Deer & Deer Hunting is written and edited for serious, year-round hunting enthusiasts, focusing on hunting techniques, deer biology and behavior, deer management, habitat requirements, the natural history of deer and hunting ethics
If you’re one of the few deer hunters who isn’t glued to a smart-phone, laptop or computer screen for at least part of your free time, consider yourself excused from this rant. Also consider yourself lucky if you’re not influenced by how modern technology has infiltrated our ranks. This has been brewing in my mind for years, and I believe it’s time to address the elephant-sized buck in the room. Social media is ruining our deer hunting culture. It’s a bold statement, for sure, and a topic that cannot be done justice in less than 500 words. But if you’ve paid any attention to social media these past few deer seasons, I’m sure you will have noticed how negativity and instant gratification have replaced simplistic joy and what once required…
Chad Newbolt’s article in the October 2018 issue raised the question, “Are antler point restrictions worth it?” — even as he advocated for their use in managing deer herds. I would argue that in most instances they are not. The chief concern I have with Newbolt’s argument, and with the use of antler point restrictions in general, is the underlying assumption that making it easier for hunters to harvest large-racked bucks should be a priority for herd managers, including on public lands. I think this represents a skewed view of hunting that undermines hunter recruitment, retention and popular support for hunting. In order to bring new people into the deer hunting tradition, we need to provide as many avenues for enjoyment and success as possible. This means providing opportunities for…
SHOPDEERHUNTING.COM Smokey's Pre-Orbital Gland Lure The No. 1 key to success when hunting a mock scrape and licking branch is preorbital scent. Bucks regularly visit licking branches and become aware when a new rival shows up, because the licking branch has the scent of a buck they don’t know. The ingredients of Smokey’s gland lures are extracted from the pre-orbital, tarsal interdigital and forehead glands taken from harvested deer, and processed to enhance and retain the properties of the scent. This is the only lure on the market that has a patent pending on its process. Smokey uses only glass bottles, because plastic tends to allow the scent’s properties to degrade over time. Info: www.shopdeerhunting.com and search SKU V6534 DEEROF THE MONTH Damien Rzepka…
Deer & Deer Hunting-TV takes you into the blind, treestand or on the trail of the most popular game animal in North America — the white-tailed deer. D&DH-TV is much more than hunting, though, as we take you inside what make whitetails so interesting, from habitat, to food, to safety. Each week we also include “Grow em Big,” a segment devoted to land management and how you can make your personal hunting area into a deer utopia. Deer & Deer Hunting-TV is hosted by Dan Schmidt, Editor-in-Chief of Deer & Deer Hunting Magazine, Gordy Krahn, Editor of D&DH Magazine, Mark Kayser, noted whitetail deer expert, and Steve Bartylla, one of the finest land managers in the country. Watch on Pursuit Channel Wednesdays at 12:30 a.m. EST, Saturdays at 10 p.m.…
Mandatory antler point restrictions (MAPR) are not compatible with reducing the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD). In fact, they might contribute to it. This has been proven by two states that tried different strategies regarding MAPR and CWD. Chronic wasting disease surfaced in Missouri and Pennsylvania during 2012, where mandatory antler point restrictions were in effect in both states. Missouri eliminated MAPR from their CWD Management Areas and Pennsylvania left them in place where CWD was present. As of November, Pennsylvania confirmed more than twice as many CWD-positive wild whitetails as Missouri; 161 vs. 76. “Dispersal of young males is why we eliminated mandatory antler point restrictions,” Missouri Department of Conservation Wildlife Division Chief Jason Sumner said at a CWD symposium sponsored by the Michigan DNR. “We felt it…
During winter, most Northern white-tailed deer must switch to eating poor-quality woody browse. This results in a negative energy balance, because the amount of energy consumed in browse does not compensate for the amount used in body maintenance and loss due to cold exposure. This, in turn, leads to body weight loss, gradual physical deterioration and sometimes death. But the Northern whitetail is a survivalist. It is well adapted — behaviorally and physiologically — for winter survival; it’s a master at conserving energy, while simultaneously avoiding hungry predators. Even so, harsh winters can devastate Northern deer populations. THE CRITICAL LEVEL OF WEIGHT LOSS Some weight loss by deer during winter is normal. Even well-nourished adult does and fawns are likely to lose 10 to 15 percent of their body weight.…
