Although some subspecies of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) might differ only in subtle facial, body and tail markings and colorations, others might differ greatly in body size. The largest of 38 subspecies include the northern woodland (borealis), Dakota (dacotensis) and northwest (ochrorous) whitetails, which inhabit the northern United States and Canada. These deer stand...
Perhaps you’ve seen a pretty good buck on your property, or maybe you have game camera photos of a true giant that got your heart racing. But is it a young buck with great potential? Or is it a mature buck that could be what you’re looking for? Is it a super buck, either...
Growth of antlers in white-tailed deer, along with elk and moose, is one of the most remarkable things in nature. Consider that from the time a deer’s antlers are shed in late winter, within just a couple of months they’re growing again. Hormonal changes spur the entire process, peaking in late summer when the...
We had a little discussion going during our Mossberg-Swarovski hunting trip at Tall Tine Outfitters in Kansas about whether deer move more or less when temperatures are down around single digits and the wind is howling. The weather affects humans more than animals, of course, at least to a certain point. Even with good...
Let’s take a closer look at what factors cause older, mature bucks — those giant deer we all dream about — to become truly belligerent. By Charles J. Alsheimer In my mind, there are two kinds of white-tailed bucks. Those less than 2½ years old are youngsters and teen-agers, who are trying to find...
As with most mammals, white-tailed deer tend to produce more young than can be expected to survive. Although the reasons vary regionally, a high proportion of fawns born each year fail to survive to weaning age. In some cases, formerly overabundant deer populations have stabilized, if not declined, principally because of recent increases in...
Is moonlight dangerous? It depends on what you are, according to a study published online recently in the Journal of Animal Ecology. “Ecologists have long viewed the darkness of a moonless night as a protective blanket for nocturnal prey species,” said Laura Prugh, a wildlife biologist at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. In the...
A friend who is completely new to deer hunting and is eagerly reading, learning and asking questions of hunters he knows asked me a few weeks ago about mock scrapes. Specifically, he wanted to know what they are and how they work. I had to think of a good, clear and concise explanation. Sometimes...
We get to see some cool and sometimes crazy things in the woods while deer hunting, but it’s not too often that a hunter sees what J.B. Mobley watched a few years ago. Mobley was hunting and saw a buck following a doe. She finally stopped and allowed the giant buck to breed her....
Those aggravating mosquitoes biting in the evening when you’re relaxing in the yard or trying to fish a few hours or the ticks and chiggers that await on the work days at the deer lease are minor aggravations compared to what deer go through. Deer are bugged, quite literally, by critters from spring through...
