Field and Stream - Deer Stands: Choosing and Hanging Tree Stands and Blinds RSS

The 180-Class Pending B&C World Record 8-Point Buck!

Dave_Maccar — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:46:12 -0500

This 8-point buck is a shoe-in for the B&C world record.

The Best Field & Stream Reader Photos From January 2012

Dave_Maccar — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:06:52 -0500

The 50 Best Field & Stream Reader Photos of January.

Giant Illinois Buck Is Potential World-Record 8-Pointer

Sarah Smith — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:11:41 -0500

by Scott Bestul

The term “world-record whitetail” gets tossed around so much these days that it’s easy to ignore. But the buck pictured at left may well be the real deal.

The Best Shotguns of 2012

Dave_Maccar — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:56:43 -0500

These are the best new shotguns of 2012.

The Tale of a 21-Point, 200-Class, Double-Drop Iowa Monster Buck

Online Editors — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:11:41 -0500

The story of a monster 21-point buck from Iowa.

The Best New Rifles of 2012

Dave_Maccar — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 12:41:18 -0500

The Best New Rifles of 2012.

SHOT Show 2012 From The Floor: Day 3

Online Editors — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:48:52 -0500

Photos from the floor of SHOT Show 2012, Day 2.

SHOT Show 2012 From The Floor: Day 2

Dave_Maccar — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:34:22 -0500

Photos from the floor of SHOT Show 2012, Day 2.

SHOT Show 2012 From The Floor: Day I

Dave_Maccar — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 21:48:40 -0500

Photos from the floor of SHOT Show 2012, Day 1.

Can Lyme Disease Threat Lead to Increased Acceptance of Hunting?

Sarah Smith — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 11:14:13 -0500

--Chad Love

Is the threat of Lyme Disease opening the door for more deer hunting opportunity and acceptance?

From this story on boston.com:

Beth Webb knew there was more to her boy’s stiff neck and fever than met the eye, but only when his temperature jumped to 107 degrees and he wound up in a hospital emergency room did she spot the telltale red bull’s-eye of a tick bite on his chest. Then more appeared. “As we were sitting there, bull’s-eyes were just popping up all over his body,’’ Webb said. Her son, Ashton, 7, went home from Newton-Wellesley Hospital with antibiotics and appears to have fully recovered, but the Dover family’s battle with deer ticks - and the Lyme disease they carry - remains in full swing.

Bruce: A Hodgepodge of Rut Action

Dave_Maccar — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:22:22 -0500

Rut Reporter Eric Bruce has been writing about hunting and fishing for newspapers and magazines for 25 years and hunts deer all over the South, including near his Georgia home. States covered: AR, LA, MS, AL, GA, SC, FL.

Things are heating up in some areas of theSouth, others are slow, while others are hoping for just a little action before the season is over.

Typically the rut should be getting cranked in Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi in January. The problem with predictions is that deer herds can vary so much from one county and region to another. Some portions of a state may be experiencing rutting frenzy while others have already had their rut come and go.

In Florida, particularly the panhandle, the deer are in pre-rut while it’s over in some parts of the state. Trevor Fitzgerald operates Southern Arrowhead Outfitters in the Florida panhandle and says that “our deer are in pre rut. They are rubbing and scraping a lot. It won't be long before it kicks off. Here is a picture of one that was killed last week just after he made a rub.”

VT Teacher Suspended 6 Weeks for Allowing a Student to Hunt During School Hours

Sarah Smith — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 10:17:42 -0500

--Chad Love

Here's one that's sure to elicit some interesting discussion: a Vermont teacher has been suspended without pay for six weeks after allowing one of his students to go home, grab his muzzleloader and shoot a deer during school hours.

From this story in the Burlington Free Press:

A St. Albans high school student bagged his deer, but his teacher has been suspended without pay until next month. The school district did not publicize the school-day incident a month ago or its decision to suspend the educator. "...St. Albans police said preliminary reports indicate a group of Northwest Tech students last month were at or near a building trades job site approved by the school when a deer was spotted. It was during muzzle loading season, which ran Dec. 3-11. One student, who lived nearby, was allowed to go to his home and bring back a firearm, Chief Gary Taylor said Monday. The deer was shot dead by the student, the chief said.

The Best Field & Stream Reader Photos From 2011

Dave_Maccar — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 16:15:14 -0500

The 60 best photos submitted by readers in 2011.

Field & Stream's Best Photo Galleries and Blogs of 2011

Dave_Maccar — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 13:53:52 -0500

The 25 best online stories from F&S in 2011.

The Latest in Whitetail News

Sarah Smith — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 12:25:05 -0500

by Dave Hurteau

Today’s roundup leads with three particularly provocative stories.

First, from the Iowa City Gazette, a Cedar Rapids deer hunter’s experience with a lead-poisoned eagle changes his opinion on lead-free ammo. Would it affect yours?

Second, from the Boston Herald, a hunting accident raises a pair of legal questions: Should Massachusetts’s law (a) require hunters to gain permission before hunting private property, and (b) clearly identify their target before shooting. What do you think?

Deer Antlers Key to Curing Osteoporosis?

Sarah Smith — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 09:28:35 -0500

by Scott Bestul

Whitetail nuts aren’t the only ones fascinated by deer antlers these days. Spanish researchers digging into the causes of osteoporosis feel deer antlers can provide a clue to the cause of the degenerative bone disease that afflicts millions, particularly older women. This recent news release summarizes the work of researchers at the University of Castilla-La Mancha (UCLM), who studied an outbreak of antler breakage among deer in 2005.

Traditionally, osteoporosis has been linked to a calcium deficiency in the sufferer, but when scientists studied weak-antlered deer they found the animals were lacking in manganese, a mineral considered essential to calcium absorption. Apparently the winter of ’05 was intensely cold, which caused plants to reduce their normal concentrations of manganese. The deficiency was passed right on to the deer that fed on the plants, and led to the outbreak of broken antlers.

Poll: Where Do You Aim at a Broadside Buck?

Sarah Smith — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 13:30:05 -0500

by Dave Hurteau

You are carrying a gun (centerfire rifle, muzzleloader, shotgun) loaded to fire a projectile plenty large and powerful enough to stop any whitetail (.270, .50 caliber, 12-gauge slug). All else being equal, where would you aim at this broadside buck?

A. Neck (Green)

B. Shoulder (Red)

C. Behind the shoulder crease (Blue)

D. Other (Black)

The Best Field & Stream Reader Photos From December 2011

Dave_Maccar — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 09:44:10 -0500

The 50 Best Field & Stream Reader Photos of December.

First Shots Photo Collection

Online Editors — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 10:59:48 -0500

A collection of jaw-dropping hunting and fishing photos from Field & Stream's "First Shots" magazine section.

Potential Record-Breaking Typical Taken in Illinois

Sarah Smith — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 14:52:46 -0500

by Dave Hurteau

Scoring and Restoring Your Rack: Reader Tips Welcome

Sarah Smith — Fri, 23 Dec 2011 12:35:53 -0500

by Scott Bestul

This image was submitted by Field & Stream reader Anthony Cox, who found this tremendous skull while assisting on a Wounded Warrior hunt held at Camp Atterbury in Indiana.

Cox feels the skull is that of a giant non-typical that had been seen on the Camp in previous seasons. He wrote to ask us for help scoring the rack and tips on restoring the skull to a presentable condition for display.

Scoring a non-typical as funky as this is a challenge to say the least, but I’ll take a wild stab and say there’s 255 inches of total antler there. Okay, now it's your turn: Give Anthony your best guess on a gross B&C score. Anthony, if you need a more accurate score, I suggest you call a certified measurer in your area. They’re all listed in a handy reference page on the B&C site.

Bleech: A Difference in Buck Behavior

Dave_Maccar — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 13:24:56 -0500

Northeast Rut Reporter Mike Bleech has been hunting whitetails in his native Pennsylvania and throughout the Northeast for more than four decades. A Vietnam veteran and full-time freelance outdoor writer, Bleech has had more than 5000 of his articles published. States covered: ME, NH, VT, MA, RI, CT, NY, NJ, PA OH, MD, DE.

Dan Stimmell, who lives in northwest Pennsylvania within a few miles of the New York border, finished off his deer season in fine style.

Coincidentally, he has been my friend longer than anyone else. (Here’s how long, and how the world has changed: Stimmel once brought a .22 revolver, with ammunition, to school show and tell when we were in 5th grade.)

Stimmell took a 6-point buck while hunting in New York. That was back on November 19, while hunting in Chautauqua County.

Then this Wednesday he collected a 9-point buck while hunting on his farm, in Warren County, to fill his Pennsylvania tag. Walking within sight of his barn he spotted a deer. It was a modest buck with about six points. He was denied a shot, though, because while he was taking a better look at the buck with his binoculars it moved into thick cover. Then with his peripheral vision he caught movement. Coming along behind the 6-point was the 9-point shown here being dragged by Stimmell.

How to Tell Good Acorns—And Pick The Right Tree To Hunt Near

Dave_Maccar — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 12:23:29 -0500

by Dave Hurteau

You need to know who to steal from, goes the saying (even though it should go “whom to steal from”), and for this video I have stolen a tip outright from Bestul, who stole it from a logger buddy of his. When you’re hunting an area with lots of oaks and you need to figure out which trees the deer are feeding under, make sure to keep a sharp eye out for acorns that do not have their caps. It’s something a lot of hunters overlook but shouldn’t. Acorns that fall with caps often have rotten or punky flesh; those that fall without caps typically have fine, firm flesh and are therefore preferred by the deer.

The 75 Best Field & Stream Reader Photos From November 2011

Dave_Maccar — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 10:13:59 -0500

The 50 Best Field & Stream Reader Photos of October.

Oldies But Goodies: 85-Year-Old Hunter Still Uses Gear from the 1940's

Sarah Smith — Thu, 01 Dec 2011 13:28:39 -0500

--Chad Love

Are you a gadgeteer, an early adopter or a fan of the latest, the greatest, the coolest or the newly-improved? Does your garage resemble the bargain cave at a Cabela's store?

Are you constantly buying, trying and then casting aside every new piece of gear or the latest super-duper, high-tech camo pattern that comes down the pike? Then maybe you could learn a thing or two from Bernard Baxter.

From this story in the (Iona County, Mich.) Sentinel-Standard:

Bernard Baxter, 85, has shot almost as many deer as the number of years he has been hunting. This year on Nov. 16, using his trusty Remington 16-gauge, three-shot automatic shotgun, he shot his 55th, a six point buck.