DeerBlaster blasts

Stalk takes a giant, Huge white buck, Make a buck refuge

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Big congrats to Tyler Kravitz for this MASSive non-typ that grossed 200 5/8 and netted 195. Told his story to NA Whitetail:

> In early March 2020, I was fortunate enough to be granted access to a piece of land in MT to look for sheds. That day my friend and I picked up a set of sheds that would score over 170″, and we were floored.

> After a couple of conversations with the landowner, I was granted access to pursue the amazing and mysterious western whitetail. The first time I laid eyes on the giant buck was during late summer. Remarkably, the buck was standing literally right where his sheds were found….

> By the time the season rolled around, I had no trouble locating the giant buck. In fact, I saw him every single day! Better yet, I saw him in the daylight hours, and I got to watch him for 2 weeks. But the buck used the vast open country to dodge every move that I made.

> After many unsuccessful hunts in which I spotted and spooked the deer, I figured my chances were up. I knew I had to make a move, and I couldn’t let him go again. I didn’t know if it was going to work, but I was ready to get aggressive and go after the giant buck on foot.

> Out into the field I went, maintaining a low profile and steady speed. Not only was I trying to keep from spooking the giant non-typical, but…other deer everywhere in the area. It was tough going there for a while.

> Finally I got to a spot where I was able to peek through the alfalfa stems and get a range on the buck. It was finally my chance to take a shot.

> As I watched my arrow find its way home, I was in awe. Feelings of shock, excitement and relief rolled in all at once. I had worked so hard for that moment, and it felt amazing for it all to finally pay off.

Turns out Tyler’s deer is MT’s 4th largest ever bow buck! 👊

1. OK set a couple records in last season.

> Hunters reported taking 126,290 deer in 2020-21, smashing the previous total harvest record of 119,349 from 2006-07. Also, more deer hunters than ever ventured out for archery and gun seasons.

2. PA says yes to concurrent buck and doe rifle hunting.

> Last year, 10 of the 23 wildlife management units in the state had 2 weeks of concurrent buck and doe hunting, while the other 13 had one week of buck-only hunting, followed by a week of concurrent hunting. …hunters’ fears that a 2-week season would mean too many does shot were unfounded.

3. AZ is open for fall hunt applications.

Head to the DNR site and click on “Apply For The Draw.”

4. MT: New law lets non-rez college students get rez licenses.

🤔

5. FL: Applications for special fall hunts open SATURDAY, May 15.

At a FL WMA or Natl Wildlife Refuge – quota hunts, special-opportunity hunts and national wildlife refuge hunts.

6. NJ using drones to count deer in 1 area.

> “Drones are much more accurate and make it less likely deer are double-counted.”

7. MT: IHEA, B&C private ranch hunt giveaway.

> …offering one lucky hunter access to the exclusive Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Ranch near Dupuyer, MT.

8. MT gets $6.4 mil for conservation.

> Pheasants Forever and 12 like-minded habitat conservation partners received the Regional Conservation Partnership Program award from the USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service.

> …will provide technical and financial assistance programs to farmers and ranchers for improving grazing operations, restoring grassland habitat, and retaining intact rangelands in one of MT’s most important big-game migration corridors.

9. DC: Interior Dept might add 2.1 mil acres for hunting in Pacific NW.

10. B&C Club throws support behind 30×30 proposal.

> The report outlines a broad framework for meeting the goals set forth by President Biden in January to conserve 30% of the nation’s lands and waters by the year 2030.

Looks like the Natl Deer Assn likes it too. The 30×30 initiative actually comes from the United Nations. From a recent conversation Jay had with someone involved politically in the fishing industry – he said that fish/hunt organizations are signing on only because they feel like they have to show support in order to work with the Biden Administration. Not sure how many companies that applies to….

11. WY muleys have 3 distinct genetic groups.

12. NRA could still move to TX despite bankruptcy dismissal.

Lot of moving parts…seems like it doesn’t look great no matter what “side” you’re on in this deal. This good post by Jim Shepherd explains more – this about sums it up:

> “…it doesn’t take a psychic hotline call to know that a winner-take-all fight for control of the National Rifle Association has ratcheted up yet another notch.”

Yikes.

13. ID: Meat Ministry has been serving hungry folks for 10 years.

👊 ✝️ Great story, worth a read.

14. Indigenous Taiwan people lose hunting rights.

Why you’re seeing this here:

> …Taiwan’s top court ruled that while some of the current rules are unconstitutional, it wouldn’t overturn them because environmental protections “are equally important.”

So…why have a constitution? 🤔

15. Hoppe’s is bringing back the glass bottle!

And retro label – love it!

1. New Bully vanes just plain better?

> Easton…partnered with Bohning, the world’s leader in archery vanes, to create the new Bully Vane for 2021. Bully Vanes combine the proven shape of the leading Blazer Vane with a new, rigid material to provide even quieter flight, superior broadhead control, and exceptional durability with easy tuning.

> This tough material resists curling and will stabilize all types of arrows for improved target accuracy.

> The specifically engineered profile provides quiet, aerodynamic flight and more arrow control than regular vanes.

2. New StHealthy Hunter Rifle Cover.

If you’re looking to protect your iron on your next pack-in trip, you might wanna look. Brady Miller from goHunt ran it down:

> …a 3-piece system. The buttstock portion slides on and can hold extra ammo.

> … weighs 14 oz when you add all 3 pieces.

> The scope cover is padded and made out of 500 D-Cordura, and weighs 7.5 oz. It protects it from dirt, debris, water, elements, everything. It’s going to protect your scope from falls, bumps, or accidental turret turns.

> The scope cover is attached to an elastic strap that is connected to the muzzle cover to prevent dirt, debris, water from getting in.

$145 and made in the US of A.

My (Ted’s) first bow was a Bear Whitetail from the early to mid-90s. Turns out I’m not the only one – Brody Swisher of Bowhunting.com remembers the same bow, and says Bear is back with what might be a new classic:

> Now, many years later, the company is offering the all-new Bear Whitetail Legend compound bow. The Whitetail Legend is a tribute bow to the Whitetail Hunter that pioneered the way.

> Despite its modern-day build, it felt like a piece of the past was built in. The bow looks great, feels great in the hand, and draws super-smooth.

> The design of this new bow is built with compact comfort at the foundation. You’ll notice the shootability built in every time you draw it back. Bear built the new Whitetail Legend with a new draw stop and says it’s the most solid back wall of any single-cam on the market.

> …comes in a Ready to Hunt package that’s loaded…yet is budget priced under $500. The kit includes a Trophy Ridge Volt 5-pin sight, Quick Shot Whisker Biscuit, Static 6″ Stabilizer, No-Tie Peep sight and D-loop.

Tested bow speed ranged from 268 fps with a 398-grain arrow to 233 fps with a 544-grain arrow.

> The bottom line…it puts a slick and nostalgic spin on one of the originals from days gone by. It’s a shooter-friendly bow that comes in a nice and compact package with a ready to hunt package price that’s hard to beat.

MSRP = $499.99.

Hold bucks by building a refuge.

Pretty cool idea – Gerald Almy from the North Virginia Daily tells you how:

> One of the most crucial needs for bucks over the age of 2 is a safe area where they can rest and feel secure. If they don’t have one on or near the land you hunt…they will find one somewhere else when the hunting pressure builds.

> 1 refuge is adequate for 25 to 50 acres. For bigger tracts of land, you may want 2. Anywhere from 3 to 20 or more acres could be involved. It all depends on the topography and thickness of the vegetation.

> The first step is to locate the best spot. The most useful safe areas are in remote, hard-to-reach locations where rough or swampy habitat discourages humans from entering. Prime locations include the heads of draws, mountain benches, brushy hollows or overgrown marshes. Also look for shrubs, bushes, saplings, honeysuckle and greenbrier.

> Fell a number of low-quality trees in the area for bucks to bed up against. That gives them security cover, protection from wind and also tender branch tips they can browse on.

> Try to drop several trees in clusters, so they fall at angles on top of one another. This provides high-stacked cover so a large buck can hunker down in the jungle and have his tall rack hidden.

> The 3rd step is to plant evergreens. Depending on how much cover is present, you may or may not need to do this. Putting in some fast-growing pines or other evergreens…will provide a wind break and thermal shelter from storms, drawing bucks into your safe area. Plant these conifers 8′ to 12′ apart in clusters of 1/2 to 1 acre.

> The final step is simple: Do not disturb the safe area you have built for the deer. The crucial thing that makes or breaks the success of this project is whether you truly respect it and stay out, except to retrieve a hit deer or maybe to search for sheds in spring one time.

That last one is the tough part lol!

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The DeerBlaster is a weekly roundup of the best, funniest, newest and most important stuff about whitetail deer hunting – culled from around the interwebz for DIEHARD whitetail hunters and blasted into your inbox.

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