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Know the Lay of the Land
By Ken Piper
How well you know your hunting property goes a long way toward increasing your success as a hunter. Once you've hunted a property for several years in a row, you should start to see patterns in deer movement. If you pay attention, you'll soon realize that the local deer herd will behave almost the same from year to year. Use that information to yo... READ MORE
Only Perfect Practice Makes Perfect
By Ken Piper
Jackie Bushman likes to say that "Practice doesn't make perfect; perfect practice makes perfect." Those are good words to keep in mind as bowhunters get their equipment out for the fast-approaching seasons. If you haven't been shooting for several months, your shooting muscles will be out of shape. Despite common belief, do NOT attempt to get back ... READ MORE
Give a Guy a Gland
By Brian Kightlinger
How much do you know about whitetail scent cues? Over the last decade, I have been making mock scrapes using three essential glands lures. If you understand each gland and its purpose, you can use that knowledge while hunting. The success I have experienced has been astounding! INTERDIGITAL GLAND White-tailed deer have an interdigital gland near t... READ MORE
Double Your Fun
By Ken Piper
Make traditionally unproductive hours count with the help of a friend. Hunting is always more enjoyable with a friend, but it can also be more productive. Let's face it, unless there is some heavy rut activity, there are times during the hunting season when everyone struggles to even see a deer. It's always a good idea to occupy a stand during the ... READ MORE
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
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
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
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
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?
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'
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!
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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