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December 27, 2011
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When you’re a father and hardcore deer hunter, it can be extremely difficult to juggle a demanding work schedule and family commitments with fall hunting. This is exactly the dilemma that Josh Hunt found himself facing during the magical month of November. In addition, Hunt had promised his 7-year-old son that he would get the first shot during Kentucky’s annual modern rifle season.
[ Read Full Post ]December 16, 2011
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Sometimes in life we don’t always get our first choice, but that’s not always a bad thing. For example, recently a hunter named Greg Allen decided to go ahead and cash in his one Kentucky buck tag on a deer that was actually not his first choice. However, it would be pretty difficult for any serious whitetail hunter to let a giant 18-point buck walk in order to hold out for something bigger. Here is an inside look at how this amazing hunt unfolded in Washington County, Kentucky just a few weeks ago.
For the past few months, Allen and his family had been collecting trail camera photos of an absolute monster buck. Needless to say, Allen along with his son and daughter were all hoping to connect with the giant whitetail before the Bluegrass State’s season ended. As luck would have it, Allen’s 12-year old daughter would be the first to have an encounter with the buck that was at the top of the hunting family’s most wanted list. Unfortunately, she was unable to close the deal during the early two-day youth season.
[ Read Full Post ]December 8, 2011
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Without question, the much anticipated whitetail rut can be action-packed and electrifying for hunters. However, there is still a lot quality deer hunting left long after the rut has fizzled out. In fact, one of my favorite times to chase top-heavy bucks is actually during the late-season or post-rut period. For good reason, cold nighttime temperatures, dwindling food sources and limited outside hunting pressure are all factors that can potentially place a veteran buck in a vulnerable situation. The following post-rut hunting strategies will help you pinpoint, pattern, and connect with a shooter that has survived most of the season. On a side note, these tactics allowed me to take a really nice buck in Tennessee just a few days ago (pictured here).
[ Read Full Post ]December 5, 2011
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Watching your child’s excited reaction after taking his or her first whitetail undoubtedly ranks at the very top of the list for outdoor experiences. Just ask lifelong hunter LJ Planer how he felt when his little girl knocked down her first deer.
His daughter Rileigh didn’t begin her deer hunting career with a slick-headed doe or small basket-racked buck. This 10-year old hunter was patient and held out for something a tad bigger. After waiting four seasons, daddy’s little girl stepped to the plate, took a steady aim and dropped the hammer on an 11-point giant that scored over 150. Here’s the story of how this remarkable hunt unfolded.
[ Read Full Post ]November 30, 2011
by At one point or another, all of us have probably climbed into a treestand without wearing a safety vest or harness. After working hard all week, it’s really easy to forget and leave our vests back at home or in the vehicle. Sometimes we just don’t take the time to strap ourselves securely to a tree, because we’re trying to hurry up and hunt. Unfortunately, in most cases, we think that a tragic treestand accident will never happen to us. It’s just a statistic that occasionally involves other hunters.
Sadly, treestand related accidents and deaths consistently take place each and every deer season. For example, earlier this month a veteran hunter named Kinney Noe fell from his treestand while deer hunting in Lincoln County, Kentucky. Upon impact, he hit a jagged limb that penetrated both his liver and lungs. In addition, Noe also broke multiple ribs, and sustained several other major injuries from the fall.
[ Read Full Post ]November 22, 2011
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There’s something special about chasing thick-necked bucks during the rut. For the past couple of weeks, that’s what I’ve been doing in my home state of Kentucky and I’ve realized that the rut can be just as tough on hunters as it is for mature bucks.
A couple months of hunting hard have caught up to me, but everything finally fell into place when the top-heavy buck that I’ve been waiting on showed up during a cold and wet hunt this past Wednesday.
After passing on several deer, I began to wonder why the massive-racked 9-pointer had suddenly disappeared. For a little while, I thought that maybe another hunter had already tagged my buck, because the outside hunting pressure had really picked up.
[ Read Full Post ]November 17, 2011
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At one time or another, all of us have endured a really bad day in the woods when nothing seems to go our way. However, as hunters it’s important to understand that really bad luck can quickly change in the blink of an eye. The trick is to roll with the punches, keep a positive attitude and stay locked to your stand, especially during the rut. This is exactly what my good friend and cameraman Michael Petrey did this past weekend and his perseverance paid off with a really nice 20-point buck.
[ Read Full Post ]November 9, 2011
by  As a deer hunter, can you imagine having a close encounter with a 36-point non-typical monster that would score well over 250? What would you be willing to do or sacrifice to get a shot at such a phenomenal whitetail?
Unfortunately, there are some who fall victim to rack envy and cross that ethical and legal boundary by poaching a trophy buck. Recently, the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR) Conservation Police arrested three men for poaching deer. One of the deer they are suspected of poaching was a potential Illinois state record non-typical whitetail that scored 261 5/8.
[ Read Full Post ]November 3, 2011
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The state of Oklahoma has without question, been consistently producing some top-heavy bucks. In fact, we’ve already covered numerous jaw-dropping bruisers on the BBZ that have been tagged inside the borders of this often overlooked, but red-hot hunting destination. My good friend and fellow outdoor writer, Mike Lambeth, recently visited Sayre, Oklahoma with his wife Donna for a muzzle-loading hunt near the North Fork of the Red River. During this trip, Donna was able to set her crosshairs on a Sooner State giant that would make any hunter’s heart rate kick into maximum overdrive.
[ Read Full Post ]November 2, 2011
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November is finally here and you can feel the tension building in the air! Mature bucks with swelled-up necks, bad attitudes and testosterone pumping through their veins are on the prowl. Without question, the sight of red-hot scrapes, fresh rubs and daytime rutting activity have all deer hunters on edge right now. However, even with things busting loose, a lovesick buck can still be difficult to intercept and tag during the rut.
For good reason, a combination of increased hunting pressure and the overwhelming urge to breed can drastically change daily routines. If connecting with a rut-crazed buck is proving to be difficult for you right now, then give these hard-hitting tactics and strategies a try the next time you hit the woods.
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