This being said, it’s obvious for most of us that deer hunting action is at it’s finest during the rut. But there is more to this type of science than just that. Recently Field & Stream, Outdoor Life and Deer & Deer Hunting magazines all published articles articulating when the best days to hunt in 2009 would be. Each article used a slightly different method to predict their top days, but each focused on some variation of moon phases, historical trophy production and typical weather patterns. Lets first off look at each publisher’s top days.

Field & Stream’s Best Days to Deer Hunt in 2009:

• Oct 31, Nov 6, Nov 11, Nov 16, Nov 21, Nov 27 and Dec 2
• Nov 11 was chosen as the best day of the year to hunt because this is the heart of the seek-and-chase phase. Bucks are raging with testosterone, but most does are not quite ready to breed. This causes bucks to frenetically check between bedding areas for receptive does.

Deer & Deer Hunting’s Best Days to Deer Hunt in 2009

• Nov 2-14
• Due to the “Rutting Moon” falling on Nov 2 in 2009, this time frame will encompass the majority of the seeking and chasing phases.

Outdoor Life’s Best Days to Deer Hunt in 2009

• Nov 1-3, Nov 15-16, Dec 1-2, Dec 31

So what are the key things that made some days better than others across the board?

1. Early November days were singled out the most because it is typically the time of the seeking/chasing phases of the rut. In these phases, bucks are actively and incessantly chasing does and checking them for receptivity. This is the #1 time for calls, scents and for using your top hunting spots. Hunt all day and be aggressive with your calls.
2. Days were keyed out in late Nov/early December because this is the beginning of the post-rut. Peek breeding is done, so bucks and does aren’t hunkered down in thick areas to breed. Now is your chance to catch a buck refreshing old rut sign and beginning his rounds again as he prepares for the second rut, which comes into play about one month after the first peak rut.

If I were you, I would get out and hunt every single day that I possibly could. But if you need to be picky, these look to be some good options. Good luck hunting!

I’ve just recently gotten done checking out Deer & Deer Hunting’s new interactive cd, Vital Information. This is one serious resource. Vital Information is a CD you can run on your computer, which includes digital articles and videos regarding everything you need to know about the Whitetail anatomy. This is a really a great learning tool for any deer camp or class in regards to deer hunting or just any interested hunter. It’s just an awesome informative tool.

Vital Information includes a selection of some of the best articles that have appeared in Deer & Deer Hunting magazine, all relating to “vital” information in regards to deer. Articles cover topics such as shot placement, deer blood, lungs, digestive system, hearing, and guides to field dressing and skinning deer. The videos show deer hunts and then analyze the quality of the shot selection and how it could have been improved.

Here are the features of the program according to the publisher:

• Exclusive Vital Vision interactive computer program which allows you to view an anatomically correct whitetail from 360 degrees. View all of a deer’s internal organs and bones from every possible shooting angle. Move screens in and out to see organs and bones.
• 5 instructional hunting videos on proper shot placementshow breath-taking hunts for trophy bucks and teach you the do’s and don’ts of shot placement as our staff rates each shot in detail.
• 8 full-length articles on whitetail science and physiologyteach you the science behind the inner workings of a deer’s lungs, rumen, esophagus and circulatory system.

• Full color deer-hair identification guide
• Complete deer anatomy charts with full-color illustrations
• Photo essay to help age deer by their teeth
• Blood-trailing tips and tactics
• Guide to caping, skinning, field dressing and processing
• Illustrations on how to identify the tracks of a wounded deer
• Explanations on why deer and build to survive

I  found the 360 degree views of the deer’s anatomy and shot placement videos to be particularly helpful. This is information that most hunters just aren’t exposed to, but really should be. Another really interesting article takes on the myth of the “dead space” in between the top of the lungs and the backbone. Looks like there is no such thing!

Here is a video clip explaining more about what Vital Information is all about.

The only problem I had with this CD was that at one point the words got all scrambled on the first couple pages of the interactive menu, I reloaded it and the problem was gone. Otherwise this looks to be a high quality, super informative deer hunting resource.

If you’re looking to take the step from being a deer hunter to a deer hunting expert, Vital Information will certainly help you get there.

To pick up a copy of Vital Information follow this link.

TwistedX from the Deer & Deer Hunting forums shared this great story of his cousins harvesting of a monster Ohio buck. Here’s a story we all wish we could have been a part of.

On Oct. 1st 2009 My cousin Nick got home from a stressful day at work and decided he wanted to go hunting to cool off. He grabbed his Horton Yukon SL cross bow and headed for his stand. He lives in SW Ohio and hunts just 300 yards from his back door. He had purchased the property eight years ago and built a house on the rectangular ten acres that has two hundred foot of road frontage and two hundred and 50 foot of property that backs up to the Little Miami River. He had put out corn and a salt block for four years now and that is the place he spends the majority of his hunting time on. He built a stand out of wood that is large enough for two and has a rail all the way around. The stand was built in a large sycamore with plenty of cover all around. He  cut two good shooting lanes based on the property line and the area the deer have generally spent most of their time. His quad path and Property line pass within 10 feet from the base of the tree. The stand is situated to face toward the corn and salt which is further inward on the property than the stand is.

Nick had seen two nice bucks running together for a couple months now but never seen them on his property. In the past he has harvested a few nice buck off the property using various techniques like calling and decoying. On Oct. 1st he chose to leave everything at home and to just sit, besides the weather wasn’t all that great it was windy and the on and off rain was not making this evening very enjoyable. He even thought about getting down and going into the house three seperate times. As the deer began to move and things started to liven up a bit he chose to stay. A decision he will never forget and value. At approximately 6:50 he noticed movement on the quad path and then noticed the large 8pt buck under his stand. His blood pressure rose, his heart was pounding, adrenaline rushed through his body and he began to prepare for a shot when the bruiser walked into his lane,  but then he noticed the other buck that was following the 8pt. He couldn’t seem to make out the exact number of points he just knew he is larger than the 8pt that he first saw. Now flipping out thinking to himself how far is that,  how big is he, right behind the shoulder, right behing the shoulder.

He took his shot and the deer jumps, takes off like a bullet and runs for the back property line. Nick sat in his stand for a while trying to figure out what just happened. A monster buck just walked under his stand and he was able to get a shot off and a good one at that. After half an hour he got down and slowly made his way to the house. Once he got there he decided to eat some dinner and discuss the events with his wife and family. It was  more like yell and gasp for air while he  screamed, ” I just shot a monster”. After dinner he took out his favorite tracking light, his family and a couple friends and went looking for the deer. Together they tracked him two hundred yards with a substantial blood trail when it dried up. Beginning to get worried he may have lamed the deer or may not find the super large buck he shot earlier that evening. Feeling sick to his stomach he was frantically searching the creek banks hoping he didn’t float down the river.

Suspiciously he shined a log at the bottom of the bank, looked away and then shined it two or three more times again until he was close enough to get a good look at the leg. Estatic,  he rushed down the bank grabbed the deer and proceeded to ask for help to pull him out of the creek. As you’ll notice the deer was huge not just in the rack or antler he also had tons of weight and body mass.
They dragged the deer up the hill and he began to gather pictures and thoughts, while attempting to speak. The deer was a total 216 in rough score, 21 inches wide and 19 pts. The one, the only, “THE MONSTER”

Awesome deer TwistedX. As you all start bagging your own bucks, we would love to feature them on Wired To Hunt. Email your stories and pics to wiredtohunt(at)gmail.com

Good luck out there! May you do as well as “Cousin Nick”!

Here is some info on the upcoming October 8th webinar.

• 9 p.m. Eastern / 8 p.m. Central

• Topic: Lunar Rut Predictions: The Foremost Expert on Deer Rutting Activity Helps You Plan for the Rut

• Expert: Charlie Alsheimer, Deer & Deer Hunting magazine author, noted deer biology and behavior authority

• Description: Outside of actually being a deer, you aren’t going to be more in tune with the rut than with Charlie Alsheimer’s predictions. You will know the best times to hunt with his sagely insights. You’ve only got a limited time to spend in the field. Make the best of it.

• Cost: $12.99/one hour live interactive session.
(includes FREE 2009 rut calendar download, a $4.99 value)

• Register for this session here. (spots are limited)

Also here is an example of how these webinars unfold…

Spring can be a slow time for deer hunters, but it’s never too early to start preparing for next season. One of the best things to set yourself up for success next year is to create food plots, but this is easier said than done. Luckily there are a lot of great resources out there to help out.

This being said, a really great resource has been brought to my attention. This next Thursday, May 7, DeerandDeerhunting.com will be hosting a “Webinar” about Food Plot Management. For those of you not familiar with webinars, it is essentially an online seminar that you can follow from your home computer. Deer & Deer Hunting describes it this way…

A webinar is a seminar hosted online. From the comfort of your home PC, an expert will give a presentation about a certain topic. A Powerpoint-style presentation, complete with audio and video, plays on your computer as the expert discusses the topic. You will have many opportunities to ask questions about the topic. This structure is focused enough to explore the topic deeply, but also flexible enough to deliver the information you want to know.

The webinar is at 7 PM Est and will run for approximately one hour, with a $20 fee for access to this program. One attendee will also win three bags of forage seed from Frigid Forage worth about $135. If food plots are on your to do list, I highly recommend you take advantage of this great opportunity to learn from some of the best in the field. To register visit this link and move fast because there are only 100 spots available.

• May 7, 2009
• 7 p.m. Eastern / 6 p.m. Central
• Topic: Food Plot Management: How to Pick the Right Seed for Your Soil: Advanced Tips for Working Man’s Food Plots
• Expert: Matt Harper, Deer & Deer Hunting magazine author, deer nutrition and food plot authority
• Cost: $20/one hour
ONLY 100 SEATS AVAILABLE.