Somewhere between 8 and 10 million folks across the United States hunt whitetail deer. That’s well over three quarters of the nation’s entire hunting population. The whitetail is our nation’s most ubiquitous big game animal, the most highly managed, and arguably the most coveted. What does this mean...

Here’s a controversial statement: Trail cameras can be absolutely worthless. Here’s a less controversial statement: Trail cameras are worthless when their batteries are dead. This might seem obvious, but every year hunters stick hundreds of dollars-worth of trail cams in the woods and then return...

I can clearly remember the excitement I felt following in my grandfather’s footsteps some 30 years ago as he pointed out whitetail rubs strewn across the forest surrounding our family deer camp. The bright orange slashes stood out among the trees like red lights in the distance screaming, “STOP! A...

“Don’t miss the forest for the trees.” It’s a common saying used in conversation when someone is so focused on the details of an issue that they miss the big picture. A similar affliction is present in many a whitetail hunter, but in our case the issue is becoming so obsessed with seeing deer or...

“Scouting is the name of the game,” said experienced whitetail bowhunter Jesse Coots. “It’s kind of like training as a wrestler. If you skip your whole training season and go right to your first match, you’re going to get pummeled. Bowhunting is no different.” Coots is not alone in this belief. Of...

Shed hunting is a dang good time. Let’s be clear about that right out of the gate. But there’s more to it than just scooping up antlers. Whitetail sheds can hold a treasure trove of information if you know what to look for. Here are three valuable pieces of intel you can glean from the antlers you...

The basics of shed hunting are well known, but the devil is in the details. Efficient use of time is the golden rule of shed hunting, so let’s not beat around the bush. Here are four simple tricks that will help you gain shed hunting success. Scout Like it’s Hunting Season The best DIY whitetail...

Shed hunting, from the outside looking in, can seem quite simple: walk a lot, look on the ground, and find antlers. But the search for whitetail sheds is rarely this straightforward. Consistent shed hunting success requires both an understanding of deer habitat and behavior, and a smart strategy...

I’m painfully frugal about most things. For example, I’m still sleeping on the second-hand mattress I inherited after college 13 years ago—a point of bitter dispute with my wife. But there is one product which I am uniquely liberal with my funds: books. I always give myself permission to buy books...

The most common question I get from deer hunters related to land management is some version of this: What’s the easiest thing I can do to improve my property? The issue of where to start is a stumbling block that many aspiring land managers run into. With countless websites, podcasts, videos, and...