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. 5–11: “Sub-Zero in Iowa”: Haynes Shelton joins Paul Fountain of Fountain Outfitting for a heart-pounding late season muzzleloader hunt in Iowa. In Build Your Own Deer Factory, the team talks about natural and supplemental water. Haynes Shelton profiles the Tony Lovstuen buck, a 307 5/8-inch giant from Iowa. WEEK OF DEC. 12–18: “The Finale”: Haynes Shelton takes his Browning rifle to Alabama to chase rutting whitetails with Mark Ezell at the Pushmataha Plantation. In Build Your Own Deer Factory, the team talks management maintenance. In a brand-new Big Buck Profile, Haynes Shelton profiles the incredible Joe Volitis buck from West Virginia. WEEK OF DEC. 19–25: “Bar J. Classic Pt. 2”: Rob Hughes and Dr. James Kroll are back for part two of their hunt at the Bar…
I love when a Sunday church sermon stays in my head all week. That’s when I know it was one that I needed to hear. This past Sunday, I was bow-hunting in Adams Co., Ohio, with my friends Chad and Lear McCoy, owners of Real McCoy Outdoors. Because we were deep in the hills and hollers of that region’s rough terrain, I couldn’t make it to church back at home in North Carolina. However, later that day as I steered my pickup truck down the winding roads of West Virginia towards home, my wife gave me a full recap of the pastor’s message. It was about “spiritual food.” At first, I had no idea what that phrase meant, but I listened close and let her explain. It turns out the…
There are two questions professional deer biologists hate to hear: How many deer are there on this property? And; What kind of acorn crop will we have this year? First, I have learned that accurately estimating the number of deer on any property (large or small) is the “La Brea Tar Pits” of deer management! It is not practically possible, and no one would believe you if you could do it! Also, even if you conduct exhaustive acorn production surveys in a specific geographic area, whatever you find out will be challenged by the guy who has one highly productive tree on his property. So, when asked about the acorn crop, I have learned to answer, “It will be spotty!” Still, however, acorns remain a highly important food item for…
On Nov. 11, 2019, the whitetail rut was in full swing, and I still had an Illinois buck tag burning a hole in my pocket. I hiked into a doe bedding area around noon, and by sunset I was battling for visibility, as an unexpected and unusual cold front pushed into the area. Here in the southeastern part of the state, we almost never see measurable snow during the rut, let alone near-zero windchill temperatures. And I’ll be the first to admit, I was not prepared for that weather event. A borderline blizzard during the rut seemed like such an unlikely occurrence that I didn’t take precautions with my gear, making the hunt less than comfortable; but I survived. November 12th is one of my favorite days to sit all…
The tale of the 200-inch buck I named “Forky” starts back in 2019. A friend of a friend knew a farmer who farmed several properties. That summer I went to talk to the farmer to see what properties he had that might be available for bowhunting and if I could possibly get permission to hunt one of them. The meeting went well, and I was granted permission to hunt two farms. After looking at the properties on Google Earth, I was a little skeptical that these properties would hold deer. They were mostly crop fields with very little timber, but they did have creeks running on a few borders, so I thought I would give it a shot. I went soon after to scout and hang a few cameras on…
Saskatchewan, Canada, is most likely a bucket-list destination for those serious about hunting mature whitetails. The province has been a trophy whitetail destination since the 1950s. For over 70 years, non-resident hunters have crossed our northern border with the dream of tagging a giant buck. And for a good reason, “the land of living skies” has all but dominated the upper end of the record books over the decades, culminating with the World Record Typical Whitetail, the Milo Hanson buck taken in 1993. Few places in North America can match the nostalgic and historical impact that Saskatchewan has brought to the whitetail world. The province is different than other popular, top-end trophy destinations, such as Kansas or Iowa. Non-residents cannot hunt without booking through an Outfitter. That added cost deters…
