Tips & Tactics

Save a Buck

Save a Buck

By Ken Piper

Take your time to evaluate your target when hunting for meat or to balance ratios. Deer hunters are becoming more aware of the need to keep buck-to-doe ratios in proper balance, and in most places that means targeting does for harvest. Many states are extending seasons for does or even creating new hunting opportunities for antlerless deer. With th... READ MORE

The Mystery of Treestand Shots

The Mystery of Treestand Shots

By Ken Piper

Today’s bows take the fudge out of the fudge factor of elevated shots. Hang around any bow shop long enough and eventually you will hear two shooters arguing over whether or not shooting from an elevated position causes you to shoot high. The answer to that question is, of course, Yes and No. There are several reasons archers shoot high,... READ MORE

Cure for Buck Fever

Cure for Buck Fever

By Ken Piper

It doesn’t take a vaccine to get over this malady, but it isn’t easy, either. It’s normal to get excited when you see a big buck (or any deer for that matter). But when a shooter comes along, you can’t let that excitement turn into buck fever. Once you’ve decided to take a shot, don’t spend time counting points, ... READ MORE

Scent Control Is a System

Scent Control Is a System

By Ken Piper

Nothing can guarantee you won’t spook deer, but you have to try. Although we tend to underestimate their eyes, there's no question sense of smell is the whitetail’s number one defense. If we all know that, then why do we get busted so often? The answer has many layers, but for starters their noses are just that good. Next, you can never... READ MORE

Nothin’ Like the Real Thing

Nothin’ Like the Real Thing

By Ken Piper

You really do have to shoot your broadheads before heading afield. Last week we talked about how fletching affects the spin and stabilization of an arrow. While a well-tuned bow will shoot just about any broadhead well, it’s generally accepted that fixed-blade broadheads require more steering and stabilization from the fletching. The reason i... READ MORE

Left or Right?

Left or Right?

By Ken Piper

No, this is not a political tip. It’s all about your arrow fletching! Fletching your own arrows lets you add a personal touch to your setup, and it saves money. It also eliminates a lot of the frustration that comes from shooting arrows with nicked, torn or missing fletchings. Fletching is easy, especially if you purchase one of the many... READ MORE

Topo of the Mornin'

Topo of the Mornin'

By Ken Piper

Maps are your best friend when you're about to tackle new ground. Magazine articles about hunting new ground always mention the importance of using topographic maps to help cut down scouting time, but most don't tell you exactly what you're looking for. If you're looking at a paper topo, or one in a hunting app, look for ridge lines (deer often par... READ MORE

Stand Prep Starts Now!

Stand Prep Starts Now!

By Ken Piper

Although it doesn't feel anything like hunting season outside, now is the time to begin the real work that will lead to success in the fall. It's not too early to begin clearing brush and shooting lanes for existing stand sites, and it's definitely time to prepare new ones for hunting. Now is the time to put to use the information you gathered last... READ MORE

Keep It Cool

Keep It Cool

By Ken Piper

Heat and deer meat don't play well together. Here in the South as I write this, we're experiencing a nasty heat wave complete with safety notices and warnings about outdoor activities. Cooler weather and deer season are two good reasons to look forward to fall. Unfortunately, the temps won't be falling as much as we might like, especially for the f... READ MORE

Rope a Step

Rope a Step

By Ken Piper

Start your tree sticks higher by using this nearly weightless rope hack. This week we're following up on our previous tip about using Amsteel rope for tree step attachment. Amsteel has a ton of applications, but one simple trick anyone can use to extend the height capability of their tree sticks is to create (or purchase) an Amsteel bottom loop ste... READ MORE

Steppin' Up

Steppin' Up

By Ken Piper

Tree steps are the go-to system for running-and-gunning. When installed and used properly, tree steps are a safe, highly portable and effective means of ascending a tree to set up and access lock-on style stands. While a set of steps and a lock-on aren't any lighter to carry than a climbing stand, the ability to use them on almost any tree makes th... READ MORE

Looking Up

Looking Up

By Ken Piper

It's hard to stop a camera thief, but you don't have to make it easy. We would agree with critics who say deer hunters are becoming too reliant on trail cameras. Scouting is more than knowing that a buck cruises through a particular area. On the other hand, you're really missing out if you aren't using trail cameras as part of your hunting and scou... READ MORE

Big Bucks Hide in Small Places

Big Bucks Hide in Small Places

By Ken Piper

Most hunters tend to think you have to go deep in the woods to find a big buck – deeper than anyone else is likely to go. That just feels right, doesn’t it? It’s true bucks respond to pressure, and it’s also true they often move to locations where with less pressure. Those locations aren’t always what we picture in our... READ MORE

Know Before You Mow

Know Before You Mow

By Ken Piper

Habitat improvement projects are arguably the most powerful yet underutilized tool for growing healthier deer and holding them on your property. You can accomplish great gains with little more that sweat equity and a chainsaw. That said, now isn't the best time to create large disturbances on your hunting land. Yes, the weather might be perfect, an... READ MORE

Have a Heart

Have a Heart

By Ken Piper

Don’t waste this excellent source of pure meat. I use the long disposable gloves that go up to your elbows for field dressing deer, and I like to save the heart. When I’m finished gutting, I grab the heart with the gloves on and turn that glove inside out right over the heart. It’s now in a bag with five fingers so I can tie it of... READ MORE

Tarsal To Go

Tarsal To Go

By Ken Piper

Pull bucks to you by using their No. 1 defense against them. When you think about how many options a whitetail has while traversing a particular woodlot, it’s a wonder we ever see any from a treestand. Fortunately for us, deer tend to stick to established trails, making them at least a little predictable. Even so, there’s a bit of luck ... READ MORE

Follow the Food

Follow the Food

By Ken Piper

The key to every whitetail’s heart is its stomach. Did you know whitetails eat between 6% and 8% of their body weight in vegetation every day? For an average buck, that’s about 10-14 pounds of greenery! It’s also why deer always seem to be eating, even when they’re on the move. Many times we sit in stands overlooking a food ... READ MORE

Time for Maps and Apps

Time for Maps and Apps

By Ken Piper

Take advantage of turkey seasons to get a jump on next fall. Some of the best scouting opportunities occur immediately after deer seasons end, but it's difficult to get motivated to go to the woods for nothing but scouting right after a long, hard-fought season. You could rest up a few weeks and then go scouting, but, especially in regions with h... READ MORE

There’s a Pattern Here

There’s a Pattern Here

By Ken Piper

It’s critical to pattern your turkey gun, but you don’t want a rifle! Patterning a turkey gun is every bit as important as patterning a deer rifle. Chokes, turkey loads and shotguns continue to get better, producing tighter patterns every year. As much as you might like having a tight-patterning turkey gun, don’t forget that the t... READ MORE

How Low Can You Go?

How Low Can You Go?

By Ken Piper

The best treestand height is the lowest point that allows you to shoot. One of the most common questions we receive at Buckmasters is, “How high do I need to climb in order to go undetected by deer?” The answer, which is different for every stand site, is as low as you can go and still get off a shot. Simply put, climbing into trees is ... READ MORE

Copyright 2024 by Buckmasters, Ltd.

Copyright 2020 by Buckmasters, Ltd