Innholdsfortegnelse for Summer 2016 i Deer & Deer Hunting

Far too often deer hunters forget about the impact acorns can have in regard to deer management. Or the complete opposite, they think they are everything! The truth is acorns are a great source of natural food for deer. In fact, in many areas they make up about 80 percent of a deer’s diet during the fall. This is where those who rely on them too much get into trouble. Though they make up a huge portion of a deer’s diet during the fall, acorns rarely contribute at all during the other three seasons, particularly during the harsh winter months. However, acorns do provide an excellent source of carbohydrates during the fall, which builds fat reserves on deer entering the winter. In areas where other sources of carbohydrates, such as…

Bullet mass and shape, together known as ballistic coefficient (B.C.), combine with velocity to determine how flat a bullet shoots, how hard it hits and how much it is deflected by wind. The higher the muzzle velocity and bullet B.C., the better. This is the real value in magnum cartridges. The extra punch doesn’t matter so much as the flatter trajectory. Maximum point blank range with a .618 B.C., 140-grain .264 bullet driven to 3,200 fps extends to nearly 350 yards. Zero this bullet 2.5 inches high at 100 yards and it will peak 3 inches high at 150 yards, be dead on at 275 yards, fall 1.5 inches low at 300 yards and just 5 inches low at 350 yards. Aimed for the center of a 12-inch circle, it…

In my neck of the woods — the midwestern and prairie states — brats are king. Whether it’s a summer camp out and cat fishing trip on the river, a back yard cookout, a tailgate party before a football game or other sporting event, or just a quick weeknight family meal on the grill, everybody loves to eat brats. Folks everywhere else love brats, too. The name brat is actually short for the full German name bratwurst, with brat meaning chopped meat and wurst meaning sausage. Though people might call them by different names — polish, kielbasa, franks, bangers, Thuringer, chorizo, links, wiener-wurst and plain old “sausage” all come to mind — the idea is the same: a portion-sized casing stuffed with meat that is ground and seasoned. No matter…

I just read Jeremy Flinn’s article in the November issue ("CWD Unleashed") and thought it was great! Very well written. In his article the question was asked: “How miserable do we make deer hunting for the future of hunting?” I am a resident of Pennsylvania. Our state erupted in a “deer war” not all that long ago. It had to do with forest regeneration. It concerns me that we may see this unfold at a national level if hunters are force-fed “miserable deer hunting regulations.” I am a deer hunter and land manager. I believe the media is feeding fear to sell this story. Aldo Leopold said, “Habitat that is void of predators is not good habitat." If you have ever read his book, "A Sand County Almanac" you know…

Creating shooting lanes and funneling trails is easier with the right tools. From clearing brush to cleaning out trails, here are my favorite tools for the job. • Wicked Tree Gear Wicked Tough Handsaw: This indestructible, molded-aluminum-body, folding handsaw is spooky sharp, ultra-sturdy and includes a non-slip handle, plus Fail Safe Blade Lock design and limited lifetime warranty. MSRP $39.99; www.WickedTreeGear.com. • Gerber Myth Lopper: This handy tool includes easy-grip handles and heavy-duty construction; titanium nitride coating to prevent rust, and the folding design makes it easy to carry. MSRP: $39.99; www.Gerber-Gear.com. • Fiskers Extendable Tree Pruner: This extension pruner reaches 7 to 12 feet and includes a rope-activated lopper and curved 12-inch saw for reaching high branches around stands without a ladder. MSRP $37.99; www.Fiskers.com. • DeWalt 40V MAX…

Cultivating food plots in pine plantations requires compact implements, but there are plenty of tools available to fit any budget. Your first consideration is an ATV. I use a Suzuki Eiger 400. Its 376cc, air- and oil-cooled engine is adequate to pull a disc and break hard ground, but I consider this rig to have the minimum requirements for plot cultivation. My King Kutter ATV Compact Disc is available from many outlets for $600 to $700. At 33 inches, it’s narrower than my ATV, so it will go anywhere the ATV can go. It’s too light, though. I have to add 100 pounds of gym weights to bolts that I attached to the frame with U-clamps to push it down. There are also a variety of flip-over discs from a…

Choosing the right ground blind or treestand locations can draw the line between success and failure — especially for bowhunters, who know that just a few yards can be a difference maker. Using topo maps, aerial photos and satellite imagery in conjunction with a GPS provides useful intel when deciphering where to begin your scouting efforts, and ultimately where to strategically place stands. I use this information as the framework for how and where I begin my legwork. Here are four terrain features that will help get you up close and personal with big bucks this fall. Work the Inside Corners Deer often use inside corners as they travel because they provide the shortest distance between two points. Go to a park or other public places where one sidewalk meets…

John Trout, Jr. introduced me to hunting more than 30 years ago. As a matter-of-fact, when we married on Sept. 2, 1983, that date was selected so we could take a fall bowhunting trip to Canada in pursuit of black bears. And, I might add, John killed a nice bear on our honeymoon! That hunt, along with many others, are permanently etched into my memory. My husband John was the best friend (next to Jesus) I have ever had. We were more than husband and wife — we were hunting buddies and absolutely loved working side-by-side as writers/photographers. John was truly my soul mate. The 2014 turkey season was cold and rainy, and we thought John might have picked up a bug. We were hunting long hours and got wet…

1 Steel Will Gekko You might think the Steel Will Gekko 1505 folding knife is too handsome to be put through the rigors of cleaning a deer or doing camp or yard chores. But a knife is a tool, even one with great looks, and the Gekko 1505 folder is a lights-out champ. Its 3.94-inch D2 steel drop-point blade holds a razor-sharp edge and has a Physical Vapor Deposition coating to resist the elements. You’ll get a sure grip with the deep maroon linen micarta handle and the pocket clip keeps the knife handy for when you need it. Steel Will knives are made in Italy, and the company takes great care in creating a rugged knife you’ll be proud to own. Info: www.SteelWillKnives.com 2 Stealth Cam G34 Pro Some…

My maternal grandparents grew up in a farming community in Buck Valley, Fulton County, Pennsylvania, on the Maryland border. Part of the valley is rolling land, part of it is fairly high ridges. Several years ago, I added an item to my bucket list — to tag a white-tailed buck in Buck Valley (a wonderful place name for a deer hunter) on land my ancestors had once owned or some thrice-removed cousins still owned. This would be a heritage hunting trip, akin to the growing phenomenon of heritage travel, which is, as you have surmised, traveling to areas your ancestors occupied to see how they lived, where they lived and worshipped, and to rub shoulders with newly met distant relatives. Hunting on land an ancestor had once owned would be…

Catch all the exciting action along with expert tips and strategy on Deer & Deer Hunting-TV on Sportsman Channel. Veteran hunters and hosts Dan Schmidt, Gordy Krahn, Mark Kayser and Steve Bartylla scour North America with bows, rifles, crossbows and muzzle-loaders to tackle the highs and lows of the 2015-16 deer season. You’ll get insights from more than 100 years of combined experience along with new gear and insights from veteran guides. Check your local listings for Sportsman Channel air times. SHOPDEERHUNTING.COM Are you getting ready to plant your summer food plots, put out minerals and hang cameras to see what the bucks, does and fawns are doing? If not, it’s time to start thinking about that. ShopDeerHunting.com has a fantastic selection of digital downloads and videos, years of back…

Cut through one side of the tree just far enough to get it to fall to the ground, but not so far that the top is severed from the root system. The remaining connective tissue serves as a hinge, allowing for the continued flow of food and water between the roots and upper branches. The lesser the cut, the more connective tissue remains and the better the odds of the tree’s survival. Not all trees hinge well. Aspens, paper bark birch and most pines have the tendency to snap, rather than bend. Not only does that kill the tree, but it creates a very unpredictable and dangerous fall. A percent of successfully hinged trees is almost always going to die. That should be expected and isn’t a bad thing, because…

• Ani-Logics Supplement 365: Ani-shield TX4 keeps this supplement fresh longer, the mineral mix scientifically formulated to maximize antler and body growth for year-round nutrition. MSRP $24.99/20 lbs.; www.Anilogics.com. • Ani-Logics Mineral Dirt 180 Supplement: Formulated to promote deer health and growth, Mineral Dirt blends seamlessly with soil, providing a proprietary blend of vitamins and highly digestible minerals. And it’s coated with Ani-Shield TX4 so it lasts longer. MSRP $19.99/10 lbs.; www.Anilogics.com. • Evolved Habitats Rack-Up: This blend of calcium, phosphorous, magnesium and important trace minerals is irresistible to deer and formulated to grow bigger racks. MSRP $9.99/6 lbs.; www.EvolvedHabitats.com. • Nutra Deer Antler Builder: Endorsed by Dr. Deer, Dr. James Kroll, Antler Builder includes vitamins, essential minerals, macro minerals and artificial flavoring to make it appealing to deer. MSRP…

The whitetail hunting landscape has changed immensely since the 1970s when I first started hunting. Not only has the gear we use evolved unbelievably, but the mind set of today’s deer hunter is also far different from what it once was. Back in the day, nobody would have thought of buying land for the expressed purpose of hunting deer and yet today that seems to be every hunter’s dream and a reality for many. Somewhere along the way whitetail consultants got started, and with each passing season more and more whitetail aficionados are offering this service to other deer hunters/land managers. In the interest of full disclosure, I want to state right here that I too do a bit of whitetail consulting each year. For me it started several years…

Average shot distances at whitetails can vary greatly depending on where you’re hunting, and dedicated whitetail hunters prepare for all scenarios by selecting rifles, optics and ammunition that can handle everything from close encounters to shooting at extreme ranges. You might not need to be able to shoot accurately out to 600 yards under most circumstances, but if you ever encounter a giant white-tailed buck at that range wouldn’t it be comforting to know your rifle and ammunition could tackle the task? Hornady’s newest Precision Hunter ammunition, featuring the ELD-X (extremely low drag) bullet with patent-pending Heat Shield tip, is the ideal load for any hunting situation because of its effective terminal performance at all practical ranges. The ELD-X provides hunters with a bullet that’s designed to fly better and…

Patience isn’t something most 16-year-olds are good at, but it served Clayton Brummer well on a warm September evening. Impatience and shooting skill served him even better the next night when he shot a world-class, 236-inch non-typical buck during the youth/ disabled hunters deer season Kansas holds for kids 16 and under and people with doctor-certified physical challenges. “We went out one night and sat out on a farm trail, just kind of glassing and looking and two or three deer stood up,” said Brummer. “And then about 50 yards from us [a huge buck] stood up in the milo. All we could see was his head and antlers. That’s not much. Dad said not to shoot … that we’d wait for another day. He was right.” Clayton and his…