Where Bucks Breed Does

Hey bill will a mature doe take a tending mature buck back to where she feels safe say her daytime bedding spot or will the mature buck try and move a mature doe into a spot that he thinks he can manage her time so he can breed her in private and or defend his breeding rights from other suitors. Or will he just breed her when and wherever she stops snd let’s him breed her. Basically what I’m trying to figure out is will the doe work her way back to her daily bedding area with mature buck in tow. I’ve got a slammer of a buck that came through an area that I know does bed on this end of this narrow ridge between two fields that both have corn this year. One farmer to the south will have his corn out and the other farmer to the north will be late getting his out more that likely just because he’s always late in that field when it’s corn. The does go back in to bed well before daylight and it’s so narrow not sure if I could get in there and hang a stand that close to her much less get in there to get in the stand. You’d just about have to stay in stand all night with a northwest wind. Looking for some advice if you don’t get bored reading this. Thanks for your time chuckView post →

When to Start Young Hunters

Dear Bill, Thanks for all the awesome content you have put out over the years. I have learned a ton and really enjoyed following your hunts over the years. My question today is what advice you have for starting really young hunters in the deer woods. I have two sons that are 6 and 4 and they are showing a lot of intrest in all things outdoors. I am planning on starting the 6 year old this year from a blind with a crossbow that he has shot all summer. I am wondering if you believe there is an age that is to young to start a hunter and if you believe getting them into the field before a certain age could be detrimental to there intrest and possible futurelove of the sport? Also wondering what advice you have besides the obvious of keeping it fun and exciting for them? Thanks in advance and thanks for staying true to yourself and the sport though out the years. KenView post →

Walking in the Woods

Walking in the Woods
Bill, Not a question but an observation from someone who has taken quite a lot of information from watching your videos. I watched your video on staying in bedding areas - I was cracking up and couldn't believe the dedication! I hunt SW Pennsylvania which has so many big wooded ridges where it's difficult to not hunt general bedding areas. For the last 10 years anytime I'm walking in the woods, I walk at a pace to avoid sounding like a human. I either double up my steps or have my grunt tube in hand to replicate a chasing buck. I feel ridiculous at times but have never been let down by this method. I do this right up to my stand and have deer wander through shortly after. Wanted to share as it's something unique that's worked for me. Only suggestion is to not film yourself doing it - it looks funnier than it sounds. Keep the great content coming!View post →

Nocturnal Bucks

Nocturnal Bucks
Bill, I've always wondered... when do mature bucks get up out of their beds and start roaming around and vise versa in the morning? The number of pics that I tend to get in the middle of the night of mature bucks that I know are living nearby, suggest that they may stay bedded well after dark even though thats hard to imagine. Perhaps the moon phase has something to do with this? Maybe they get up but just browse nearby...not covering much ground... Kind of like midday feeding patterns? I just can't imagine that it's taking 3 to four hours or more to make it to a destination food source. It just seems way to common to me that in all my hunting spots, most mature buck pics are middle of the night. Would love to hear what you think. Thanks ScottView post →

Best Camera for Filming Hunts

Best Camera for Filming Hunts
Hey Bill, It's been a while sine our last communication which was about 4 years ago when I lived in PA. I have since moved to NE Missouri as our oldest daughter and son in law live out here and they started having our grandkids... When my daughter was pregnant with her first my wife asked me if I ever thought about moving to MO (knowing she was going to move to be closer to our grandkids with or without me :) My response was, "absolutely I think I about it, every Oct when I am packing to drive from PA to NE MO to hunt (which I did for almost 10 years)... So, here we are and now I hunt in my backyard :) I watched your newest video today on how to idiot proof your bow and it would appear you have a new camera (I could be wrong) however it was crystal clear and much more 'dimension'.... What camera are you using and is it the same one you use to film your hunts?View post →

Germination of Broadcast Seeds

Germination of Broadcast Seeds
Hi Bill, I have a 1/4 acre plot that was originally part of the back corner of a hay field. The farmer had just cut the hay before I sprayed and broadcasted Big-N-Beasty on August 19th. I also spread 13-13-13 fertilizer the day of broadcasting and drove over it a bunch with ATV to try and get good seed to soil contact. However, it sat in mid 80° temps without rain for a week and a half or so. Since then though, we have had some decent rain every 5-8 days. So it's been about 2 weeks since the first rain on it and I am still seeing minimal germination in the plot. Should I give it some more time and spread urea to try and give it a boost? Or you think I should go ahead and overseed with some wheat and clover to try and salvage the plot for this fall?View post →

Practicing with a 3-D Target

Practicing with a 3-D Target
Bill, What’s your take on shooting 3D targets versus just a shooting block? I was having trouble a few years back with shot placement. Just like golfers get a case of the shanks it kinda came on and I lost a few good deer which was very odd for me. I was shooting great at the target really didn’t seem to be having shot panic but just was get the arrow where it needed to be. I went ahead and ordered a 3D buck target and it was actually amazing how I was replicating the same shooting as a live animal. I was consistently shooting low or forward in the shoulder. I firmly believe shooting at the 3D target helped me with my shot placement issues. Instead of trying to constantly tuck the arrow in for a heart shot I shoot the lungs. Happy to say it’s been several years without losing a animal. Just thought I’d get your opinion and hopefully help anyone struggling with the same issue. Happy hunting this fall. Thanks, JakeView post →

First Land Purchase

First Land Purchase
Hi Bill, Glad to see you sharing your knowledge and experience again on YouTube! I am looking to make my first land purchase on a small budget using my 401k, home equity and some cash as a down payment. My question for you is what to look for and prioritize in this first purchase. In your opinion, what is the minimum acreage, timber, tillable, topography, etc. that I should be considering in order to make this a worthwhile investment and sell as a turnkey hunting property a few years down the road? Thank You and Good Luck this hunting season!View post →