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Hole in the Head Buck
By Bob Humphrey
Antler shedding and skull injuries are serious business for whitetail bucks.
QUESTION: I was out shed hunting recently and found an antler that at first I thought was a shed but when I looked closer it had part of the skull still attached. My question is, is this a shed or was it broken off in a fight? Also, will this deer survive? — Will M.... READ MORE
The Energizer Whitetail
By Bob Humphrey
How long can a deer survive a single-lung shot from a bow and arrow? QUESTION: I recently shot a buck with my bow, and it was a complete pass-through. Upon retrieving my arrow, the blood on it was light red and there were a few bubbles on the Blood Ring. The first spots of any blood were 10 yards away where he stopped, but after that I tracked the ... READ MORE
Got a Light?
By Bob Humphrey
Does smoking in a deer stand really affect your success? QUESTION: I have shot many deer over the years, and generally every time I had a cigarette hanging out of my mouth. However I have only shot does. My question is, does smoking really affect seeing deer? — Quentin B. ANSWER: That’s a good question. An acquaintance of mine, who is a... READ MORE
Ghost Deer
By Bob Humphrey
How is it possible to see so many tracks without seeing the deer that made them?
QUESTION: Please, please help. I have been hunting for 20 years and I have just received permission to bowhunt two properties in northern Ohio. Both are small properties: 5 acres and 10 acres. I was more excited than I had ever been about deer hunting. They are in sub... READ MORE
The Night Owl
By Bob Humphrey
A mature buck is often nocturnal. Be patient and hope he makes a mistake. QUESTION: I’m getting pictures of a big buck on my trail camera, but only at night. Lately it’s been every night, but I never see him during the day. What can I do? — Adam P. ANSWER: I The short answer is be patient — and careful. If you’re consi... READ MORE
One Simple Rule
By Bob Humphrey
There are advantages to hunting certain locations at specific times of day. QUESTION: I have been told to hunt the bottoms in the mornings and the fields and field edges at dark. Is this true? ANSWER: It’s tough to give a concrete answer without more information about the region and habitat you hunt. However, I’ve hunted many areas wher... READ MORE
Cotton Is King
By Bob Humphrey
You don’t have to buy protein pellets to provide deer with supplemental food.QUESTION: We have heard that mixing cotton seed hull with our current feeding of corn and Antler Max is very beneficial for white-tailed deer. Is that true? Also, we have gathered lots of oak acorns and plan to add them to the mix this year. This is stuff we put in our gra... READ MORE
Find the Food
By Bob Humphrey
This hunter might be new, but he’s asking the right kind of questions. QUESTION: I am new to hunting (my second year) although I'm 52 years old and a disabled veteran. I’m limited to hunting public land in Rhode Island and nearby Massachusetts. While scouting, I have found wild grape vines on some of the public lands and was wondering i... READ MORE
Where Are The Big Bucks?
By Bob Humphrey
QUESTION: We never see big bucks in the area we hunt, even on our cameras. Even deer we shoot with bigger bodies seem to have small basket racks. What can we do to change this situation? — Ellis C.
ANSWER: As you’re probably aware, the three main factors that influence antler growth are age, nutrition and genetics. Let’s look at ... READ MORE
A Buck Named Lola
By Bob Humphrey
Can a doe really have antlers, and if so, how?
QUESTION: Last year a guy in our town shot a doe with antlers. It was in late November and they were still covered in velvet. How is this possible? — Trent H.
ANSWER: From a very young age we’re taught there is a difference between boys and girls, whether it be humans or deer. The truth o... READ MORE
Gut Shots Happen
By Bob Humphrey
The key to recovering paunch-shot deer is to back out quietly and wait.
QUESTION: I’m hoping you can settle an argument. A friend told me that he would not hesitate to gut-shoot a deer if it was the only shot he had because he knows he’ll recover it. I say it’s a poor shot choice due to the high probability of not recovering the ... READ MORE
Made in the Shade
By Bob Humphrey
Food plots don’t have to be big, nor do you need a lot of equipment.
QUESTION: I have property to hunt in Chadds Ford, Pa. My question is, what type of food plot do you suggest for a shady area? — Darren
ANSWER: That’s really tough to answer without a lot more information. In order to give you accurate advice I’d need to k... READ MORE
You Heard What?
By Bob Humphrey
Even if bleach worked for creating salt licks, there are much better things to use. QUESTION: I've heard a couple of people talking about pouring bleach on stumps and creating a salt lick that deer love. Is there any validity to this? I would think the bleach would be harmful to the deer and other wildlife. — Ronny H. ANSWER: I must admit tha... READ MORE
Picky Deer?
By Bob Humphrey
If you’re planting food plots and the deer aren’t using them, try to be different.
QUESTION: I own some marsh land in lower Wisconsin. In the spring, there is standing water but it dissipates as time goes by to being moist. What crops would do best in this marshy soil? I've planted turnips two years in a row but have seen no deer eatin... READ MORE
Hog Wild
By Bob Humphrey
Sandy soil presents enough problems without having to contend with hogs, too.
QUESTION: I have 500 acres that has a lot of sandy soil. I've planted stuff every year, and nothing seems to grow. The other thing is, I have hogs at the feed all the time. I have seen some really good bucks, but they won’t come to the feeder, so I'm trying to plan... READ MORE
Shoot for the Moon
By Bob Humphrey
What’s the scoop on deer movement charts based on moon phase? Do they really work?
QUESTION: I've been hunting for over 50 years and have seen a plethora of writings, discussion and videos on the use of moon phase wheels, gadgets and charts. I understand deer being creatures of habit pattern their behavior according to the moon phase, the ro... READ MORE
How Do You Improve Eden?
By Bob Humphrey
Tennessee couple with promising hunting ground wants to know where to start improving it.
QUESTION: My girlfriend and I purchased 62 acres in north-central Tennessee. The central area of the property is pasture with several 1- to 2-acre cleared spots. We would like to know how to go about putting in food plots before we actually start living there... READ MORE
Beach Buck Confusion
By Bob Humphrey
Is Florida home to three different species of whitetails?
QUESTION: I live in Florida and am hoping to be a better deer hunter. Florida has three subspecies of white-tailed deer. I’m familiar with the Key deer, but what is the difference between the Florida coastal whitetail (O. v. osceola) and the Florida whitetail (O. v. seminolus). &mdash... READ MORE
Scent Ban Stinks!
By Bob Humphrey
Laws banning deer urine lures are not based on science.
QUESTION: The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries just passed a new law for 2015 hunting season. No deer lure with deer urine or any body parts of a deer can be used in Virginia because of CWD. I Just had to throw out my Tink’s #69 because only synthetic lures can be used. ... READ MORE
Rub Line Ruler
By Bob Humphrey
You can't always judge a buck by the size of the rub.
QUESTION: Last hunting season before Christmas, I found some really big rubs between on trees between 4 and 7 inches in diameter. They were in a swampy area in a creek bottom, in standing water and paralleling the edge of the swamp. The rub line seemed like it was a couple hundred yards long. I... READ MORE