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Food Plots with a Purpose
By David Hart
Do you want to grow bigger deer or attract them for hunting? When Ray Scott started the Whitetail Institute in 1988, he sold a single product: white clover. Although Scott, better-known as the founder of BASS at the time, was interested in the nutritional value of clover, few hunters gave it much thought. They just wanted something that would draw ... READ MORE
Rainy Days and Mondays ...
By Rick Balzer
Don’t always have to get you down. My father introduced me to hunting when I was 10. He put an Ithaca single-shot 20 gauge (which I still own) in my hands and showed me the proper way to handle, respect and shoot a gun. He started my brothers and me on rabbits, and it didn’t take long for us to share his love of hunting. I took to the c... READ MORE
The Outside-In Approach
By Steve Bartylla
How to hunt the entire season without burning out your best stands. My bow was still hanging from the pull-up rope when I spotted a 151-inch 12-pointer trotting down the ridge. When the buck paused at a mock scrape I had created for just that purpose, it gave me the few precious extra seconds I needed. I unhooked the rope as fast as I could, draped... READ MORE
Setting Stands
By Bob Humphrey
How and where to place your stands for a variety of conditions. What is a deer stand? It can be as simple as a moss-covered stump overlooking an opening in the forest, or it can be a mechanical contraption engineered to elevate the hunter to whatever height he deems suitable. It might even be an enclosed room, outfitted with all the creature comfor... READ MORE
All in a Day’s Work
By Jim Walls
Awesome buck gives new meaning to the Eastern Shore’s scenic nickname. I’ve been an avid hunter and outdoor enthusiast for as long as I can remember. Now in my 50s with a full-time job, I don’t have as much time afield as I would like. When I do get the opportunity to hunt, I try to make the most of the experience. Through the yea... READ MORE
They Call it Buck Fever
By Carla Schartz
It’s one thing to see this malady on TV. It’s quite another to feel it first-hand. "Yes! Yes!” These two words, followed by a fist pump and a high five, have bounced around in my head for the past two years, ever since the day my husband introduced me to what is now a passion, bowhunting. Lance is a mailman and I’m a teacher... READ MORE
The Perfect Morning
By Glenn Evans
Illinois bowhunter waits for just the right day to hunt his favorite stand. I had waited two weeks for the weatherman to tell me the wind would be right to hunt my favorite stand. It was a cold November morning with temperatures in the mid-20s and a northwest wind of about 10 mph. I knew I had to be in the stand. I was able to juggle my schedule fo... READ MORE
Bassin’ for Bucks
By Kathy Etling
These tournament fishing pros know a thing or two about taking whitetails. KEVIN VanDAM Age: 44 Home base: Kalamazoo, Mich. Former occupation: tackle and boat salesman Years as a pro: 22 Tournament earnings: nearly $6 million Notable achievements: four-time winner of the Bassmaster Classic; seven-time BASS Angler of t... READ MORE
Does Matter
By Bob Humphrey
If your objective is a buck, you should spend more time scouting does. Where are you going tomorrow?” my son asked, partly curious about my plan and partly disappointed that he wouldn’t be able to join me because of school. “Back to the bog,” I replied. “Why?” he continued. “We’ve seen nothing but doe... READ MORE
Climbers vs. Hang-Ons
By P.J. Reilly
Which type of treestand do the pros prefer? Paper or plastic? Bow or gun? Ford or Chevy? Variety is the spice of life, they say, but any time you have variety, you’re going to have differing opinions. In the world of deer hunting, one tastes great/less filling argument you’re sure to hear in most camps revolves around treestands. Which ... READ MORE
Every Deer, Every Time
By David Hart
Follow this expert tracker’s advice to increase your recovery rate. As a guide and operations manager for Hadley Creek Outfitters, part of Jared Heller’s job entails finding bucks shot by his hunters. In the 13 years he’s worked for the Illinois outfitter, Heller has tracked hundreds of deer. While most of them are easy to find, s... READ MORE
Here’s Your Sign
By David Hart
Because we've all done dumb things in the deer woods. What is it about whitetails that turns ordinarily smart folks into bumbling idiots? Maybe it’s a giant buck caught on a trail camera or just the urge to get off the pavement and into the woods in a hurry. Whatever the reason, we leave common sense (and toilet paper) behind and do things ou... READ MORE
Smile for the Camera
By Bob Humphrey
The bucks might not be grinning, but you will if you follow this trail camera advice. There’s an inverse correlation between scouting time and hunting time. The more hours you devote to scouting, the less you should have to spend hunting. But first-hand observation provides limited results. Sign, like tracks, scat, scrapes and rubs tells you ... READ MORE
The Bonus Point Buck
By Eric Sponable
Indiana bowhunter has the cure for this 8-pointer’s headache. I decided to take vacation for the last week of Indiana’s regular archery season. I had other obligations, including the care of my 6-month-old son Drake, but I was dreaming of five quality days in the woods Nov. 7 through 11. I started by hunting a piece of public land I had... READ MORE
Bucket List Checkoff
By Bob Humphrey
If you get a chance, hunt in Iowa at least once before you die. Ready to concede another day, I paused to take one last look before packing up my gear and heading to the truck. I’d been watching deer feeding feverishly across an immense cut cornfield for the better part of two hours but hadn’t seen a buck large enough to quicken my puls... READ MORE