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.
WEEK OF DEC. 6-12 “Broken Brow”: Dr. James Kroll crossbow hunts an old buck in Kansas with John Butler of Buck Forage Oats. Planting trees for wildlife is the topic of this week’s “Build Your Own Deer Factory.” In “From the Stand,” Haynes Shelton explains the benefits of recurve crossbows. The historic John Breen buck from Minnesota is featured in our “Big Buck Profile.” WEEK OF DEC. 13-19 “Down to the Wire”: Rob Hughes rifle hunts the beautiful Bar J Ranch in Texas. In “Build Your Own Deer Factory,” Dr. Kroll identifies multiple wildlife preferred plants. Haynes Shelton talks bullet performance on whitetails in “From the Stand.” The colossal Brian Damery buck makes an appearance on this week’s “Big Buck Profile.” WEEK OF DEC. 20-26 “Stan the Man”: We look…
A colleague of mine recently had a tough work week. It happens to all of us at one point or another. The to-do list gets too long, and stress creeps in. Sooner or later, we need to vent. Well, my buddy called me to vent. And he needed to ask me some questions about the project he was working on. I listened, and I tried my best to help him out. Soon we hung up the phone and scurried off to finish up our days. The next morning, he texted me this Bible verse, from Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.” Then he thanked me for being there for him. That’s been weeks ago, but I can’t stop thinking about that verse. Sure, I’d heard…
I am still amazed how much interest in white-tailed deer management has grown since I began my career in 1973! Yet, I am even more amazed how, after thousands of outdoor articles and programs, there remains a general lack of understanding (even among some professionals) as to just how complex deer management really is. While every property is different, and thus there is no universal management strategy, I learned long ago the management communality is that you must find out what the limiting factor is on your property. Note, that’s singular, as in the No. 1 limiting factor. Perhaps one of the most common, and least understood is winter thermal cover; and that is what I wish to discuss in this column. LIMITING FACTORS Wildlife management developed as an offshoot…
Alabama’s recent legislation to allow the night hunting of coyotes and feral hogs is just another step by states to help wildlife affected by these species. Coyotes and feral hogs have both spread across whitetail country, causing habitat damage along with predation effects on deer populations. Coyotes, once a predator of the open prairies and West, transitioned easterly with the opening of forests and agricultural undertakings. Hogs arrived on our shores from shipments believed to date as far back as Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto’s arrival. It is estimated feral hogs annually contribute more than $800 million in damage to agriculture and habitat by a population of approximately 4 million feral hogs. Alabama estimates that feral hogs cause $50 million in private property damage annually alone. The spread of coyotes…
The first muzzleloading rifle I shot blew out a cloud of smoke that made it impossible to see my target and required a cleaning every second shot. My first three-shot accuracy group was noticeably larger than the palm of my hand at a range of 100 yards. And I felt pretty good about all of it, newbie that I was to black powder shooting. My expectations were for a rifle that wasn’t close to a center-fire rifle but could slam a .50 caliber slug into a deer’s vital zone at 75 to 100 yards. For me, the appeal of the muzzleloader has always been threefold: the extra black powder seasons the rifle provides for deer hunting; the greater challenge of getting closer than needed with a centerfire rifle; and, frankly,…
CALIBER: .40 Cal. (as tested) ACTION: Bolt with Variflame Ignition BARREL: Stainless Steel, Nitride Treated, 26 in., and Free Floating BARREL TWIST RATE: 1:20 SAFETY: Manual LOAD INDICATOR: Yes SIGHTS: None WEIGHT: 9.6 LBS. LENGTH: 44.25 IN. STOCK: Composite, with Internal Aluminum Chassis and Adjustable Cheek rest INCLUDED: 20 PowerBelt ELR .40 Cal. Bullets, Carbon Fiber Collapsible Loading Rod, One-Piece Solid Aluminum Range Rod, VariFlames and Priming Kit, Quake CLAW Flush Cup Sling. CVA.COM…
