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
The whitetail scapula is an amazing creation. This flat, triangular shaped bone has two main surfaces: the costal (medial) surface, facing the rib cage, and the lateral surface, where muscles attach. The bone is thinner and lighter than in weight-bearing animals, reflecting the deer’s need for speed and agility. The scapula consists of compact bone on the outer layers, and cancellous (spongy) bone internally to reduce weight. It is covered by a periosteum layer that supports nerves and blood vessels. The cartilage layer is flexible and not fully ossified, allowing for greater range of motion.…
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A recent Facebook meme went something like this: “What’s a scam so normalized that we don’t even realize it’s a scam anymore?” Here’s one answer: the claim that food plots don’t pose the same disease risks to deer as baiting because they are spread out over larger areas, preventing deer from swapping saliva, urine, and feces. That’s nonsense. No scientific evidence proves baiting spreads chronic wasting disease (CWD). Some studies suggest prions, the agents responsible for CWD, can remain active in soil. If true, this undermines the case for food plots being safer than baiting. Those who believe food plots don’t pose similar risks either misunderstand deer feeding behavior or have never managed a one-eighth-acre plot (50 feet by 100 feet) of turnips, daikon radishes, pumpkins, or corn. Growing a…
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All of us have probably heard hunters say, “Hunt on opening day of firearm season, because all the shooting will get bucks on their feet and moving.” In other words, hunting pressure causes deer to move more, increasing other hunters’ odds of success on opening day. But is this true or just part of age-old deer lore that many hunters follow? While not the main focus of their project, researchers with the Southwest Wisconsin CWD, Deer and Predator (SW CWD) Study collected location data of different age classes of bucks living in portions of Iowa, Dane and Grant counties over several years. This enabled them to examine the movement patterns of different age classes of bucks before, during and after the rut. What they learned has enormous ramifications for understanding…
CHAD LAYTON MUSKINGUM COUNTY, OHIO Chad Layton had always wanted to hunt Ohio. “I’ve been kicking it around for several years,” he said. “I narrowed it down to one spot that really piqued my interest.” On November 27, 2023, he arrived at the publicland parking lot. He was the only one there. As he started walking in, five hunters pulled up and piled out. They had a short discussion, and Layton walked into the property. He sat on the ground and waited for shooting light. As he often does, while waiting for legal light, he reflected on scripture. This time, it was Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” Around 8 a.m., a doe appeared to his left. Another glance, and he spotted a buck behind…
