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April 2013: Winter Kill
Most of the deer-related thoughts many of us have this time of year center on finding a few shed antlers and looking forward to the first sightings of spotted fawns, however if you’ve taken the time to build up a property, manage it, and feed the resident deer, this is also a great time to assess winter kill. READ THE REST.
March 2013: Handling Competitors
If you’re spending good money on Golden Deer Nuggets, Deer Corn, or any of the other quality Record Rack products, it’s likely you’re also filling the bellies of non-target critters. However, not very many of us intentionally feed them. So how do you remedy this situation? READ THE REST.
February 2013: A Personal Management Plan
Managing individual hunting properties for mature bucks and healthier herds has pervaded the whitetail world. Some landowners have large tracts of land and ideal situations for removing multiple does each season while holding out for barrel-chested, prime-aged bucks. Most of us, though, don’t live in that world. READ THE REST.
January 2013: Too Much Pressure?
I’ve noticed a trend in outdoor programming and print media where more and more young kids are being featured prominently. On the surface, that seems like a positive on all levels. READ THE REST.
December 2012: Loved to Death
On recent hunting trips, I discovered many of the people from EHD-stricken areas had plans to do whatever they could to foster survival amongst the remaining deer. These plans often included large quantities of corn or alfalfa dumped behind in a convenient spot. READ THE REST.
November 2012: Sunrise to Sunset - All Day Hunting
A lot of ink is spilled each year on the topic of sitting all day for deer. The reality is that most of us can’t hack it. The first few hours of the day as well as the last few seem to fly by, but the time period between mid-morning and mid-afternoon can often drive us stir crazy and force an impromptu exit. READ THE REST.
October 2012: Aging Bucks in the Field
I’ve just recently watched a video where several of the hunters passed up 150-class or better bucks after stating with confidence that the deer were only 3.5 years old or 4.5 years old. READ THE REST.
September 2012: Archery Season - Don't Miss!
For most of us, September is the kick-off of archery season. If you’re a bowhunter, you should have at least a month or two of serious practice (or more) under your belt by this time of year, and there should be no excuse for missing an easy shot. Right? READ THE REST.
August 2012: Dealing with Drought
It’s no secret that this has been a hot, dry, miserable summer for many of us. Unprecedented conditions have killed off or seriously affected crop production. The loss, or lack of corn and soybeans is bad news for all of us, from farmers to folks that enjoy cheap cereal. The drought is also going to seriously affect deer hunters across much of the whitetail’s range as well. READ THE REST.
July 2012: Careful Observation of Buck Behavior
July seems to be a tipping point for antler growth, and with the spotting of bucks carrying framed-up headgear comes the inevitable urge to scout. This is a great time to fight the deer flies and mosquitoes to watch bachelor groups through spotting scopes, but this is also a good time to try to truly figure out an individual buck’s patterns. READ THE REST.
June 2012: Shortcuts are our Enemy
In the interest of whitetail hunting, few shortcuts end up proving any worth what-so-ever. In fact, taking the quickest route from point A to B often results in detrimental effects unforeseen and regrettable. This is perhaps no more true than when considering food plots. READ THE REST.
May 2012: A Small Investment in the Future
The trend in land use lately is to remove as many trees as possible. Sportsman across the country are helping to staunch the disappearance of so many trees by planting some themselves. READ THE REST.
April 2012: Our Own Worst Enemies
Try as I might, I can’t find the quote from one of Gene Hill’s essays but it goes something like, “I felt like I had just watched someone throw a rock through the stained glass window of a church.” The quote was made in reference to the habit wildlife officials have of radio-collaring wild animals, which is a practice that results in a loss of hair or feathers and simply detracts from the animal itself. The act seems to remove the “wild” from the animal right before your eyes. READ THE REST.
March 2012: Four Legged Hunters
Diehard whitetail hunters have long held some level of disdain for coyotes, wolves, bobcats and bears. The reason is simple - those critters eat deer. To what extent they eat deer has largely been a mystery, but the folks in the Wisconsin Dept. of Natural Resources are working hard to shed some light on the numbers. READ THE REST.
February 2012: A Great Start for Wildlife
It’s clear that deer throughout much of our country have a leg up on the winter already. Extremely rare warm temperatures and a lack of snow across much of the midwest, west and east means different things to different folks, but to us hunters it means a bumper crop of deer in the coming season. READ THE REST.
January 2012: Supplemental Deer Feeding in Winter
The new year gives hunters the chance to wipe the slate clean and start fresh. Many of us will choose to begin 2012 with a supplemental feeding program in an effort to carry our deer through the winter months. These programs can vary from sophisticated, regimented plans with quality food sources that cover everything from A to Z or they can be as simple as dumping a bag of corn in the woods every week or two. READ THE REST
December 2011: Managing Deer Populations
Successful companies that produce, handle, or sell merchandise of any sort are typically run by individuals who understand inventory. They control the ebb and flow of products and keep the balance between too much and not enough. Every few months they take stock in what’s on hand, which provides necessary direction for future decisions. This mindset doesn’t seem to have anything to do with deer, but it does. If you’re trying to manage a whitetail property it’s extremely beneficial have a ballpark idea of deer numbers and deer quality. READ THE REST
November 2011: A Hunter's Favorite Month
True hunters are wildlife managers, conservationists and in many ways - a deer’s best friend. While this is a hard concept for the non-hunting crowd to understand, considering our goal every year seems to boil down to 40 or 50 pounds of tightly-wrapped packages of venison in the freezer. But, we are the stewards of the resource for the entire year despite the fact that we take to the field’s each fall with chosen weapon in hand. READ THE REST
October 2011: Hunting the Weather Conditions
If you follow the stock market lately you’ve probably noticed that one thing is certain and that is that nothing is certain. Rallies are followed by major drops, and it seems that the slightest hiccup in the global economy can erase gains. For hunters, October’s weather mimics this erratic pattern, which can mean a boon or a bust depending on your attitude. READ THE REST
September 2011: Hunting Seasons Begin
September represents one thing for a lot of hunters across the country - the time is pretty much up on planting food plots, hanging stands, and setting up bait sites. If you’ve procrastinated throughout the summer then you might be in trouble. READ THE REST
August 2011: Prepping for the Fall
If you’ve kept up with the process of scouting, hanging stands, cutting trails and tending to your food plots throughout the summer, let me be the first to say ‘congratulations’. But, if you’ve slacked off a little or thought the heat wave of July would eventually break and provide ideal conditions for outdoor work, it’s time to get out there. READ THE REST
July 2011: Big Bucks and Little Fawns
Recent scouting forays have revealed that my local deer herd, with each member sporting a highly-visible red summer coat, is progressing along nicely. Abundant does with single and twin fawns seem to be everywhere, and I've been fortunate to glass a few good-sized bucks mixed in with the other bachelors. Antler growth even on young bucks is an amazing process, but it's the does that are truly interesting right now. READ THE REST
June 2011: Simultaneous Drop
While trudging along toward my college degree I needed to find a way to make ends meet so I ended up working at a fairly classy restaurant. One of the tricks the servers would employ to showcase their skills was to “simultaneously drop” all of the entrée plates at the same time. The more customers at the table, the more overwhelming the “drop” seemed. This was all I could think of as a wildlife biologist explained to me the timing of the rut and the resulting drop of fawns. READ THE REST
May 2011
Before traveling to Nebraska to try my hand at bowhunting turkeys in April, I took some time to carry a Record Rack Deer Block into the woods. The area I deposited the Deer Block in is heavily-used travel corridor I found while scouting this winter. A swamp, pond, and steep hillside all come together to force deer movement through a high ridge of land. READ THE REST
April 2011: A Month of Minerals
Although bucks, does and fawns all require minerals throughout the year, certain needs are at their peak right now. For does, spring and early-summer months require additional salt intake. READ THE REST
March 2011: Two Kinds of Winter Scouting
Whether I’m shed hunting or just taking a stroll through the woods this time of year, I’ve got my eyes open for a couple of different things. READ THE REST
February 2011: Caring for the Whole Herd
Deer herds throughout the northern half of the U.S. haven’t received much of a break this winter. Record snowfalls and bitter cold have become the norm. I’ve talked to more than a few hunters that are concerned about increased winterkill this year. Their concerns are somewhat grounded in reality, but it’s important to remember that we can certainly help out. READ THE REST
January 2011: Starting a Deer Feeding Station
In past years, the thought of post-holing my way through January snowdrifts with a sled in tow was abhorrent. Cold North winds, difficult walking, and a deer season that sits beyond the horizon revolving nine months away somewhere in the Great Beyond were all powerful deterrents. READ THE REST
December 2010: Feeding Post-Rut Deer
While there is plenty of talk surrounding the second rut during December, the reality for most hunters is that they won’t witness it. What little chasing and breeding occurs is usually few and far between and the best bet is to focus on what all whitetails need this time of year: food. READ THE REST
November 2010: The Toll of the Whitetail Rut
There’s no question that November is prime time to sit perched in a treestand waiting for a buck to cruise by. As hunters, we wait the entire year for the pre-rut and rut to increase our odds of getting a shot or two. READ THE REST.
October 2010: Scouting Now? You Bet!
The tenth month of the year represents transition across the country. While the leaves change, crops get picked, and the deer start to feed heavily for coming rut and eventual winter, hunters should be looking for the freshest sign. READ THE REST.
September 2010
While there is plenty of ink spilled on the importance of finding a bachelor group and hunting them on the opener, the reality is most hunters would benefit from taking a walk through their hunting area with an open mind while noting the available food and the likelihood of it changing in the next 30 days or so. READ THE REST.
July 2010: Time to Get Serious
Bucks like this Minnesota eight-pointer need plenty of essential minerals and vitamins to reach their full potential. Record Rack® Super Premium Mineral Supplement is a perfect choice for hunters that wish to provide their deer with the best chance to optimize antler growth and overall deer health. READ THE REST.
