Each issue of North American Whitetail brings you effective techniques for outsmarting monster bucks. You'll learn the success secrets of North America's most accomplished, most knowledgeable whitetail hunters - riflemen and bowhunters alike.
No matter how much fun a certain job might seem, never forget one truth: If no sacrifice were involved, they wouldn’t pay you. It takes a certain kind of person to make a career in the hunting media. In part, that’s because most days are spent indoors, not outdoors. You must reconcile the desire to be out there with the necessity of being in here. Many people never find that balance, so I really respect those who do. One such “lifer” just left here. Ken Dunwoody joined the company in 1986 and served as our editorial director from ’89 until his well-deserved retirement as this issue was being edited. My friend now actually can spend a lot of time outdoors, not just building magazines about spending a lot of time…
As winter settles in across the whitetail’s range and the dawn of a new year approaches, most avid hunters endure the end of another deer season by looking to the future. That’s certainly the case with us here at North American Whitetail TV presented by Quick Attach. As we begin our 15th broadcast season (which, it’s worth noting, is a longer run of original airings than was enjoyed by Bonanza, M*A*S*H or Dallas), the NAW TV team is looking toward the future. In addition to a full plate of brand-new hunts, Dr. James Kroll and Pat Hogan will usher in an entirely new “Build Your Own Deer Factory” project in Otter Tail County, Minnesota, where we’ll lay out a unique blueprint for habitat and herd management on a piece of…
As Hurricane Harvey struck the upper Texas coast in late August, video and photos of swimming deer began turning up on the Internet and TV news reports. Fortunately, according to Texas wildlife officials, few adult whitetails succumbed to the storm. Even those in the hardest-hit areas soon returned to life as usual — or as close to usual as could be hoped for in the hurricane-ravaged areas. “As far as deer, we will likely see some mortality due to flooding, but most of this will be fawn mortality,” noted wildlife division director Clayton Wolf. “Two years ago we essentially lost the entire fawn crop on WMAs like Richland Creek, but these floods were earlier in the year,” the biologist said.“I suspect many of the earlier-born fawns in Southeast Texas were…
I’m fascinated by the Victorian era (1837-1901), as it represented the Golden Age of Science. Back then, scientific inquiry was practiced by innately curious individuals who didn’t consider it a profession. Humans began to become curious about new places, animals and peoples simply to gain knowledge wealth, rather than material wealth. Great organizations of explorers began during this time, including the Royal Geographic Society (1830) and the National Geographic Society (1888). At their annual meetings, explorers gathered to present their latest findings and discoveries about the natural world. These legendary explorers included Sir Richard Burton, David Livingston and Henry Morton Stanley. This also was a time of escalating popularity for great zoological and botanical gardens, in which specimens of strange plants and animals were maintained. The interest quickly spread to…
Igniting a debate with a fellow deer rifle enthusiast is easy. All you need to do is claim your gun is a better choice than his or hers. The one reply you’re sure not to hear is, “I agree.” Regardless of our firearms choices, we seem to feel obligated to defend them. Same with ammo, bows, broadheads, camo or anything else we use in deer hunting. But anyone who’s stalked the whitetail woods knows all sorts of products can help fill a tag. Walk into any camp and you’ll see a range of gear in use. It’s also that way if you read many of the success stories in the pages of this magazine. A lot of stuff can help you put a whitetail carcass into the cooler. Some deer…
Most successful hunting families have a story to tell: one explaining how hunting became a big part of who they are. The Watson family of Highland County, Ohio, is no different. But while some families’ whitetail traditions stretch back over a century, the Watsons’ began in far more recent times. Born and raised in Arizona, Derek Watson cut his teeth chasing Coues deer, javelina and elk with a gun. It wasn’t until he was in the Marine Corps, stationed in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, that he was introduced to archery. On the base with Derek was a senior chief who was an avid bowhunter. After spending some time with him, Derek acquired a Jennings Arrowstar Mark V compound and was hooked. Following his time in the service, Derek moved to Ohio…
