Deer & Deer Hunting is written and edited for serious, year-round hunting enthusiasts, focusing on hunting techniques, deer biology and behavior, deer management, habitat requirements, the natural history of deer and hunting ethics
This historical deer hunting image was captured in November 1955 near Pelican Lake, Wisconsin. The happy hunters were among a very small percentage of guys who not only got their bucks, but good ones at that! In 1955, North American deer hunting was characterized by a mix of traditional practices, evolving regulations, and notable events. It was a time when deer populations were recovering in some areas, leading to increased hunting opportunities. Wisconsin’s modern deer season dates back to 1851. Here’s a more detailed look at the 1955 deer hunting season: EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES: Some areas were finally reopened in 1955 after being closed for a period. INCREASED PRESSURE: The season in some areas was described as resembling a “last roundup,” with hunters determined to harvest deer, sometimes resulting in chaotic…
He wasn’t quite sure how it happened, but the young whitetail fanatic was about to learn how to kill a deer while bowhunting. He had tried — my goodness, how he tried — over the past 10 years, but there’s was always a catch. The wind betrayed him. He moved too quickly. He was too noisy. He didn’t have enough patience. And … sigh … the shots he did manage to get ended in a few muddied broadheads. Not bloodied. That would all change in 1995, he vowed. This was the year he’d get his first bow deer, maybe even a racked buck. To that end, he started practicing in March — right about the same time he landed that job he had dreamed of since eighth grade. Those Easton…
CONNECT & WATCH OUR 4 SHOWS WWW.DEERANDDEERHUNTING.COM DEER & DEER HUNTING • MODERN HUNTER • DDH PROPERTIES • DEERTOPIA SOCIAL MEDIA, WEBSITES/STREAMING APPS FACEBOOK: WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/DEERHUNTINGMAG YOUTUBE: WWW.YOUTUBE.COM/DDHONLINE INSTAGRAM: WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM/DEERANDDEERHUNTING PURSUITUP: WWW.PURSUITUPTV.COM/DEER-AND-DEER-HUNTING/ WAYPOINT TV: WWW.WAYPOINTTV.COM/DEER-AND-DEER-HUNTING WILDTV: WWW.WILDTV.CA/PROGRAM/DEERDEER RUMBLE: WWW.RUMBLE.COM/C/DEERANDDEEERHUNTING X (FORMELY) TWITTER: @DEERHUNTINGMAG PINTEREST: WWW.PINTEREST.COM/DEERHUNTINGMAG/ BROADCAST TELEVISION PURSUIT CHANNEL - SATURDAY NIGHT DEER CAMP WILD TV • WAYPOINT TV A BUCK FOR THE AGES One of the most incredible whitetail racks ever found was this set of matching sheds from Nebraska. Found by a farmer in the late 1950s, the antlers hung in a barn for years (next to a wood-burning furnace!). When they were “discovered” years later by an antler collector, the antlers were officially measured, receiving a score of 195+ inches on the Boone and Crockett scale WITHOUT accounting…
AUSTIN HANKS NORTH CAROLINA During the 2023 season, Austin Hanks saw a big deer he’d seen the season before. Then, incredibly, the deer didn’t return until mid-November. On November 13, 2023, they crossed paths again. “I was adjusting my platform and just happened to look up,” Hanks said. “He was standing about 100 yards away with a doe. I didn’t have my gun loaded or scope covers off yet.” Five minutes into the hunt, he scrambled to chamber a round and settle in for the shot. He breathed in, breathed out, and took the 100-yard shot opportunity. It connected, and the buck bolted. The buck’s rack scored 174 inches. HUNTERS IN THE CROWD IS A NEW COLUMN IN DEER & DEER HUNTING THAT HIGHLIGHTS WHITETAILS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY. IF…
Ever seen a buck that looks like this? DDH fan Thomas Welter shared these photos with us of the buck he tagged two years ago with a deformed hoof. Welter shot the buck after noticing him limping, initially believing he was missing a leg. After speaking with Welter, we learned the buck had a broken leg and therefore couldn’t walk on the hoof to wear it down, thus causing the deformity. If you ever come across a deer with one or multiple deformed hooves, you could also have a deer with “slipper foot” which has a similar appearance to Welter’s buck. First described in popular press by former D&DH contributing editor Dr. Leonard Lee Rue III more than 50 years ago, laminitis, or “slipper foot” and also “foundering disease” is…
ALL PHOTOS COURTESY HONEYCUTT CREATIVE Ethics are found at the center of many aspects of life. No matter the culture, or the subject matter, ethics fit into the discussion one way or another. The same is true for deer hunting, and we should have a healthy conversation about that. Without question, hunters care about animals. The vast majority of outdoorsmen and outdoorswomen hold deep regard for deer and other game. Assuredly, a staggering low percentage don’t take ethics seriously. Here, we’ll define deer hunting ethics. Then, we’ll go over key elements of being an ethical deer hunter, with specific examples. THE LAYERS OF DEER HUNTING ETHICS Deer hunting ethics are multifaceted. These come in multiple layers. Of course, it starts with mandated ethics, which many people refer to as game…
