Consistent deer hunting success is found in the details. Sure, there are people who wander haphazardly into the woods with no preparation at all and manage to get lucky. But if you want to consistently put meat in the freezer and antlers on the wall, this pursuit requires an obsession with getting...

I slid across the lake’s surface like a skater on ice, the bow of my canoe slicing smoothly through the waves while diamonds sparkled on the water and shimmered off the antlers at my feet. This was something new. I’d seen flip-flops, fish, and beers in this context, but never antlers. I could get...

I’ve traveled across the country to hunt whitetails everywhere from Ohio to Montana, Idaho to Indiana, and most points in between. Every time I embark on one of these trips, I receive dozens of messages asking about what clothing, gear, or camping equipment I’m taking with me. About five years ago...

The best archery advice I ever got came to me in a dream. No, that’s not right. Maybe it was from a friend? Or was it a guest on my podcast? Honestly I can’t remember where or when or how exactly this nugget of wisdom arrived in my consciousness. But that’s not important. What is important is the...

The sinking sun, buzzing mosquitoes, clinging humidity, and wafting aroma of cornsilk. And yes, of course, the flicking white tails amidst a distant sea of green. I love this scene more than any other during the whitetailer’s off-season. Whether I’m driving the neighborhood or staking out the back...

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...

If there’s any one thing that connects the most consistently successful whitetail hunters I know, it’s a strong focus on scent control. A whitetail’s nose is its best defense mechanism. For that reason, the smart hunter will do everything possible to control the scent he brings into the woods. Can...

Hang a trail camera in front of a pile of corn or a mineral block and you’re almost guaranteed to get an SD card full of deer photos. It used to be that simple. But with increasing concerns over disease in recent years, more and more states are outlawing the use of bait at trail camera sites. For...

I first heard about tree saddles more than a decade ago. At the time I thought hanging from a tree by a waist harness seemed uncomfortable, impractical, and downright foolish. But it turns out I was the fool. Ten years later I finally gave saddles a try—only to realize I’d been missing out in a big...

Misery loves company, so let’s begin here: You’re not alone. I’ve missed deer too. Plenty, actually. I missed the first deer I ever took a crack at. I also missed a big Ohio 8-pointer a decade ago. I missed an opening day Michigan buck just a few seasons ago. And I missed a couple more in between...