Hunting

Should you age your venison before butchering? If so, how long? Under what conditions? Why might aging venison matter? Let’s explore every aspect of hanging your whitetail before taking knife to meat. It’s the symbol of a successful hunt, and a harbinger of great eating to come: A whitetail on the meatpole. Whether I’m hunting out of some farmhouse on the prairie, a northwoods deer camp, a motel room in farm country or the ... Xem chi tiết

Leonard Lee Rue III wrote with unparalleled authority on white-tailed deer, becoming Deer & Deer Hunting’s first major contributing editor in 1977. Over the years, he penned thousands of articles and “Rue’s Views” columns on deer and deer hunting, as well as 31 books on wildlife and photography. He recently passed away on Nov. 4, 2022, at age 96. Below is one of his Rue’s Views articles from the November 2010 issue of Deer ... Xem chi tiết

When you spot a deer, study its tail. What you observe will help you make smart hunting decisions. Of course, the deer’s body language is important to watch, too. It goes hand in hand in with what the tail is doing. But the tail’s actions are a very visible, clear and direct indication of that animal’s intentions. Here’s what to watch for and what it means. We’ll start with tail movements of happy, relaxed deer and then ease ... Xem chi tiết

Modern crossbows are highly efficient and accurate — amazingly so. Most manufacturers pre-sight their crossbows at the factory before shipping them. When properly cocked with the right bolt and proper shooting mechanics, these crossbows produce consistent bull’s-eyes out of the box at 20, 30 and 40 yards. You might need to tweak them a little to get pinpoint accuracy or satisfy personal standards, but within recommended range ... Xem chi tiết

Use these tips when planning your next early season bowhunt, and you will avoid making the mistakes that have tripped up so many hunters before you. It’s not rocket science, but it does require paying attention to details. Want to wrap your tag on an early season whitetail? Just pay attention to the small details. They add up to big difference makers. (photo by Dan Schmidt) When it comes to hunting no rule is ever etched in ... Xem chi tiết