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The whitetail rut, that magical period when deer are actively breeding, is the pinnacle of hunting season for many. It's a time of heightened deer activity, unpredictable encounters, and opportunities galore. Yet, amidst the chaos and excitement, hunters face a crucial decision. Should they focus on pursuing a specific target buck or embrace the rut's free-for-all dynamics? A couple of years ago, while hunting near my home in southern Missouri, I got to experience a little of both scenarios

Oh, sweet November! For deer hunters, the month of November is what we have spent the entire year waiting for. The month of November is primarily the time in most regions that the whitetail deer have their breeding season or what is more commonly known as the rut. The rut is a particular time of year when deer, more specifically bucks, fall out of their everyday routine. During this time, a buck's travel routes or daily patterns are unpredictable, leaving deer hunters on the edge of their seat

As October rolls in, whitetail seasons across the country continue to open with significant changes in buck movement and behavior. Over the years, I have logged a lot of time in the tree stand throughout the month of October and have taken a lot of notes on things I have noticed about buck behavior. Here’s a week-by-week breakdown of what you can expect in October and creating a strategy for the best results. Week 1 (October 1 - October 8) The first week of October marks a transitional period in

If you spend much time on social media where wingshooters gather to compare notes, you’re most likely starting to see photos of dove fields being prepared for opening day, doves flying around fields and birds sitting on power lines in or around fields. Millions of dove hunters will be showing up with friends and other hunters nationwide in a few days with hopes of finding the right spot in a field so they can work on shooting a limit of birds. On many dove hunts, hunters will draw numbers for

If you’ve ever felt the unmistakable thump of a flounder strike on the end of your line, you know the thrill of targeting these delicious and elusive flatfish. Found along the entire Atlantic seaboard, flounder are a favorite target for inshore anglers. But landing these ambush predators consistently takes more than luck, something I learned growing up on the marshes and sounds of southeastern North Carolina. Fortunately, these tips and techniques will work virtually anywhere, from Virginia

When it comes to scouting for deer, many hunters wonder if their summer patterns can truly translate into fall success. Some dismiss summer scouting altogether, claiming that bucks relocate when they shed their velvet, while others rely heavily on July and August observations to plan their fall hunts. The truth lies somewhere in between. Let’s debunk some common myths about summer scouting and see how to use off-season data effectively for fall hunting success. Myth #1: Bucks Completely Relocate

Call them red drum, channel bass, puppy drum, spottail bass or simply redfish, these inshore fish are frequently the target of vacationing coastal anglers from Massachusetts to Texas. Redfish are voracious fighters that range from 12 to 50 inches and can weigh as much as 60 pounds. For freshwater anglers who haven’t spent much time on the coast, redfish behavior can best be described as part largemouth bass, part blue catfish. Redfish will readily and willingly eat artificial baits as well as

Clearcuts may not be the most aesthetically pleasing habitat to look at, but they can certainly provide exceptional wildlife habitat if designed and managed properly. Forest management, even intensive timber production strategies, can provide quality wildlife habitat. In fact, little or no timber management often has detrimental effects on the wildlife value of a property. The key in balancing timber management and wildlife value is to maintain good habitat diversity (species composition and age

It was the opening day of Missouri’s three-week-long turkey season, and I had tagged along with two good friends while hunting on one of their father-in-law's cattle farms. Earlier that morning, we walked through a large open pasture to get close to a small stretch of timber, where we knew several turkeys had been roosting each night. As the first light appeared that morning, our assumption was confirmed when we heard two toms gobbling on the roost. We hurried to get set up in the correct

It was “up in the morning” as they say in turkey hunting lingo. The daylight din of activity had ebbed so I was trolling along, stopping periodically to belt out a few yelps on my box call when I got a response, though not one I’d hoped for. It was perhaps the worst rendition of a hen turkey I’d ever heard, and I chuckled to myself thinking, “This guy will never kill a turkey.” Hoping to avoid the other hunter I moved off a way before calling again, and getting the same scratchy, awkward