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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
Give Deer More of What They Need
By Bob Humphrey
QUESTION: The deer concession next to me has been clear cut...hardly a tree left. I am thinking/hoping those deer will be coming to my green fields this year. What can I plant that will provide lots and lots of forage for an increase in deer? Do I double plant what I have used? Is there another suggestion? — Bart L.
ANSWER: I can... READ MORE
It’s a Date
By Bob Humphrey
QUESTION: When is the peak of the rut at Dallas-Perry county line in Alabama. — J.P.
ANSWER: We get a lot of questions about when peak rut occurs. While the dates remain consistent from year to year, there can be a high degree of variability geographically, particularly in Southern states like Alabama. As a result, I usually avoid getting to... READ MORE
Yellow Turkey Legs
By Bob Humphrey
QUESTION: In the spring of 2014, I was in Minnesota and shot a wild turkey that had yellow legs. There was a very light pinkish hue to them. What would cause this? Was it a mutation, a released raised bird or a dietary problem? — Craig K.
ANSWER: It’s difficult to say without more information, but any of the causes you listed are possi... READ MORE
Mow ‘Em Down?
By Bob Humphrey
QUESTION: I grow a food plot every year. This year I planted rye, turnips and clover. This is my first experience with turnips, and I need to know if I should mow it. It’s really getting tall, and I need to know if I need to do anything to keep it under control. — Ryan ANSWER: That’s an interesting combination since each plant has... READ MORE
Hunt a Scrape?
By Bob Humphrey
QUESTION: I’ve heard many different ideas about hunting over scrapes. Should you only hunt fresh scrapes? Should you hunt scrapes 2 feet wide or wider only, or should you hunt them only during pre-rut, peak rut or post-rut? Should you hunt where you can physically see the scrape or should you hunt downwind of it back in the woods? Personally,... READ MORE
No Fleas on Me
By Bob Humphrey
QUESTION: I live in Alabama and have noticed ticks on just about every deer harvested, but I never see fleas. Weird? — Kenny L. ANSWER: I must admit I didn’t know the answer to this one, and it wasn’t easy to find. Several studies list common ectoparasites of deer as ticks, chigger mites, keds and both sucking and chewing lice - b... READ MORE
Clover Alternatives
By Bob Humphrey
What can I plant in Sharkey clay that will help stop erosion and is easy to maintain? QUESTION: I have recently placed a pond on my property to help out wildlife during drought conditions in northeast to east-central Louisiana. The soils are Sharkey clay and I am looking for advice on a grass cover planting. I have had success with clover in these ... READ MORE
How to Tell the Age of a Deer
By Bob Humphrey
QUESTION: Last fall I shot my first buck. It had an average rack, but when I looked in its mouth I noticed it didn’t have any front teeth. I suspect it must have been very old. Is there some way to tell how old it was? — Pete C. ANSWER: There is a relatively easy way to tell the approximate age of a deer, but before I tell you, I'll add... READ MORE
Trophy Bucks
By Bob Humphrey
QUESTION: I’ve been saving my pennies and finally decided this is the year I’m going on a guided hunt for trophy whitetails. I haven’t decided on the exact location yet but I’m thinking about somewhere in the midwest. Can you offer any tips on where my best chances might be? — C.J. W., Maryland
ANSWER: Based on nati... READ MORE
Deer Browse
By Bob Humphrey
QUESTION: My friend and I are hoping you can settle a bet. Two years ago one of the areas we hunt was cut for firewood, and the stumps grew a bunch of suckers. This spring we noticed something has been chewing them. I say it’s deer, my friend says rabbits. Is there any way we can tell. — Herman D.
ANSWER: The suckers you’... READ MORE
Spring Scrapes
By Bob Humphrey
QUESTION: While turkey hunting this spring, we came across several places that looked like fresh deer scrapes. My hunting partner says they’re just turkey scratchings, but I deer hunt the same area and there are scrapes in these same locations in the fall. My question is, do deer scrape in the spring too? Why would they do this? — Thoma... READ MORE
How Long Should You Wait?
By Bob Humphrey
QUESTION: Last fall I arrowed a deer in the paunch. We waited about four hours before looking for it, then we jumped it and it ran off. We returned the following day with a dog, and after about six hours eventually found my deer about a half mile away in a creek bed. My question is, how long should you wait before following up on a gut shot? &mdash... READ MORE
Mowing A Clover Plot
By Bob Humphrey
QUESTION: Last year I planted a plot of Imperial Whitetail Clover. It came in really good, but someone told me I should mow it. I’m wondering when the best time to mow is? — K. Nelson, Brewton, Ala.
ANSWER: There are two principle reasons for mowing a clover plot. One is for weed control. The other is to promote growth.
If weeds are... READ MORE
Melanistic Deer
By Bob Humphrey
QUESTION: I shot a melanistic 9-point buck on Nov.15, 2000. He dressed out at 174 pounds. Does anybody track or keep records of such rare animals? — Daniel S.
ANSWER: We get a lot of questions and comments about odd deer, particularly color variations. Even in “normal” deer, pelage (fur color) can be highly variable, ranging fr... READ MORE