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Too Many Deauxs
By Bob Humphrey
Don’t believe exaggerated tales about massively skewed doe-to-buck ratios. QUESTION: I live in northern Louisiana. Can you tell me the buck-to-doe ratio where I live? Also, is it okay to take one doe out of the area in the first week in December? — Jimmy S. ANSWER: Without contacting the state wildlife biologist responsible for the area... READ MORE
Hang ‘em High
By Bob Humphrey
The debate continues on whether it’s best to process a deer immediately or to wait. QUESTION: I’m hoping you can settle a debate. How long should I hang my deer? Some people I know say I should skin it and process it right away. Others say the longer it hangs the better. What’s the right answer? — Glenn W. ANSWER: The debate, like what’s the ... READ MORE
Here’s the Rub
By Bob Humphrey
Find rub, set up stand, shoot deer, right? QUESTION: I found some fresh rubs, so I set up a stand nearby. I am very careful about scent control and I hunt the wind, but I have not seen any deer there in a week. What am I doing wrong? — John S. ANSWER: There are at least a dozen possible reasons for why your stand isn’t working out, many of wh... READ MORE
Meep! Meep!
By Bob Humphrey
Just like in the cartoons, coyotes keep coming back for more. QUESTION: We try to remove coyotes whenever possible on our hunt club, but someone suggested we might be doing more harm than good. How can this possibly be? ANSWER:It seems intuitive that removing predators like coyotes would be beneficial to deer, but things are seldom as simple as we ... READ MORE
What’s Up, Doc?
By Bob Humphrey
Deer maladies are tough to diagnose without a hands-on examination. QUESTION: Can you tell me what’s wrong with this deer? — Alex W. ANSWER: That’s a good one. Without actually seeing the deer, the best I can do is offer a few possibilities. The most common reason for lumps or protrusions on deer are fibromas, essentially benign skin tumors. ... READ MORE
When Bucks Attack
By Bob Humphrey
Although rare, whitetails have been known to hurt people. QUESTION: I was in my yard this evening toward dusk and looked down our hill and saw a buck staring at me. I was filling my bird feeders and thought he would run off, but he stood for about 15 minutes just looking at me. I finished what I was doing and went onto my porch, and he just stayed ... READ MORE
Another Deer Disease
By Bob Humphrey
Although whitetails can get this disease, it’s not something to worry about. QUESTION: How common is it for deer to have rabies. I only mention that because I’ve seen two stories about it in a relatively short period of time. — Linda O. ANSWER: I was aware it occurred but had no idea how often until your question prompted me to dig a little d... READ MORE
It’s Not a Tumor!
By Bob Humphrey
Our biologist takes a stab at identifying yet another deer anomoly. QUESTION: What do you think this is? — Jeff M. ANSWER: It’s weird, that’s what it is. I can’t say for sure without putting my hands on it, which I wouldn’t want to do anyway, but I’d say it is very likely a fibroma. Fibromas are essentially exce... READ MORE
Happiness Is a Large Gut Pile
By Bob Humphrey
They do things a little differently in the South, and that includes gutting deer. QUESTION: I am from the Northeast and went down South last year to hunt for the first time. The guys I hunted with told me if I shoot a deer I should drag it out whole and not gut it in the woods. I thought they were pulling my leg at first, but they were serious. The... READ MORE
Saltaholic
By Bob Humphrey
Just like us, deer love salt, but it’s not really beneficial. QUESTION: CWD just expanded into where I live in south-central Pennsylvania. Is it okay to continue offering salt? I don’t want CWD to spread, but feel the deer still need it. I was wondering if offering salt might bring deer together and increase the chances of spreading the... READ MORE
Run for Cover
By Bob Humphrey
Try a masking scent if you’re concerned about getting busted. QUESTION: What are your thoughts on masking scents like EverCalm if you hunt from a ground blind? ANSWER: I think cover scents in general are a good idea, particularly when hunting in a ground blind, where your scent is at ground level. However, it’s important to use the righ... READ MORE
18 Wheels and a Dozen Theories
By Bob Humphrey
The best time to be in the woods is whenever you can get out there. QUESTION: As a Life Member of Buckmasters, I constantly read articles about lunar effect on deer movement and behavior. I have seen articles that emphasize the Lunar Wheel to hit the nail on the head in predicting the best times, the worst times, and the don’t-get-out-of-bed ... READ MORE
Size Matters
By Bob Humphrey
Biologists aren’t exactly sure what antlers are for, but bigger seems to be better. QUESTION: It seems like it takes a lot of energy to grow a new set of antlers each year. Does a buck really gain anything from having bigger antlers? — Brian S. ANSWER: A clue to the answer actually lies within your question. It does indeed take a lot of... READ MORE
Thoughts for Food
By Bob Humphrey
Select a protein feeder type based on your goals; each has advantages. QUESTION: I would like to know how you feel about feeding deer protein at a free-choice feeder verses a time-release system. — Joe S. ANSWER: You haven’t provided quite enough information to give you too much detail on which might be a better option in your situation... READ MORE
Say Cheese!
By Bob Humphrey
Outside of bait, what’s the best way to get deer to stop in front of a trail camera? QUESTION: I hunt state forest lands in Pennsylvania. We are not allowed to bait. What kind of scent products do you recommend to attract deer to my trail cameras to give me an idea of what kind of deer I might expect to see. — Joe R ANSWER: Almost any ... READ MORE
No Plow? No Worries
By Bob Humphrey
No-till food plots can be effective, but they require a little elbow grease. QUESTION: Several friends and I recently purchased a hunting property that is 4 hours from where we live. We plan to go out before season to scout and put up stands, and were also considering establishing a couple quick, no-till food plots. Can you make any recommendations... READ MORE
Got Milk?
By Bob Humphrey
It’s not as strange as you think that does nurse fawns into hunting season. QUESTION: I was bowhunting last October when a doe and fawn came by my stand. I was about to shoot the doe when the fawn came up, and I swear it started to nurse. Isn’t this late in the season? What would the fawn’s chances of survival be if I shot the doe... READ MORE
All in the Family
By Bob Humphrey
Don’t be surprised to see several generations of does together. QUESTION: Last fall while hunting over my food plot, I saw what I believe were the same does almost every night. There was obviously a big doe with three fawns, but there was also another doe that was smaller than the big one but bigger than the fawns. Could these deer be related... READ MORE
Hole in the Horn
By Bob Humphrey
Pockets of air in deer antlers are another strange buck mystery. QUESTION: I know a guy who shot a buck last fall that had a tubular hole in its antler. I’ve also seen pictures of this before. Can you tell me what causes this? ANSWER: Tubular holes or pores in antlers are not all that uncommon, but they often generate a great deal of speculat... READ MORE
It’s a Date!
By Bob Humphrey
Calendar-based baiting law has our biologist stumped. QUESTION: My state just enacted a ban on feeding deer that begins June 1 and ends Dec. 15. I’m a little confused as to why they would do this. Any ideas? — Travis E. ANSWER: It does seem a little strange, and there are multiple possibilities. There are about as many different baiting... READ MORE