Internet-sensation bucks never die. I got this picture in my inbox yesterday with the message: Hanback, what the hell is this?

It's a buck I posted on the Outdoor Life blog back in 2007, I believe it was. The deer was hit and killed by a truck near Alma, WI. Biologists up there speculated that a diet high in proteins and minerals caused the deer to grow those long, curved hooves.

At the time, I ran the photo by a couple of our resident scientists, who said it was more likely a starch thing. They noted that when deer are fed excessive starch, primarily corn, “founder lesions” like elongated hooves can occur. EHD (Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease) and other diseases can cause hooves to crack, break, etc., but not elongate/curve like that. 

Body and rack wise, the buck was in good shape. Our biologists believe he was able to survive and prosper on those freakish hooves because he was “on welfare” and didn't have to move much. They point out that many deer become dependant on backyard feeders and thus consume excessive corn/starch. While the animals are not captive behind a fence or in a compound per se, they are conditioned to feed where starchy feed is easily accessible.

The buck was reportedly placed in walk-in cooler at a bait shop for safe keeping at the time. The owner of the shop said he planned a full-body mount, though I have not seen it. 

I think we can safely say that, for whatever reason, those are the longest and freakiest deer hooves in history.

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Hey Mike: Here in Illinois we have a late season that was originally a pistol-only season for antlerless deer. Now the late season is open to shotgun, muzzleloaders and handguns, but our regular shotgun season in November has also allowed pistols. 

Once upon a time long-barreled large caliber revolvers were a highly prized commodity around here, and I have in the last year or two seen a resurgence of interest in handgun hunting. I am kind of stuck in my ways and being a lefty, I love the Ruger single actions and how they load in my hands.

Just wondering, do other bloggers ever handgun hunt and if so, what do they use? Single or double action? What caliber? Is .357 enough? Do they like .45 long Colt over.44 mag.?

I get a lot of these questions and I know it's not discussed much, but I would be interested to see what the mind trusts at Big Deer have to say?--Thanks, Matt "Flatlander" in Illinois

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This is the gist of the story from JR Absher:

After Mike Toney shot and killed a massive Illinois preserve buck in November, he put its testicles on ice and drove to the LSU AgCenter's research station in Clinton, La., where its semen was extracted using a new technique and frozen in liquid nitrogen. Since then, 16 does were inseminated with the semen and six became pregnant. According to an AP article, LSU attorneys are investigating if the process may be patented and licensed.

This is so far removed from the real world of deer hunting that you and I love so, I really don't know what to say. So what do you say?

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My Lord, this is how hunting films and TV should be (click to watch): from the incredible hunter to the compelling stories to the interesting narration (the original narration in the films) to the look of the old 16mm footage. I understand that a lot of that footage has neer been seen before, but will be--fascinating. People are trying to emulate such production; nobody ever will. comment

Antler man Dan posted this amazing Canadian buck on Facebook. Remember the other day I said that if a drop comes off a 3rd beam instead of one of the main beams, I wouldn't count it? Well, I take that back. This is a dropper of epic proportions and my dream buck.

Don't know exactly where this freak came from. Looks like Saskatchewan or Alberta, but could be Manitoba or Ontario. If I have the time and the money before I'm done, I'm going to expand my hunting across the North and hit 2 or 3 provinces a season. There are drops here and there everywhere, but your best shot is in Canada.

I remain obsessed and consumed with getting one. comment

My friend and American hero Zane, who you will see hunting on an episode of Big Deer with Mike Hanback this fall on the Sportsman Channel, sent this:

Mike: I'm up here at Ft. Dix, New Jersey doing some field training. A few of the men stated seeing an albino deer. I finally saw it, went on about a 300m low crawl, got within 40-50 yards and took this picture. Never saw one before, pretty cool.

My questions for you and the bloggers: Are there laws against shooting an albino (or piebald) during a legal hunting season? Is there an unwritten hunter ethic that implies that white deer are not to be shot? Another way of asking: Is it poor hunting etiquette to shoot an albino deer? Thanks, Zane

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I rate the Pennsylvania Game Commission as the best in the U.S. for providing solid information for deer hunters, and supporting hunters’ rights. The commission says: "Deer hunters have long been recognized as Pennsylvania’s most devoted hunters and their commitment has helped keep wildlife management afloat in this state for almost 100 years."

The Commission reports the results of a 2011 survey of 5,892 randomly selected deer hunters. They use the survey “to measure hunter sentiment and to improve our management of whitetails.” Survey highlights in no particular order:

• The average PA deer hunter is 47 years old and has been hunting for 29 years
• 89 percent hunted only in PA last year
• Only 19 percent used trail cameras 
• 73 percent considered deer hunting an important or very important part of their lives
• More than 80 percent hunted on private land
• Hunters between 18 and 39 were the most successful, but only 4 percent better than 40-59-year-olds at shooting bucks, and 8 percent better than 60-plus hunters at getting bucks
• The gap was larger in the doe harvest; 28 percent of 18-39 year-olds shot does, 23 percent of 40-59 year-olds shot does and only 16 percent of 60-year-old-plus hunters killed does
• The younger hunters used tree stands, deer drives and trail cams the most
• 80 percent of all hunters hunted opening day. After that, participation dropped on weekdays for all age groups

I would say that’s a pretty good microcosm of deer hunters across the USA. One other thing, read that last one again. That's why I always tell you to hunt Monday through Thursday whenever you can. comment

To get you dreaming for this November, check out these 4 monsters killed in Indiana last season. Big Deer Hunt Team member Dean Weimer sent them as a reminder that I need to get my butt out to his state and hunt, finally, for the first time. We are trying to set it up. There is hardly a better place I could go. According to the  latest Boone & Crockett data, Indiana is the #7 trophy state in the U.S., with an impressive 195 book entries from 2005-2010. Compare that to 1980-1985, when Indiana ranked 16th in the nation with only 14 entries, and it tells you the good old days of big-buck hunting are here.

I know that you would gladly shoot any of these giants, but which rack is your favorite? comment

Scott W. posted this in the Big Deer South Rut Report last fall:

This buck is special to me, Mike. You see on Nov.12 I was giving my first daughter away in marriage at 2:30. A day to remember, but the rut was on in the mid-south in my home state of Tennessee. I couldn't stand the fever so I talked myself into going, but made sure I would be back in time for the big event.

At 8:15 am, I watched 3 does feed away from me on a ridge top. Twenty minutes later I saw this buck trailing the does. I had no shot and watched him walk away for maybe 150 yards until it hit me: Do something ! I picked up my horns and rattled hard, waited 10 seconds and hit 'em again, hard and long . I waited 5 minutes or so, and all of sudden there he was at 40 yards, looking for the rumble!

I killed a good one and then went to the wedding. great day!

4 comments:

First, perfect example of how "ate up" with deer hunting we are.

Second, perfect example of the Big Deer Mantra: Hunt every second, minute and hour that you can, especially when the rut is on (just make dang sure you're back home in time for a scheduled big event).

Third, Scott rattled pretty much like I do. Hit the horns long and hard...repeat routine...then be quiet and watch. Important: A lot of times you won't see a buck actually commit and come in; often he'll get in brush or in a draw, approach quiet and unseen, and pop up close looking for you. Be ready.

Four, congrats Scott on the buck and the bride!

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Getting warm out and soon it will be beach time for us redneck savages. Would your wife or girl hit the sand or pool in camouflage? Would you want her to? comment