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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
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