Episode 076 - Buck Food Plot Use During the Hunting Season
Deer University
In this episode we visit with Dr. Natasha Ellison to review her findings relative to buck use of food plots during the hunting season. How often are bucks visiting food plots pre-rut, peak-rut, and post-rut? When are bucks spending more time on food plots? How does hunting pressure affect these relationships? Natasha is a Mathematical Ecologist and is helping the MSU Deer Lab dig deeper in the buck movement dataset to answer questions about buck behavior relevant to hunters and managers. Check out the MSU Deer Lab’s online seminar series () and choose the Natural...
info_outline
Episode 075 - Pulling the Covers Off Buck Beds
Deer University
In this episode we visit with Luke Resop to discuss buck beds and bedding areas. How often are they bedding? What’s their affinity to certain bedding areas? What’s the circuit time for returning to a bedding area? Day beds and night beds are all discussed. We also introduce our newest member to the MSU Deer Lab, Dr. Natasha Ellison. She is a Mathematical Ecologist and is helping us dig deeper in the buck movement dataset to answer questions about buck behavior relevant to hunters and managers. Check out the MSU Deer Lab’s online seminar series () and...
info_outline
Episode 074 – Understanding Buck Movement – Part 2
Deer University
The latest Extension publication from the MSU Deer Lab is “Understanding Buck Movement: How, When, and Why Bucks Navigate the Landscape” is now available for viewing and download. You can find the publication here: https://www.msudeer.msstate.edu/results.php?q=deer%20movement In Part 2, Steve and Bronson discuss more of the findings presented in the publication and explain how you can interpret the data and use the information for management and hunting. Check out the MSU Deer Lab’s online seminar series () and choose the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop down...
info_outline
Episode 073 – Understanding Buck Movement – Part 1
Deer University
The latest Extension publication from the MSU Deer Lab is “Understanding Buck Movement: How, When, and Why Bucks Navigate the Landscape” is now available for viewing and download. You can find the publication here: https://www.msudeer.msstate.edu/results.php?q=deer%20movement In Part 1, Steve and Bronson discuss some of the findings presented in the publication and explain how you can interpret the data and use the information for management and hunting. Check out the MSU Deer Lab’s online seminar series () and choose the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop down...
info_outline
Episode 072 – Fall food plots, how late is too late?
Deer University
The Deep South and other parts of the whitetail’s range are experiencing severe drought and many cool-season food plots are struggling or failing. In this episode we visit with Dr. Erick Larson, an Agronomist and Extension Specialist at Mississippi State University, that works with many of the forages hunters and managers plant for deer. Erick will discuss when is too late and what steps we can take to make the best of a bad situation. Check out the MSU Deer Lab’s online seminar series () and choose the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop down menu. You will...
info_outline
Episode 071 - Rubs and Scrapes with Karl Miller
Deer University
What is a deer signpost? In this episode Steve and Bronson visit with Dr. Karl Miller, the former professor and researcher of deer biology and management at the University of Georgia. Karl and his students and colleagues have studied white-tailed deer signposting behavior for decades and he shares key findings regarding the biology and ecology of this research, and how you can apply it to hunting. Check out the MSU Deer Lab’s online seminar series () and choose the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop down menu. You will have to create an account to view the...
info_outline
Episode 070 - Buck Breeding Value and Management Implications
Deer University
What the heck is buck breeding value? In this episode Steve and Bronson visit with Dr. Randy DeYoung, a professor and researcher at the Caesar Kleberg Wildlife Research Institute at Texas A&M University-Kingsville. Randy and his colleagues and students have worked for many years analyzing genetics data related to maternity and paternity assignment in South Texas deer herds. Randy will share results from the buck side of the equation and tell us how they impact management. Check out the MSU Deer Lab’s online seminar series () and choose the Natural Resources option from the...
info_outline
Episode 069 – Burn baby burn!
Deer University
There’s no doubt that prescribed fire is good for wildlife habitat, but what’s the best time of year to burn? What are the pros and cons of burning during the dormant season (winter) and the growing season (spring and summer)? In this episode Bronson and Steve visit with MSU Deer Lab graduate student Luke Resop and discuss the findings from his research where he examined the response of vegetation to dormant and growing season fire. Which is the best? You guessed it…IT DEPENDS. Check out the MSU Deer Lab’s online seminar series () and choose...
info_outline
Episode 068 – Just how bad is dog hunting on deer?
Deer University
Seems like you either love dog hunting, or hate it. There’s no in between. But what does the research say about the effects of dog hunting on deer herds? In this episode we visit with Dr. Gino D’Angelo, a professor at the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia. Gino is one of the few biologists that has studied a deer population routinely hunted with dogs. Gino will fill us in on the effects of dog hunting and best management practices if dog hunters hunt a property adjacent to you. Check out the MSU Deer Lab’s online...
info_outline
Episode 067 - Is habitat management for deer and turkey the same?
Deer University
Do all the habitat recommendations that deer biologists make also benefit turkey? In this episode, Bronson and Steve visit with Marcus Lashley and Will Gulsby to discuss habitat limiting factors for turkey, and how to incorporate habitat management techniques that benefit both deer and turkey. Stay tuned until the end for a big announcement… Check out the MSU Deer Lab’s online seminar series () and choose the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop down menu. You will have to create an account to view the seminars. The seminars are free unless you are seeking...
info_outlineA topic of much debate and argument is cull bucks. Do cull bucks exist? Are they different from management bucks? All good questions. In this episode we review this terminology and discuss scenarios where harvesting cull bucks, or management bucks, makes a lot of sense.
At the beginning of the episode we revealed a new Deer Management Online Seminar Series. Below is the link to this program, and if you have questions, please reach out to Bill Hamrick at [email protected]
https://reg.extension.msstate.edu/view/cal10a.aspx?ek=&ref=&aa=&sid1=&sid2=&as=81&wp=324&tz=&ms=&nav=&cc=&cat1=&cat2=&cat3=&aid=MSU&rf=&pn=
On this page, you will find 8 courses related to Deer Biology and Management.
Buck Selective Harvest Strategies
Deer Management Concepts: Management Approaches and Population Dynamics
Food Plot Principles
Cool-Season Food Plots
Pine Management Affects Deer Habitat Quality
Regional Variation in Body and Antler Size: Is it Nutrition or Genetics?
Reproductive Ecology: Seasonal Breeding and Reproductive Success
Understanding Nutrition and Life Stage Requirements
Last, we mentioned a book we wrote that goes into great detail about culling or harvesting management bucks. We call the process the Strategic Harvest System and we titled the book “Strategic Harvest System: How to Break Through the Buck Management Glass Ceiling”
https://www.amazon.com/Strategic-Harvest-System-Through-Management-ebook/dp/B076VXY475