North America’s white-tailed deer has emerged as the world’s most popular big-game species. Whitetail deer hunting across North America has emerged as the world’s most popular hunting opportunity. No other big-game animal has created such an economic institution and deep-seated obsessions, whitetail hunters annually spend upwards of $38.3 billion pursuing big-buck passions, … [Read more...] about Whitetail Deer Hunting North America
Keep Them in the Dark
Keep Them in the Dark by Patrick Meitin Kill bigger bucks and keep stands fresher longer by adopting these stealth approaches. It’s a common scenario in whitetail hunting: You scout hard all summer to find that big buck, or that hotspot where big bucks pass regularly, religiously deploying trail cameras to spark more enthusiasm with seeing-is-believing evidence. The night … [Read more...] about Keep Them in the Dark
Focal Points
Focal Points by Patrick Meitin Concentrate on these hotspots for the best early-season action. Early archery seasons are a great time to tag a trophy whitetail in most western habitats, as well as a rare opportunity to collect a velvet-antlered buck. Some bowhunters stalk their whitetail during these waning days of summer, setting up ambushes as deer travel to and fro, … [Read more...] about Focal Points
Hunting From A Ground Blind
Hunting From A Ground Blind by Patrick Meitin Notes from inside a pop-up ground blind. Returning to western Oklahoma last October felt like a homecoming, getting together again with old friends like Gary Sefton, Mike Jordan, Jason Pickerill and a handful of outdoor writers I’ve come to know well. I also looked forward to seeing Scott and Joni Sanderford, owners/operators of … [Read more...] about Hunting From A Ground Blind
The Whitetail Ideal
The Whitetail Ideal by Patrick Meitin It’s that time of year again, manufacturers unveiling their newest wares, the latest and greatest technologies conceived to make you a better bowhunter. Bowhunting writers flock to industry shows like ATA (Arrow Trade Association) to bring you news of the newest innovations and gewgaws you simply can’t live without. But, this isn’t what … [Read more...] about The Whitetail Ideal
Early Season Whitetail Strategies
Early Season Whitetail Strategies by Patrick Meitin In much of "whitetaildom," October represents the launch of bowhunting festivities, “early season” from the perspective of the average eastern deer hunter. Early, within a western reference, means something else altogether, normally indicating the still-blazing months of a fledgling fall, beginning with the final days of … [Read more...] about Early Season Whitetail Strategies
Shooting On High
Shooting On High by Patrick Meitin Pope and Young records tell us the average “book” whitetail is taken at something like 21 yards. This is a range even the most indifferent archer or novice bowhunter would fail to find daunting. Nearly all such shots today come as a direct result of an elevated tree-stand vantage. Serious bowhunters spend long summers standing flat footed … [Read more...] about Shooting On High
What Went Wrong
What Went Wrong? by Patrick Meitin Each fall whitetail hunters everywhere play out familiar scripts: investing long hours scouting, checking trail cameras every spare moment, tuning and shooting bows endlessly, hanging stands and developing fail-proof plans sure to finally bring trophy success. But then the season comes to a screeching halt with nothing to show for your efforts … [Read more...] about What Went Wrong