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.
Since I was a kid, I’ve studied the pages of North American Whitetail not just to look at photographs of giant whitetail bucks, but to learn where , when and how they were killed. Always eager to fill my mind with the coveted tactics of expert whitetailers, I look for details that might give me an edge. As a Southerner who often hunts out of state, I’m hungry for data that could improve my odds of finding success on foreign soil. Especially in recent years, a trend I’ve watched closely is the impact of cold weather fronts on hunting success. I’m not a meteorologist, but like many outdoorsmen, I pay attention to the weather — especially in the fall. And in fall 2020, you needn’t have been an expert to…
WEEK OF OCT. 25-31 “Illinois Delivers Big”: Stan Potts pursues an ancient buck nicknamed “Stairmaster” in Illinois. Dr. James Kroll explains the need for fall forage in “Dr. Deer.” We examine the advantages of crossbows for close-quarters hunting in “On Target.” The impressive Brian Bice Buck is showcased on this week’s “Big Buck Profile.” WEEK OF NOV. 1-7 “Time for Seconds”: Stan Potts continues his dream season in Illinois, bowhunting a bruiser 8-pointer during the rut. Dr. James Kroll reveals why breeding timing impacts fawn survival. Laden Force explains why modern bows provide greater efficiency for less draw weight in “On Target.” Haynes Shelton profiles the incredible Frank Pleskac buck from Hill County, Montana. WEEK OF NOV. 8-14 “From the Ground”: Laden Force enjoys a thrilling spot and stalk bowhunt…
DR. DEER The nutritional needs of whitetails are ever-changing, influenced by habitat quality, weather and the unique physiological needs of bucks, does and fawns over the annual “deer cycle.” There are two stress periods for deer, late summer/ early fall, and late winter/early spring. These are transition times, in which the physiological needs of deer change dramatically. I often have said that whitetail bucks and does might as well be separate species. When bucks are fat, does are skinny; and when bucks are skinny, does are fat! A buck comes out of the winter having lost as much as 30 percent of his body weight. In spring, he must quickly recoup lost resources, grow a summer coat and grow antlers. This creates a very high demand for digestible energy, protein…
Hunters have many responsibilities, and you can add another to the list. Be responsible in the prevention of spreading invasive vegetation while off-roading and hiking. Some invasive plant species made it across the oceans by hitching rides in ship cargo mixed with other seeds. In the 19th and 20th centuries, land managers even thought they were forward thinking by bringing select species to America for purposes of cover crops and ornamental flora. Some were successful, but most backfired and spread regionally, with a few leapfrogging across North America. Whether introduced here purposefully or accidentally, recreationists are helping spread unwelcome plant guests. Culprits include Kudzu, English ivy, purple loosestrife and the scourge of the West, cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), to list a few. Cheatgrass is a good example. It hid itself in…
In case you have been living in a cave feeding yourself with freeze-dried meals due to the pandemic paranoia, consumer prices are on an upward march led by inflation. Caught squarely in the middle of this working-class dilemma is meat. Yep, that delicious meal centerpiece you push aside the bowl of cauliflower to reach for first has sticker shock. Conveniently, meat is your game if you are reading North American Whitetail . Although antlers may be your googly-eyed focus, that gorgeous hat rack comes complete with a muscle package of good eating. Now, more than ever, venison plays an important role in providing for your family while delivering healthy protein from your efforts. IN THE FIELD Every sizzling skillet of venison goodness begins in the field. To start the goodness,…
The right tools make any job easier. This is especially true of extracting a deer from the woods when you cannot get your truck to the site of the kill. Make sure you have the gear to get your meat from the field to the freezer. • Backpack capable of comfortably handling 100-pound loads • Two sharp knives • Lightweight knife sharpener • Latex gloves (2 pair) and long gutting gloves • Field wipes and paper towels • Game bags if you are quartering or deboning in the field • Unscented garbage bags for miscellaneous and backpack liners •Ziploc storage bags for inside loins, heart and liver • Water for drinking and cleaning any accidental spills on meat • Hunting cellphone app • First aid kit • Coolers full of…
