Ask The Biologist

What’s for Yupper?

What’s for Yupper?

By Bob Humphrey

Some food plot staples are safe bets regardless of your location. QUESTION: We just bought property in the upper peninsula of Michigan and would like to start a couple food plots. What type of mix would be good to start? ANSWER: That’s a simple question with a complicated answer since so much depends on local conditions like slope, aspect, climate,... READ MORE

Zebras and Stripes

Zebras and Stripes

By Bob Humphrey

You can’t change a zebras stripes, nor a whitetail’s feeding schedule. QUESTION: The deer on my property will be captured on my camera feeding between 11 p.m. and 2 a.m. (since before September). They have little to no pressure on them that would force them to be nocturnal. The site has adequate cover, and they are not in the wide open. I have chan... READ MORE

What Are the Odds?

What Are the Odds?

By Bob Humphrey

Extra main beams are an uncommon bonus. QUESTION: What are the odds of a whitetail having an extra beam? In the past several seasons, we have seen or have pictures of three different bucks with extra beams. One has a whole additional beam and tines, while the other two just have an extra beam. One is a 10-pointer, and the other is an 8-pointer. ANS... READ MORE

There’s the Rub

There’s the Rub

By Bob Humphrey

Don’t confuse buck rubs with activity associated with licking branches. QUESTION: Will a buck rub limbs 5 to 6 feet high in a tree, and will a buck rub in early February? – Tyler N. ANSWER: The answer depends partly on your location. Dr. John Ozoga is credited with being the first to recognize the importance of an overhanging limb in re... READ MORE

Fool Me Once ...

Fool Me Once ...

By Bob Humphrey

We know deer respond to hunting pressure, but what about wounds? QUESTION: What are the chances of a deer with a non-fatal gunshot wound returning to the same location it was shot during the same hunting season? – Clarence S. ANSWER: There are many variables in play, including the type and severity of the wound, the circumstances involved an... READ MORE

No Certainties

No Certainties

By Bob Humphrey

When it comes to judging a shot, hope for the best but plan for the worst. QUESTION: I’ve heard you can tell where you shot a deer by the way it reacts. Is that true, and if so, what do you look for? ANSWER: Even under the best of circumstances, you can never be certain where the animal was hit until you lay hands on it (or watch clear video). Howe... READ MORE

Lady or Dude?

Lady or Dude?

By Bob Humphrey

Tarsal gland staining is usually associated with bucks ... usually. QUESTION: While hunting during the rut, I saw a deer with no antlers that had dark tarsal glands. I’ve always been told this only happens with bucks, so I thought it must be a button buck, but I couldn’t see anything on its head that looked like nubs or buttons. What else might cau... READ MORE

Good Genes

Good Genes

By Bob Humphrey

Yes, yearlings can have racks with 8 or even more points. QUESTION: My son recently shot his first deer. It had a small 8-point rack but only weighed 125 pounds dressed. That’s about the same weight as spikes and fork-horns I’ve shot. I’m wondering if this was some sort of runt or mutant deer. What are your thoughts? ANSWER: Altho... READ MORE

When Mama Ain’t Happy

When Mama Ain’t Happy

By Bob Humphrey

We still don’t understand a majority of deer vocalizations. QUESTION: While deer hunting over the weekend, a doe and fawn approached my stand. The doe continually bleated and low grunted the entire time she was in sight. I was wondering if this was a sign that she was coming into estrus. First time seeing this. ANSWER: In over 40 years of deer hunt... READ MORE

How To Fix pH

How To Fix pH

By Bob Humphrey

Put the lime on the food plot and they’ll eat it all up! QUESTION: I’ve been told you can’t put to much garden lime on a food plot. Is that true? ANSWER: As a general rule of thumb it is true, but there’s a limit. It comes down to soil pH, which you should test before applying lime or other minerals, and then follow the recommended application from... READ MORE

Seeing Red?

Seeing Red?

By Bob Humphrey

Why a blood moon, or any type of moon, probably doesn’t make a big difference. QUESTION: When the bow deer season opens in North Carolina, is a Blood Moon good for hunters? ANSWER: Given that it’s now November we’re a little late in answering this one, but it doesn’t really matter. Blood moon is another name for a total lunar eclipse, which occurs ... READ MORE

Someone Get a Dump Truck

Someone Get a Dump Truck

By Bob Humphrey

It’s difficult to diagnose deer health from a picture, but there is a definite problem here. QUESTION: My brother in-law and I have been hunting a buck that has been a 7-pointer for the last four years. We figured he was at least 3 1/2 years old the first year we received trail camera pictures of him. We noticed about two years ago that this deer h... READ MORE

Bleach Is for Laundry

Bleach Is for Laundry

By Bob Humphrey

We’ve heard of some crazy deer attractants, but this one is really out there. QUESTION: A friend told us to put Clorox out to attract the deer. Is this true? Does it work or is it harmful for the deer? ANSWER: I’ve heard of some wild products used as deer attractants or cover scents before, but never bleach. Before there were bottled scents, some s... READ MORE

Fool Moon Fever

Fool Moon Fever

By Bob Humphrey

Should you believe half of what you see and none of what you hear? QUESTION: I’ve read a bunch of stuff on how the moon affects deer movement, and it seems to say the full moon doesn’t have any effect on them moving less during daylight. Still, I always seem to see fewer deer around the full moon. My trail cameras also get fewer pictures around pea... READ MORE

Not Quite Bambi

Not Quite Bambi

By Bob Humphrey

Be careful about ascribing human traits to deer. QUESTION: I was watching a doe and her fawns feeding in a field. All of a sudden one of the fawns bolted halfway across the field, stopped and then ran back. Then the other fawn started running around like it was being chased, but I could not see anything chasing it. The doe just stood and watched an... READ MORE

Tale of the Tail

Tale of the Tail

By Bob Humphrey

A deer’s tail serves multiple survival functions. QUESTION: It’s obvious how the white-tailed deer got its name, but what is the purpose of this tail? It seems like flagging would only attract predators. ANSWER: Deer generally live in a forest environment where visibility is often obscured by vegetation. It’s likely the flag acts as a visual signal... READ MORE

How Low Can You Go?

How Low Can You Go?

By Bob Humphrey

Strike a balance when compensating for ducking the string. QUESTION: I've heard you should aim low when shooting at a deer with a bow because they might jump the string, causing you to miss high. My question is, how low should you aim? ANSWER: A good general guideline is to aim for the bottom third of the deer's body - basically aiming for the hear... READ MORE

Natural Born Killers

Natural Born Killers

By Bob Humphrey

Mother Nature isn’t as kind as the stories. QUESTION: This seems to be an unpopular subject to non-hunters. On occasion, I’ve heard reports of wolves or mountain lions killing far more animals than they need to eat. These stories come from a federal trapper taking care of problem animals killing livestock like sheep and cattle. People who oppose th... READ MORE

Not in Kansas Anymore

Not in Kansas Anymore

By Bob Humphrey

Do extreme weather events like tornados drive deer out of an area? QUESTION: I live pretty in central Alabama. I have pictures of really nice deer from spring, but since a tornado that came through in April I haven’t seen much activity. Is it possible the tornado did so much damage that the herd moved-on? ANSWER: Anything is possible, although it’s... READ MORE

Something Missing

Something Missing

By Bob Humphrey

Good soil for deer includes minerals plants might not need. QUESTION: Here in southwest-central Pennsylvania, we have difficulty growing larger deer. We have been told we have poor soil, but we have farms that grow the food the deer eat year round. I have been planting a food plot for a few years, and the best buck we’ve seen is maybe 125 to 135 in... READ MORE

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