By Chad Love

Missouri deer hunters, it's time to grab your air rifle, handgun or crossbow and head to the woods because the Show Me state's "alternative methods" deer season is now underway.

From this story on ky3.com:
It's called Missouri's alternative methods deer hunting season. It runs from now through Christmas Day. More hunters are hitting the woods with a historical game plan. Hunters have used black-powder muzzleloader rifles for years, but the Department of Conservation says there was an increase in people interested in hunting with handguns and crossbows. They wanted to expand opportunities to use those tools without hurting the deer population. If hunters want to be a little more traditional, they can use longbows or even a tool called an atlatl which is like a spear. Officials say hunters like the historical aspect as well as the challenge. [ Read Full Post ]

By Scott Bestul

Scott Smolen is a whitetail addict who, like many of us, grew up reading about the Benoits, the legendary tracking family from Vermont. Smolen, a treestand bowhunter from Wisconsin, struck up a friendship with Larry Benoit—the family patriarch—several years back. The two kept in touch and bonded over whitetails and deer hunting even though their methods differ vastly. [ Read Full Post ]

By David Draper

Although the threat of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) ended with the first hard freeze here on the Plains, its effects are still being felt by deer hunters, and will be for several seasons to come. It’s hard to say just how many deer died from this year’s outbreaks, but I can promise you the official reports are extremely low. For every dead deer reported by hunters and landowners, it’s hard to know just how many carcasses went undiscovered. [ Read Full Post ]

By Eric Bruce

Overall activity status: Like the waxing and waning of the moon, rut activity is waxing in Florida, Mississippi, Alabama, and eastern Louisiana. It’s waning in Arkansas, South Carolina, Georgia, and western Louisiana. The recent unseasonably warm weather across the South has dampened movement somewhat, but in pre-rut states, the bucks are on the move.

Fighting: Bucks should be sparring and getting testy in Florida, eastern Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi. As bucks begin laying down sign and marking their territory, expect more bucks to bang heads in preparation for the rut.

Rub making: Deer in Mississippi, Florida, western Louisiana, and Alabama are rubbing more and more. Shane Dempsey, who hunts in northern Alabama, says he is seeing more rut sign: “The bucks are starting to crank out the rubs and scrapes, and some young bucks are starting to cruise a little. The warm weather has shut down a lot of the deer movement. Everyone that I have talked to said this has been a down year as far as movement, and all agree this warm weather we have had is the culprit.”

[ Read Full Post ]

By Dave Hurteau

Many of you savvy farmland hunters already know this tip, but for anyone who doesn’t, it’s an oldie and a goodie: Because farmland whitetails are accustomed to seeing pickup trucks in fields, they don’t freak out at the sight of one. [ Read Full Post ]

By Colin Kearns

Last week we threw our annual holiday party, which is always a great time because there’s always some great wild game cooked and shared from members of the staff. For this week’s Food Fight, we’re featuring all of the wild dishes from the party (as well as one dessert because, well, it features bacon and bourbon). Vote for your favorite.

1. Elk Shepherd’s Pie from Donna Ng, Field & Stream copy chief
2. Muley Rolls from Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life online content editor
3. Elk Chili from Kim Gray, Field & Stream associate art director
4. Venison Sausage Italian Meatballs from John Taranto, Outdoor Life senior editor

5. Blackened Redfish with Mango Salsa from Mike Toth, Field & Stream executive editor
6. Elk Empanadas with Chimichurri from Amanada McNally, Director of Public Relations
7. Smoked Salmon from Brian Peterson, Western Sporting Goods Manager
8. Bacon and Bourbon Pecan Pie from Kristyn Brady, Field & Stream assistant editor

Here are the other posts from Meat Week, in case you missed any:
- How to Cook Whitetail Deer Ribs
- Rules for Grinding Wild Game (And Mom's Meatloaf Recipe)
- [ Read Full Post ]