Hunting Strategy — Listener Q&A

Questions 1–134 of 296 in this category (page 1 of 3). All listener questions · next →

Hunting Pressure & Sanctuaries

Question: What are the biggest mistakes keeping hunters from killing big deer despite years of trying? 51:15 — Why Most Hunters NEVER Kill Big Bucks (Bryhn Craft Tells the Truth) | Chasing Giants #325

• Answer: Bryhn says human intrusion ruins more hunting farms than anything else, more than habitat or any other single factor. 51:33

Question: Justin Sheer asks how smart deer really are. 52:10 — asked by Justin Sheer — Don Higgins Breaks Down His Favorite Properties of 2026 - Chasing Giants #320

• Answer: Don says deer adapt to danger quickly, describing a four-year-old buck that spotted his parked four-wheeler, locked up, and stared at it before altering his path to stay covered. 54:23

Question: Mark Mathews of Weaverville, North Carolina asked what TSI/timber improvements Don makes to sanctuaries and whether red osier dogwood is a good hinge-cutting companion plant. 43:54 — asked by Mark Mathews — INSANE Bedding Cover + 22 Bears on Camera?! | Chasing Giants #318

• Answer: Don’s core advice is to check the USDA website for a plant’s native range before deciding whether it belongs on a particular farm. 44:41
• Answer: Don says he isn’t comfortable prescribing specific species for North Carolina and recommends Mark consult someone local instead. 45:08

Question: Terry asked Don to share creative examples of going incognito while hunting public or permission properties away from his home farm. 41:40 — CWD, One-Buck Limits & The Truth About NDA | Chasing Giants 312

• Answer: Don said he sometimes parks his truck at decoy locations to make people think he’s hunting there, then has his wife drop him off at his real hunting spot. 41:55

Question: Justin Green from Linden, Michigan asked when hunters should enter and exit tree stands, given videos suggesting early entry and late exit could hurt hunts. 47:57 — asked by Justin Green — CWD, One-Buck Limits & The Truth About NDA | Chasing Giants 312

• Answer: Don said he prefers being in his stand at first shooting light, arriving at least fifteen minutes early so the area calms down before he might bump a deer. 48:45
• Answer: Don clarified that on public land or when going deep into timber, he arrives about thirty minutes early instead of fifteen, since he uses a light there. 50:23

Question: How do you identify where to put a sanctuary on a new property? 30:07 — LIVE at 360 Blinds: No Script, No Filters — Just Real Questions | Chasing Giants 308

• Answer: The first thing to consider is access, including whether the property has one or multiple access points. 30:24

Question: What can you do for a hill-country sanctuary you’re worried you can’t burn? 31:42 — LIVE at 360 Blinds: No Script, No Filters — Just Real Questions | Chasing Giants 308

• Answer: Don says he doesn’t worry about burning; instead look for pinches and flatter spots on the hillside where deer will actually want to bed. 31:56

Question: Did you ever put a sanctuary on a property line? 49:54 — LIVE at 360 Blinds: No Script, No Filters — Just Real Questions | Chasing Giants 308

• Answer: Possibly, depending on what’s on the neighboring side of the property. 49:58

Question: Hunter Green asks whether calling — rattling, grunting, or blind grunting — adds unnecessary pressure rather than helping harvest deer. 39:50 — asked by Hunter Green — Most Hunters Get This Wrong | The Hard Truth About Killing Mature Bucks | Chasing Giants #307

• Answer: Don says he’s not a fan of calling because it educates more deer than it helps harvest, and he avoided calling entirely this season. 41:39

Question: Joshua Holm asks whether a snowmobile trail crossing his sanctuary and food plot does more harm than good for his deer hunting. 57:11 — asked by Joshua Holm — Chasing Giants Ep. 291 | Don’s Public Land Quest & the “Turning Point” Buck Story

• Answer: Don says he would not allow a snowmobile through his sanctuary or food plot any more than he’d allow dogs on his property. 57:31

Question: Edward Miller asks why Don would plant mast-producing oaks in his sanctuary if he separates food from cover. 30:57 — asked by Edward Miller — #287 “Predators, Food Plots & Cracker Barrel Woke?

• Answer: Don explains he wants oaks mainly for winter cover, since leaf-holding oaks beat conifers and their mast isn’t the point. 32:20

Question: Drew Harmon asks whether food plots should be treated like a sanctuary except when planting. 49:57 — asked by Drew Harmon — #287 “Predators, Food Plots & Cracker Barrel Woke?

• Answer: Don says you don’t want to spook deer anywhere on the property, whether food plots or sanctuary. 51:20
• Answer: Don minimizes pressure by doing his food plot work in the middle of the day when deer are less likely present. 51:29

Question: Liam, 15, who manages 70 acres in southwest Missouri, asks what’s most important for holding mature whitetails and keeping a buck comfortable in daylight. 44:23 — asked by Liam — Episode #283 “Best Corn Ever? Don & Terry Reveal 2025 Plot Results + Fall Food Plot Timing Tips”

• Answer: Don says freedom from human intrusion is a mature buck’s number one desire, above even a hot doe. 45:00
• Answer: Don advises turning a major part of the 70 acres into an undisturbed thick-cover sanctuary to encourage bedding. 45:16

Question: Rod Foust asked how to determine whether a bedding area is big enough to hold mature bucks. 56:10 — asked by Rod Foust — Thermal Drones, Trail Cameras & Big Buck Strategies | Chasing Giants Podcast #282

• Answer: Don said any thicket big enough for a buck to lay in is big enough to hold a mature buck. 56:20
• Answer: Don said the real factor is human intrusion, not the size of the bedding area. 56:28

Question: Dan Schultz from Brilliant, Wisconsin asked how to balance applying Mike’s Mighty Microbes as directed weekly with limiting human intrusion on food plots and fruit trees. 63:40 — asked by Dan Schultz — Episode #272 - Farming for Nutrients - Better Food Plots

• Answer: Don said human intrusion mainly matters in sanctuary bedding areas, and he recommends spraying midmorning through midday in summer when deer are typically bedded elsewhere. 65:05
• Answer: Mike said food plots only need one application, when beans reach about six inches or corn twelve to eighteen inches, though a second application would be even better. 65:50

Question: Terry asks Don what he thinks the average lifespan of a buck is. 41:50 — Episode #271 - Cool Wet Spring Concerns for Antler Growth and Nutrition

• Answer: Don guesses the average buck lifespan is about two and a half years. 42:01

Question: Zach Anderson asks what someone with 20 acres or less and only one access point should do without room for a large sanctuary. 46:48 — asked by Zach Anderson — Episode #271 - Cool Wet Spring Concerns for Antler Growth and Nutrition

• Answer: Don advises that killing the best bucks on a small property requires timing hunts strategically for when odds favor you, not hunting every available weekend. 48:23
• Answer: Don recommends hanging a rope scrape with a trail camera in a good spot with solid stand access, and only hunting once a target buck is confirmed present. 48:49

Question: Matt Schultz asked what harm working or using land near a sanctuary in late winter through early summer does if bucks have already left for their summer range. 34:17 — Episode #264 - Big Rope Scrapes and Big Bucks!

• Answer: Don says summer intrusion educates the entire deer herd, not just the bucks, since deer relate to and sense stress in one another. 34:51
• Answer: Don says it takes about ten years to build the deer’s trust, so all sanctuary work should be finished in the first decade, then leave it alone entirely. 36:39

Question: Davey asks what the most overlooked sign is that a mature buck lives in an area. 32:36 — asked by Davey — Episode #263 - Live from the Iowa Deer Classic

• Answer: Don says most hunters underestimate how little human intrusion it takes to bump a mature buck off a property. 33:19

Question: A hunter asks how to keep bucks on his 40 acres after splitting family land with cousins who hunt differently. 54:59 — Episode #260 - Live From the Legends Roundtable - Midwest Sportsmans Classic

• Answer: Don suggests using a physical feature like a fence, creek, or road as a dividing line so deer learn where danger stops. 55:41

Question: Ken Sparks asks whether, in a more pressured hunting area, it still makes sense to only shoot target bucks and let others stand so neighbors might shoot them instead. 53:55 — asked by Ken Sparks — Episode #255 - Deer Movement and Weather Fronts

• Answer: Don admits he used to try to save every buck to maturity and hope neighbors shot the lesser ones, but says that approach did not work for him and success depends on the specific property. 54:27

Question: John Simoneau from Clifton, Illinois asks how to hunt a buck that uses the same daylight trail regardless of wind direction in December and January. 49:43 — asked by John Simoneau — Episode #248 - Big Buck Down! Wes Delks Joins Us to Discuss UHAUL

• Answer: Don says an unpressured buck will give up the wind more than a pressured one, which is likely why this buck ignores wind direction. 51:25
• Answer: Wes agrees there’s a direct correlation between hunting pressure and how much a buck respects the wind. 52:02
• Answer: Wes references an article by Al Foster about finding the ‘weak spot’ when hunting a high-pressure area. 52:16

Question: An anonymous Ohio listener asked how many deer property management activities push off a property through human intrusion. 40:14 — Episode #245 - Halloween Hunting Should Be Great! Weather and Hunting Forecast from Don Higgins

• Answer: Don reiterates that freedom of human intrusion is the single most critical piece of managing a deer hunting property. 40:49

Question: Logan asked how Don hunts public land successfully given other disrespectful hunters and access challenges. 50:15 — asked by Logan — Episode #244 - October Lull? Don and Terry See Bucks Moving in Mid October

• Answer: Don said he isn’t very successful on public land himself, but advised getting far from other hunters since mature bucks also avoid people. 53:16

Question: Is there an ideal food plot size for making mature bucks feel safe feeding in it? 40:14 — asked by Chase — Episode #239 - EHD Is Closing in on Don’s Farm!

• Answer: Don said plot size matters less than hunting pressure around it; a well-hunted large plot can work fine if the property is hunted correctly. 40:36

Question: Mike asks what factor Don prioritized first when evaluating permission farms for hunting. 50:41 — asked by Mike — Episode #236 - Antler Genetics Follow Mother or Father?

• Answer: Don says the single overriding factor is who else is hunting that farm. 51:03
• Answer: Don says freedom from human intrusion is what a mature buck desires most and what he looks for in a property. 51:43

Question: Mike from Steedman, Missouri asks whether it’s better to walk property boundaries watching for red flags on neighboring land before buying a farm. 46:57 — asked by Mike — Episode #235 - Is EHD Back in 2024? Bucks Dead in Indiana!

• Answer: Don says seeing lots of tree stands lined up on the neighboring side of a property’s boundary is a major red flag. 47:32

Question: Jordan Barry asked how long the effects of hunting pressure and human intrusion last before deer that moved off a property might return. 58:13 — asked by Jordan Barry — Episode #213 - Turning old cow pasture in deer sanctuary

• Answer: Don said a property hunted hard for years or decades takes much longer for local deer to accept as a safe zone, unlike a former sanctuary that deer return to quickly. 58:43

Question: Ryan Bowman from Northwest Ohio asks whether electric bikes like the QuietKat help reduce human intrusion getting in and out of a property. 20:11 — asked by Ryan Bowman — Episode #211 - Live from RWWP Dealer Event - BINGO

• Answer: Don says the bike helps but hunters must still avoid riding it into sanctuary areas. 20:27

Question: An audience member asks what advice Don would give young hunters who can’t afford land at today’s prices. 71:25 — Episode #211 - Live from RWWP Dealer Event - BINGO

• Answer: Don urges patience, saying to set a decades-long goal and start small rather than expecting quick success. 73:37

Question: What advice does Don have for getting bucks to bed on your property? 51:32 — Ep #208 - Live from the FAE Midwest Sportsman Classic!

• Answer: Don says freedom of human intrusion costs nothing and is the hardest message to get hunters to accept. 51:45
• Answer: Don says most hunters don’t realize how little intrusion is needed to bump a mature buck out. 52:08

Question: Clinton McCullough asks whether more deer die from hunting or natural causes like car accidents, and what the ratio might be. 24:41 — asked by Clinton McCullough — Episode #195 - Wes Delks Shoots a Giant and Crossbow Controversy

• Answer: Don doesn’t know the exact ratio but believes hunting pressure, not natural causes, is the main reason few bucks reach maturity. 25:24

Question: Carter Lang asked whether strategically bumping deer toward the center of 60-120 acre properties during hunting season is a good tactic or just for clicks. 51:42 — asked by Carter — Episode 192 - End of October - Tactics and Plans are Changing - PRE RUT!

• Answer: Don calls bumping deer on small 60-120 acre properties a ridiculous idea and says he can’t understand why anyone would pressure their own land. 52:11
• Answer: Don adds that the key to consistently killing big deer is hunting unpressured deer, since pressured deer become far harder to kill. 53:26

Question: Steven Taylor asks whether deer are harder to hunt and react differently to habitat improvements in highly pressured states like Michigan. 62:29 — asked by Steven Taylor — Episode #190 - Prep for Youth Season - Green Light on Babe

• Answer: Don says some states are easier to hunt than others overall, but success really comes down to how individual properties are managed. 63:19
• Answer: Don notes consultant Wes Delks has only consulted a few years yet already helped a Michigan client kill a 200-inch buck, unlike decades-long local consultants. 63:52

Question: Terry asked whether scenting a scrape could hurt anything if it were done with zero human intrusion. 59:38 — Episode #185 - Bucks are starting to shift - Fall Plots, GET THEM IN

• Answer: Don says it’s possible if the scent wasn’t handled properly and could spook a buck. 59:45

Question: Carter Lang asked whether putting out 750 scrapes across his property in one day might be doing more harm than good. 61:19 — asked by Carter Lang — Episode #185 - Bucks are starting to shift - Fall Plots, GET THEM IN

• Answer: Don doubts two people could realistically place 750 scrapes in a day and says that much activity leaves human scent everywhere. 62:25

Question: A listener asks how to make land improvements and check cameras while still minimizing human intrusion on the property. 43:42 — Episode #182 - Don’s Buck Management Plan for 2023

• Answer: Don says the key is location, not elimination: establish a sanctuary first and keep intrusive projects like food plots outside of it. 44:14

Question: Ryan Kimler asks whether, after seventeen seasons without killing a mature buck, there’s a natural skill cutoff in deer hunting, like in basketball. 53:09 — asked by Ryan Kimler — Episode #146 - Late Season Decisions and Tactics

• Answer: Don tells Ryan the mature bucks he wants are confirmed present, meaning they’re killable, so he needs to change his approach rather than give up. 54:22
• Answer: Terry adds it might be that Ryan’s mature bucks only show up on camera at night, meaning his property needs changes to get them there in daylight. 55:59

Question: Terry asks Mark Lester to describe his hunting journey and what he looks for in the whitetails he pursues. 26:56 — Episode #133 - Special Guest Mark Luster - Buck Forecast Part 2

• Answer: Mark Lester says Don’s advice to build a central sanctuary and let pressure bounce off it became the foundation of his own hunting style. 29:45

Question: John Marasky from Campbellsport, Wisconsin asks how to balance human intrusion from food plot maintenance work against disturbing deer on his small 30-acre property. 39:42 — asked by John Marasky — Episode #132 - 2022 Buck Forecast Part 1

• Answer: Don explains that human intrusion matters most in bedding cover; deer are used to routine equipment sounds, but disturbance in bedding areas is where intrusion becomes a real problem. 41:07
• Answer: Don adds that he’s driven equipment within 10 yards of bedded or watching deer without spooking them, as long as he keeps moving rather than stopping to make eye contact. 42:35

Question: David Campbell asked how Don’s low-pressure, minimal-intrusion approach squares with Doctor Strickland’s advice to hunt the same stand five or ten times until an opportunity arises. 37:52 — asked by David Campbell — Episode #127 When to Plant Fall Food Plots?

• Answer: Don said hunters with decades of experience and mature bucks on the wall would agree the first hunt on a particular stand offers the best odds, though unique bucks like Trump were exceptions. 39:18
• Answer: Terry clarified that Doctor Strickland studies deer movement broadly at a macro level, while Don hones in on the specific pattern of an individual target buck. 44:12

Question: Jason Clark asks whether legalized crossbows, given their power and range, might be negatively affecting the number of mature bucks by making archery season easier. 48:01 — asked by Jason Clark — Episode #126 - Should we have deer hunting competitions?

• Answer: Don says crossbows are impacting harvest numbers mainly because they draw far more hunters, especially gun hunters, into archery season, not because of any extra shooting distance. 49:04

Question: Brett Petty asks how Don can host multiple hunters and still kill five to seven bucks a year without lowering each hunter’s odds of killing a mature buck. 50:09 — asked by Brett Petty — Episode #113 Prepare Now… Results Come Later!!!!

• Answer: Don explains that although they kill five to seven bucks yearly, it’s extremely rare for two hunters to be on his farm at once, since they always hunt one at a time playing the wind. 50:56

Question: Brett Petty asked how much hunting with two family members would reduce their chances of killing mature bucks compared to hunting alone. 35:17 — asked by Brett Petty — EPISODE #111 COURAGE or ARROGANCE?

• Answer: Don said the best deer hunters he’s known hunt alone, calling mature buck hunting an inherently selfish pursuit. 35:37
• Answer: Don explained added human intrusion from extra hunters cuts success well beyond a simple even split. 36:38
• Answer: Terry added you can have both camaraderie and trophy hunting goals, just not typically on the same property. 38:08
• Answer: Don said neither approach to deer hunting is wrong, but achieving both camaraderie and consistent trophy success is genuinely difficult. 39:54

Question: What parameters help decide how much human intrusion is acceptable on a smaller property with other goals? 44:58 — asked by Wes Whitetail — EPISODE #109 SHED HUNTING and LIVE FROM MASTER CLASS #2

• Answer: Don says the smaller the property, the more critical it is to minimize human intrusion since there’s little room for error. 45:50

Question: Sean from Maryland asks how the hosts balance eagerly wanting to hunt against holding off when the wind or conditions aren’t right for a target buck. 28:58 — asked by Sean — EPISODE #107 - Don Knows How To Fire Up Southern Folks!

• Answer: Joe says the discipline is to stay out of a mature buck’s one killable spot when the wind is wrong for days in a row, even during peak November. 31:28
• Answer: Don notes that in his 45th deer season he now hunts less but prepares more, and four of his top five bucks were killed in just the last four seasons. 32:30

Question: An audience member asks Joe whether Midwest or Southeast deer are harder to hunt. 52:30 — EPISODE #107 - Don Knows How To Fire Up Southern Folks!

• Answer: Joe says that from his personal experience, heavy hunting pressure makes Southeastern deer very hard to hunt, tougher than what he’s seen in the Midwest. 54:12
• Answer: Don says that in his opinion, Midwest farm-country deer are the easiest to hunt due to terrain and cover layout, not necessarily the deer’s behavior. 54:30

Question: Joseph asks how Don manages human intrusion during the annual master course without doing more harm than good through spring habitat work. 34:24 — asked by Joseph — Episode #106 - Don finds sheds of an 8-year-old buck!

• Answer: Don says they never enter the sanctuary during the master class. 35:16

Question: Joseph asks how to set up a sanctuary on 60 acres of woods and 40 acres of mixed habitat if he can’t cut trees. 34:50 — asked by Joseph — Episode #106 - Don finds sheds of an 8-year-old buck!

• Answer: Don advises that if you can’t alter the woods, the best move is simply to stay out and minimize human intrusion. 40:18

Question: Brandon asks what the biggest learning experience has been from all the habitat projects Don has done on his farm. 60:38 — asked by Brandon — Episode #106 - Don finds sheds of an 8-year-old buck!

• Answer: Don says the biggest lesson has been how critical freedom from human intrusion is on a property. 60:50

Question: John Yoder asked whether mechanical broadheads suit better shooters than fixed blades. 125:14 — asked by John Yoder — Episode #105 Live from Shipshewana, IN - 2 Episodes in One!

• Answer: Don said mechanicals are for hunters lacking the discipline or skill to get closer to a buck. 125:41

Question: Other than isolation and cover, what is the number one thing landowners can do to grow bigger deer? 19:45 — Episode #95 - Live from Guthrie, KY

• Answer: Don said staying out of the property—minimizing human intrusion—is the single biggest factor in growing big deer. 19:54

Question: How do you decide whether it’s okay for a neighbor—or yourself—to hunt right on the shared property line? 77:39 — Episode #95 - Live from Guthrie, KY

• Answer: Don said it comes down to treating each neighbor the way you’d want to be treated, worked out individually with each one. 79:44

Question: Randall asked whether a buck that sees hunters use a blind to harvest does will associate that blind with danger and avoid it, or if it’ll forget once tagged out. 32:12 — asked by Randall Barr — Episode #93 - Don decides to take a break…

• Answer: Don said he firmly believes deer remember things for essentially their entire lives. 32:33
• Answer: Don explained he avoids hunting every stand and property he has access to, because doing so risks educating and alerting the deer living there. 33:03

Question: Roger asked how Don approaches entry and exit strategy on properties where he only has hunting permission but no management control. 40:30 — asked by Roger Headings — Episode #93 - Don decides to take a break…

• Answer: Don said he actually spends at least half his hunting time on permission-only properties he doesn’t lease or own. 41:12
• Answer: Don said hunters must do something different than other hunters on a property, throwing the deer a curveball instead of repeating the same tactics. 41:49
• Answer: Don said entry and exit strategy is critical no matter what type of property you’re hunting. 42:16

Question: Terry asks whether deer will change their bedding-to-food travel patterns before or after bachelor groups break up in early October. 61:12 — asked by Terry — Episode #79 - Bachelor Group Dispersal and Iowa Update

• Answer: Don says any change is definitely tied to hunting pressure. 61:28
• Answer: Don adds a hunter might get away with crossing the field once, but not twice—the second bust ends the pattern. 62:21

Question: Matt asks Don and Terry to detail how they manage their farms while keeping human intrusion to a minimum. 49:35 — Episode #70 - Fathers Day Talk along with comparison of the Hunting Industry and the Drug Cartel

• Answer: Terry corrects a misconception that a 40-acre farm can’t hold a big buck, noting property size has no bearing on the size of bucks it can hold. 50:25
• Answer: Don adds that age structure matters more than score when discussing what a property can hold. 50:50
• Answer: Terry says he limits his own human intrusion to areas around his food plots, doing sanctuary maintenance in just a day or two each winter. 52:22

Question: Alex asks whether he should keep leasing a property whose farmer regularly rides four-wheelers through the woods during summer. 27:54 — asked by Alex — Episode #61 - Live from the Midwest Sportsman Show - TOUGH QUESTIONS FROM LIVE CROWD

• Answer: Don says he’d try talking to the landowner about the intrusion, but would move on from the lease if it couldn’t be eliminated. 28:31

Question: A listener asks how Don distinguishes necessary woods work from harmful human intrusion. 61:02 — Episode #61 - Live from the Midwest Sportsman Show - TOUGH QUESTIONS FROM LIVE CROWD

• Answer: Don acknowledges doing habitat work creates intrusion, but his approach is to get any project done quickly and get out. 61:22

Question: Terry asked Don to explain to listeners how the mature buck Mel reacted to small amounts of human intrusion in two seminar-discussed incidents. 10:27 — Episode #47 - Hunting Ethics, Annual Cycle Of Whitetail, Should we leave Social Media?

• Answer: At age three and a half, Mel caught Don moving while filming from a blind, tensed up, and calmly walked away without bolting. 11:22
• Answer: After noticing a trail camera on his scrape, Mel grew visibly nervous and never again worked that scrape in daylight. 17:16

Question: Don asks how the bedding-area philosophy should change the mindset of listeners who mainly hunt public land, given they can’t control other hunters. 19:43 — Episode #45 - Lessons Learned from Captive Research Deer

• Answer: Terry explains bucks on heavily pressured public land become far more cautious about bedding, food, and daylight movement, favoring sites with visibility and multiple escape routes. 20:08

Question: Terry asked Don to explain what made this buck so hard to kill beyond the small size of the properties. 25:07 — Episode #39 - SPECIAL EDITION - DON SHOOTS ANOTHER GIANT! 2 Bucks = 400”+ of Antler in 2020

• Answer: Don explained he deliberately waited until after gun season ended, knowing gun hunters would otherwise pressure and stomp through the bigger tracts of land. 26:09

Question: Carson Fritz asks whether leaving his three pressured properties alone in October and November will keep mature bucks bedding and feeding there in December. 47:49 — asked by Carson Fritz — Episode #33 - Mid October Update, A Little Cell Camera Update, Little Genetics Discussion, and even a little politics

• Answer: Don recommends hunting the edges of the properties instead of avoiding them entirely, pushing deer toward the heart so they still bed there by December. 49:29
• Answer: Terry adds that if Carson can’t hunt the property without pressuring it, staying away makes sense, but if he can hunt the outer edges he should take advantage of neighboring pressure. 50:23

Question: David Lewallen from Blue Mound, Illinois asked what key tips Don and Terry would teach their younger selves as beginning hunters. 62:03 — asked by David Lewallen — Episode #29 - Don previews some HIT LIST and UP-AND-COMER bucks while Terry is chasing a good buck in KY

• Answer: Don says the key lesson is minimizing human intrusion, which is highly detrimental to success if not kept to an absolute minimum. 69:53
• Answer: Terry says to enjoy the learning process rather than let social media pressure push beginners toward killing mature bucks too soon. 70:43

Question: Dylan Shaw asks what counts as human intrusion and how much intrusion-free acreage a property needs. 30:13 — asked by Dylan Shaw — Episode #24 - Don is glassing bucks at night while Terry tests Don’s idea of Saddle Hunting…

• Answer: Terry explains that the more acreage kept completely free of human presence, the better it is for holding deer. 32:49
• Answer: He clarifies that human intrusion isn’t really about sound — it’s about scent and physical presence within the cover. 33:05

Question: Curtis Harms asks what habitat work Don recommends to improve his 18 acres of timber sanctuary as bedding cover. 42:10 — asked by Curtis Harms — Episode #22 - Special Contest Winner Bryan Medinger and Don has big announcement

• Answer: Don tells Curtis the ATV path has to stop and human intrusion on the property must be cut down. 44:28
• Answer: Don suggests Curtis look into CRP programs for the 50 killable acres to gain more bedding cover and get paid. 44:34
• Answer: Terry advises making the 18-acre timber as thick as possible and hunting its downwind sides with good entrance and exit access for the rut. 45:54

Question: Jordan asked whether it’s best to leave a stand and come back later, or sit it out, when the wind shifts mid-hunt. 41:52 — asked by Jordan Brandenburg — Episode #19 - Finishing Timber Projects and Starting Food Plot Projects

• Answer: Terry said Jordan has to leave whenever the wind shifts, since nothing is worse than a swirling wind. 42:19
• Answer: Terry warned that staying on a bad-wind stand burns the spot for future hunts, not just that day, so it’s better to leave and return later. 43:17
• Answer: Don said one wrong decision to stay could cost sightings for the rest of the year, not just that hunt. 43:46

Question: Can a property become a buck factory with so many young 2-3 year old bucks that social stress pushes mature bucks off it? 36:09 — asked by Wes Fox — Episode #18 - Taking Advantage During The Bad Times

• Answer: Don flatly said no, he has never seen young bucks push mature bucks off a property. 37:02

Question: Nick Wright asked for thoughts on predator control and keeping hunting pressure off his properties. 44:14 — asked by Nick Wright — Episode #15 - Passion vs. Discipline

• Answer: Don describes hiring a trapper who, combined with his own bow hunting, removed 17 coyotes from his 120 acres in about sixty days. 44:57
• Answer: Don says predator control is necessary but the method matters, favoring night calling with thermal or infrared optics from a distance to avoid disturbing deer. 46:10

Question: Jason Trosch asked what Don thinks about mature bucks returning to a TSI bedding area after permitted nighttime raccoon hunting with dogs on his timbered property. 35:57 — asked by Jason Trosch — Episode #11 - Merry Christmas and Late Season Insights

• Answer: Don says hunters must operate at a higher level than average deer hunters to kill mature bucks, which is why he runs his managed properties as true sanctuaries. 37:11
• Answer: Terry shared that trespassing coon hunters walked right through his posted sanctuary near two target bucks, which angered him because it risked ruining his hunt. 40:16

Question: Holden Gates of Paris, Illinois asked what single improvement besides food plots best benefits deer during the off season. 42:27 — asked by Holden Gates — Episode #11 - Merry Christmas and Late Season Insights

• Answer: Don says the single best improvement is providing security through a sanctuary, since mature bucks value freedom from human intrusion above all else. 42:43
• Answer: Don explained he wants every acre on his property to be either bedding cover or food, enough to sustain deer through winter. 43:36

Question: Kurt Massey of Aviston, Illinois asked why he sees plenty of deer and passes small bucks but rarely sees the same mature buck return year after year. 45:02 — asked by Kurt Massey — Episode #11 - Merry Christmas and Late Season Insights

• Answer: Don says those mature bucks are almost certainly being killed elsewhere, since very few hunters pass on three-and-a-half-year-old bucks. 45:22
• Answer: Terry adds that no matter how well you manage your own land, careless neighboring hunters shooting the fence line will limit your chances with mature bucks. 46:12

Question: Dustin Kiesler asks why three-and-a-half-year-old bucks he lets go on his Kentucky lease vanish rather than returning as mature four-and-a-half-year-olds. 47:44 — Episode #10 - December Tips - Scouting for 2020 - Big Announcement from Real World

• Answer: Don advises that most of a hunting property should be an off-limits sanctuary area, since mature bucks above all want seclusion and freedom from human intrusion. 49:13
• Answer: Don adds that insufficient security on Dustin’s property is likely why the mature bucks aren’t sticking around. 49:21
• Answer: Terry says that once he committed to targeting mature bucks, he had to cut back on how much he entered the property. 50:28
• Answer: Terry recommends minimizing property pressure and only hunting in the right conditions and wind, meaning less time in the stand but greater success. 52:35

Question: Steven Pope asks which of all the bucks Don has harvested was the hardest or most challenging, and why. 39:02 — Episode #7 - Hunting during lock down - Things do not always go easy in the “Real World”

• Answer: Don answers that Trump was his hardest buck to harvest, having a huge home range with no predictable pattern to his movements. 43:42
• Answer: Don adds that after decades in the deer woods he simply knew that fence-row spot was right and had the discipline to keep grinding it out until Trump came through. 45:36

Question: With 20 acres of timber and good food plots, what else can I do to keep bucks on my property? 37:05 — asked by Peyton Messmore — Episode #5 - November is Here!

• Answer: Don says reducing human intrusion, not just adding food plots, is what actually keeps deer using a small property in daylight. 37:39

Wind & Scent Control

Question: Ryan Miller asks what key things Don looks for that most people overlook when targeting mature bucks on public land or permission pieces. 28:34 — asked by Ryan Miller — Why BIG BUCK Areas Often FAIL Deer Hunters | Chasing Giants 327

• Answer: Don explains mature bucks often aren’t found on obvious sign; instead they play the wind and use terrain, so hunters should focus on terrain features and wind rather than sign. 29:18

Question: How much can you get away with on wind direction if hunting out of a box blind? 28:26 — Doubting Thomas, Dealer Event & BIG Scrape Magnet News | Chasing Giants Podcast 314

• Answer: Don says there’s really no way to say how much wind leeway a box blind allows, since too many factors are at play. 28:59

Question: Christopher Palmer asks Don to explain woodsmanship and how much hunters should rely on scent-control gadgets versus playing the wind. 16:23 — asked by Christopher Palmer — Chasing Giants LIVE at the Midwest Sportsmen’s Classic | Shipshewana, IN | Presented by FAE

• Answer: Don says woodsmanship and scent control ultimately all boil down to playing the wind. 17:04

Question: Caleb asked whether Don and Terry hunt quartering winds favorable to bucks even though scent control isn’t a top priority for them. 31:41 — asked by Caleb — Barometer Secrets & Rut Forecast for Early November! | Chasing Giants 297

• Answer: Don answered that regardless of scent control, a deer close enough will smell you, so he doesn’t change his wind strategy based on scent regimen. 32:24

Question: Eli Doyle asks whether wind direction matters as much as thermals, after hearing another podcast claim thermals matter more than wind. 48:56 — asked by Eli Doyle — “200-Inch Nebraska Giant: Joe Chambers’ Incredible Buck Story | Chasing Giants Ep. 296”

• Answer: Don explains thermals matter more in hilly or mountainous terrain than on flat farmland, so hunters should weigh both wind and thermals depending on terrain. 49:31

Question: Garrett Geiger asked whether Don and Terry worry about keeping their truck or hunting trailer scent-free during the season. 35:37 — asked by Garrett Geiger — The Magic of Late October | Cold Fronts, Big Bucks & Character in the Woods | Chasing Giants #295

• Answer: Don recalled peeing directly from his stand once, after which a two-year-old eight-point buck walked under him and ate the grass where he had urinated. 37:13
• Answer: Don said he no longer uses any scent control and instead focuses entirely on playing the wind when setting stands. 39:27
• Answer: Terry said learning to read wind from Don was a turning point, after which he consistently saw more deer and killed mature deer five and six years old. 40:33

Question: Rick Lundberg asks whether Don is totally opposed to any scent control given wind sometimes betrays hunters. 19:12 — Episode #263 - Live from the Iowa Deer Classic

• Answer: Don says a mature buck will not give up the wind under most conditions regardless of scent control efforts. 21:42

Question: Jay Gets jokingly asks whether it’s okay to defecate (‘code brown’) from a tree stand, similar to peeing from one. 48:38 — asked by Jay Gets — Episode #263 - Live from the Iowa Deer Classic

• Answer: Don jokes he hasn’t tried that trick, adding it probably won’t work as well as peeing did. 48:54

Question: Jay Gets asks whether defecating from a stand would scare off deer. 48:58 — Episode #263 - Live from the Iowa Deer Classic

• Answer: Don jokes it would probably clear the whole property of deer. 48:59

Question: Jay Gets asks whether Don has had good success using a pelleted fertilizer product called ‘my’ for scent control. 49:16 — Episode #263 - Live from the Iowa Deer Classic

• Answer: Don says the fertilizer product works well as scent control until rain washes it away, and it shouldn’t be overused. 49:20

Question: Does Don use any scent control, or does he simply hunt the wind? 59:11 — Episode #258 - Live Podcast from Mt. Hope Ohio

• Answer: Terry recalls that twenty years ago Don was particular about chlorophyll tablets and dressing out carefully in the field. 59:20
• Answer: Terry says Don now avoids Ozonics or scent sprays entirely, relying mainly on the wind. 59:37

Question: What superstitions or rituals does Don have when he goes hunting? 16:10 — Episode #256 - Hard Winter and Early Buck Shed? Illinois CWD Announcement

• Answer: Don says his only ritual is checking wind direction before ever leaving the house, and he’ll never hunt a stand when the wind is wrong. 16:39
• Answer: Don always pulls the same arrow — the first one at the back of the quiver — rather than rotating. 17:09

Question: Nolan Gingerling asked about deer movement on calm versus windy days, referencing Don’s rut report comments and his grandpa’s belief that wind suppresses movement. 54:29 — asked by Nolan Gingerling — Episode #249 - Another Big Archery Buck! Terry Peer and Don Higgins Discuss

• Answer: Don said he dislikes calm days because deer notice hunter movement more easily and scent behaves unpredictably, preferring a steady wind around eight to ten miles per hour. 55:28

Question: Jeremy Marvel from Settlersville, Maryland asks why the wind at his stand consistently blows opposite the forecast direction. 57:44 — asked by Jeremy Marvel — Episode #246 - Don Says - Best November Hunting in 50 Years

• Answer: Don says learning how wind behaves at each new stand is a never-ending process unique to that location. 58:22

Question: Steve Myers asked why Don is hunting Zacchaeus from a tree stand instead of a scent-free blind if playing the wind is what matters most. 49:03 — asked by Steve Myers — Episode #243 - Target Giant Non-Typical Buck Success - Don Higgins

• Answer: Don explained the added challenge was giving up his seven prime blind locations, not scent control, since he plays the wind regardless of blind or stand. 50:37

Question: Frank asks why Dr. Bronson Strickland’s research showing bucks often ignore wind differs so much from Don’s own wind-based observations. 26:32 — asked by Frank Kamanski — Episode 230 - Don says Switchgrass is not the best bedding.

• Answer: Don insists every successful mature-buck hunter plays the wind and that mature bucks consistently use wind, regardless of any regional differences in Strickland’s study. 27:03

Question: How does a mature buck play the wind differently than a young buck or doe? 26:31 — asked by Thomas — Ep #208 - Live from the FAE Midwest Sportsman Classic!

• Answer: Don says a mature buck never wants to give up the wind advantage. 27:28
• Answer: Don says hunters must find a point on the buck’s travel route where he briefly gives up ideal wind, such as a bend in the trail. 28:17

Question: Would hilly terrain with swirling winds make Don more inclined to use scent-control products? 38:18 — asked by Reagan Niles — Ep #208 - Live from the FAE Midwest Sportsman Classic!

• Answer: Don says he once tried every scent-control method available, including chlorophyll pills for body odor. 38:59
• Answer: Don says the deer still smelled him regardless, and that doesn’t change whether in hill or flat country. 39:19

Question: What wind direction did Don have when he shot Babe? 53:02 — asked by Joe — Ep #208 - Live from the FAE Midwest Sportsman Classic!

• Answer: Don says the wind was Northwest, quartering into Babe’s nose as he came out and was shot. 53:17

Question: What made Babe go a different direction the other time he was seen? 53:29 — Ep #208 - Live from the FAE Midwest Sportsman Classic!

• Answer: Don says that time Babe was walking straight into the wind rather than quartering. 53:34

Question: Dan Branham from Milltown, Indiana asked if Don and Terry use scent lock, noting he still got winded despite full scent-control gear and went back to playing the wind. 64:37 — asked by Dan Branham — Episode #202 - Strange Sponsorship Requests with Joe Miles

• Answer: Don said there is no substitute for playing the wind, no matter what scent-control products a hunter uses. 65:43
• Answer: Don said he eventually realized his scent-control routine wasn’t working and wasted his time, and he needed to focus instead on playing the wind better. 66:48
• Answer: Terry said hunters who don’t understand the wind don’t understand mature bucks. 68:39
• Answer: Terry said even with perfect scent control, a hunter only has 30% of the puzzle solved without understanding how a mature buck uses the wind. 69:12

Question: Tim from Millington asks whether hunting upwind while using cover scents like buck balm or vanilla would mask his scent while still attracting deer. 48:51 — asked by Tim — Episode #194 - 2nd Target Buck Harvested by Special Guest

• Answer: Don said the deer will still smell the buck balm along with the hunter’s scent — the cover-scent trick won’t fool the deer. 49:41
• Answer: Don illustrated that a deer’s refined nose breaks scent mixtures into individual components rather than blending them like a human smelling soup. 50:19
• Answer: Don’s overall opinion is that nothing effectively covers human scent from a deer. 51:19

Question: A listener asks whether trimming limbs for shooting lanes or observation after season starts impacts mature buck movement. 47:46 — asked by Jake Camera — Episode #193 - Babe is Down!

• Answer: Don says the bigger concern with trimming shooting lanes isn’t the cutting itself but the human scent left behind and leaving cut branches for deer to smell. 48:41
• Answer: Terry says if a stand tree has grown a stray limb since last season, he’ll simply trim it with a handsaw on the first hunt without concern. 50:35

Question: An audience member asked Don to explain how mature bucks use quartering wind. 50:20 — Episode 159 - Captive Deer Breeding… Why Don Got Out

• Answer: Don said hunters need to give a buck a wind he feels safe with so he’ll move in daylight. 51:23
• Answer: Don said there are three steps to properly playing the wind. 52:43

Question: Brian Toliver asked how deer reacted to Ozonics this season, whether it works from a tree stand, and if it affects his health in an open environment. 19:47 — asked by Brian Toliver — Episode #144 - Where Did All The Bucks Go?

• Answer: Don admitted he bought a new $600 Ozonics unit before the season but never used it even once. 20:19
• Answer: Don offered to sell his unused Ozonics unit for $400 to whoever contacts him first. 20:41
• Answer: Don said he avoids Ozonics because he already carries enough gear and prefers to just play the wind correctly. 22:01

Question: Terry asks whether a strip of Miscanthus grass could block wind and scent for a listener’s bedding area near a property line. 39:24 — Episode #143 - Welcome to the Lockdown!

• Answer: Don admits he cannot answer whether Miscanthus fully blocks wind and scent. 39:31
• Answer: Don suggests testing it with milkweed to observe how wind reacts against a Miscanthus stand. 39:45

Question: A Kansas hunter asks why air currents near a soybean field keep coming from the opposite direction of what weather apps predict. 43:42 — asked by David Smalley — Episode #139 - Plans Can Change… Goals Stay The Same!

• Answer: Don explains wind hitting a tree line can swirl downward and reverse direction, an eddy effect, so hunters must learn how air currents behave at each stand location through experience. 44:53

Question: Terry asks whether you have to be willing to back out of a stand if the wind turns out wrong once you get there. 45:53 — Episode #139 - Plans Can Change… Goals Stay The Same!

• Answer: Don says yes, he’s climbed into a stand and left within fifteen minutes more than once after realizing the wind wasn’t right, even though a brief entry still disturbs the area. 45:58

Question: Keith Evans asked whether Don and Terry always exit a stand the same way they entered, or use an alternative exit route. 40:29 — asked by Keith Evans — Episode #138 - Hunting the Full Moon

• Answer: Don said he uses the same exit as his entrance about 90% of the time since a good access route is usually also a good exit route for the required wind. 40:41
• Answer: Terry said the QuietKat electric bike lets him take a long alternate route around a field to avoid busting deer, instead of walking straight out. 42:14

Question: Andrew Meyer, a 16-year-old hunter from Northern Missouri, asks what techniques Don uses to exit a stand undetected when deer are feeding nearby. 74:50 — asked by Andrew Meyer — Episode #137 - Tree Season or Deer Season?

• Answer: Don says he has howled like a coyote to push deer off, and has sat in his stand an hour or more past last shooting light before descending. 76:26
• Answer: Don advises hunting the transition zone between bedding and food in pressured areas, staying as close to bedding cover as possible. 78:15
• Answer: Terry says he keeps a Fox Pro wireless predator call staked about 65 yards from his tree stand to blow deer out if needed when exiting. 79:44
• Answer: Terry adds that the key lesson is not to overhunt a spot, entering only when conditions are truly right to kill a deer. 80:12

Question: A Michigan listener asks whether blowing scent 300 yards through bedded deer to reach his food plot stand is close enough to avoid busting them. 67:23 — asked by Tim Hallonan — Episode #133 - Special Guest Mark Luster - Buck Forecast Part 2

• Answer: Don advises hunters to accept what a property provides and stay disciplined, hunting only the correct wind rather than pushing extra stands. 70:14

Question: What is Don’s opinion on drag rags, are they truly effective, and how can hunters hide their scent trail while using one? 33:28 — asked by Kendall Yoder — Episode #125 - Wheat Prices May Change Late Season Hunting

• Answer: Don says he never once had a deer follow a drag rag’s scent trail despite trying it many ways when he was younger. 34:01

Question: Andy from Rachel, West Virginia asks how often bucks j-hook out of their bedding to get downwind of the food source or their direction of travel. 51:51 — asked by Andy — Episode #123 - How much does Don spend on batteries for trail cameras?

• Answer: Don says a mature buck that lacks a favorable wind will stay bedded until dark rather than risk moving to feed. 52:34
• Answer: Don adds that bucks often run the downwind edge of the food source with a quartering nose wind and hook out into the field. 53:09

Question: What wind conditions do you look for before a prescribed burn, and why start burning opposite the wind direction? 40:14 — asked by Greg Schimberger — Episode #112 - Chasing Giants in the Big North Woods

• Answer: Don says he wants a light but steady wind, avoiding variable wind that causes loss of fire control. 40:33
• Answer: Don explains he first burns into the wind along the downwind edge to create a firebreak before lighting the far side to burn with the wind. 40:46

Question: Joanne Thompson asked if it matters whether she walks away to relieve herself while hunting, and how to control her scent en route to her stand. 50:10 — EPISODE #111 COURAGE or ARROGANCE?

• Answer: Don said he pees right out of his tree stand and doesn’t believe it spooks bucks, though results may vary. 51:45
• Answer: Don admitted he has no experience or knowledge of whether female urine specifically attracts deer. 51:58
• Answer: Terry said he has no personal experience with this and joked they should ask wildlife expert Bronson Strickland. 52:16
• Answer: Don said scent control starts with choosing an access route to the stand that deer are very unlikely to cross. 53:01
• Answer: Don said rubber boots are probably about as effective as anything for eliminating ground scent. 53:33
• Answer: Terry summarized that the best stand is accessible without leaving ground scent while staying downwind of deer the whole time. 54:04

Question: Are you worried about your scent blowing into a cornfield or neighbor’s woods where a buck could smell you? 90:46 — asked by Jason — EPISODE #109 SHED HUNTING and LIVE FROM MASTER CLASS #2

• Answer: Don says every detail of wind and setup is calculated in advance, which changes the outcome. 94:15

Question: Damon Marling asked how far to go creating deer trails, referencing a ‘spokes on a wheel’ technique. 31:57 — asked by Damon Marling — Episode #105 Live from Shipshewana, IN - 2 Episodes in One!

• Answer: Don criticized a ‘spokes on a wheel’ setup he saw because no wind direction could work correctly for the blind’s placement. 33:40

Question: A listener asked whether hunting in a slight breeze is better than a dead calm day. 56:48 — Episode #105 Live from Shipshewana, IN - 2 Episodes in One!

• Answer: Don said there is an advantage to wind, and he doesn’t want a dead calm day. 56:58

Question: A listener asked if Don has a favorite wind direction to hunt. 57:50 — Episode #105 Live from Shipshewana, IN - 2 Episodes in One!

• Answer: Don’s favorite is an east wind, which brings a weather front and produces some of his best hunts, especially early November. 57:57

Question: Brandon asked whether Don has a particular wind direction and speed he prefers, or that deer seem to prefer. 48:17 — asked by Brandon Workman — Episode #93 - Don decides to take a break…

• Answer: Don said he loves east winds, partly because several of his best stands specifically require an east wind to work. 48:26
• Answer: Don said if he had a favorite wind direction, it would be an east wind. 49:01
• Answer: Don said he prefers a steady wind around 10 to 12 miles per hour, and figures deer simply adapt to whatever wind is blowing. 49:21

Question: A listener asked how Don handles urinating during an all-day tree stand sit — using a bottle or peeing off the stand. 39:01 — Episode #89 - 2021 Rut Setting Up To Be FANTASTIC!

• Answer: Don recounted peeing from his tree stand and having a two-year-old eight-point buck walk up minutes later, smell the spot, and calmly eat leaves — convincing him deer urine doesn’t spook deer. 39:55

Question: Jacob Sigler from Charleston, Illinois asked whether Don has any experience with dietary changes, like avoiding spicy food or meat, for scent control. 62:12 — asked by Jacob Sigler — Episode #76 - Where are the big bucks? August is here! Final Prep

• Answer: Don said the best scent control measure he ever used was ScentShield’s chlorophyll tablets, which he no longer sells. 63:30
• Answer: Don joked the chlorophyll tablets turn your stool green, but insisted they genuinely cut down body odor. 64:12

Question: Ray asks if Don would still hunt a proven stand on a cold morning when the neighboring field is still standing corn. 37:17 — asked by Ray — Episode #61 - Live from the Midwest Sportsman Show - TOUGH QUESTIONS FROM LIVE CROWD

• Answer: Don says he’d still hunt the stand since he knows the deer’s habits and doesn’t believe the standing corn would affect their movement. 37:38

Question: Jared from Illinois asked why Don and Terry never discuss thermals, especially near rivers, when talking about hunting the wind. 27:28 — asked by Jared — Episode #58 - Burning Native Grass Tips and Great Questions from 3rd Master Class

• Answer: Don said thermals tie into wind play and react differently depending on whether the terrain is hilly or flat. 30:37

Question: Bailey McGuire asks what one thing Don would tell his younger self at the start of his hunting journey, and why. 32:48 — asked by Bailey McGuire — Episode #57 - Discussion about Ethics Continues as guest at the 2nd Master Class put Don on the spot with live questions.

• Answer: Don says he would tell himself from day one how critical playing the wind is to killing mature bucks. 36:16

Question: Sean asks if a hunting blind helps with swirling winds and contradicting thermals when hunting bottoms in timber country. 50:20 — asked by Sean — Episode #57 - Discussion about Ethics Continues as guest at the 2nd Master Class put Don on the spot with live questions.

• Answer: Don says a blind will help cut down scent dispersal, though it’s not a 100% foolproof solution. 50:34

Question: Shane Moore asks what tools or apps are relied on for tracking daily and hourly wind direction, since hunting apps sometimes predict wrong. 55:28 — asked by Shane Moore — Episode #45 - Lessons Learned from Captive Research Deer

• Answer: The speaker says he does not rely on hunting-specific wind apps. 55:54
• Answer: He uses general weather apps like Weather Underground and AccuWeather instead of hunting-specific ones. 56:09
• Answer: He says he trusts a wind sock at his house over any app or weatherman, using it as the reference point for choosing which stand to hunt. 56:35

Question: Jason Burner asks whether mature bucks typically only exit their bedding with the wind in their face, or if that varies by buck and pressure. 46:16 — asked by Jason Burner — Episode #43 - Making Good Stand Great, Broadhead Debate Update, How We Celebrate a Kill, and Customer Service

• Answer: Don answers that it varies by individual buck, but mainly depends on how much hunting pressure that specific buck has experienced. 47:20
• Answer: Don adds that the more hunting pressure a buck experiences, the less likely he is to ever give up scent control by moving with the wrong wind. 48:50

Question: Does Don have advice for hunting swampland not connected to hardwoods, or success stories hunting swamp? 35:14 — asked by Tyler Steenbuck — Episode #42 - Christmas Gift Ideas, Hanging Tree Stands in February, and Last Giveaway for 2020

• Answer: Don says the listener is doing everything right by staying on the edges and should focus on playing the wind correctly. 36:23
• Answer: Terry adds that manipulating cover and food placement lets a hunter access swamp edges from multiple wind directions. 37:16

Question: Levi Wentworth from Atkinson, Nebraska asks how to learn wind patterns for stand sites in terrain with deep draws and cedar trees. 55:51 — asked by Levi Wentworth — Episode #38 Terry Kills a Illinois 8 Pointer and Don gets wound up on some industry topics! REALLY WOUND UP!

• Answer: Don recommends keeping a wind sock at home to note wind direction, then checking how that same wind behaves at each stand site. 56:33

Question: Terry asked Don to discuss the importance of wind and how to play it for the rest of the season. 8:39 — asked by Terry — Episode #36 Peak Rut Update, Warm Weather, maybe a little election and religion

• Answer: Don said most hunters can recall exactly where they shot their top bucks but couldn’t tell you the wind direction that day, showing how overlooked wind is. 9:22

Question: Terry asked until what point in the season Don stays on the downwind side of cover before shifting closer to food sources. 12:47 — asked by Terry — Episode #36 Peak Rut Update, Warm Weather, maybe a little election and religion

• Answer: Don said he stays on that downwind cover strategy until about December 1. 12:51
• Answer: Don added that on afternoon hunts he stays downwind but positions closer to the feeding area than on morning hunts. 13:11

Question: Brandon McDaniel asked how to decide which of two inside field corners requiring the same westerly wind to hunt. 53:20 — asked by Brandon McDaniel — Episode #35 - Don shoots his 3rd 200”+ Buck - The story of Mel - A 220” World Class Whitetail

• Answer: Don said the choice between the two corners comes down entirely to wind direction. 53:40
• Answer: Terry added that hunters should also weigh which corner has the best access route, choosing the one with the right wind and easiest entry and exit. 54:37

Question: Jacob Wessels asks if mature bucks travel the downwind field edge instead of just inside the timber, and how to hunt that spot without getting winded. 36:27 — asked by Jacob Wessels — Episode #34 - Late October Check in - Buck Activity Slower Than Expected - Why?

• Answer: Don explains that setting a stand right on the field edge and hunting high with a steady wind lets his scent pass over a nearby buck’s back instead of hitting him directly, even though the buck is technically downwind. 39:01

Question: Zev Ham asks how to hunt a stand when the timber sits on the property’s east side but the prevailing wind is usually from the west, limiting access. 42:40 — asked by Zev Ham — Episode #34 - Late October Check in - Buck Activity Slower Than Expected - Why?

• Answer: Don says the property actually sets up great for an east wind, and hunters need to work with whatever wind direction the property provides rather than forcing common wind patterns. 43:16

Question: William Hanks asks whether comparing wind flow to how water moves across terrain is a good analogy for predicting scent dispersal, or if there’s a better approach. 38:21 — Episode #30 - Don prepares for season - Terry has a mishap and misses a target buck PLUS A BIG ANOUNCEMENT

• Answer: Don confirms wind behaves like water, flowing and swirling across the landscape similar to eddies in a river. 38:43
• Answer: Terry adds that disciplined wind management let him hunt his target buck’s spot five times without spooking it, though hunting nightly would ruin the spot. 41:41

Question: David Lewallen asked what Don and Terry do to keep their scent down while hunting. 62:33 — Episode #29 - Don previews some HIT LIST and UP-AND-COMER bucks while Terry is chasing a good buck in KY

• Answer: Don says his only scent-control method is playing the wind. 64:17
• Answer: Terry notes Don still changes clothes and avoids obvious mistakes, but doesn’t run ozone machines or other scent gimmicks. 66:20

Question: Dean Bronson asked Don and Terry to detail their scent-free protocol before deer season, covering clothing washing/storage, boot care, sprays, ozone products, and post-hunt routine. 19:40 — Episode #12 2020 ATA SHOW from Indy - Part 1 of 2

• Answer: Don said he doesn’t use scent-free sprays, ozone, or special products—he simply watches the wind, washing clothes once before season and relying entirely on wind direction to stay undetected. 20:58
• Answer: Terry agreed, saying the further into his hunting career he gets, the more he relies on wind direction rather than scent products or techniques. 23:18
• Answer: Don said he checks cameras early before rain moves in and generally keeps cameras away from his stand locations to limit scent exposure near hunting sites. 27:15

Question: Terry asks Don if there’s a way to look up wind direction for the date stamps on his trail camera photos. 31:51 — Episode #9 - Terry shoots his second buck of the year and Don scouts for 2020 Season

• Answer: Don says to use Weather Underground, which has historical weather data by date and location. 32:06
• Answer: Don explains he built a spreadsheet logging every camera picture’s date, location, and direction to pattern a buck. 32:29

Unofficial fan project. AI-synthesized from public episodes; may contain errors.