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Never Underestimate the Rut
By P.J. Reilly
Some things in life are guaranteed.
The sun will rise and set every day.
Death will take us all.
The whitetail rut will occur around the same time of year — regardless of the weather.
El Nino reared its ugly head in early November 2015 around my home in southeast Pennsylvania. It was ungodly hot, with daytime highs in the mid 70... READ MORE
Molly’s Senior Trip
By Russell Thornberry
If I said Molly Darnell was an unconventional young lady, that would be an understatement. She’s a country girl through and through. She loves animals and has had pet pigs, deer and turkeys, just to name a few of her critters.
Molly was born into a family of serious hunters. For her father, Dale, and three brothers, Wes, Rush and Reese, l... READ MORE
Big Woods Bucks
By Darron McDougal
The timber giant’s sudden appearance along the edge of a year-old clearcut interrupted the serene December evening.
“I hadn’t seen the buck previously,” Jeff Aulik, a whitetail expert from Wisconsin, recalled. “My shot was well placed, and when I backtracked him through the snow, I found he’d been following m... READ MORE
Hunt, Eat, Sleep, Repeat
By Steve Bartylla
It was the highlight of my hunting life. I’d taken my oldest daughter Beth with me a few times every year since she was 6, but we’d never connected on a buck together. Now I was sure it was finally going to happen.
Part of my optimism was because my client and friend Donal Barry Jr. offered up his ground. Having managed it for three... READ MORE
He Went Where?
By Ed Waite
Working outdoors clearing power line right-of-ways can be exhausting, but it has its perks, too — like getting to see a lot of wildlife and potential hunting property.
Late in the summer of 2014, Brice Jenny was on the job in north-central Pennsylvania when he saw a buck crossing an open field.
“He was really big even then, but ... READ MORE
Does Age Matter?
By Bob Humphrey
Through dense fog that had waxed and waned all morning, I noticed what at first was just a vague shape. I could tell by the way it moved he was a buck, probably an older one. He walked along slowly, deliberately, as with an objective that would come at a time and place of his choosing.
First, the fog gradually revealed a square body, then a tal... READ MORE
12th Hour Buck
By P.J. Reilly
The Pittsburgh Steelers were losing 7-6 to the Oakland Raiders in a 1972 playoff game with just 22 seconds left on the clock. It was fourth and 10 — the Steelers’ last chance to make something happen — when quarterback Terry Bradshaw heaved a pass that bounced off two colliding players and fell into the hands of legendary running ... READ MORE
Third Time’s the Charm
By Ed Waite
It was bitterly cold during the 2013 Ohio late muzzleloader season, but Scott Beam was determined to sit tight until dark. Hunting from a ground blind on his 75-acre farm in the west-central portion of the Buckeye State, Scott was sheltered from the wind. But it was the kind of cold that didn’t need wind to make a hunter miserable.
&ldquo... READ MORE
When Opportunity Knocks
By P.J. Reilly
Sometime in late September or early October, the three lonely persimmon trees on the east side of the Maryland property I hunt are going to start dropping fruit. When they do, I will be in the stand I hung 10 yards away.
They seem to come from miles to scoop up those juicy persimmons. They’re like kids devouring Halloween candy because th... READ MORE
Next Season Starts Now
By Buckmasters
As the current hunting season comes to a close, dedicated hunters shift their focus from the pursuit of a kill to the strategic preparation for the next season. Successful hunters understand that the key to a successful season lies not only in the knowledge of the terrain but also in decoding the subtle language left behind by deer – their ru... READ MORE
The Decline in Turkey Population
By Buckmasters
If you are an avid turkey hunter and have been chasing turkeys for a long period of time, it is no secret that the turkey population has taken a serious decline... The last 10-15 years there has been a noticeable decline in the population, and we might just have the answer to why this is…
Why?
Turkeys, without a doubt, do not have the ... READ MORE
Proper Stand Placement
By Buckmasters
Whitetail hunting demands a strategic approach, and one key element that can make or break your hunting experience is the setup of your treestands. The ability to access your treestand quickly and quietly can be the difference between a successful hunt and a missed opportunity. In this article, we'll explore tips and techniques to ensure you set up... READ MORE
Whitetails Daily Diet
By Buckmasters
Imagine being a whitetail and living in the wild as a herbivore. A whitetail’s day-to-day goal is to simply survive. A key aspect of that survival and overall well-being is their daily diet. A carefully curated selection of plants and foliage that sustains them through changing seasons. Understanding the day-to-day dietary habits of whitetail... READ MORE
Preserving America's Outdoor Heritage
By Buckmasters
The Outdoor Stewards of Conservation Foundation (OSCF) plays a pivotal role in sustaining America's rich outdoor heritage through the support of an often-overlooked group: Hunters, Anglers, Trappers, and Shooters (HATS). With approximately 60 million active participants, this community contributes a staggering $3.6 billion annually, making them the... READ MORE
Pros and Cons of Using Scents
By Cody Hall
As avid hunters dedicated to the pursuit of the ultimate buck, we understand the importance of employing various strategies to enhance our chances in the field. One such strategy that often sparks debate among hunters is the use of deer scent attractants. In this newsletter, we aim to explore the pros and cons of incorporating these attractants int... READ MORE
With Trapping Season in Full Swing
By Buckmasters
With trapping season in full swing, I think it’s a good time to talk about some of the myths of trapping. I (along with many other trappers) often get criticized about this practice being “unethical”, “inhumane”, and “causing pain to the animals”, among other accusations. So, here's the truth about trapping... READ MORE
What is the Interdigital Gland in Whitetail Deer?
By Buckmasters
Whitetail deer, the graceful icons of North America's woodlands, are full of intriguing mysteries waiting to be unraveled. Among these enigmatic features is the interdigital gland, nestled between their hooves. This small but vital gland plays a crucial role in a whitetail deer's life, from communication to marking territories. In this article, we ... READ MORE
Navigating the Future of Deer Recovery: Answering The Top Questions
By Buckmasters
Navigating the Future of Deer Recovery: Answering The Top Questions
In the world of deer hunting, we're witnessing a transformative era where technology and tradition intertwine. Drone Deer Recovery is at the pinnacle of this exciting evolution, shedding new light on the recovery portion after the hunt. But naturally, we’ve gotten tons of ... READ MORE
The Kings of Mitylene
By Patrick Dunning
MONTGOMERY, Ala.
Jackie Bushman has chased deer with quite a bit of success in Canada, Mexico and close to 40 U.S. states over the last 40 years, and still believes south Alabama whitetails are in a league of its own.
Hunting leases tie up virtually every square foot of timberland in Alabama, and all 200,000-plus state-licen... READ MORE
It’s Finally Come to This
By Russell Thornberry
“When do I get to shoot a big deer?” she asked. That question was posed, as it had been every year, by my wife Sharleen. And it’s not an easy question to answer if you’re in charge of making that happen.
You see, Sharleen is a busy woman who doesn’t have time to hunt hard every day.
What’s more, she doesn&r... READ MORE