History Kills Big Bucks

One specific buck occupied my mind going into the 2021 hunting season. I had many trail camera pictures of him and collected both of his sheds from the previous season. When the frigid temperatures and deep snow kept me out of the woods for a while last winter, I spent time on my computer studying maps, logging trail camera data, and whatever else I could do to put together a game plan for this deer. The previous year was the first time I hunted...

Are Big Rubs Made by Big Bucks?

For archers seeking out deer sign, it doesn’t get much more obvious than rubs. In most cases, rubs start showing up in mid-September when bucks begin to feel a spike in testosterone. It’s a visual and chemical way for deer to communicate: shredding the bark off a tree while leaving behind scent from their forehead glands. There’s a lot of lore when it comes to rubs, as they’ve been captivating outdoorsmen for centuries. You’ll often hear hunters...

How to Turkey Hunt in Big Woods

If you take away agriculture from turkey hunting, it starts to feel like chasing whitetails in big woods. Low game densities, sparse sign, and endless cover all conspire to make the process more challenging than typical turkey hunts. But big woods toms are available for the taking. Like their whitetail counterparts in the same terrain, they demand a unique hunting strategy and adjusted mindset. For starters, forget about the dream turkey hunt of...