Field and Stream - Trophy Bucks 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.

Boone & Crockett: Whitetail Record Entries Have Increased 400% In Past 3 Decades

Online Editors — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 13:12:38 -0500

by Scott Bestul

I grew up hunting deer in Wisconsin. I distinctly remember how much I yearned to take a trophy buck. And while I occasionally pine for the hunts of my youth, the truth is that my odds of tagging a wall-hanger are far better now than they ever were when I got my start in the 1970s.

According to a recent press release by the Boone and Crockett Club, whitetail entries in the B&C book have skyrocketed in recent years, rising some 400 percent across whitetail range in the past three decades. And some states, Wisconsin in particular, have made incredible jumps. Badger State hunters registered 40 bucks in the B&C book from 1980-85. That number soared to 383 animals from 2005-2010, an increase of 857 percent! Illinois’ jump for that same time period is even higher at 896 percent. And Ontario went from a single deer during the 1980-85 period to 41 from 2005-10—an incredible 4,000 percent gain!

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.

Bizarre Buck: Maryland Hunter Tags 23-Pointer With Brain Abscess, Hollow Antler

Online Editors — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 10:54:46 -0500

This bizarre buck had a hollow antler due to a brain infection.

Post-Season Bachelor Party

Online Editors — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:04:24 -0500

by Scott Bestul

The deer season has been closed here in Minnesota for about a month, but I can’t keep from snooping around the timber, even if it’s just for a 10-minute walk. It was on such a jaunt last week that I discovered the unmistakable sign of a buck working some scrapes. So I ran back to the house, grabbed a trail camera and mounted it so it overlooked the pawing in the snow.

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.

Boy, 10, Tags Louisiana 18-Pointer On Solo Hunt

Sarah Smith — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:33:12 -0500

--Chad Love

Here's a story about a ten-year-old Louisiana boy who tagged a massive, 18-point buck earlier this month. On the face of it, it seems to be one of the typical "boy kills monster buck" stories we see every season.

You know, the kind of story that causes you to wail and gnash your teeth as the black bile of envy rises up in your throat. But this one has an unusual twist in that this ten-year-old boy did it all by himself.

From this story on thetowntalk.com:

Ten-year-old Jack Dekeyzer is an accomplished deer hunter, not to mention being mature for his age. Therefore, his father Peter Dekeyzer was OK with letting his son make his first solo hunt on family property in early January. "Jack has been hunting with me for several years now and has already killed four does and little bitty 'hill' deer that had 9 points with a 10-inch spread. So, when he asked if he could hunt by himself, I really didn't give it a second thought," the elder Dekeyzer said.

Indiana Bill Would Officially Legalize High-Fence Hunting

Sarah Smith — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 10:22:07 -0500

--Chad Love

A bill making its way through the Indiana legislature would make Hoosier State high-fence hunting officially legal. As it stands now, high-fence hunting isn't technically legal, but it's not really illegal, either. The bill seeks to clear that up.

From this story in the Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette:

Hunting preserves in which people pay thousands to shoot deer behind high fences would be legal under a bill that passed 8-4 Tuesday out of the House Natural Resources Committee. House Bill 1265 would legitimize four existing captive hunting sites in the state – including one in Kosciusko County – as well as open up the practice for new operators following specific guidelines.

The Best New Rifles of 2012

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

The Best New Rifles of 2012.

Should Celeb Hunters Get Preferential Treatment In Iowa?

Sarah Smith — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:21:35 -0500

--Chad Love

Should the state of Iowa continue giving "celebrity" deer hunters special treatment every year by giving them tags even as thousands of peon un-celebrity hunters are forced to wait years for the shot at an out-of-state deer tag? Some people don't think so.

From this story in the Des Moines Register:

A program that gives celebrities a chance to immediately hunt deer in Iowa while other out-of-staters wait an average of three years for the privilege is drawing pot shots from within and outside of Iowa. The likes of former pro athlete Bo Jackson, comedian Jeff Foxworthy and rocker Ted Nugent have hunted in Iowa under special licenses the state has set aside for them since the late 1990s. The idea then was to encourage high-profile hunters to help promote the state as a top deer-hunting destination. That, in turn, would lure other hunters of all walks to bring their rifles and wallets to cash-strapped rural Iowa in pursuit of a trophy-sized buck.

Wyoming Game and Fish Department Lobbies for Deer Baiting Bill

Online Editors — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 10:48:48 -0500

by Scott Bestul

As a rule, deer biologists tend to hate baiting. But in a likely unprecedented move by a state game agency, the Wyoming Game & Fish Department is asking the state legislature to help them legalize baiting in the state. According to this AP story, biologists are struggling so mightily to control whitetail populations that they’re looking to add another strategy to their toolbox.

It’s important to note that in this case, officials intend to limit the use of bait to urban areas or other deer-control hotspots. Their hope is to be able to lure deer to spots where the animals would be more vulnerable to harvest, and to areas where shooting is safer. No plans seem to be in the works to legalize baiting on a broad basis at this time.

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.

Why Whitetail Food Plots Work Better Than Bait

Online Editors — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 11:55:47 -0500

by Scott Bestul

It’s time to plow under the clover-plot-equals-corn-pile argument. Of the many fresh debates germinated by modern whitetail management, none has proved faster growing or hardier than food plots vs. bait, in which one side insists that planting plots to attract and kill deer is no different from luring them to a mound of carrots or sugar beets. This may sound perfectly sensible…until you soil-test the dirt from which the logic grows.

Food plots are very different from baiting—and better for the health of the deer herd as well as for hunting. And while it’s true that a small plot of lush clover in the middle of otherwise barren woods may be no different from a pile of corn in terms of fair-chase principles, food-plot planting and management provides a long list of tangible and intangible benefits. Here are the main ones.

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.

Ray: Planning for Next Season

Online Editors — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 10:52:41 -0500

Rut Reporter Brandon Ray is an expert on the region. Ray was born in Dallas and shot his first deer with a bow in Central Texas at the age of 15. The full-time freelance writer manages his family’s Texas Panhandle ranch, is a licensed New Mexico guide, and last year took a 184 gross P&Y non-typical trophy. States covered: TX, OK, NM.

I'm already thinking about next year's deer season before the current one ends. And as we prepare to say adios to the 2011-2012 season, here are two things worth doing.

Because of drought across the region in 2011, winter forage is even more reduced than normal in the southern and middle sections of the region. In the northern extremes, where crops like wheat often help deer through the winter, production is way down. To help deer, and specifically rut-weary bucks, through the cold and stressful days of a long winter, I keep my bait areas and corn feeders running until spring.

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.

Bruce: Hot Rut, Where You Can Find It

Sarah Smith — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 09:22:06 -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.

Overall Activity Status: Activity is excellent in areas where the rut is kicking in, which includes Alabama, Florida, and Mississippi. Bucks are actively cruising and seeking, with some chasing ongoing. Look for rut-related movement to peak very soon if not already.

Fighting: Some fighting will break out if rival bucks are after the same doe in estrus. Some bucks may respond to rattling if they have not located a hot doe. Bucks are no longer trying to establish their pecking order as this has already been settled earlier in the season. Most fighting will be between mature bucks that have wandered out of their home range in search of does.

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

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.”

Lessons Learned and Soliciting Queries for SHOT Show 2012

Dave_Maccar — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:15:08 -0500

by David E. Petzal

This past year was an unusually active one for me. I dragged my rotting carcass across both oceans and to a number of states, and took 11 head of big game, with big game being defined as a wild swine or larger.

Looking over the whole business, a number of things stand out. The longest shot I took was at an elk. It was 160 yards. The two shortest--at a red stag and a mule deer--were around 30 yards. The average for everything was 80 yards. None of this is long-range shooting, and leads me to wonder, where are all these 500-yard shots everyone is obsessing about? During the whole season, one person I was afield with took a long shot--400 yards--at an elk, hit it and was unable to find it. In the real world, at least from my experience, things still happen well inside 200 yards.

Ray: A Buck for Next Year

Dave_Maccar — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 11:01:53 -0500

In North Texas, the general season for whitetails ended on January 1. One of my friends, who wants to remain anonymous and keep his honey hole anonymous as well, was in hot pursuit of a giant right to the end.

He first saw the big buck in 2010. A couple of trail camera pictures before the season and then two sightings in daylight during the late season in December. Both times, the 140-class 8-point buck was well outside of bow range. The season ended without a shot.

Ray: A Winter Desert Hunt in New Mexico

Sarah Smith — Tue, 10 Jan 2012 15:18:13 -0500

Any coverage of late season deer hunting in the Southwest is not complete without mention of January bow-only hunts in the desert. In states like New Mexico and Arizona, archers can hunt Coues whitetails or desert mule deer. Early to mid January can mean peak rut hunting for both species.

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.