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Comfort Starts at Your Feet
By Ken Piper
Install a footrest on your favorite stand to make it even more lovable. The more time you put in a treestand, the more you become aware of the aches, pains and stiffness that comes with sitting immobile for hours on end (those of you in your 20s and 30s will know what we’re talking about in a few more years). There is one small add-on that do... READ MORE
Say No to Sweat
By Ken Piper
Go slowly and carry your insulated clothes in a dry bag. The key to being comfortable in a deer stand in cold weather is wearing good-quality, well-insulated clothing. The right clothes will help you stay in the stand longer and make your hunt much more enjoyable. Unfortunately, those same clothes will make you sweat during the walk in to your stan... READ MORE
The Calm Before the Storm
By Ken Piper
The last 30 minutes before shooting light can be the key to a morning hunt.
Most deer hunters know it’s beneficial to get settled into a morning stand early. Even so, most of us try to get every minute of sleep possible, which means we often cut it close.
On those occasions when you find yourself running a little late, we recommend making a... READ MORE
Better Late Than Never
By Ken Piper
You can still tag a buck after the rut if you know where to look. We all want to hunt bucks during the rut. It’s just plain fun! The bucks are on the move; they respond to scents, calls and rattles; and you’re likely to see deer you never even knew existed. As exciting as the rut is, late seasons have some big advantages over the rut, a... READ MORE
Stop, Look and Listen
By Ken Piper
Don’t let the excitement of the moment take your focus off the deer. We all put a lot of preparation into having our equipment sighted in and ready. We have done a great job of educating one another about the importance of making a good, clean shot. What happens immediately afterward can be vitally important, too. While your heart might be pu... READ MORE
Open Wide
By Ken Piper
You can tell quite a bit about a deer’s age by examining its teeth. Whether you’re starting a management program or just want to know more about deer, determining a buck’s age is a great starting point. The good news is it’s easy and extremely accurate to tell if a buck is a fawn or a 1.5-year-old. It’s also easy and a... READ MORE
Food for Thought
By Ken Piper
The quickest way to a buck is through his stomach. Deer hunting might not be easy, but we hunters tend to complicate it more than we should. Whitetails are pretty simple creatures. They want food and water, shelter and, occasionally, love. While we often focus on the love aspect, it’s actually food that drives all other considerations. If you... READ MORE
Sweet Somethings
By Ken Piper
There are subtleties that make stopping a deer work perfectly or fail miserably. It’s always better to shoot at a stationary target. Unfortunately, whitetails don’t often remain still for very long. Mouth-grunting is the standard tactic we use to stop a walking deer, but there are nuances to it that can make or break your shot opportuni... READ MORE
Go Low
By Ken Piper
It feels good to aim at center mass, but lower is better. Bow or gun, a big majority of deer misses go high. Gun hunters often jerk on the trigger, pulling the barrel up, while bowhunters fall victim to deer reacting to the sound of the bow. While this reaction is called jumping the string or ducking the string, it’s really just the deer bend... READ MORE
Keep It Cool
By Ken Piper
Great-tasting venison starts with cooling and protecting the meat. One of the keys to ensuring your venison tastes as fantastic as it should is cooling the meat as quickly as possible. Even if outside temperatures aren’t in the 70s or 80s, it’s important to get the meat chilled quickly. Cooling the meat starts with field-dressing. Get i... READ MORE