Category: Online Articles

Last week I shared that I consider forage soybeans the best food plot crop for my goals of allowing deer to maximize their genetic potential of antler growth and fawn production with the additional bonus of attracting deer to my hunting stands.

This was based on my observations while hunting and an obvious relationship between where soybeans are grown and where record book bucks are harvested nationwide.  Click Here To Read More at Winchester.com.

When folks tour my farm they often ask why most of my food plots are planted with forage soybeans  It’s easy to understand the question given the vast variety of food plot crops/blends available.

My goals for food plots are to:

1. Provide deer with great nutrition so they may maximize their genetic potential to produce the best antlers or maximum number of healthy fawns.
2. Attract deer to specific feeding locations.

Click Here To Read More at Winchester.com.

Hunters, landowners and others interested in hunting in general converged on Watseka Community High School Saturday to take part in the first Hunter’s Clinic.

Dr. Grant Woods gives a presentation on tracking and hunting deer Saturday morning in Watseka.

Read More here.

My family and I really enjoy the second deer season – shed hunting season! Shed hunting is about as fun as deer hunting – except that it doesn’t provide wonderful, natural venison for the freezer…darn. Bucks shed their antlers when their testosterone level drops below a certain threshold.  The annual testosterone cycle is relatively simple. It’s below the “antler threshold” all summer while the antlers are growing and covered with velvet. The shortening day length triggers an increase in testosterone level which triggers the hardening of antlers and shedding of velvet. Read More At Winchester.com

Last week I shared why and when bucks shed their antlers. This week I wish to share where my family and I have the most success finding sheds.  As I explained last week, antlers are not knocked off. Rather they shed due to a rapid decrease in testosterone levels.  So the old theory of finding most sheds at fence crossings or places antlers are thought to be “knocked off” simply isn’t correct. Read More At Winchester.com

My last blog was about the advantages of hunting when temperatures are below normal during the late season. As I write this it’s 50+ degrees at noon. I’ve got a T-shirt on and have been washing my hunting clothes and hanging them outside to dry. It is warm and sunny! As nice as the temperature is for working outside, it does not make for ideal hunting conditions. Deer, if they are healthy, currently have a heavy fur and lots of body fat. The best way for them to remain cool during the warm conditions is to remain inactive until the temperatures decrease after dark. Read More At Winchester.com

Most hunters, myself included, don’t hunt where snow cover is common throughout the deer season.  When it does snow, it’s a great opportunity to scout! Every deer track, trail, fresh scrape, feeding area, and bed will be easy to find! Read More At Winchester.com

As a hunter, I really enjoy the late season deer hunting! Although there will be fewer bucks, as some will have been taken earlier in the season, there are a couple important advantages to hunting this time of year. Read More At Bowhunting Magazine…

I live and do a majority of my deer hunting in Missouri’s Ozark Mountains. Missouri offers bowhunters two buck tags. One tag is valid from Sept. 15-Jan. 15, with the exception of a nine-day, statewide gun season. The second tag is only valid after the statewide gun season, which usually closes just before Thanksgiving. That season/tag structure is one reason I enjoy hunting the late season. Read More At  BowHunting Magazine….

Some whitetail hunters set an antler size standard at the start of each bow season. I’m a huge believer in setting goals. I also believe strongly that satisfaction is a function of expectations. Simply stated, if you set your goal to harvest a 125-inch buck and you harvest a 140-inch buck, you will probably be very pleased with your hunting season. If you harvest a buck with 125-class antlers, you will probably be pleased with your season. And if you harvest a buck that scores 80, you may feel you didn’t accomplish your mission. Read More At Bowhunting Magazine….