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 JAN. 30–FEB. 5 “Time For Seconds”: Stan Potts continues his great season in Illinois, chasing a bruiser 8-point 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 FEB. 6–12 “From the Ground”: Laden Force enjoys a thrilling spot and stalk bowhunt for big whitetails and mule deer in South Dakota. We introduce a new “Build Your Own Deer Factory” series, focused on land management with manageable equipment. Haynes Shelton profiles the Mitch Vakoch buck from Minnesota. WEEK OF FEB. 13–19 “Bluegrass Bucks”: Dr. James Kroll heads to Ken Tenn Outfitters for an exciting rut…
I chose “Talking Points” as the title of this column because I like that it has a dual meaning. Usually, it’s a catch-all for whitetail talking points, including history, conservation, sentimental stories and hunting how-to. Sometimes though, we’re talking points, as in antler points. This time it’s the latter. Specifically, it’s Dustin Huff’s 6x6 typical from Decatur Co., Indiana, taken Nov. 4, 2021. Without revealing too much of the story (see pg. 16), I’ll say this about the 27-year-old crossbow hunter’s giant buck: It’s possible the deer will become one of the top three typicals in Boone & Crockett’s Big Game Records book. And without hesitation, I’ll say it’s one of the biggest bucks to ever grace the pages of North American Whitetail. At press time, the colossal whitetail isn’t…
When I began my career studying the white-tailed deer in 1973, there had been some early studies on their biology. However, most intricate details on what it takes to manage whitetails have come to light in the last 50 years! The amount of information related to deer management has grown at an exponential rate, almost as fast as technological advances in information discovery. In my early days of research, I had to dig through scientific journals and attend annual conferences to keep abreast of new discoveries. In contrast, today’s wildlife scientist can learn about new discoveries by a few clicks on the computer. Prior to the turn of the 21st century, lag time between new discoveries about game management and actual implementation by practicing managers was 7-10 years. Today, the…
Last fall I planted 50 pounds of two-year-old Buck Forage brand oat seed into a food plot. I’d kept the seed in its original sealed cardboard box and heavy parchment sack, just as it’d arrived via the UPS man in 2019. The seed was stored off the ground in a dark, dry and (relatively) cool corner in an open-air barn. I knew oats are tough, but still I was surprised by the high germination rate that I witnessed. The fact the oats came up so well got me thinking and led to me ask: How long can seeds remain viable for germination, and what conditions prolong viability? I was curious, so I did some research. What I found amazed me! Perusing the web, I found an article from National Geographic…
On Nov. 4, 2021, Indiana resident Dustin Huff tagged an unbelievably big whitetail buck in Decatur County, sending shockwaves throughout the hunting world. Photos of the giant 6x6 typical circulated like wildlife across social media and on the web. Stunned onlookers all asked the same question: What will that buck score? At present, the Boone & Crockett club’s mandatory 60-day drying period hasn’t elapsed, and thus there is no official entry score. However, the buck has been unofficially scored twice, producing preliminary “green” scores that are simply jaw-dropping! Not long after taking the tremendous buck, Dustin allowed Hoosier Record Book scorer Larry Walsman to put a tape to the rack. Larry came up with an incredible score of 214 2/8 gross and 208 4/8 net typical. In December 2021, the…
At present, Dustin Huff’s massive 6x6 typical from Decatur County, Indiana, has been preliminarily measured twice; once by Hoosier Record Book scorer Larry Walsman at 208 4/8 net, and next by Boone & Crockett measurer Jim Moore at 205 5/8 net. Based on these “green” scores, let’s assume the Huff buck is a new state record typical, besting Dave Roberts’ 195 5/8 from Putnam County, taken in 1985. That leads us to the next big question: Where will the deer rank in the world record books once it’s officially scored, entered and finally panel measured? For starters, the Huff buck is poised to take the crossbow typical world record throne, occupied at present by Brad Jerman’s 201 1/8 net from Warren County, Ohio, taken in 2004. B&C’s big game records…
