Buckmasters Magazine

Who Needs Does?

Who Needs Does?

By Steve Bartylla

Wrapped in my Heater Body Suit, the cold wasn’t an issue. If it wasn’t for the large oak swaying during the stiff gusts, I might have forgotten the strong mid-November cold front had dipped temperatures into single digits. Everybody knows extreme temperature drops paired with gale force winds put the brakes on rutting activity as th... READ MORE

Never Underestimate the Rut

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

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

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

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?

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

Copyright 2024 by Buckmasters, Ltd.

Copyright 2020 by Buckmasters, Ltd