Ask The Biologist

Entries for May 2023

Timing Is Everything

Timing Is Everything

By Bob Humphrey

There’s a good reason for hunters to pay attention to when deer do what they do. QUESTION: What are the feeding times of white-tailed deer, and how does knowing these times lead to hunting success? ANSWER: Whitetails can feed 24/7, which is one of several reasons why they can easily out-compete turkeys for food. However, as most hunters will attest... READ MORE

Here and There

Here and There

By Bob Humphrey

Deer, both here and in Europe, can find their family units with no worries. QUESTION: Hello from Slovakia, Europe. While walking in the forest with my dog, we met roe does right in front of us. My dog started chasing one doe maybe 50 meters up the hill and then came back to me. Meanwhile, I heard another doe (maybe more), which was left behind and ... READ MORE

Food Shy

Food Shy

By Bob Humphrey

It’s common for big bucks to avoid feeders and bait sites. QUESTION: I live in Texas, and we run several corn feeders on our lease. We’ve gotten pictures of several nice bucks on the property, but we never see them around the feeders. Are they avoiding them on purpose? Why? ANSWER: It’s impossible to say for certain, but it is possible, and possibl... READ MORE

Light the Way

Light the Way

By Bob Humphrey

If daylight triggers deer behavior, it’s no wonder they sometimes get confused. QUESTION: While turkey hunting this spring, I found several patches of bare ground that looked like scrapes. I know turkeys scratch the ground to feed, but these were single bare patches in places where I’ve found scrapes in the fall, but looked like they were recent. D... READ MORE

My Pronouns Are ...

My Pronouns Are ...

By Bob Humphrey

You might need to tell a buck from a doe, especially in late seasons. QUESTION: Last fall I had around five does 20 yards from my ground blind but was not sure if one of them was a buck that had lost his antlers. Can you help me determine this in the future? ANSWER: There are no certainties, but you can reduce the odds of misidentification with som... READ MORE

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