucks” and “easy to hunt” are two phrases rarely found in the same sentence. That’s why we published a piece not too long ago on the hardest mature buck personalities to hunt . Mature bucks of any age class are difficult to bring down. Their uncanny senses and unwavering...
Once a Quality Deer Management (QDM) program is established and its basic steps of young-buck protection and doe-population control are underway, many groups want to go further and engage in more intensive wildlife management techniques. There are many advanced management strategies that will make a good program better. A Land...
