Deer & Deer Hunting

Controversial Research: Bacteria, Not Prions, Cause CWD

DDH Staff — Sat, 24 Dec 2011 14:06:48 +0000

by Darren Warner, D&DH contributor

Note: Deer & Deer Hunting does not endorse one CWD explanation over another. Research is ongoing. It is committed to fueling discussion about important issues relating to deer hunting. Leave a comment below with your views about CWD.

In 1982, neurologist Dr. Stanley Prusiner discovered the prion, a misfolded protein believed to cause transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) or brain diseases like chronic wasting disease (CWD), mad cow and sheep scrapie. Prusiner won a Nobel Prize for his achievement, setting off a flurry of prion-based research. Today, 99 percent of scientists believe prions cause CWD – Dr. Frank Bastian isn’t one of them.

“Spiroplasma causes TSEs like chronic wasting disease,” said Bastian. “The bacterium likely initiates the disease process and stimulates the formation of prions, but more experiments are needed to confirm this.”

Spiroplasma is a group of microscopic bacteria that lack cell walls and can’t be killed with antibiotics. Bastian recently injected strains of spiroplasma into laboratory deer, sheep and goats. The Louisiana State University researcher’s findings, published in Veterinary Ophthalmology (2011), will likely change what we think we know about the cause of CWD. After just 3.5 months, deer showed clinical symptoms of CWD. Goats and sheep developed swollen brains at 12 months, and lab tests later confirmed they were infected with a TSE.

Proponents of the prion theory have been slow to embrace Bastian’s research.

“There are very few individuals studying the cause of TSEs like chronic wasting disease, and what happens is that those who are decide what’s behind these diseases, and then they put that out to the media and write it in textbooks,” explained Dr. Laura Manuelidis, a professor and researcher of neuropathology at Yale Medical School. “Then what happens is that one theory gets written in stone, which hampers new research.”

In the world of TSEs, Bastian conducts experiments on a research island. He refuses to be led by the prevailing winds of the prion explanation, mainly because there are problems with the prion theory. Prion scientists can’t explain why the protein isn’t present in five to 10 percent of all infected animals, can’t reproduce prions in the lab (the gold standard for scientific explanations) and can’t explain how prions change into different diseases.

Bastian’s work provides new hope for managing CWD. If scientists can generate antibodies against spiroplasma, it will enable them to detect CWD earlier. It may even provide a means of creating a vaccine.

One thing’s for sure: If we don’t know what causes CWD, there’s little chance of managing it. We can only hope that more scientists will review Bastian’s research and join him on his island.

What Defines a Trophy Buck?

DDH Staff — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 14:11:09 +0000

The author with one of his trophies.

by Bryan Hendricks

To me, the definition of trophy entails other things besides antler size.

Above my desk, for example, is the rack of a 9-point whitetail I killed at Turley Ranch in Roger Mills County, Okla. The rack was beautiful, maybe 120 B&C, but the circumstances made it special.

Turley Ranch covers about 25,000 acres, part of which encompasses a section of the Washita River where George Custer mustered his Seventh Cavalry on Nov. 27, 1868, for what is now known as the Battle of the Washita River. Windle Turley manages his ranch for trophy whitetails, and an evening at one of his big rye and wheat fields is like being in a fantasy deer hunting magazine cover.

Turley opened it for hunting in 2007, when he realized his herd needed some active management, and he invited me as his first guest. Turley allowed me to kill one “management” buck and a doe during the 2007 muzzleloader season, but he still had misgivings. While sharing a sumptuous steak dinner at his guest house. He said, “I’m really glad you’re here, and I hope you have a great time, but I hope the deer win.”

It seemed that they would until the 9-point got a little too close at the edge of a big rye field late one evening. Much bigger bucks dwell on that ranch, and it has since been featured extensively. But there will only be one “first.”

How to Find Your Deer Using Hair Left at the Scene

DDH Staff — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 14:41:56 +0000

by John Trout Jr., D&DH Contributor

Although many hunters fail to locate deer hair at the location where they shot the deer, it is almost always present. An arrow tipped with a sharp broadhead will not pass through a deer and fail to cut hair. The amount of hair left at the scene depends on the angle of the shot and whether the arrow penetrates completely.

Hair is most evident at the precise shot location, and it also could indicate where you hit the deer. If you locate a pass-through arrow, look for hair within a few feet of where you find the arrow. Look closest for hair where you see scuff marks on the ground (usually obvious) where the deer departed.

Several inches of hair in a straight line usually provides evidence that an arrow grazed the deer, or deflected upon impact. However, when searching for only a few hairs, I suggest you do so while on hands and knees. In the upright position, it can be difficult to spot hair.

Long, white, curly hair could indicate your arrow passed through the bottom of the deer’s belly. Similar hair is found between the deer’s hind legs. Dark hair (usually coarse and black-tipped) could indicate a wound anywhere from the brisket to the spine. However, the longest hair typically comes from the brisket, and near the top of the back. Side hair, such as that from the heart and lung area is about ¾-inch shorter than those along the spine and brisket, while leg hair is even shorter in length.

For more tips and tactics on how to find every deer you shoot, check out our Shot Simulator Deluxe Edition CD.

BREAKING NEWS: Gray Wolf Removed from Endangered Species List in Western Great Lakes

DDH Staff — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 17:30:43 +0000

With gray wolf populations rising well beyond initial recovery goals in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service has announced that the wolves have been taken off of the threatened and endangered species list for the Western Great Lakes region.

The announcement is especially noteworthy to hunters and trappers in the region. With the management of wolf populations handed to the individual states, it will open discussions about the possibility of adding hunting and trapping seasons for wolves.

The full U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service press release is below:

Salazar Announces Recovery of Gray Wolves in the Western Great Lakes, Removal from Threatened and Endangered Species List States, tribes to assume management responsibility

WASHINGTON — Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar today announced that gray wolf populations in the Great Lakes region have recovered and no longer require the protection of the Endangered Species Act. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is publishing a final rule in the Federal Register removing wolves in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin, and in portions of adjoining states, from the list of endangered and threatened wildlife and plants.

“Once again, the Endangered Species Act has proved to be an effective tool for bringing species back from the brink of extinction,” Secretary Salazar said. “Thanks to the work of our scientists, wildlife managers, and our state, tribal, and stakeholder partners, gray wolves in the western Great Lakes region are now fully recovered and healthy.”

The rule removing ESA protection for gray wolves in the western Great Lakes becomes effective 30 days after publication in the Federal Register.

“Gray wolves are thriving in the Great Lakes region, and their successful recovery is a testament to the hard work of the Service and our state and local partners,” said Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe. “We are confident state and tribal wildlife managers in Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin will effectively manage healthy wolf populations now that federal protection is no longer needed.”

Wolves total more than 4,000 animals in the three core recovery states in the western Great Lakes area and have exceeded recovery goals. Minnesota’s population is estimated at 2,921 wolves, while an estimated 687 wolves live in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula and another 782 in Wisconsin. Each state has developed a plan to manage wolves after federal protection is removed.

Wolf populations in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Michigan will be monitored for at least five years to ensure the species continues to thrive. If it appears, at any time, that the gray wolf cannot sustain itself without the protections of the ESA, the Service can initiate the listing process, including emergency listing.

In the Service’s May 5, 2011, proposal to delist western Great Lakes wolves, the agency also proposed accepting recent taxonomic information that the gray wolf subspecies Canis lupus lycaon should be elevated to the full species Canis lycaon, and that the population of wolves in the Western Great Lakes is a mix of the two full species, Canis lupus and Canis lycaon. Based on substantial information received from scientists and others during the public comment period, the Service has re-evaluated that proposal, and the final rule considers all wolves in the Western Great Lakes DPS to be Canis lupus.

The Service also previously proposed delisting gray wolves in all or parts of 29 states in the eastern half of the United States. The Service continues to evaluate that portion of the May 5, 2011, proposal and will make a final separate determination at a later date.

Gray wolves were originally listed as subspecies or as regional populations of subspecies in the lower 48 states and Mexico under the ESA in 1973 and its predecessor statutes before that. In 1978, the Service reclassified the gray wolf as an endangered species across all of the lower 48 states and Mexico, except in Minnesota where the gray wolf was classified as threatened.

More information on the recovery of gray wolves in the Western Great Lakes can be found at www.fws.gov/midwest/wolf/.

The ESA provides a critical safety net for America’s native fish, wildlife and plants. The Service works to actively engage conservation partners and the public in the search for improved and innovative ways to conserve and recover imperiled species.

To learn more about the Endangered Species Program, visit http://www.fws.gov/endangered/.

Huge Deer Deserve Huge Respect

Daniel Schmidt — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 14:47:17 +0000

Each year, I come in contact with many great deer hunters. For the most part, they’re hard-working, fun loving people who truly respect the land and the animals they hunt. However, over the years, I’ve noticed a disturbing trend. I can’t really put my finger on it, but it seems to me that many hunters have stepped off the path of righteousness.

In general, I believe modern hunters don’t truly appreciate the animals we kill. Maybe we’re spoiled by today’s monster bucks and record deer herds. Maybe our comfortable lifestyles have detached our souls from all things wild.

Maybe we just don’t care.

Minimally, all deer hunters should be thankful for a venison bounty. Most of us are. However, how many of us truly respect the deer we kill? How many of us stand in quiet deliberation over a fallen whitetail? How many take a moment to ponder our own existence? This isn’t about religion. It’s about respect.

Canada’s Cree Indians were especially reverent to slain animals. In fact, their entire hunting tradition was built on elaborate rules honoring slain creatures.

Hunters in American tribes followed similar rules, and they made sure the remains of every deer were respected. It was customary for many tribes to prop a buck’s head — and antlers — in the crotch of a tree so the buck’s “spirit” could watch sunrises and sunsets. They also believed this reassured other animals that they needn’t be afraid of yielding their bodies to humans. Other tribes were careful to utilize the entire animal, including every scrap of meat from the carcass.

I use these examples not to advocate pantheism — the belief that all things are God — but to illustrate how far modern man is detached from the earth.

A college professor once told me that irreverence toward dead creatures is common among people who are anxious about their own mortality. He also said it often takes but one reminder to trigger the necessary guilt to right one’s internal compass. Looking at today’s world makes me wonder if primitive hunters possessed a far greater understanding of the natural world than their modern counterparts.

Should we celebrate our successes? Absolutely. But where is the line drawn between humble adoration and disrespect?

A Monster Buck Pays a Visit

Daniel Schmidt — Sat, 17 Dec 2011 13:25:00 +0000

D&DH Editor Dan Schmidt is all smiles after bagging this 6-1/2-year-old buck at Vatoville Outdoors free-ranging ranch near Sonora, Texas.

Just like it has happened so many times before, the deer showed up rather unexpectedly, and, of course, from an area where I didn’t expect to see a deer appear. This hunt was a also a little different than the thousands of others I’ve experienced over the years. Instead of being a man alone with his thoughts on a deer stand, I had an audience.

The location was perfect: a comfortable blind overlooking some beautiful brush-choked west-central Texas ground. Yes, there was a feed station about 120 yards away. When morning light filtered across the landscape, deer appeared. They drifted in and out of the brush, nibbling grain and feeling their oats. Young bucks chased does, and skittish does stepped around as if they were trying to avoid land mines.

The rut was on, and it was a scene to behold. Then it happened.

Glancing to my right, a direction we did not expect to see a deer appear because it was close to the cattle road that we drove in on, I instantly saw a tine protruding from the middle of a dead cedar. Those was no mistaking it; it was at least a foot long, and it was pointing straight toward the sky.

“Big buck!” I gasped as videographer Jay Ellioff instantly whirled and started taping the deer. The buck was only 75 yards away, and he wasted no time in surveying the scene. With a single flick of his tail, the buck deemed the coast was clear, and he made his way toward a small group of does near the feed station.

My heartbeat instantly went into overdrive, and my breathing became labored. Sure signs of buck fever, I know, but it was kind of hard to prevent it.

We watched the deer for a long time as he poked around the feed station. I’ve had similar encounters on big deer while bowhunting food plots over the years. Waiting, waiting, waiting for that perfect shot opportunity. I wouldn’t have to wait for long today, however, because this 7 mm Mag was way more than enough gun for this whitetail. In that regard, gun-hunting is a bit anti-climactic. But I will never complain about making quick, clean kills.

“Dan … Dan!” Jay whispered as the buck stood stationary about 130 yards out. “You need to calm down; I can hear your heart pounding in my headset.”

Putting my binoculars down for a moment, I took several deep breaths and exhaled slowly. “Don’t look at the antlers,” I told myself. “Just make the shot.”

Finally, the buck moved into a wide-open spot. I instantly melted into the gun’s stock and placed the scope’s cross-hairs dead center on his shoulder blade.

POW! At the shot, the buck folded instantly.

The hunt was over, but the celebration had just begun.

— This concludes this series on Dan’s Texas hunt. Check back tomorrow, however, for a fun slide show of all the sights and scenes from the Vatoville experience.

Part 4: If This is a Cull Buck, I’m Davy Crockett

Part 3: Big Buck Down on the Texas Ground

Part 2: Scorched Earth and Rutting Bucks

Part 1: The 5 Dirtiest Words You Can Hear at Deer Camp

THE GEAR DAN USED:

Mossy Oak Break-Up Infinity.

Under Armour Apparel.

Kowa binoculars.

Nikon Monarch scope. Muck Boots Remington Model 700 rifle.

Norma Oryx Ammo

If This is a Cull Buck, I’m Davy Crockett

Daniel Schmidt — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 15:03:44 +0000

Note: Deer & Deer Hunting Editor Dan Schmidt has just returned from a week-long rut hunt near Eldorado, Texas. This is the fourth installment of a five-part blog series on his adventure. Check back each day this week for updates.

It doesn't matter where you hunt in this state, Texas offers some of the most incredible whitetail hunting opportunities in the country. Although the state boasts one of the largest deer herds in the country, it does receive a fairly bad rap amongst hunter from the North and Midwest. There is a feeling out there that the only hunting that takes place in Texas is behind high fences and high-priced ranches. True, there are a lot of high-fenced operations in Texas and — like anywhere else — lease prices and outfitting fees are rising. But the fact remains that there is still plenty of ground that is free-range ... and plenty of places where the fees aren't out of line with other big-deer states.

Caption: When this 7-pointer stepped out of the Texas brush, D&DH Editor Dan Schmidt didn't have to think twice about it.

One of the redeeming factors about hunting Texas is the state allows nonresidents to shoot several deer on one license. What's more, many ranches openly welcome hunters to shoot deer they call "management bucks." These are usually mature deer that are 8-points or less and are considered nuisances to wildlife managers who are trying to grow trophy deer. Some guys call them "cull" bucks. I call them incredible whitetails that I will always trip over myself to get a crack at. Such was the case with a giant 7-pointer that showed up on the second day of our hunt at Vatoville Outdoors (Steve and Michelle Anderson; 325-450-0287).

Head guide Billy Bob Galbreath and I were still getting settled in the box blind that afternoon when D&DH videographer Jay Ellioff (who was already settled) spied a deer in the distance.

"Deer coming," he said matter-of-factly while putting his binoculars up to his eyes. "Buck. GOOD BUCK!"

To me, it's weird having other people on stand with me while hunting. But in this case, I was glad to have those extra eyes. I finished stuffing my air-activated hand-warmers in my coat pocket and grabbed my Kowa binoculars.

"Whoa! He's a dandy!" I stuttered as soon as the buck's rack came into focus. "Looks like he's a 4x3."

"Yep, sure is," said Galbreath. "That's a good management buck. Exactly the kind of deer we want to take out of here."

"Don't have to tell me twice," I chimed in, as the buck stepped out from a sprawling live oak and nosed his way toward a doe and its fawn.

My heartbeat went into overdrive and my breathing became labored. When I'm hunting by myself, I usually talk to myself. I'll actually whisper out loud, "Calm down; calm down; don't look at the antlers." I felt kind of awkward doing that with an audience, so I just tried to take some deep breaths.

"I'm on him," said Ellioff. "Whenever you're ready."

Maybe it was pressure of the moment, but I couldn't seem to hold the scope's cross-hairs on the deer. I lifted my head, exhaled one big breath, and went back to the scope. Long pause. Now the cross-hairs were steady.

BOOM!

Immediately at the shot, I knew I had flinched slightly. It didn't matter, though. In the instant after the percussion, I saw the buck mule kick and whirl. The shot had been true. The deer ran just 75 yards through the cedars, oaks and scrub brush, before piling up in a newly created sendero.

"Oh, my gosh!" I stammered while turning toward the camera. "Oh, my gosh am I shaking! I can hardly breathe. Hang on, I have to calm down here."

In that instant, I could hear both Ellioff and Galbreath chuckling.

"Well, that's all right," Galbreath said. "That's what hunting is all about. Should be, anyway."

He's absolutely right. No matter how many deer I shoot — buck, doe, young or old — I still get that same feeling every time. When I lose that feeling, someone had better come and usher me out of the deer woods.

UP NEXT: Part 5: A Monster Buck Pays a Visit

Other entries from this series:

Part 1: The 5 Dirtiest Words You Can Hear at Deer Camp

Part 2: Scorched Earth and Rutting Bucks

Part 3: Big Buck Down on the Texas Ground

Big Buck Down on the Texas Ground

Daniel Schmidt — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 15:56:12 +0000

Note: Deer & Deer Hunting Editor Dan Schmidt has just returned from a week-long rut hunt near Eldorado, Texas. This is the third installment of a five-part blog series on his adventure. Check back each day this week for updates.

It’s almost noon, and we just came in for a few hours to warm up. I’m trying to collect my thoughts and get my head around the enormity of what we’re seeing out there on this west-central landscape. It is really almost indescribable. There is no live vegetation. In fact, the trees and shrubs look like the green-bean plant my daughter and I grew for her fourth-grade science fair experiment last summer — and then forgot to water for three weeks. They are shriveled-up twigs, basically, that will seemingly self-combust at any moment.

Vatoville Outdoors owner Michelle Anderson just shoved a plate full of warm chocolate chip cookies in my face. And now I’m supposed to concentrate. I’ll try.

Photo caption: Tim Anderson didn't hesitate to pull the trigger when this high-tined buck stepped into his sights at Vatoville Outdoors near Eldorado, Texas.

When you’ve been giving it full throttle since early bow season, these December hunts can be as draining as they are exciting, especially when you fling open the porch door at 5 a.m., exhale, and see your breath billow toward the sky like smoke from a hot chimney. Believe it or not, that’s what happened to us this morning. It’s cold down here. Let’s see, 24 degrees to be exact. And now it’s spitting rain. Great deer hunting weather.

Before we came back to camp, we drove by the sendero where Mossy Oak’s Tim Anderson had been hunting. We saw his pickup truck parked down in the sendero, and that could only mean one thing: He had a deer on the ground.

And what a deer it is. As we approach the truck, we see Tim standing over a dandy 10-pointer that guide Billy Bob Galbreath calls the “Christmas Tree” buck. It is a classic Texas buck: tall tines and an absolutely beautiful cape. This buck will gross about 135 B&C inches, but he has several broken off tines. Regardless, it is an outstanding trophy whitetail.

Tomorrow: Part 4: If This is a Cull Buck, I’m Davey Crockett

Part 1: The 5 Dirtiest Words You Can Hear at Deer Camp

Part 2: Scorched Earth and Rutting Bucks

Unforgettable Day

D&DH Reader — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 16:01:33 +0000

I finally got the deer I have been after this season. Been watching him on trail camera all year long and last Friday I finally got a shot at him, and in an unforgettable way.

I work until 4 and my hunting property is about 40 minutes away so I hustled as fast as the law would allow me to my spot. It was an overcast day and already 4:40 by this point so knowing daylight was fading, I decided not to waste the 10 min it would take me to change and put my orange hat and vest on over my dress polo shirt and snuck out to the blind.

It was that perfect kind of evening, right before a front was about to move through. I jumped a group of 5 does "sneaking" my way to the blind and thought to myself, "well there goes my hunt...". I couldn't have been further from the truth. After I settled in, almost immediately a young doe stepped out into the field at 120 yards. She kept looking back into the woods and after about 15 minutes, she bolted. A couple minutes later, I see the big tall tines of the 10 point I have been after. He carefully hopped the fence and after a minute or two of munching and sniffing around, presented me with a slightly quartering away shot at about 120 yards. I regained my composure, slowly squeezed the trigger and the rest is history.

I hope you enjoyed my story as much as I enjoyed Greg's and the others on this site. Shooting my biggest deer yet wearing my work pants and polo shirt is something I will never forget. (I changed my clothes to drag him out if you are wondering why I'm in all camo in the pic)

Name: Ryan
City: Overland Park
State: KS

Scorched Earth and Rutting Bucks

Daniel Schmidt — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:58:44 +0000

Those cedars aren't orange from autumn's splendor. They're burned-up dead from the excessive heat and drought from this past summer in west-central Texas.

Note: Deer & Deer Hunting Editor Dan Schmidt has just returned from a weeklong rut hunt near Eldorado, Texas. This is the second installment of a five-part blog series on his adventure. Check back each day this week for updates.

There is something about the first day of a hunt. It doesn’t have to be opening day of the season. It could merely be the first day of a three-day getaway. The same feeling comes over me every time: the butterflies in the stomach; the anticipation of what might show up when daylight filter across the landscape; the “newness” of the experience.

I certainly had those feelings the morning of my first sit here at Steve and Michelle Anderson’s Vatoville Outdoors ranch near Sonora, Texas, last week.

The initial hints of daylight revealed several deer lurking in the nearby Texas scrub brush. We were hunting a large chunk of what-used-to-be cattle pasture and is now, well, essentially nothing but dead trees, dirt and surface limestone rocks. The extensive drought this region has experienced over the past two years is something to behold. The summer of 2011 brought extreme heat to this entire state, including 63 days that experienced daytime highs in excess of 100 degrees. The prolonged heat and lack of rain has been a brutal double-whammy on the area’s deer and deer hunting prospects. Steve reports that his ranch has only received two significant rainfalls in two years, and one was yesterday.

“We’ve had no choice but to feed these deer (protein pellets) year-round,” guide Billy Bob “Bunk” Galbreath whispered to me as we were waiting for full daylight. “If we hadn’t, we probably wouldn’t have a single deer on this property. In fact, many of the neighboring landowners, and a lot of the high-fence places (who didn’t feed protein) are experiencing that very thing right now.”

They say Mother Nature can be harsh and cruel. When daylight finally does come, and I put my Kowa binoculars to work, I confirm those charges firsthand. Before the distant spin feeder goes off, I spy what I think are two fawns laboring across the pasture. They’re absolutely puny. I’m estimating that these two deer might, and I do stress might, weigh 100 pounds on the hoof — combined. Then, Billy Bob shocks me with his next statement.

“Those aren’t fawns,” he says. “Those are both adult does.”

We sit for about a half-hour, and then the feeder goes off. It doesn’t take long until we’re covered up in deer: Does, fawns, spike bucks and basket racks literally come out of the woodwork, noses to the ground looking for food. Some of these deer look weak, but others are surprisingly healthy. That can only be a confirmation of Anderson’s wise feeding program.

Before we headed out this morning, Billy Bob explained that I could shoot two bucks on this trip: a management buck (eight points or less), and a trophy buck (any size).

“There are two exceptions,” he said while pulling two trail camera photos out of his pocket. “These two deer (a 25-inch wide 10-pointer, and a huge nontypical) are special to the ranch. We’ve been watching both of them for many years, and we just want to keep them around.”

No problem, I thought. Besides, what are the odds that we’d even see these bucks, given the incredible size of this place — 9,000+ acres. Yep, famous last words.

We sat watching younger bucks nose does around the pasture for several hours. One doe in particular had to be close to estrus, as a decent-sized 8-pointer bird-dogged her relentlessly for more than a half-hour. He simply would not let this doe stop even for a moment to grab a few spilled grains. I was contently watching the show with my binocs when the doe burst out from the brush about 100 yards in front of the stand and sprinted to the west. Hot on her heels was a big-bodied deer.

“That has got to be a buc….HOLY BUCKETS!” I gasped as a rack the size of a laundry basket jumped into clear focus.

I instinctively reach for my rifle.

“Wait a minute,” Billy Bob whispers. “Yeah, that Wavos (his nickname for this buck). Sorry, but we’re only going to be able to watch him.”

I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t immediately disappointed. But you know what? After watching that buck strut his stuff and nudge does for the rest of morning, I can honestly say I came back camp with a sense of satisfaction I’ve never before experienced without pulling the trigger. The best deer hunts are those that are jam-packed with close encounters. I can’t wait to see what the next three days are going to bring.

Part 1: The 5 Dirtiest Words You Can Hear at Deer Camp

Tomorrow: Part 3: Big Bucks Down on the Texas Ground

The 5 Dirtiest Words You Can Hear in Deer Camp

Daniel Schmidt — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:56:01 +0000

Note: Deer & Deer Hunting Editor Dan Schmidt has just returned from a week-long rut hunt near Eldorado, Texas. This is the first installment of a five-part blog series on his adventure. Check back for updates.

I’m not sure who coined the phrase, but they weren’t kidding when they said God blessed Texas. This state is not only breathtaking, it is a deer hunter’s paradise. Over the years, I’ve been blessed to have had opportunities to hunt the Lone Star state in December. Each and every time I’ve been here, the experience has provided an instant jolt of resurgence. Not sure why that is, but I do believe it has to do with the fact that hunting anywhere south of the Mason-Dixon line during the rut provides unique observations into whitetail behavior that you just can’t experience anywhere else.

Deer & Deer Hunting videographer Jay Ellioff and I flew into San Angelo and made the drive south to the Vatoville Outdoors ranch (Steve and Michelle Anderson; 325-450-0287) with my good friend Tim Anderson of Mossy Oak. Tim has hunted this ranch between Sonora and Eldorado, just outside of the famous Texas Hill Country, for many years. He’s had some success, too.

I’m not sure why I seem to always be the snake-bitten traveler, but, yeah, it happened again on this trip. It started with a three-hour drive to Milwaukee in ice, rain and overcast conditions for the flight to Dallas. It escalated with a roller-coaster puddle-jumper flight from Dallas to San Angelo. I think the flight attendant said it best when she looked at me from my front-row exit seat and sighed, “Oh my God, you look horrible!”

With a panicked look on her face, she rifled through the nearby magazine holder and fished out two barf bags. “Here take these,” she said in desperation. “And please just try not to spill.”

“Um, thanks,” I moaned as sweat cascaded down my forehead. “I hope I won’t need to use them.”

Thankfully, I didn’t. I somehow managed to gain my composure for the rest of the flight and was feeling somewhat normal by the time we touched down in San Angelo.

“Don’t worry about it,” said a fellow hunter on the flight who was seated one row behind me. “You know, getting sick before a hunt is a good luck charm.”

He said that in all seriousness.

His prediction seemed to be going my way as we retrieved all of our bags, left the airport and made it to the sporting good store in plenty of time to buy our deer hunting licenses. Believe it or not, we got those licenses and were back in the truck and heading to camp in less than 10 minutes. There is no nonsense when buying a deer license in this great state. Hand over your ID, and the cashier will smile and have you on your way before you can figure out how to pronounce “sendero.”

By now you must be wondering how any of this has to do with the headline to this blog post. Yeah, I kind of saved that for last on purpose.

After rolling into camp, unloading all of our gear and getting our room assignments, I learned that my roommate would be a fellow editor friend who I haven’t hunted with in quite a while. It was late, and we needed to get some sleep in anticipation for that first morning in the stand. That’s when my roommate uttered those five dirty words:

“I snore like a bastard.”

Oh, well. I’ve heard worse. Time to grab my blanket, pillow and head for the sofa.

Up Next: Part 2: Scorched Earth and Rutting Bucks

First Deer with a Bow, 9 pointer

D&DH Reader — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 19:48:22 +0000

After four years of bow hunting, finally took my first deer on Saturday, Nov. 12 during bow hunting season, which was oddly enough Field and Stream's projected best day of the year to hunt.

At 2 p.m., I saw a buck lurking in some thicket about 20 yards away. Was too thick to try a shot so I was patient. He disappeared around the corner over the ridge out of sight so I was ready to blow my grunt tube to try to call him back in, but before I did he walked back into view and walked down the path I anticipated may be a popular thoroughfare since it was trampled down pretty good and had fresh buck scrapes all along it. Knowing the rut was on, I hung a doe scent wick just upwind of the heavily trafficked trail, he walked the trail with his nose in the air, and when he was literally 5 or 6 yards from my stand, I focused the sight pin, gave the blah grunt sound out of the corner of my mouth to get him to stop, and as he looked up in surprise, I let the arrow fly. Was very much a straight down shot at that close distance, which was tricky at that angle, and the arrow hit him just right. He ran across a county highway I was near and only ran about 75 yards. I waited the recommended 2 hours before going to track him, to make sure not to spook him just in case. Those 2 hours seemed like forever since I could not see across the road in the ditch that he ran into. Fortunately that is where he ended up.

After 4 years bow hunting, this is the first deer for me with a bow and being a 9 point buck just makes it that much more exciting.

I knew it had to happen someday, just not sure when. A little luck was on my side too. Hope you enjoyed the play by play.

Name: Greg Shirek
City: Madison
State: WI

My first buck

D&DH Reader — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 16:14:39 +0000

Wel im Nick Nobile. Im 16 years old. i shot it this year opening day. i didnt get it scored yet its currently at a taxidermist. I shot it with a Winchester 1871 348 with open sights probaly around a 60 yard shot through the woods. tell me what ya think thanks =)

Name: Nick Nobile
City: Middletown
State: New York

3 Beam Buck

D&DH Reader — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 15:16:39 +0000

Since that was a story in the Blog today. I thought y'all might like to see this one.

Not a trail cam photo, but actually taken by a lady in her back yard not far from my hunting grounds. I have yet to see him though.

Name: Tom
City:
State: NC

Why Some Bucks Grow 3 Beams

Daniel Schmidt — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:00:00 +0000

The biggest deer in the woods are often the result of great genetics and good deer feed, but there are exceptions.

Take, for example, the case of this triple-beamed buck. My friend (and Deer & Deer Huntingfield editor) Les Davenport reports that there's a surge in the number of triple-beamed bucks showing up on trail cameras in Illinois. What are causing so many deer to have these odd antlers? It could be myriad factors, but a likely cause might be cranial abscess disease. CAD occurs when a buck severely injures one or both of his pedicles. This happens a lot on properties with higher numbers of huge deer (fights during the rut). According to deer researcher Dr. David Samuel, these injuries can result in abnormal growth either from the pedicle or the boney part of the deer's skull.

"This growing cell mass creates tension on collagen fiber bundles at the base of these growing antlers," Samuel reports. "If there is any damage when the antler starts to grow, it may move these fibers to other parts of the skull near the pedicle and that might lead to nontypical points."

To learn more on the wonders of deer antlers, check out Dr. Samuel's contributions in Whitetail Racks.