As many of you know, I am truly obsessed with reading about whitetails. I read at least 3-4 different hunting magazines every month, cover to cover. I peruse various whitetail related hunting articles every night, while also writing pieces of my own. And I’ve got an ever growing book shelf of hunting books in my office as well that get read time after time. I say this to make a point, that being that I read an awful lot of hunting related material and have seen everything from the ghastly to the great. So when I say that “Bowhunting Whitetails The Eberhart Way” is right up with the best of them, I really mean it.

Now if you’ve followed Wired To Hunt over the past few years you’ve probably seen an article or two about the Eberhart family of Michigan. John and Chris Eberhart are two of the most successful whitetail hunters in my home state and they’ve take their experiences and shared them with the rest of the whitetail world through several books, DVDs and magazine articles. In fact I’ve reviewed a number of these in the past including “Precision Bowhunting“, “Whitetail Access” and the “Bowhunting Pressured Whitetails” DVD series. Their latest offering definitely lives up to the standard they’ve set with these past projects and I would encourage you to check out my past reviews, as I provide some additional detail into why I’m such a fan of their work. But in today’s review I wanted to focus on two important points. Number one, why does this book stand above the pack? And second, how is this book different than the others published by the Eberhart’s in the past? So, without further adieu, let take a look at these two topics…

1. Why Does This Book Stand Above the Pack: Bowhunting Whitetails The Eberhart Way is a must read because it dives in to very specific strategies for hunting mature whitetails, in highly pressured areas. John and Chris don’t talk in generalities, in this book very specific tactics are outlined and they are tactics applicable to hunting in the most difficult areas of the country. Admittedly, many topics covered in popular hunting literature just don’t apply to the guy hunting public ground in Pennsylvania, it’s just a totally different ball game. This book is for that person. But at the same time it is also for the land owner in Iowa, because if you apply these tactics in Iowa or Illinois, where maybe the pressure isn’t as high, your success will be that much more consistent and convincing. This book and in fact all the other Eberhart publications as well, are truly some of the most educational and actionable pieces of hunting literature I’ve come across.

In addition to the strategies specifically formulated for tough hunting, we’re also given a step by step process of how the Eberhart’s go about preparing and then hunting throughout the year. For those of us who have made whitetail hunting a year round process, the ideas shared in this book are invaluable.

2. How Is This Book Different From Previous Eberhart Installments: This most recent book from the Eberhart’s stands out from their previous books for several reasons. First off, this book seems to dive more deeply into specific topics, while past books like Precision Bowhunting were more about a year round outline of things to do. Strategies and tactics are discussed in previous books, but “The Eberhart Way” takes this analysis to a deeper level. Devoting entire chapters to topics such as hunting around corn, speed scouting just before season, spring scouting,  hunting from the ground, specific tools used, public land hunting and hunting in in-climate weather.

Secondly, this book makes great use of full color pictures and lots of them. These illustrations make the book both more useful and interesting to read. Additionally, it seems that more personal hunting stories are told of John and Chris’ own experiences, and being more recent as well, they proved particularly interesting.

That all being said, if I did have one complaint it would be in regards to one of the last chapters in this book where the authors take some stabs at quality deer management and other philosophies along those lines. While I have no problem with someone choosing not to adhere to QDM principles or with someone disagreeing with the ideas all together, I don’t believe the author accurately portrayed hunters that practice QDM, or QDM principles as a whole in this book. While a few of the bones picked in this section are accurate in rare instances, I don’t think they apply to the greater population. Unfortunately, quite a negative spin was added and it was the one disappointment I had with this book.

Despite this blemish, in my opinion, “Bowhunting Whitetails The Eberhart Way” is an outstanding read and one of the single most educational pieces of whitetail literature you can pick up.

I have referred to the Eberhart’s “Precision Bowhunting”  in the past as the deer hunting bible for anyone trying to kill mature bucks in states like my home of Michigan, and if I were to continue the analogy, I think it’s fair to say that this “new testament” is just as important a read.

For more information about the Eberharts and their offerings, visit http://www.deerjohn.net/ .

With big bucks starting to hit the ground and hunting seasons kicking off across the country, it seemed that now might be a good time to give you one more motivating piece of material to help kick your whitetail hunting juices into full gear. So with that in mind, our friend and master outdoor photographer John Hafner shared a few photos with us that ought to inspire you to new levels of greatness this fall. Can you imagine seeing that tall tined giant peeking out over the brush at you?!

Now when you do finally smoke your own whitetail this year, John has a few words of advice to make sure you preserve those memories for life.

“Big buck down! Time to start shooting photos, right? Wrong. One of the best ways to shoot lousy trophy photos is to reach for your camera immediately after the kill. The excitement of the moment can distract you from your surroundings. You might think you’re shooting award winning photos, but odds are you aren’t. Get the high fiving and celebrating over with, let your adrenaline settle, and when your heart is back in rhythm, pull out your camera” – John Hafner

To see more of John’s work, visit the John Hafner Photography website.

The folks over at Deer & Deer Hunting continue to impress me with the incredible deer hunting resources they are bringing to market. And most recently it’s the new “Blood Trailing Whitetails”  guide. This digital resource on CD is a compilation of in-depth articles, video clips, charts and posters covering everything you need to know about blood trailing whitetails. In the video below, D&DH editor Dan Schmidt details the core elements of this guide, while also discussing some great blood trailing tips along the way. This looks to be the best resource I’ve seen yet for blood trailing and recovering wounded game. So check out the video below to get the full scoop, and then head to the D&DH Shop if you’re interested in picking up a copy for yourself! Looks to be a very handy item to have available during this upcoming season.

I recently caught wind of a new deer management project being worked on by Erich Long, a professional wildlife manager and the 2009 QDMA Deer Manager of the Year. This project is a new online show, featuring deer hunting and management tips for the average, every day guy. I’m a big fan of any management related information, so I decided to check out “Reality Deer Management”. My thoughts? It looks good! While just a few episodes in, it looks like this could another great resource for us hardcore hunters/managers as we strive to grow and hunt mature whitetails. Below I’ve shared a quick interview I did with Erich, in which we discuss the new show and some great land management tips for us all to consider.

1. What makes “Reality Deer Management” different than the other hunting and management related shows online and TV today?

Well, our show is dedicated to the guy or gal that doesn’t have huge amounts of land.  I know in Ohio for example, I’m dealing with clientele that have 30 to 200 acres.  With the tracts of land being small in size, the clientele still have high expectations based on what they read or see on TV.  This is where the concept of the show comes in.  We are going to show people that it can be done, but with realistic expectations based on your budget, land, and available time.

2. When you take on a new property to manage, what are typically the three highest priority items you like to stock of first?

Location in the state, county, and even township in which the property is located for starters.  Certain areas obviously produce bigger deer than others do.  Secondly, we concentrate on what are the landowner’s limitations are,  such as finances and equipment.  It allows us to decide what we can do and how much time it’s going to take to achieve the landowner’s goals.  Lastly, we see how much percentage of tillable to woodland we have to deal with.  Our style of management may differ than others because the smaller the land the more we try to provide a stress free environment.   In these situations, we concentrate on native vegetation more than supplemental forages.

3. What is the most valuable piece of advice you could give to a new property owner looking to manage for deer?

You have to give them a reason to be there!  With that being said, we really enforce people to provide a stress free environment with the aid of managing your native vegetation.  Those older class whitetails that we’re all after need to feel stress free.  Concentrate on the quality of cover.  Cover equals food, cover equals bedding, and cover also provides age which means bigger deer!

4. With a couple months or less left until most folks start their hunting seasons, what are three easy projects a hunter can do now to improve their land or hunting opportunities?

It’s amazing how quickly it comes but it does.  Prepping your fall food plots for starters.  Take the time to make sure they’re weed free and have the right amounts of lime/ and fertilizer so they turn out the way you have envisioned.  I would also suggest people getting a feel for what’s out there.  Do your homework.  Just because you don’t own the mass amounts of acreage doesn’t mean you can’t get involved with your neighbors in what they are seeing in the local bean or alfalfa fields.  Get those cameras out as well, but use them wisely.  Don’t go tramping around in those bedding areas trying to get that big buck pic, but utilize them around water sources and foraging areas.  The last thing we concentrate on is getting our stand locations picked out and set up.  We like setting up early so were not bothering them come hunting season.  We usually spend one day and were in and out.  Once again, stress free environment when dealing with any property in size but especially small acres.

Interested in learning more? Check out the first episode of Reality Deer Management below and visit there YouTube page to watch the rest!

Reality Deer Management

If you’re interested in digging deeper into how you can use observation data in your mangaement plan, I’ve got two great resources for you to check out. First, we’ve got a great article from the Quality Deer Management Association, in which the details regarding how and when data should be collected, as well as insight into how to perform your analysis. is shared. This is a must see if you’re planning on using this technique come hunting season.

Deer Data Collection Part II: Observation Data – QDMA

Second is a quick blurb from Dr. Grant Woods of Growing Deer TV, in which he share a few pointers for efficiently collecting and using observation data.

Collecting Observation Data

If you missed our intro to survey techniques a few weeks back, check out that article here. Also be sure to check back in soon for more details on another important technique, trail camera surveys.

My lovely girlfriend Kylie recently cooked up an INCREDIBLE venison meal and  was kind enough to share her recipe with the Wired To Hunt Nation! Be sure to give this one a try, it’s delicious!

I recently came across a “Lean Beef Flavor Booster” advertisement booklet in my Food Network Magazine.  After reading through about 30 different rubs, marinades and drizzles I decided to test out some of the recipes with venison.  The first recipe I chose was a really simple chili cilantro marinade.  I personally think that it was the best venison steak I have ever made…but I’ll let Mark give you his review since that’s his job

Chili Cilantro Marinade Recipe

2/3 C Italian dressing

2 Tbsp. coarsely chopped cilantro

1 Tbsp. chili powder

• Place all ingredients in a food safe plastic bag with venison steak and refrigerate 6-24 hours
• Remove venison from marinade and pat dry with paper towel
• Add 2-3 Tbsp. bacon fat* to frying pan and set to high heat
• Place venison in hot frying pan, cooking time varies depending on thickness. (Tip: Wait for the blood to rise to the top of the steak, then flip it and wait for the same to happen to the other side.)

*When cooking venison steaks I always try to incorporate bacon into the meal.  That way I can reserve the bacon drippings to cook the venison in.  Bacon fat has the ability to get much hotter than vegetable oil, which means it won’t dry up as quick. Plus everything is better with bacon.  For this meal I added crumbled bacon to creamed corn.

- Kylie

I got a fun surprise the other day when I saw a post from a reader on our W2H facebook page, stating that he saw my name in the most recent Deer & Deer Hunting Magazine! Well low and behold, my girlfriend’s venison pot roast recipe was selected and published in the Reader’s Recipes section in D&DH! Pretty cool, right? That being said, here’s to hoping you’ll see me in Deer & Deer Hunting again soon, but with a real article this time!

If you’re interested in tasting this hearty venison recipe, I’ve included the details again below!

Marinade for Roast

In small bowl combine all marinade ingredients; blend well. Place roast in non-metal bowl or plastic bag. Pour marinade sauce over roast. Cover and refrigerate 3-4 hours turning several times.

Venison Roast with Veggies and Gravy Sauce

GRAVY

Pour gravy over roast, breathe in the amazing aroma and enjoy!

For more from Dr. Grant Woods, check out his weekly web video series and blog on Growing Deer.TV.

I finally did it. After dreaming of having my own four legged hunting buddy for years, I finally bought my own dog. So, may I now introduce you to Booner. Affectionately named after the legendary giant whitetails we chase year in and year out, Booner will be my companion in the woods during the off-season and back at home during the fall.

Growing up I always wanted a German Shorthaired Pointer, but over the last couple years I’ve gone bird hunting less and developed a need for a new kind of dog. In particular, a shed hunting dog. So after researching shed hunting dogs for the last year or two, I finally decided this spring that a lab was most likely the best choice for me because of their renowned status as the best shed hunting breed and their more laid back temperament. And so far, I couldn’t be happier with my choice. Booner is a bundle of energy, but when we’re not playing, he’s also really good at relaxing and chewing on one of his toys. Or even better, a shed! I’ve already introduced him to some of my sheds, and they’re quickly becoming one of his favorite toys! In the coming months we’ll start playing fetch with them and then eventually start hiding them for him to find. It should be a fun journey and I’ll be sure to share my experiences training him with you all along the way!

That being said, while on the topic of shed hunting dogs, I thought I might offer a few key things to look for in a potential shed hunting pup!

1. First off you need a breed that can do this kind of work. Naturally, shed hunting is a good fit for retrievers given the task at hand. Labrador retrievers have been found to be the ideal breed, but Golden and Chesapeake retrievers are good options as well. On top of retrievers, many other hunting and working breeds can be taught to find sheds as well. I’ve heard of German Shepherds, German Shorthairs, most bird dogs and various other breeds working as shed hunters too.

2. Once you’ve selected the right breed, you need to find a specific dog that has the hunting and retrieving drive to make a good shed hunting dog. Most literature suggests that you can’t assess this fully until a dog is around six months old. But if you’re buying a puppy, there are still some tell-tale signs you can look for. Keep an eye out for a puppy who is healthy, playful and active for as long as you are. You’ll want a shed hunting dog that can hike the woods for as long as you, so if you’re dog is getting bored when playing with you in the living room, you can bet he’ll get bored after 4 hours in the woods. You can also test for basic retrieving interest by throwing various objects for the dog, and seeing if he attempts to fetch them at all. At a young age a puppy may not know to chase the object or fetch it consistently, but a general interest and willingness to play and retrieve on occasion is a good sign that your dog has a chance at having shed hunting chops.

All that being said, we’ll be sure to share all of the shed hunting training experiences and lessons we encounter along the way. And hopefully come February next year, we’ll be able to find Booner his first shed! Speaking of, as I sit here typing, Booner is sitting at my feet gnawing on an old 2 point shed and I couldn’t be more proud. Here’s to Booner being on his way to becoming one heck of a shed hunter!

As a member of the Quality Deer Management Association I receive the Quality Whitetails magazine six times a year and boy is it an exciting day for me when the most recent issues hits my mailbox. It truly is one of the best hunting/deer related magazines in publication, if not the best. Across all of the great content provided within it’s pages, one of my favorite sections is titled “Age This”. In each issue the “Age This” section features pictures of several different bucks from around the country and a set of details regarding nutrition available, location of the deer, management practices, etc. Then from that picture and information, a handful of experienced hunters/managers/biologists estimate the age of the deer and share their reasons for this decision. For anyone interested in learning how to better age deer on the hoof, this is a terrific exercise to go through and I’ve found it both fun to read and very educational. I personally like to take a stab at aging the buck myself and then compare my thoughts and estimations to those of the experts. That being said, I’m excited to share with the Wired To Hunt Nation a sample straight from the “Age This” archives! I’ve got to send a big thank you to the QDMA for sharing this with us. That being said, take a good look at the buck above, see the details about him listed below and then check out the expert estimations from the panel. It should be a great way to test your “aging chops”! Once you do that, let us know what your guess was in the comments!

Age This – Kentucky

Owner: Tom Roby, Philpot, Kentucky

Location: Hancock Co. (on the Ohio River in western KY)

Date: September 18 (rut peaks in mid-November)

Notes: 170 acres, under QDM for eight years; 13 acres in warm- and cool-season food plots; 10 acres in warm-season grasses. Corn, soybeans and alfalfa grown on surrounding farms. High hunting pressure in the area, but most neighbors protect young bucks. Herd was hit hard by HD in recent years.

Kip Adams • 2½ • “This young buck hails from some of the best habitat in the country. He has a thin neck, long legs and overall lanky appearance. He has little muscling in his shoulders, a sleek torso, and a tight waist. Most of his body characteristics suggest he’s only 1½ years old. However, this is a good example of when to consider antler size, as yearlings can grow eight or more points but they rarely grow numerous points in combination with long tines and/or main beams. This buck can really be something special, so unless he crosses paths with a youth hunter, he’s a great one to let walk.”

Erich Long • 2½ • “What a great picture of a 2½-year-old. His front and rear end are about the same height and same size (a yearling’s rear end tends to be higher). His stomach and waist are tight, and his neck is thin and appears to be Photoshopped onto his body, since it doesn’t join the shoulder or chest. This deer should be a giant given a few more years and the continued support of the neighborhood!”

Joe Hamilton • 2½ • “Sometimes being familiar with the quality of deer in a specific area puts me at odds with the other panelists when aging a buck. I do have experience with deer from along the Ohio River in western Kentucky and have learned that the occurrence of Pope & Young bucks is as high as one per 150 acres. In this area bucks exhibit great potential for antler and body development at a very early age. Although this buck has two months of development before the peak of the rut, he is long-legged, slim necked, and sleek from stem to stern, so I would be inclined to put him in the 2½-year-old age class.”

Dave Edwards • 2½ • “This deer lives in the big buck country of western Kentucky. Abundant agriculture and fertile soils in this area have produced some giant whitetails, so it is not surprising to see a very respectable rack on this young buck. He demonstrates what I consider textbook characteristics for a 2½-year-old. His body is more developed than a yearling, but still has a somewhat lanky appearance. To me, the body of a 2½-year-old buck takes on a rectangular shape, similar to a 4½ but less developed, whereas a yearling’s chest is very thin compared to the rump, and a 3½-year-old buck’s chest is deeper than his stomach. This buck also has a relatively thin neck, but I suspect it will fill in some as the rut approaches. Great young buck with lots of potential!”

Jason Snavely • 2½ • “Note this buck’s clearly underdeveloped shoulders and hindquarters and an awful lot of space between hooves and chest line. Given the quality soils under him, this buck will be an incredible animal if given a few more years! He has a lot of characteristics of a yearling, so if your harvest guidelines are based on age, definitely enjoy the observation but don’t shoot! I ultimately decided 2½, and not yearling, because of his main beam and tine length. You should also note the smaller diameter of his bases, a characteristic of an immature buck. Don’t get caught up trying to decide 1½ or 2½… either way, he’s an awesome buck to have in the pipeline!”

BuckScore • 2½ • (100 percent confidence)

If you’d like to learn more about the Quality Deer Management Association or to sign up for the Quality Whitetails magazine visit their site here.