There are only a handful of states and provinces in North America where as a resident or non resident, that you can get a tag for both whitetail and mule deer in the same season. There’s even less destinations where you can expect a better than average buck of each species on the same week-long hunt. But the Canadian province of Alberta is definitely one of those places. While most of the best mule deer units require resident hunters to draw a tag, non- residents can book a hunt through an outfitter without having to draw. When most people think of giant mule deer, they focus on the southern p ..read more

Winter is a difficult time for Whitetails. As food sources decline and diminish, deer frantically search for remaining food sources. Finding these morsels can be difficult. That’s why land managers should plant and provide options for Whitetails. They will help the deer herd and also result in better hunting experiences. Here are 15 of the best late-season food plots for deer and deer hunters. Alfalfa Though this is the king of early-season food sources, it can be an excellent late-season food source, too. This is especially true for younger stands of alfalfa that are more viable than older pl ..read more

Your AIl-Inclusive Guide to Off-Season Scouting and Preparation In hunting, there’s much to be done during the off- season. It’s all in the pursuit of maximizing your success next season. Each task is for a purpose. That said, except for seasonal jobs, such as well-timed food plots and glassing velvet, don’t wait to do something that can be done now. Get as much work as possible done during the off-season. The following list recommends some of those tasks. REFLECT ON OBSERVATIONS Now is the time to reflect on deer season. Think about everything that transpired. Consider each trip afield. Make ..read more

Kip Adams form National Deer Association demonstrates how easy it is to skin, debone and process your deer to get the maximum amount of meat and ensure it is safe to travel.  Watch this and you decide if you can process your own deer. The post Process your own deer appeared first on North American Outdoorsman ..read more

Have you ever been locked into trying to take a particular buck, especially an o-l-d, wily Whitetail that has survived at least six or more hunting seasons? I have! There is nothing easy about it! I started hunting Whitetails when I was four, sitting in a tree with my dad. By the time I was six, I was sitting by myself in a “deer stand.” (Back then, that meant sitting on a limb in a tree.) My “deer rifle” during those early years was a single-shot .22 Rimfire, back when rimfires were legal for deer. Thankfully, that’s not so today. As I matured in age and hunting experience, and years before I ..read more

If you have been fortunate enough to witness the rutting chase of whitetailed deer, you can appreciate the incredible strength and stamina that these grand animals posses. A whitetail buck has his work cut out when it comes to getting the opportunity to breed. When a doe comes into estrus and locates a dominant buck, she’ll take her suitor on a long-winded chase before breeding occurs. The rut chase usually occurs on the edge of an open area, and the doe will lead the buck on a long chase before stopping and allowing the buck to do his job. These chases can last for long periods and cover lots ..read more

It seems that when the mercury plummets well below the freezing mark that the deer hunting action heats up. Deer need more food to fuel their bodies and will typically be up feeding longer in the mornings and earlier in the afternoons. Under these conditions, hunters need to be prepared to be in the field, and stay there without cutting the outing short due to cold feet, numb fingers, frost bitten ears or a wicked case of the shivers. There is more to staying warm than simply pulling on all the clothes in your closet. If you do this, you’ll look like the Good Year Blimp and be restricted in yo ..read more

Understanding the nuances of Whitetail behaviour has been the obsession of many a hunter over the decades. Correctly interpreting buck sign like rubs and scrapes, unraveling the truth as to whether or not deer can see colours, and discovering where huge bucks hide out have all intrigued deer hunters. These as well as many other aspects of the Whitetail world supplied us with great sources of speculation and debate over the years; some based on fact, others more on myth. Correctly interpreting and understanding deer behaviour is what gives some hunters the edge over others. Here are ten of the ..read more

I have 20 deer seasons under my belt, and Lord willing, I’ll have many more. While I have many mule deer and Whitetail racks in my home, I’m not too proud to say that I should have many, many more. I’ve made countless mistakes over the years that have cost me big time. Of course, deer are smart critters with the home-field advantage, so many of my hunts have ended in disgust rather than a victory in a short blood trail. The cause of those errors has usually been one or two completely avoidable mistakes. Sound familiar? LESSONS 1Needlessly rushing a shot can easily result in a bad hit or a miss ..read more