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Spencer Neuharth

Spencer Neuharth
Spencer Neuharth is the director of web content at MeatEater, producer of Wired to Hunt, and founder of Rut Fresh. His writing has been featured in over a dozen magazines, including Field & Stream, Petersen's Hunting, and Men's Journal. His work is a reflection of his roots as a whitetail hunter and training as a biologist.

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Wildlife Management

Kansas Man Faces Jail Time for Poaching 60 Deer
John Blick Jr. of Sharon, Kansas, has been sentenced to 14 months in prison and ordered to pay $327,641 in restitution for poaching 60 whitetail and mule deer. The bust is the result of a multi-year investigation leading to a 139-count indictment. Additionally, the 28-year-old will lose hunting privileges for five years and pay $15,000 in fines.
Charges include numerous counts of criminal hunting, hunting with aid of a motor vehicle, criminal...

Anthropology

Fact Checker: Did Explorer Peter Freuchen Save His Life with a Poop Chisel?
Myths, lies, and old wives’ tales loom large in the outdoor pursuits. Here at MeatEater, we’re dedicated to separating facts from bullsh*t, so we created this series to examine suspect yarns. If there’s a belief, rumor, or long-held assumption you’d like us to fact check, drop us a note at factchecker@themeateater.com.
Claim
Peter Freuchen was a Danish traveler, author, journalist, and anthropologist. He’s most famous for being the 6-foot-7-inch...

Wildlife Management

Video: Game Warden Shoots Family’s Pet Deer
On December 19, 2016, Kim Mcgaughey of western Kansas was issued a citation for “unlawful possession of wildlife without a permit.” The ticket was for keeping a mule deer doe as a pet after it showed up at their rural home as a fawn two years prior. The family named it Faline and quickly developed a relationship with the muley—it would play with their dogs, hang out in their house, and wore a collar during gun season to deter hunters from...

Whitetail Deer

5 Best DIY Whitetail States for 2021
It’s becoming increasingly common to travel outside of home states in pursuit of North America’s most popular game animal. Although nearly every state hosts huntable whitetail populations, there are a few that stand above the rest.
These states have exceptional public land opportunities, economical tags, good license availability, and trophy potential that should titillate every DIY hunter. Pack up your truck camping gear and hit these...

Anthropology

Bar Room Banter: The WWII Crocodile Massacre
There’s a difference between book smart and bar smart. You may not be book smart, but this series can make you seem educated and interesting from a barstool. So, belly up, mix yourself a glass of LMNT Recharge, and take notes as we look at the deadliest animal attack in modern history. Powered by LMNT.
During World War I, German and Russian forces declared a temporary ceasefire to fight back wolves that were swarming the battlefield. The...

Natural History

Bar Room Banter: The Boozy History of Johnny Appleseed
There’s a difference between book smart and bar smart. You may not be book smart, but this series can make you seem educated and interesting from a barstool. So, belly up, mix yourself a glass of LMNT Recharge, and take notes as we look at how John Chapman changed bar rooms forever. Powered by LMNT.
The world knows two different Johnny Appleseeds: the Disney version and the real version. The fictitious Johnny traveled the Midwest with a tin pot...

Public Lands & Waters

Identity of Forrest Fenn Treasure Finder Revealed
When Forrest Fenn announced his famed treasure was claimed in June, he said he wouldn’t reveal the finder’s identity without his permission. After Fenn died in September it seemed like that day would never come. But, seven months later, the finder has finally come forward.

Here’s a brief timeline on how we got here:
June 6 – Fenn writes on his blog that the treasure has been found. He initially doesn’t release any details on the finder or...

Whitetail Deer

Rut Fresh Report: 11/26
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday, but not because of the turkey, football, or Black Friday deals (speaking of which, First Lite has 20% off almost their entire store right now). Thanksgiving kicks ass because it means a long weekend of good deer hunting.
I know, the rut is basically over for most of the country, but that doesn’t mean big bucks won’t make mistakes at the end of November. One particular study from Mississippi State University...

Whitetail Deer

Video: Whitetail Buck Fights Angus Bull
Hunter Weber of Buckley, Illinois, makes the rounds scouting for deer almost every day in November. Despite spending tons of time observing whitetails during the rut, he witnessed something last weekend that he’s never seen before. In an encounter that lasts just over a minute, a young whitetail buck squares up to a crossbred bull and charges. They exchange a couple blows and do a lot of posturing before both going their separate ways.
It’s...

Whitetail Deer

Rut Fresh Report: 11/19
Much of the country is now on the other side of the rut, but that doesn’t mean it’s over. Although the first couple weeks of November offer the best chance at a rutting buck, the second half of the month is still a great stretch to tag a mature whitetail. In fact, for some big buck killers, this is the preferred time to strike.
At this phase in the rut, most does have been bred and will yet again be distancing themselves from bucks. This can...