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On the Bright Side
By Bob Humphrey
What’s good for deer might not be good for hunters ... and vice-versa. QUESTION: We hunt on private property in the southeast corner of the Texas Panhandle. Last year we had record amounts of rain, and there was so much vegetation the deer did not come to the feeders very often. Now we are in an extreme drought but have been seeing more deer than t... READ MORE
When Growth Kicks In
By Bob Humphrey
Antler characteristics can be determined by a number of factors, including genetics. QUESTION: What causes all of these kickers, especially on the bases? ANSWER: Several things influence the shape, size and configuration of deer antlers, including age, nutrition, genetics and injury. For example, most yearling bucks sport spikes or 4-point racks – ... READ MORE
Another One Bites the Dust
By Bob Humphrey
Here’s yet another long-held belief that new data says is false. QUESTION: This spring I planted brassicas, and so far the deer don’t seem to be eating them. Someone told me they don’t eat them until frost hits and the starches turn to sugar. Is that true? ANSWER: For a long time, it was believed that after a hard frost the starch... READ MORE
Cold Shoulder
By Bob Humphrey
Hunters and biologists don’t always agree on deer behavior. QUESTION: I’ve always heard cold weather gets deer moving, but I recently read an article that disputes that. Is that true that deer don’t move more in the cold?– Daniel B. ANSWER: I’ll start by noting there’s not much in the way of peer-reviewed researc... READ MORE
Elvis Would Be Envious
By Bob Humphrey
Whitetail velvet is one of the most remarkable things in the animal kingdom. QUESTION: I know deer grow velvet on their antlers, but what purpose does it serve? ANSWER: Antlers are a remarkable adaptation and among the fastest growing tissues in the animal kingdom. The velvet serves as a circulatory system to carry blood and nutrients to the growin... READ MORE
Out With the Boys
By Bob Humphrey
Good habitat attracts and holds deer, but there are other factors involved. QUESTION: I have what appears to be two separate does herds on my property but no bachelor group. Can you attract and then hold a bachelor group on a piece of property that has food plots, water, hard mast, soft mast and bedding areas? ANSWER: The short answer is, yes, abso... READ MORE
Stage Fright
By Bob Humphrey
Nighttime food plot activity is normal, especially on larger plots. QUESTION: Is there a way to get the deer to come to food plots during daylight hours? They come to our plots all night long, but I hardly see any during the day. ANSWER: Behaviorally, deer are considered crepuscular, meaning they’re most active at dawn and dusk. The more disturbanc... READ MORE
White Privilege
By Bob Humphrey
Protecting white deer doesn’t make biological sense. But it doesn’t really hurt, either. QUESTION: I recently saw an albino buck and was going to add it to my hit list, but someone told me it’s illegal to shoot a white deer where I live. I’ve heard it’s bad luck, but is there a biological reason to protect them? ANSWER: Protection of albino or pieb... READ MORE
The Eyes Have It
By Bob Humphrey
Well, deer eyes have it. Our’s don’t. QUESTION: This might seem like a dumb question, but I’ve always wondered why a deer’s eyes reflect light at night but humans’ don’t. ANSWER: It’s not a dumb question at all. Deer, like many other mammals, have several adaptations that improve their ability to see in low light. One is a reflective layer of cells... READ MORE
Ticked Off
By Bob Humphrey
There's not much you can do to reduce parasite infestations. QUESTION: Is there anything I can do to help the deer reduce their tick volume. There appears to be a heavy infestation on several does in my area as observed on trail camera photos. Are there any minerals or anything I can add to their supplemental feeding? ANSWER: Unfortunately, there's... READ MORE
It’s What’s for Dinner
By Bob Humphrey
The list of deer predators is long, and the effects vary. QUESTION: I hear talk about how bad coyotes are for deer. We have lots of bears where I live, and I’m wondering how much of an impact they have on deer. ANSWER: While predation on adults is rare, black bears have a healthy appetite for fawns. Research from Pennsylvania has shown they may kil... READ MORE
Jimmy Cracked Corn
By Bob Humphrey
... and deer don’t care. It’s all good to them. QUESTION: What’s better for the deer, whole kernel corn or cracked corn? ANSWER: Yes. I think you could make a case for either one, but there’s no difference nutritionally. Having said that, caution is always advised when providing corn as supplemental feed. Deer have a complex digestive system, and i... READ MORE
Hair Club for Bucks
By Bob Humphrey
The comb-over isn’t going to work on this one. QUESTION: I noticed many times that bare spots (all hair missing, only skin showing) happens to a few bucks. How does this occur? I know it would seem obvious that this happens when bucks fight. However, for skin to be completely bare it is difficult to imagine how cleanly all hair in spots measuring 1... READ MORE
Cracked Plate
By Bob Humphrey
Shedding is usually an easy process, but there are exceptions. QUESTION: I have found several sheds over the years. I sometimes find an antler with part of the skull plate attached. I wanted to know how this affects the buck, and if he will recover from this injury? ANSWER: It depends largely on how much skull material is attached to the antler bas... READ MORE
Early Riser
By Bob Humphrey
You might be surprised at how quickly bucks start growing new antlers. QUESTION: I was out shed hunting in late March and was able to slip up to a group of deer. I noticed one was a buck and I could already see its antlers regrowing. That seemed early. My question is, when do bucks typically start growing antlers? ANSWER: Deer antlers are among the... READ MORE
Blown Cover
By Bob Humphrey
It isn’t just scent that causes deer to “blow.” QUESTION: I had a deer blow at me last year, and I know she wasn’t smelling me. The wind was wrong, plus she was clear across the field. I thought deer only blew if they smelled danger. Is that true?– Mike C. ANSWER: While we don’t know whether it’s a deliberate action or an instinctive reaction, deer... READ MORE
Another Year Older
By Bob Humphrey
There are several ways to have tarsal glands available for luring in bucks. QUESTION: I’ve read several articles about using a buck’s tarsal gland to lure in other bucks. The problem is, we only get one buck here, so when I take a buck, I’m done. Would the tarsal keep in the freezer until the next season? – Ryan L. ANSWER: Short answer: Yes. At the... READ MORE
Tick, Tick, Tick
By Bob Humphrey
No, it’s not “60 Minutes,” it’s your deer hide. QUESTION: Both of the deer I got last year had a ton of ticks on them. Does that have any effect on the meat? And what if I want to keep a hide next time? Is there a good way to kill all the ticks? – George A. ANSWER: It’s not at all uncommon for deer to have ectoparasites like ticks and lice. Unless ... READ MORE
Jive Turkey
By Bob Humphrey
Should you be concerned when turkeys share a food plot with deer?
QUESTION: With the arrival of turkey season, it got me thinking about last fall when turkeys would come into my food plot while I was hunting deer. I didn’t want them there because I was afraid if I blinked at the wrong time, the turkeys would spook and run off all the deer. D... READ MORE
Tall Tail
By Bob Humphrey
Like humans, every deer is an individual with unique traits. QUESTION: I’ve been watching this young buck for a couple months now, and he has the longest tail I’ve ever seen on a whitetail. I live in eastern North Carolina, about 40 miles from the coast. Is this genetics, or is he a freak? ANSWER:Some of this could be explained by posture. The deer... READ MORE