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Whoah, here is a good dose of buck porn for ya this afternoon. This buck had been popping up around the internet the last few days and it obviously deserves some attention over here on W2H as well. This Ohio buck was taken during muzzleloader season and preliminary estimates show that it could have the longest main beams ever! Field & Stream has a great feature on this buck, including the hunter’s story and exclusive photos. I don’t want to steal F & S’s thunder, so here’s a quick preview for you and then head on over to FieldandStream.com to check out the full story and pics.
“Okay, it’s not official quite yet. But unless a buck’s main beam can shrink by almost two inches in 60 days, you are looking at least the longest left main beam and likely the longest two beams recorded on a whitetail deer—ever. On November 30th, the opening day of Ohio’s gun season, 39-year-old software developer Brian Stephens dropped this 18-point colossus at 80 yards with his .50 caliber T/C muzzleloader. The enormous buck should shatter The Buckeye State’s nontypical muzzleloader record and will almost certainly set the new mark for whitetail beam length.”
From another source…
“The rack was green scored by Boone & Crocket scorer Mike Wendel of Botkins on Dec. 9 with a net score of 232 5/8 inches. If the dry score in 60 days holds close to that, it would be the No. 1 non-typical rack in Ohio history taken by a muzzle loader, and the 35 1/8 inch left and 34 4/8 inch right main beams would be the longest ever recorded from a whitetail anywhere in the world, according to Busse’s research.
Check out the full story here. New Ohio Muzzleloader Record Could Have Longest Main Beams Ever Recorded – Field & Stream
Aging Deer On the Hoof
16 Dec2009
If you are interested in harvesting a mature whitetail buck or are hoping to implement Quality Deer Management principles on your land, you have to be able to properly age deer on the hoof. This is easier said than done, but with experience you can train your eye to find the key characteristics that can help you age that buck cruising in front of your stand. So let me throw you a few of my own quick tips and then I’ll offer some more in-depth resources.
So here are a few of the key things I consider when trying to age a deer in the field….
- Body size and shape is more important than antler size.
- Look at the deer’s face and nose. A long nose means an old deer. Fawns and yearlings typically have short stout faces, so don’t shoot those lil guys!
- A mature buck can be keyed out pretty consistently by taking a look at their neck and shoulder/stomach area. A big mature buck will have a very thick neck and broad muscular shoulders that almost seem to be a continuation of that massive neck. Look for a sag in the stomach on those older deer.
These are just the first three things I consider when aging a deer, but there’s a lot more to it than that if you really want to dig in. So check out these great explanations of typical characteristics for certain deer age ranges from a Texas Parks & Wildlife article.
1 1/2 Year Olds
As you can see, 1 1/2-year-old bucks appear dainty, with baby faces and thin necks. Their legs appear long and slender, and their torso is slim like a doe’s. In a photo of a 1 1/2-year-old buck, cover the antlers with your thumb and you will see that the body resembles a doe. Yearling buck antler development is highly variable, ranging from tiny spikes to 10 or more points. But even super 1 1/2-year-old bucks with multiple points will have small, thin antlers, and the lengths of the main beams will be short compared to older bucks.
2 1/2 Year Olds
The best way to describe the bodies of 2 1/2-year-old bucks is gangly and awkward. Their legs appear to be growing too fast for their body. Their bodies, while thicker than those of 1 1/2-year-olds, still have legs and necks that appear stretched in proportion. The head will appear long from the side. For the first time, their antlers will begin to catch your eye, which is probably why 2 1/2 is the average age of whitetail bucks harvested in many areas. Most 2 1/2-year-olds are big travellers during the rut, because they typically are not active breeders in herds with balanced adult sex ratios and good buck age structure. During the rut, their tarsal glands may be dark, but the very darkest area is usually very small and round in appearance.
3 1/2 Year Olds
A fuller neck and deeper chest are characteristics of a 3 1/2 year old. Their neck muscles are expanding from increased hormones and use during the rut but are still not as large or thick as a fully mature buck. Their chest is beginning to appear larger than their rump, but their back and stomach are still straight and taut. Also, their neck is still distinct by four or five inches from their brisket. Their tarsals will be dark during the rut but usually will appear small, and the dark staining from the urine usually does not extend down the leg to the hoof.
4 1/2 Year Olds
When bucks reach 4 1/2, they attain skeletal maturity and begin exhibiting many characteristics of full maturity. Their bodies have reached full size but are muscular and lean. This is the first time their legs do not appear longer than they should for their body. Their legs may even appear slightly short for the thickened body. The majority of 4 1/2-year-old bucks will have a significant increase in antler growth over the previous year. Focus your attention on the body and face when aging, especially if the buck has very good antlers. Bucks at this age can grow very respectable antlers, making them difficult for hunters to pass.
5 1/2 Year Olds
At 5 1/2 years old, most bucks will be carrying the largest set of antlers they have ever grown. Their bodies also exhibit some noticeable changes. Typically, their stomach and back have a noticeable sag. Their neck will swell considerably during the rut, making the neck and brisket appear to be one continuous muscle. Also, their neck, while being very big, will appear muscular and firm and not flabby. The tarsals will be noticeably large and very dark with many bucks having staining down the inside of the leg to the hoof. And 5 1/2-year-old bucks’ legs will appear short almost to an exaggerated extent, due to the fuller and fatter bodies.
A few more good articles you might want to check out…
Aging on the Hoof – Petersen’s Hunting
Aging Bucks on the Hoof – Quality Deer Management Association
Why Has Hunting in 2009 Been So Bad?
15 Dec2009
Deer harvest estimates have been popping up across the Midwest and most preliminary results have been rather disturbing. Illinois hunters failed to take out 100,000 deer for the first time in a decade during gun season. Michigan’s firearm harvest is reported to be down 10-20% across the state and as bad as 30% in some areas. Wisconsin ’s hunters fared even worse as they reported a 29% decline across the state and in some areas in Northern Wisconsin harvest totals have dropped as much as by 62%!!!
So what in the world is going on?
Explanations I’ve heard include the excessive standing corn, warmer than usual temps and questionable deer management policies across the states. So I have my own opinions, but what do you guys think the problem’s been?
I just ran across an awesome story over on Bowhunting.com about a 14 year and his brothers’ three year long hunt for a buck they deemed “Freak Daddy”. After collecting trail cam photos and multiple sightings of this massive non-typical over the course of several years, brother Luke finally dropped this brute with his shotgun during the Ohio regular gun season. Check out this great story of persistence and great hunting by a couple young hunters. It’s an awesome example of the next generation of hunters working hard to shoot big bucks and then getting it done. Congrats to Luke on an awesome buck!
Check out the epic tale of “A 3 Year Journey With a Legendary Whitetail Buck Named Freak Daddy“.
The ever-flowing fountain of bowhunting knowledge we call Bill Winke recently had an article published in Petersen’s Bowhunting that really struck a cord with me. His article discusses two easy changes you can make to improve the way you release your arrow. It all comes down to being able to effectively achieve a “suprise release” (learn more about the surprise release here). To best pull this off you need to be able to almost effortlessly squeeze the trigger until the arrow, much to your surprise, is launched towards your target. In this article Bill emphasizes that small technical tweaks to your release aid can greatly effect your success in the field.
Winke’s Two Release Tweaks
- Shorten your release aid length…“Rather than using the first articulation of your index finger to pull the trigger — from the first joint to the tip — use the second articulation. This puts the trigger on the pad of flesh between the second joint and the first joint. To do this, you merely have to shorten your release aid and extend your finger a little farther forward when reaching for the trigger.”
- Adjust the trigger tension…“Trigger tension or trigger pull is a somewhat personal thing, but for most archers, a light trigger works better than a heavy trigger. A light trigger permits the bow to fire within the first few seconds of starting the squeeze, and that is important. Beyond the obvious reasons of needing to get a shot off quickly when hunting, most archers become impatient after about three or four seconds of aiming; the longer they aim, the more mentally distraught they become.”
These are two quick, yet super effective tweaks I plan to make on my release aid to improve my “surprise release” technique and in turn my hunting success.
Make sure to read Bill’s full article to pick up on all the details and explanation surrounding these two ideas.
Release Tweaks For Hunting – Bill Winke .
Christmas is fast approaching and I know I’m not the only one thats still scrambling to pick up Christmas presents. That being said, I feel it’s my responsibility to offer a few suggestions in the form of product reviews. Over the last several months I’ve had the pleasure to recieve a variety of great books and DVDs to review for my readers and one of my favorites has been Whitetail Advantage: Understanding Deer Behavior for Hunting Success.
Content: Whitetail Advantage was written by two of the nation’s top deer biologists, Dr. Dave Samuel and Robert Zaiglin, so the entire book is written from a biology stand point. The authors took a look at many of the most debated aspects of deer behavior and hunting tactics and then used sound wildlife research to back up their advice and observations. Topics covered included scraping and rubbing behavior, deer’s sense of smell, rattling studies, deer home ranges and many more interesting pieces. What I liked best was that all the information or opinion presented, was backed up by studies done across the country to gain insight into deer behavior. Observation is one thing, but getting insight from carefully planned research studies takes learning to a new level.
Presentation: Whitetail Advantage is a nice paper back book, with glossy pages and easy to read text. Many nice color pictures are included, although almost all seem to be of deer that look to be from Texas. Otherwise, it’s a good looking and well put together book. My book in fact was stuffed into my hunting fanny pack many times, and survived all the wear and tear and rain I could throw at it!
Value: Whitetail Advantage is currently priced at $16.49 online and that seems to be a fair price in my opinion. This is really a unique book, in it’s focus on offering deer hunting advice based on studied behaviors. It’s hard to find this kind of information in any other place, so it definitely has a place on my book shelf. In my opinion, Whitetail Advantage is a good value for a unique and insightful deer hunting book and a great read for any hunter looking to take it to the next level and understand deer behavior like never before.
Interested in reading this book or want to pick one up as a Christmas present for another hunter? Click here to purchase a copy of Whitetail Advantage.
- In: Gear
- Tags: deer hunting blog, deer hunting book, deer hunting book review, Dr. Dave Samuel, hunting book, Robert Zaiglin, Whitetail Advantage review, Whitetail Advantage: Understanding Deer Behavior for Hunting Success, whitetail deer behavior, whitetail deer biology, whitetail deer hunting book
Crazy White Boy Video and Arrow Affliction
12 Dec2009
If you love shooting arrows and good country music then you’re gonna love this music video. Mark Wills, a great country music artist, has released his new music video for “Crazy White Boy” and it is a fun, down home, country video. Lots of camo, pick-up trucks, bows, guns and good times. Chris Brackett of Arrow Affliction, a hardcore bowhunting TV show, makes a cameo and is featured throughout most of the video too. Great to see a hunting guy make it on the big screen! Check out Mark Wills new music video here!
Speaking of Arrow Affliction, for those of you who haven’t seen it, Arrow Affliction is a pretty intense hunting show, fast paced and a little crazy. But fun stuff to watch. Check out a clip here and watch full episodes on the Sportsman Channel and Wild TV.
One point worth mentioning, I love Chris’s practice regimen he speaks of in this clip. It’s so important to get out and shoot your bow! You really need to practice a lot, to make sure you’re right on every time. Not to mention shooting your bow is fun! So get out there and practice.
How To Avoid Spooking Deer Off A Food Source
12 Dec2009
We talk a lot about hunting deer on food sources during the late season and particularly hunting these areas in the evenings. But one of the greatest difficulties with doing this is trying to exit your stand after shooting light without spooking off the deer and effecting their patterns in the future. So how do you deal with this?
1. Try not to hunt right on top of a food source. This is a good idea for several reasons. First, the big bucks typically won’t head into a field until the very end of shooting light or even after dark. If you’re right on the field, you’ll have very few chances at one of these deer. To catch these deer earlier, set your stand back 40-100 yards off the food, in a staging area. This will allow you to intercept these deer on their way to the food and with light and time to spare. This also will help you because you will be able to sneak out of your stand after dark without spooking the deer that are now in the field.
2. If you do have to hunt right on a food source, take every precaution not to spook deer off of it. If you do have a handy way of sneaking out without alarming deer, thats great. But in most circumstances that’s not going to be an available option, so you need to provide a distraction for the deer while you leave your stand. This can be a car or four wheeler coming through to pick you up, or even another hunter creating a brief distraction on the other end of the field. As long as the deer aren’t keyed into your location, you can at least preserve the quality of that stand.
Muzzleloader Hunting 101
11 Dec2009
This month thousands of hunters will be hitting the woods with their muzzleloaders in anticipation of a smoky puff and a dead deer dropping when the cloud clears. It’s a great time of year to be in the woods and it’s even more special when using a fine black powder firearm. The unique challenge and tradition involved with black powder or similar propellants makes this hunt especially exciting for many of us this time of year. So all this being said, I figure I ought to offer my two cents in regards to muzzleloader hunting and also share some handy resources with you all.
In the interest of time, I would offer just 4 quick tips for you to remember next time you grab the ole thunder stick.
- Make sure to clean your muzzleloader before taking it out hunting and then immediately after shooting it once or twice in the field. (I’ve committed the mortal sin of forgetting to clean my muzzleloader after the season, this resulted in my gun being unable to break open and in the end a hefty gunsmith bill.)
- Choose your shot carefully. With a muzzleloader you most likely have only one shot opportunity, so wait until an ideal shot presents itself. Don’t take chances.
- Moisture causes misfires. So if you are hunting in cold weather, make sure to keep your rifle cold. If you bring it inside, that change in temp can cause condensation and dampening of your powder or pellet. This spells disaster.
- Watch the muzzleloading safety video below. All guns are dangerous if not treated with respect and care, muzzleloaders need even more caution when handling.
These are but a few key things I would urge you to remember each time you bring out your muzzleloader, but there is in fact much much more you need to consider when hunting with a front loading firearm. Here are a few helpful resources for you to dive into when the need arises.
Muzzleloading Safety
A lot can go wrong with a muzzleloader if you don’t take the necessary precautions, so proper care is really important to ensure the safety of yourself and your companions.
Check out this link, which leads to a very thorough video on muzzleloader safety. It’s a must watch. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nAOGFLNQ898
Here’s another handy list of Muzzleloader safety rules from Remington. http://www.remington.com/safety/safety_center/muzzleloader_safety_rules.asp
Muzzleloading Cleaning
Like I said earlier, cleaning your muzzleloader is incredibly important, possibly the most important thing to ensure accuracy in the field. Here is another helpful video from CVA explaining how to clean your muzzleloader. (You can skip to about 1:45 to get right to the how-to. And be warned, this video does pitch some products a little heavily. But still some helpful content.)
Here’s another video showing some additional tips…
I hope a few of these tips and resources will help you this winter as you bring your muzzleloader into the woods. Clean your gun, be safe, and knock down a monster with your .50 cal!
Whitetail 365 just posted a story talking about some pictures of a hunter who accidentally had their arrow fall off the rest, but still shot the arrow. The arrow ended up going through his hand…Big mistake.
I just received a photo yesterday, and have no way of knowing if it’s legit. Supposedly the shooter who’s attached to the hand in said photo realized his arrow had fallen off the rest, but decided to shoot anyway. Obviously, one more item to add to the list of “don’t do it, just to see what happens” stuff we should all be keeping. Our online editors say I can’t post the photo here, as they nearly lost their lunch looking at it and fear you would do the same. Let’s just say the arrow almost made it all the way through the hand, and there’s lots of splinters poking out around the entry hole. – Whitetail 365 (Click for the original post)
Well I in fact was sent these pictures a couple weeks ago when a buddy forwarded it in an email to me. So I figure although these pictures are very gruesome, someone has to put them up, if only to ease peoples curiousity. So continue at your own peril, this is painful just to look at.
