|
|
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
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
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
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?
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
Short and Sweet
By Ken Piper
Smaller bows are easier to hunt with, but there are some drawbacks. Short bows are all the rage, and bow manufacturers have been quick to supply bows to meet the demand. While the manufacturers have made incredible advances and created bows that hold their speed and functionality, short-bow shooters should know that there is a price for having... READ MORE
Reel ‘Em In
By Ken Piper
Think like a fisherman to find your next buck. Statistics say 70% of deer hunters spend at least some time fishing. Interestingly, bucks and bass are very much alike in how they relate to their environment. One of the first things bass fishermen learn is to look for underwater structure – changes in the lake bottom that dictate fish movement.... READ MORE
Nothing Is Something
By Ken Piper
You won’t have success with scent attractants without scent-elimination. Back when he worked for Tink’s, hunting celebrity Terry Rohm was asked by the Realtree team what advice he would give to folks about using scents. His answer might surprise you: “The first thing to do is get rid of your own scent," he said. It’s si... READ MORE
Tale of the Tape
By Ken Piper
Single-pin sights need a good tape for dead-on accuracy. The Tip of the Week isn’t about endorsing products, but I can’t help mentioning some product names this week. The information, however, applies to similar products, so you can use it with other brands than the ones I mention. So, with that caveat aside, here goes: It’s start... READ MORE
Hot on the Trail
By Ken Piper
Tracking wounded deer is a skill you can improve with practice. I enjoy tracking deer. It's not as fun when a deer you've shot presents a difficult trail, but I've become a much better tracker by volunteering to help track others' bucks. With less anxiety involved in tracking for someone else, you're free to keep calm and learn more from the experi... READ MORE
Feelin' Squirrely
By Ken Piper
Annual event reminds us that shooting is a year-round activity. And, it's FUN! The 2022 Squirrel Master Classic is happening right now in Hayneville, Alabama, bringing to mind some of my earliest hunting memories. Although my squirrel hunting took place on mountainous public lands of Pennsylvania, the relaxed, social nature of squirrel hunting is a... READ MORE
Organization Pays
By Ken Piper
Packs are made to organize your gear, but they sometimes need a little help. We all have different ways to doing things, as well as our own set of preferences when it comes to how we hunt and the gear we use. One thing that seems universal is the more organized you are, the better you can handle the curveballs the hunting gods inevitably throw your... READ MORE
It's Never Over
By Ken Piper
The end of the hunting season doesn't mean an end to hunting preparation. Deer season just ended here in Alabama yesterday, and while that's later than most of the rest of the country, it brings to mind a few considerations. First, hunting season might be over, but the weeks immediately following its closure are at least as important as the weeks l... READ MORE