Innholdsfortegnelse for January - February 2016 i Deer & Deer Hunting

Call it what you want: alien, non-native, invasive. Plants such as these are threading through fields and forests, disturbing native landscapes and gradually changing habitats. While many are spread by wind or water, others traverse the earth by a different mode of transportation: in animal scat. White-tailed deer in particular favor certain invasive plants over native ones, which increases the distribution of these plants when deer eat them in one area and then relieve themselves in another. Invasive plants have a bad rap for a reason. Because of their ability to grow quickly and spread rapidly, they can gain control over new habitats, creating environmental damage to native landscapes, impacting not only the vegetation, but insects and wildlife, too. Non-native plants can literally choke out native plants and have caused…

The .460 S&W Magnum broke all handgun velocity records when it was introduced and it quickly became known as the ultimate hunting cartridge. Last year, Smith & Wesson teamed up with “The Bone Collector” Michael Waddell to launch the limited edition Performance Center XVR Bone Collector revolver. Based on the powerful X-Frame design, this gun sports an unfluted stainless steel cylinder that holds five rounds of ammunition and has a 7½-inch barrel. Its two-tone finish provides a special look that is functional and stylish, and the Bone Collector logo is engraved on the frame. The top rail offers plenty of space for mounting optics, and there are adjustable iron sights as well. Performance Center enhancements to this revolver include heavy-duty ball detent lockup and exclusive chrome trigger and hammer. The…

It all started in September, when the woods were really more summer than autumn, and mosquitoes still reigned the woodlands. You took to the field with bow in hand, hoping to intercept that well-patterned buck that was on your trail camera and in your dreams. The pursuit continued into the glory of October, when the landscape turned golden and the whitetails shifted their patterns. But you worked hard to figure them out. Then frosty mornings teamed up with shortening days to really start the bucks a-moving. Life was good. November came along. Finally. With it, the rut swung into full gear. It’s the time whitetail hunters live and breathe for: A buck could show up at absolutely any time of day on his cruise for does. Then, somewhere along the…

Meet the turnip-patch doe. It happened back when my middle son Ethan was just a boy. We were on a special youth hunt not far from the west bank of the Missouri River in South Dakota. The youngster was working like a trooper through some rough-and-cold weather in an attempt to knock over his first whitetail. One afternoon the snow finally stopped. Dark comes early in December, and soon after lunchtime we headed down through the river breaks to a stand over a food plot. The boy needed a deer, time was running out on our hunt and the whitetails were sure to be hitting the turnips planted in the little field. Our plan worked. With about an hour of dusky light remaining, a group of five or six does…

Too many hunters are content to sight-in their rifles from the bench, punch a few groups and call it a day. They don’t seem to realize that it could cost them big if they’re forced to make a quick shot in the field from a shooting position they’ve never practiced. First off, I want to be clear that it is important to sight-in your rifle from a bench rest. Look at it as the “control” in the sense that it provides a baseline for how well you can expect your rifle to shoot. If the rifle is on a solid rest and your trigger finger is reasonably true, you should have a good indication of your rifle’s accuracy. Your goal is to replicate, as best you can, those control groups…

It’s not the first time Face-book friends shared an article with a common theme, inviting hunters to fire shots at the declining number of deer. I initially scrolled past, but the teaser asking if the “good days” are gone forever forced my mouse back to the scene where hunter upon hunter predictably bemoaned scattered versions as to why we are seeing fewer deer. I scanned the comments hoping for someone to change the tone, but the group-think vehemently snowballed until I doubted any competing voice would dare put forth a larger question. It would only cause trouble, I thought, to ask if hunters subconsciously equate “good days” with numbers of dead deer — or worse, do we do it intentionally. It’s hardly a news flash that deer subjected to hunting…

Most serious whitetail hunters look closely at weather conditions when determining when to venture afield — and weather is a very big (maybe the biggest) topic of conversation among trophy bowhunters. We have all heard the many different comments about how weather affects whitetail movement: “Hunt when it’s a little cool — the deer move more then.” “A little precipitation makes deer move, so hunt then.” “I swear I see the big ones when the barometric pressure is low.” “I know that a change in barometric pressure is when the trophies come out.” “Hunt wind velocities up to 17 mph, but not over that.” All of these opinions are honest and sincere, and reflect what people remember from their personal experiences. To examine what weather conditions might be advantageous for…

I’m often troubled, while eavesdropping on hunters discussing the “harvest” of white-tailed does. Too often does are discussed in the same terms as picking backyard vegetables. Worse yet, often addressed by wannabe deer managers like weeds in that garden; an inconvenience in need of removal. I have a little more respect for whitetails, even does, than this. Sure, does can prove superfluous in some habitats, become tediously boring when that’s all you ever get to look at. But does can represent trophies in the same sense as high-scoring bucks. I’ve never had a problem shooting does, when and where they’re legal. Does have provided some fond memories and saved many hunts, and I relish their meat just as much as the antlers from a trophy buck. Killing does has become…

Venison jerky is one of the easiest and most delicious snacks you can make, and it’s more fun to turn out some tasty batches with your own deer. Weston Supply’s awesome Jerky Board and Knife Combo combines a double-sided oak cutting board and stainless steel knife. Make precise cuts for slices of meat that are ¼- or 3/8-inch thick. This ensures consistent thicknesses so they’ll all dry evenly and at the same rate. The board also has an insert for thinner slices of meats or vegetables. The package includes 1 ounce of cure and enough Weston Garlic & Pepper Jerky Seasoning to do five pounds of meat. It’s a great addition to the kitchen the entire family can enjoy. Info: www.WestonSupply.com…

Remington has added several new offerings to its ammunition lineup this year for defense, hog hunting and shotguns that are worth a look. With hog hunting continuing to gain popularity, the new Hog Hammer loads definitely should find a spot in your 12 gauge lineup. Hog Hammer ammo is hard-hitting and drops big boars and sows with ease. This year’s additions include a 2¾-inch 000 buckshot load that zings at 1,325 fps. If you’re a fan of slugs, the 7/8-ounce 3-inch Hog Hammer slug flies at 1,875 fps and has devastating impact. For 12 gauge home defense, take a look at the eight- or nine-pellet 00 buckshot loads. Both are chambered in 2¾-inch shotshells. If you enjoy hunting upland birds, waterfowl or hitting the range for clay targets, you’ll have…

Hunters who have private land they can hunt rarely gravitate to hunting open-to-hunting public lands simply because no matter how much hunting pressure private parcels receive, nearby public lands usually receive more, have fewer mature bucks and can be more difficult to hunt. However, even in the heaviest-hunted states, there are public-land gems that can provide somewhat consistent opportunities to kill mature bucks if hunters are willing to work above and beyond their competition. The public lands I will be referring to are those where any licensed hunter can go at any time and hunt within the parameters of general state laws. These public lands are not to be confused with state and federal waterfowl preserves and vacation parks where hunting is allowed by some form of controlled allocation or…

It’s a calm, cold winter afternoon just before dark and you’re in the stand, sitting exactly where you want to be during the peak of the whitetail rut. Just upwind of you is a lush food plot that is beginning to fill up with does, and you’re certain that the old bucks are going to be close behind on this perfect day. As the light begins to fade, you notice what you think is a nice buck stepping out on the far end of the plot. Through the scope you can see that it is in fact a mature buck; however, his rack does not quite meet your standards to be considered a trophy shooter. The management plan for this property requires that a buck must have at least 8…

As deer season approaches, hunters often think of the splash of acorns on the leaf-covered forest floor — deer candy that can often determine hunting success. But there are many other mast-producing trees that can also be beneficial and attractive to deer — and deer hunters. Early on, soft mast trees can be extremely attractive to deer. From crabapples to plums to persimmons, they provide a deer magnet for early season bowhunters. Although they might not last nearly as long as acorns, soft mast can be an important food source for a limited period of time. WHITETAIL BANQUET Throughout the whitetail’s range, there is a variety of hard mast being consumed by deer. Even though acorns are the main focal point for many hunters, there are several other hard mast…

When drop-away arrow rests first appeared during the 1990s, they were easily ignored. They provided troublesome setup, and many models were somewhat unreliable. I recall, for instance, missing a couple of spring gobblers because a launcher assembly slipped ever so slightly upward, resulting in arrows hitting a foot high. Had I been shooting at white-tailed deer instead of turkeys, I would’ve been wounding animals instead. When the first total-containment arrow rest — the still-popular Whisker Biscuit — arrived about the same time frame it became an instant hit. Here was a ridiculously simple design solving a lot of common problems, largely arrows jumping from arrow rests in the heat of battle. The Whisker Biscuit’s encircling bristles allowed turning the bow upside down without dislodging the shaft. But they weren’t without…