During the peak of the Illinois whitetail rut two years ago, I spotted a glimpse of antler through the trees in the strip of woods along a creek I was hunting. The “Big 7”, a buck who had been on trail camera for the past two years, was heading down a trail that would soon take him out of sight....

All avid bow hunters and gun hunters alike know the power of the rut when it comes to having a chance to harvest a trophy whitetail. Bucks wander far and wide in search of does and move through areas that are outside of their home range, dropping their guard and frequently moving during daylight hours, this mass exodus of bucks...

In the United States, we are fortunate to have a lifetime of opportunities to hunt and fish on public land that is accessible to everyone, whether it is a honey hole just down the road or a cross-country destination. With recent advances in mapping technology, the popularity of hunting public lands has grown. It is now relatively easy to gain...

Muzzle energy is a highly debated term among the hunting industry. Some say that it is the most important aspect of your cartridge, and others toss it out of the window. So to be able to form an informed opinion, you should know what it actually is and when it is important and when it is not. Here is my...

For most hunters it can be easy to tell the difference between a yearling buck and a large mature buck, but how do you tell the difference between the middle stages? In recent decades, letting bucks grow to their potential and harvesting them once they get mature has become the go-to management strategy. The Quality Deer Management Association is a...

With many hunting seasons right around the corner, now is a great time to use data from trail cameras to plan your early season hunting strategy. Most species change their habitat use and travel patterns throughout the year. For this reason, you can maximize your chances of getting great pictures year round by changing up your trail camera setting locations...