Hunting Strategy — Listener Q&A

Questions 135–281 of 296 in this category (page 2 of 3). ← previous · All listener questions · next →

Stand Placement & Access

Question: Tyler Glenn asks what winter projects Don would recommend starting as hunting season ends. 60:58 — asked by Tyler Glenn — Episode 303 – Late-Season Deer Movement, Winter Food Strategy & The Future of Big Bucks

• Answer: Don recommends winter as the ideal time to review every stand location and note improvements, like adding fruit trees or clearing trees to redirect deer movement. 62:18

Question: When you get a new permission property, do you scout and hang a stand right away, or wait for a shooter buck to show up? 38:08 — asked by Drew Harmon — Late Season EXPLOSION! Why Giants Are Falling Everywhere | Chasing Giants #302

• Answer: Don now picks his tree and scouts, but no longer hangs stands everywhere just in case a shooter shows up. 40:34

Question: Should I eliminate the farther natural scrape branches to force deer onto the rope scrape closer to my blind? 43:26 — asked by Brent Chase — Late Season EXPLOSION! Why Giants Are Falling Everywhere | Chasing Giants #302

• Answer: Don agrees it’s a great idea to cut the farther scrape branches and force deer to the closer rope scrape. 44:03

Question: For a farm you weren’t prepared to hunt, how would you strategize scouting, finding a tree, and hanging a stand this week? 26:04 — Barometer Secrets & Rut Forecast for Early November! | Chasing Giants 297

• Answer: Don said he’d scout likely spots via onX or Google Earth, then go in midday with a stand and bow, hang it based on that day’s wind, and hunt until dark. 26:44

Question: Andrew asked how close to a stand he should ride his e-bike to eliminate ground scent when accessing stands. 47:32 — asked by Andrew Diller — Barometer Secrets & Rut Forecast for Early November! | Chasing Giants 297

• Answer: Don answered he drives the e-bike as close as possible, ideally leaving it lying in the weeds right at the base of his tree. 48:10
• Answer: Terry answered he’ll ride close but not into the woods, slipping in on foot at the wood edge because he thinks it’s quieter. 48:32

Question: Russ Casda from Oak Forest, Illinois asked if a stand can be mediocre or bad all season yet reliably produce a mature buck during the rut. 40:27 — asked by Russ Casda — #288 2025 Buck Forecast: EHD Devastation, Trail Cam Insights & Hard Truths About Trophy Bucks

• Answer: Don said this is common because bucks simply expand their existing home range during the rut in search of does rather than roaming into unfamiliar territory. 41:27

Question: What was the most out-of-the-box stand entrance/exit plan you’ve seen or prescribed? 24:42 — #279 - Live Hot Seat! Don Higgins Faces Tough Questions from Dealers | 2025 RWWP Summit

• Answer: Don describes an Ohio hunter’s elaborate scent-control setup: a solar-powered exhaust fan pulled air out of the blind through buried PVC while he crawled in through underground tunnels. 25:49

Question: Cliff Goitowski asks about ideal blind height, screening trade-offs, and whether elevated blinds used by others can condition deer to avoid an area. 40:14 — asked by Cliff Goitowski — Episode #265 - How To Plant Fruit Trees - Wildlife Orchards

• Answer: Don believes the ideal blind height is about 10 feet, which is what nearly all of his blinds are set at. 41:17

Question: Jason Merchant asked if Don relies on a wind sock at his house to know how wind behaves at his hunting spots. 51:46 — asked by Jason Merchant — Episode #264 - Big Rope Scrapes and Big Bucks!

• Answer: Don says he avoids wind socks near his food plots since they could spook deer, preferring one reference sock at his house. 52:37

Question: An audience member asks Don’s opinion on placing a camo-clad mannequin in a stand before season to acclimate deer. 13:00 — Episode #263 - Live from the Iowa Deer Classic

• Answer: Don says he wouldn’t do it; he hangs stands in early spring instead and wants the stand hit as little as possible. 13:17

Question: Mario Casasola asks whether it’s better to relocate wary stands to a slightly different, more concealed spot within the same site, or abandon the location and start fresh. 57:41 — asked by Mario Casasola — Episode #255 - Deer Movement and Weather Fronts

• Answer: Don confirms deer absolutely can pattern a stand location, and once they do it’s time to relocate, while also stressing hunters must consistently play the wind rather than assuming any wind works. 63:33

Question: Brett Coach asked for tips on hunting small, isolated timber patches surrounded by open agricultural land. 55:38 — asked by Brett Coach — Episode #243 - Target Giant Non-Typical Buck Success - Don Higgins

• Answer: Don recommended hanging stands months ahead, in spring before green-up, since bucks in tiny cover patches usually only allow one entry mistake before leaving. 56:22

Question: Clayton Carroll asked for advice on when to enter stands, morning or evening, depending on the time of year. 58:47 — asked by Clayton Carroll — Episode #243 - Target Giant Non-Typical Buck Success - Don Higgins

• Answer: Don said his access route matters more than exact arrival timing, though he typically enters two hours before dark in evenings and fifteen to twenty minutes before shooting light in mornings. 61:01

Question: Steve asks whether flooding a property with mock scrapes or keeping just one scrape near the stand makes more sense. 42:13 — asked by Steve Taylor — Episode 237 - Cell Camera Spooking Mature Deer? Don Thinks Maybe So…

• Answer: Don favors the approach of eliminating all licking branches except one directly in front of the stand over placing many scrapes. 45:37

Question: Patrick asks if Don has heard of using mulch as a quiet pathway to a tree stand and whether the smell would deter deer. 49:49 — asked by Patrick Seaton — Episode 237 - Cell Camera Spooking Mature Deer? Don Thinks Maybe So…

• Answer: Don says he’s never heard of or tried mulch trails to stands. 50:09
• Answer: Don recommends doing it in spring rather than right before season, and doesn’t think the smell would bother deer. 50:16

Question: Thomas Chandler of Greenwich, Ohio asked how often Don gets winded by deer given his careful stand placement, and what percent chance a deer coming downwind represents. 52:53 — asked by Thomas Chandler — Episode #219 - The Most Important Aspect of Hunting Whitetails

• Answer: Don said he hasn’t tracked exact numbers but estimated fewer than 5% of deer passing his stands ever wind him. 53:19
• Answer: Don added he can’t recall the last time a mature buck winded him — probably a decade — since it’s almost always a doe or yearling that catches his scent. 56:01

Question: A Brookville, Indiana hunter asked for advice on hunting mature bucks bedding in thick honeysuckle he struggles to access. 19:53 — Episode #214 - Don says, “MAKE TURKEY HUNTING GREAT AGAIN!” Easter Sunday

• Answer: Don recommended cutting a path through the thick cover past the stand so deer pass close by, then reinforcing it with a rope scrape. 22:32

Question: How smart are deer, and what is the smartest thing you’ve seen a deer do? 22:43 — Ep #208 - Live from the FAE Midwest Sportsman Classic!

• Answer: Don recommends parking further away and walking or biking in rather than driving all the way to the stand to avoid alerting deer. 23:17
• Answer: Don says mature bucks are smart because they’ve typically avoided hunters for at least five seasons. 24:12

Question: Ryan Pataki asked what the most important thing is when selecting a stand location. 61:13 — asked by Ryan Pataki — Episode 198 - Buck Traveling Long Distances After The Rut

• Answer: Don says access is by far the most important factor for any stand location. 61:42
• Answer: Don warns that without good access, a stand gets burned out after only a few hunts regardless of sign nearby. 62:10

Question: Larry Lehman asks what Don looks for when deciding where to hang a stand on a new hunting property. 26:41 — asked by Larry Lehman — Episode #195 - Wes Delks Shoots a Giant and Crossbow Controversy

• Answer: Don’s first priority on a new property is determining whether and where mature bucks are bedding. 27:26
• Answer: Don wants his stand on the downwind edge of thick bedding cover, ideally where terrain funnels deer to that edge. 29:25

Question: Ben from Minerva, Ohio asked what good property access actually looks like, since people say it’s key but rarely describe it concretely. 72:07 — asked by Ben — Episode 184 - the new G Series no till drill from PH Outdoors.

• Answer: Don said good access means being able to enter and exit a property, especially reaching stands or plots, without alerting deer along the way. 73:26
• Answer: Terry added that good access means staying downwind of bedding so deer only smell the safe direction while the hunter’s scent blows away from their travel routes. 74:14

Question: Patrick asks whether a great neighborhood of like-minded managing neighbors matters more than a farm with great access and layout despite surrounding hunting pressure. 58:51 — asked by Patrick — Episode #171 - Take What a Property Gives You!

• Answer: Don says a property with great layout and access matters more than being surrounded by like-minded, well-managing neighbors. 59:13

Question: John Hyestand asks whether an old tree stand should be treated as a known deer concentration area for planning, or as an outdated spot deer have adapted away from. 37:00 — asked by John Hyestand — Episode #165 - Farmers Planting Early Creates New Opportunities - EARLY SPRING

• Answer: Don says he assumes most old tree stands are not actually in good spots, based on years of seeing poorly placed stands. 37:54
• Answer: Don says a good stand location must have good access that doesn’t spook deer approaching it. 38:07
• Answer: Don says the second requirement is a wind direction that can be hunted without deer scenting the hunter. 38:19
• Answer: Terry adds that most stands he’s seen sit where there’s good buck sign, but sign alone doesn’t make a good hunting spot. 39:50

Question: Do you look for a stand with great access first and improve habitat around it, or find deer funnel areas first and then locate the best stand site? 24:45 — Episode #151 - Winter Scouting Tips

• Answer: Don said he first takes advantage of existing deer habits and habitat, then enhances those patterns rather than starting from scratch. 25:06

Question: Rick from Greensburg, PA asks how to better predict wind behavior at specific stand locations so he stops wasting hunting time. 19:09 — asked by Rick — Episode #143 - Welcome to the Lockdown!

• Answer: Don says you must learn how wind behaves at each specific stand location relative to your home reference point, since terrain can make it act opposite of forecasts. 19:52
• Answer: Don adds that learning wind is a never-ending process requiring continual data-gathering as you add new stands and properties. 21:55

Question: Devin Allen from Jonesboro, Arkansas asks how to secure a mature buck living in a small 1.5-acre timber patch surrounded by cut ag fields. 31:53 — asked by Devin Allen — Chasing Giants Podcast #141 - Scrapes are hot… So is the weather!

• Answer: Don recommends slipping in at night on an ATV or truck with lights and engine running to hang a stand, since deer tolerate slow vehicle noise better, then leaving quickly. 32:38

Question: Paul Gould asks how Don and Terry pattern a target buck from trail camera pictures and decide which tree stand to hunt him from. 87:49 — asked by Paul Gould — Episode #137 - Tree Season or Deer Season?

• Answer: Don says patterning a buck also means patterning the property, since he already knows where to kill any mature buck on farms he has hunted for years. 88:33
• Answer: Don emphasizes that a mature buck relies on his nose while traveling, only using a route that also gives him a wind advantage, key to picking a stand. 89:54
• Answer: Terry says on his small farm he has gotten a shot at three different bucks over five years old on nearly every hunt, missing only once. 91:53

Question: Cooper Cox asked whether Don or Terry ever encountered a buck they deemed unkillable, referencing a hunter who tracked a buck only via trail camera. 30:54 — asked by Cooper Cox — Episode #135 - Buck Dispersal - What does it mean?

• Answer: Don said he believes he can kill nearly any mature buck given full property access and no interference from other hunters. 32:21
• Answer: Don admitted he once thought the buck named Trump was unkillable, but ended up killing him. 33:05

Question: What is the best tree species to hunt out of? 73:07 — EPISODE #109 SHED HUNTING and LIVE FROM MASTER CLASS #2

• Answer: Don likes oak species like pin oak and shingle oak because they hold their leaves through winter for concealment. 73:27

Question: How should he pick the right entry/exit trails and scout doe activity on his rectangular, river-bordered property? 21:48 — Episode #108 - Mind Blowing Deer Management with Dr. Bronson Strickland

• Answer: Don says access is everything — without good access, hunters push deer off the property by hunting sign-heavy interior spots instead of edges. 21:56

Question: What is Travis’s strategy for approaching his stand access — waiting for daylight or moving in the dark? 35:31 — asked by Travis — Episode #108 - Mind Blowing Deer Management with Dr. Bronson Strickland

• Answer: Don says he typically does not wait for daylight; he goes in while it is still dark before entering his stand. 35:57

Question: Does Don go in completely without a light, not even a red light? 36:21 — Episode #108 - Mind Blowing Deer Management with Dr. Bronson Strickland

• Answer: Don confirms he goes in without a light. 36:25

Question: A listener asked how to keep deer from using the same access trail a hunter uses to reach a stand. 77:01 — Episode #105 Live from Shipshewana, IN - 2 Episodes in One!

• Answer: Don warned that creating too obvious a trail to a stand causes deer to start using it too. 77:14

Question: Jason Hesselberg asked whether Don sets up specific stand sites near water to use rising thermals. 43:55 — asked by Jason Hesselberg — Episode #98 - Don’s Trophy Room, Stolen Gun, and New Title Sponsor

• Answer: Don said all his stand location decisions are based on wind direction first. 47:26
• Answer: Don said if you can push your scent out over a body of water, that’s an ideal setup. 47:38

Question: When walking out to a tree stand in the dark, does Don use a light or go without one? 80:03 — Episode #95 - Live from Guthrie, KY

• Answer: Don said he almost never uses a light walking in or out in the dark. 80:11

Question: After hunting with Don for several days, what’s one takeaway you can bring back to your own property in Southern Illinois? 16:20 — Episode #87 - BUCK DOWN! Lester’s Feet Raffle Winner Got it Done!

• Answer: Brent says his key takeaway is prioritizing access and wind direction and avoiding walking through the middle of a property, something he hadn’t fully considered. 16:41

Question: Terry asks whether Don’s stands are already set on the farm or if he’s waiting on trail camera data first. 2:49 — asked by Terry — Episode #85 - The Ones That Got Away… New Series by Don

• Answer: Don says he already has four stands in place on the farm and has picked a tree for another. 3:02

Question: Ian asked how Don would read terrain features and hunt three big ridges on his property. 23:47 — asked by Ian — Episode #58 - Burning Native Grass Tips and Great Questions from 3rd Master Class

• Answer: Don said to stay high on ridges since wind swirls too much in the bottoms to hunt effectively. 24:30
• Answer: Don’s trick is to set up where his wind blows down a ravine, since the funnel narrows toward the top. 24:48

Question: An audience member asks whether they park e-bikes at the base of the tree or stand, or leave them elsewhere. 60:48 — Episode #57 - Discussion about Ethics Continues as guest at the 2nd Master Class put Don on the spot with live questions.

• Answer: Terry says he usually leaves his e-bike away from the stand, but would drive right up to a brushy stand if the situation allowed. 60:56

Question: Kevin from Michigan asks Don to explain how he knew a stand location was the right spot to kill the buck Trump. 32:49 — asked by Kevin — Episode #56 RELOAD - Great discussion live from 2021 Master Class #1 - Terry answers some questions on cell cam test

• Answer: Don decided to commit to one property continuously rather than rotating between several, reasoning patience would let him get ahead of the wide-ranging, nocturnal buck instead of trailing behind him. 34:16
• Answer: On the tenth hunt at that stand, the first deer Don saw all season was Trump, who emerged from a standing cornfield and walked to him, and Don shot him. 34:41

Question: Should stand access always go through open areas like a hay field, or is cutting through woods to a landlocked spot near a bean field acceptable? 39:20 — asked by Michael Riley — Episode #53 - Iowa Deer Classic, Deer Foundering, Cull Bucks, and Don gets fired up about politics at the end

• Answer: Don says access is everything; hunters must know whether a buck moves from bedding to feeding or vice versa and set up in between, rather than defaulting to open ground or woods. 41:23

Question: Seth asks if it’s too risky to hunt a stand where wind blows across a 40-50 yard wide river into another block of timber. 52:13 — asked by Seth — Episode #30 - Don prepares for season - Terry has a mishap and misses a target buck PLUS A BIG ANOUNCEMENT

• Answer: Don advises against it if you also hunt that far block of timber, but says it’s not a big deal if you don’t hunt that side. 52:46
• Answer: Terry says he treats a similar river as a boundary fence and doesn’t worry about scent blowing across it since he never hunts the other side. 53:39

Question: Bryan asks whether Don has buddies drop him at a stand by ATV so the ATV keeps moving rather than parking. 30:54 — asked by Bryan Medinger — Episode #22 - Special Contest Winner Bryan Medinger and Don has big announcement

• Answer: Don says on the days he actually hunts he wants stealthy access to the stand so deer never know a human was on the property. 31:23

Question: Austin Hepburn asks how often Don strays from established stand setups to hunt more mobile if stands need to move. 53:36 — asked by Austin Hepburn — Episode #22 - Special Contest Winner Bryan Medinger and Don has big announcement

• Answer: Don says on established properties he rarely moves stands, but on new public hunting land he stays much more mobile. 55:30

Question: Terry asked whether it’s better to spook a deer out of an area with a vehicle than by walking out on foot. 8:14 — Episode #17 - Live from Don Higgins first Master Class of 2020

• Answer: Don said a human on foot is far more pressure than a vehicle, recalling how a friend drove him in by truck to hunt the stand where he killed his 214-inch buck. 8:43

Question: Curt Maching of Aviston, Illinois asks for the best tips on hunting a property overtaken by invasive bush honeysuckle. 54:58 — asked by Curt Maching — Episode #10 - December Tips - Scouting for 2020 - Big Announcement from Real World

• Answer: Don explains he cut a small trail through the bush honeysuckle to his stand in winter, then sprayed the stumps so the cut plants wouldn’t regrow. 55:46
• Answer: Don advises cutting a path through the honeysuckle in winter with a chainsaw or pruning saw wherever you want deer to travel, guaranteeing they’ll use it. 56:14

Question: Justin Fallon asked how to know the right time to use a favorable wind, beyond the rut and dropping temperatures, on a stand near a funnel with food and water. 47:26 — asked by Justin Fallon — Episode #6 - Don Kills 2 Booners on Back to Back Hunts

• Answer: Don pointed out Justin only mentioned one stand on his 400-acre property, which limits him to hunting only when the wind happens to suit that single spot. 49:15
• Answer: Terry added that hunters need multiple stand setups for different wind directions and different times of year on one property. 51:00

Question: How do you access a stand for an October morning hunt without blowing deer out on a property with only one way in? 40:34 — asked by Rich Hixson — Episode #5 - November is Here!

• Answer: Don says he never hunts mornings in October at all, regardless of camera activity. 40:52
• Answer: Don says a stand without good access isn’t really a good stand site, no matter the property’s size. 42:16
• Answer: Don advises accepting the access you’re dealt on a property, manipulating routes where possible, and living with the constraints. 42:27

Question: How do you share a property you’ve had access to for years with someone who just got granted permission right before bow season? 37:18 — asked by Sam Heller — Episode #2 - Update on Opening Week and Targeting Don’s First Booner of 2019

• Answer: Don answers that if someone already has permission, hunters should step back rather than compete, guided by treating others the way you’d want to be treated. 38:17
• Answer: Terry adds that if the two hunters can’t reach an agreement, Sam should move on and find another property to hunt. 39:55

Target Bucks & Hunting Plans

Question: How do young hunters get a solid habitat plan without the budget to hire a real consultant, and how do they avoid scam advice? 21:43 — asked by Max Joelma — Prayers, Peace & Planting Strategy | Spring Food Plot Advice | Chasing Giants 323

• Answer: Don advised researching who’s giving advice, checking their track record and results, and looking at the actual bucks and properties they’ve produced. 24:06
• Answer: Terry explained that consulting-client discounts on normal purchases can pay back the cost of a lower-priced team consultant within about a year. 26:12

Question: Garrett asked whether a three-and-a-half-year-old buck scoring 250-plus inches, having added 100 inches from the prior season, would be a target on Don’s farm. 43:25 — asked by Garrett Stoops from Ashland, Ohio — Why Some Hunting Properties Work Instantly… And Others Fail - Chasing Giants Podcast #319

• Answer: Don said he would likely pass on shooting such a buck on his farm to give him a chance to spread his genes. 47:34

Question: Wayne Fry asks whether the turning point buck will be Don’s target for next year or if another buck is on the list. 54:49 — asked by Wayne Fry — Chasing Giants LIVE at the Midwest Sportsmen’s Classic | Shipshewana, IN | Presented by FAE

• Answer: Don says there’s a good chance that buck will be the one he targets. 54:57

Question: How far from cover edge is Don’s average tree stand, and what’s the farthest he’d place one before ruling out a spot? 59:43 — asked by Russell Morris — Texas Hunt, Brutal Cold, Late Rut Behavior & Winter Habitat Decisions | Chasing Giants Podcast #309

• Answer: Don says his average stand is only about 10 feet from the edge of cover. 59:54
• Answer: Don says his furthest stand is about 20 yards from cover, which is roughly his maximum on farm country. 60:15

Question: What has deer hunting taught you that you’ve carried through life outside the woods? 41:59 — LIVE at 360 Blinds: No Script, No Filters — Just Real Questions | Chasing Giants 308

• Answer: Don says the best thing deer hunting ever did for him was the people he met through it. 42:08

Question: Terry asks John Wise whether he has ever deliberately targeted one specific deer he knew about from a previous year. 64:56 — Kill More Deer. Feed Hungry Kids. | Boone Brothers | Chasing Giants 306

• Answer: John Wise says he sets a target buck every year and has noticed specific bucks show clear patterns at the start and end of season, disappearing during the rut. 65:05

Question: Terry asks whether young Don Higgins would be more surprised by his record deer or by his current podcast ministering to young men about faith. 34:55 — Episode #269 - Genetics, Nutrition, or Age (which is more important)

• Answer: Don says he’d be more surprised by the deer on the wall, since the Christian seed his grandfather planted in him as a child eventually grew into his faith and ministry. 35:15

Question: Nicholas Workman from Andover, Kansas asks whether a watering hole counts as a food source before the rut. 53:44 — asked by Nicholas Workman — Episode #269 - Genetics, Nutrition, or Age (which is more important)

• Answer: Don says he wouldn’t call a water hole a food source, but does consider it a great hunting spot, especially early season. 54:04

Question: Terry asks Nick and Evan what trigger characteristics best suit deer hunters compared to other shooting applications. 98:09 — Episode #245 - Halloween Hunting Should Be Great! Weather and Hunting Forecast from Don Higgins

• Answer: Evan says Brenton found a three-and-a-half-pound trigger pull is the ideal balance of predictability and safety for deer hunters. 99:37

Question: Andy Hendrix asked how much stock listeners should put in advice from average podcast hosts, given overlapping guests across different hunting podcasts. 39:14 — asked by Andy Hendrix — Episode #242 - Stop Hunting October Mornings

• Answer: Don said podcast hosts aren’t a tight-knit group and listeners must judge advice by what a person has actually accomplished, not just repeated hearsay. 40:51

Question: Easton Gruber asks whether to hunt an early-showing mature buck immediately or wait until the date he’s historically shown up based on past patterns. 38:06 — Episode 232 - We are starting a TV Show!

• Answer: Don says if the hunter knows the buck is present early, it’s time to hunt him immediately rather than waiting. 38:13

Question: Coy asks how to convince his father to start hunting the wind despite years of ignoring it. 43:14 — asked by Coy Phillips — Episode #229 - Final Thoughts on the Buck Named Babe and Cameras are Out!

• Answer: Don says without exception the best whitetail hunters always know the wind direction before entering the woods. 43:51
• Answer: Don adds that hunters who become proficient at killing good bucks often can’t change their approach, which keeps them from reaching the next level. 46:06

Question: How long does it take to gather enough data on a new hunting property to consistently be successful on it? 43:16 — asked by Bo Findlay — Episode 225 - Big Antlers this Spring Mean Big Decisions this Fall!

• Answer: Don said mentor Al Foster’s rule was that the third year on a property is when you should really start cashing in. 44:08
• Answer: Don agreed the questioner’s third-season estimate was essentially correct, though some properties can be learned faster. 45:11
• Answer: Terry added that beyond learning the property, hunters also benefit from controlling what gets shot as pressure is removed. 45:25

Question: An audience member asks whether Don and Terry would kill a management buck out of one of their best buck stands. 35:14 — Episode #211 - Live from RWWP Dealer Event - BINGO

• Answer: Terry says he’d shoot a management buck there after he’s already tagged out on his target buck. 35:22
• Answer: Don says he won’t shoot a management buck in October if he still has a target buck on the same property. 35:31

Question: Tyler Webb from Lawrenceburg, Tennessee asks why hunters avoid morning hunts in early season, questioning if bumping risk differs between morning and evening entries. 30:55 — asked by Tyler Webb — Episode 199 - Dewormer in Deer Feed, Tractors, Screens, and Windmills

• Answer: Don explains that a mature buck is usually already bedded before sunrise in October, rarely still moving at first light, making morning hunts low-odds for target bucks. 32:51
• Answer: Don notes an exception: during the last week of October, cold fronts do increase mature buck movement in mornings compared to typical conditions. 34:33

Question: How did the youth season go with the boys? 1:08 — Episode #191 - Babe Out In Daylight - Giant Corn Yields for Food Plotters

• Answer: Babe never showed despite three days of hunting. 1:53

Question: Were the boys just hoping to kill a good deer, or were they hunting a specific target buck? 2:32 — Episode #191 - Babe Out In Daylight - Giant Corn Yields for Food Plotters

• Answer: Don says the boys would have happily shot any decent buck, not just a specific target. 2:40

Question: Do you two have any hunts or bucks that still haunt you? 63:18 — asked by Ray Miller — Episode #191 - Babe Out In Daylight - Giant Corn Yields for Food Plotters

• Answer: Don says the Cedar House buck, a huge clean 10-pointer he never killed, still haunts him. 65:27
• Answer: Don also recalls hearing two unseen bucks sparring so hard it sounded like baseball bats smashing together. 67:42

Question: Terry asked whether the breeding effort also targeted apples that ripen later in the year for deer hunters, rather than earlier. 12:43 — asked by Terry — Episode #188 - Apple Trees for Whitetails

• Answer: Don said Andy selected apples for a later bloom date to reduce the risk of frost damage. 12:55
• Answer: Don said Andy also bred trees specifically to hold apples in November, since that’s essential for deer hunters. 13:08

Question: Andrew asks if Don’s wife hunts with him and whether he’d let her shoot Babe or another target buck. 53:50 — asked by Andrew Bontrager — Episode #186 - Disappointing 2023 Buck Forecast

• Answer: Don says his wife has no interest in hunting or shooting anything, though she has accompanied him in blinds and stands. 54:02

Question: Terry asked how far away Don was when he got the footage of Babe. 9:31 — Episode #181 - What is new with Asio Gear?

• Answer: Don said he filmed from a tripod, about 100 yards away, so the footage was steady and really good. 9:39

Question: Jeff Sparks asked how Joe, a former moon guide owner, actually uses the red moon given he hunts almost every week. 47:09 — asked by Jeff Sparks — Episode #181 - What is new with Asio Gear?

• Answer: Joe explained hunting pressure matters most, then weather, and then the moon, which he says can have an impact based on his anecdotal experience. 50:45

Question: If target buck Babe drops a few inches of antler, would Don still target him this season or wait another year? 33:08 — asked by Wilson Newswanger — Episode 178 - The Bucks and The Corn are Growing Fast

• Answer: Don says the odds are very good he’ll target and hopefully shoot buck Babe this season, depending on how the younger bucks develop. 46:11

Question: Lucas Hagen asks for one piece of advice for younger hunters and what Don and Terry wish they’d done sooner or regret. 63:30 — asked by Lucas Hagen — Episode 178 - The Bucks and The Corn are Growing Fast

• Answer: Don says his biggest lesson, learned over many years, is how critical keeping a hunting property free of human intrusion is, especially around bedding sanctuaries. 64:33
• Answer: Terry says his key lesson was learning to identify or create accessible bedding areas and knowing which wind conditions to hunt them in. 68:32

Question: Nick Collins asked how Don copes emotionally with harvesting a mature buck after years invested watching and pursuing it. 54:29 — Episode #167 - Turkey Season Is Here! Terry Still Hates Turkeys!

• Answer: Don said the mix of elation and sadness comes from realizing how rare it is to finally arrow a giant buck watched over multiple years, and that the feeling is indescribable and comes with age and experience. 60:52

Question: Jesse Vandenberg asks whether Don’s goal this year is to document and harvest his up-and-coming buck with potential to score 200 inches. 29:39 — asked by Jesse Vandenberg — Episode #165 - Farmers Planting Early Creates New Opportunities - EARLY SPRING

• Answer: Don says timing and other factors will determine whether he takes the shot, regardless of video documentation. 30:10
• Answer: Don says he’ll try to video document the kill as he did with Smokey and Mel, though it isn’t guaranteed. 30:29

Question: What’s Don’s plan for hunting this year’s target buck? 64:36 — Episode #161 - Live from Last Master Class - Inside QuietKat E-Bike

• Answer: Don said the buck is currently mid-180s and would need about 20 more inches, giving less than 50% odds of reaching 200. 65:03
• Answer: Don said if the buck is alive on October 1 and he decides to hunt it, his odds of killing it are better than fifty-fifty. 65:19

Question: An audience member asked Don’s opinion on hunting by moon phases. 75:03 — Episode 159 - Captive Deer Breeding… Why Don Got Out

• Answer: Don said weather trumps the moon and he doesn’t pay attention to moon charts. 76:01
• Answer: Terry said he’d rather hunt the right cold front or weather pattern regardless of what the moon is doing. 76:50

Question: Garrett asks Don’s thoughts on culling does based on age, citing a theory that older does won’t let small bucks breed them. 52:08 — asked by Garrett — Episode #149 Frigid Temps and Deer… Merry Christmas 2022!

• Answer: Don calls the idea that older does refuse to be bred by small bucks a fallacy, since does let any buck breed them. 53:06
• Answer: Don says he takes the opposite approach from Garrett’s suggestion, preferring to shoot older does rather than younger ones. 53:54
• Answer: Don explains he targets older does from a hunting standpoint, since they’re wary and can teach danger-avoidance to other deer, risking busting his stand. 54:28

Question: A Kentucky one-buck-state listener asks whether to shoot a known mature buck in velvet early or wait for the rut. 48:58 — Episode #130 - Don buys a scent elimination device

• Answer: Don says he’d shoot a giant buck the first chance he gets, opening day or not, since such opportunities are rare. 49:34
• Answer: Terry says the decision depends on the hunter’s personal goal and that he’d hunt specifically toward whichever goal he set. 51:05

Question: Does research support that weather fronts matter more than moon phase for daylight deer movement? 25:27 — Episode #108 - Mind Blowing Deer Management with Dr. Bronson Strickland

• Answer: Bronson says they see no measurable moon-phase effect on deer movement, a stance that draws angry pushback on social media. 25:46

Question: Mark Gingerich from Gays Mill, Pennsylvania asked whether Don pays attention to the moon phase, including red moon theory, when deciding when to hunt. 33:23 — asked by Mark Gingerich — Episode #89 - 2021 Rut Setting Up To Be FANTASTIC!

• Answer: Don said he doesn’t follow moon charts, believing weather and the rut phase matter far more than moon phase, though he thinks the moon has some effect. 36:47

Question: Adam Rosendale from Forest, Ohio asked Don to elaborate on mature buck tendencies for morning hunting outside of November. 46:36 — asked by Adam Rosendale — Episode #89 - 2021 Rut Setting Up To Be FANTASTIC!

• Answer: Don explained that in November, mature bucks abandon feeding patterns entirely and are instead covering ground at dawn searching for does coming into estrus. 48:26
• Answer: Don added that a mature buck spotted on a November morning is typically covering ground rather than casually moving, so hunters must be ready to shoot quickly. 48:55

Question: Matthew Montag asked whether Don ever uses scents like doe or buck estrus while deer hunting, and why or why not. 38:46 — asked by Matthew Montag — Episode #86 - 17,764 trail cam pics in 25 days - no bait or attractant

• Answer: Don says he rarely uses scents because mature bucks recognize the smell as a warning sign, much like calls. 39:05
• Answer: Don recommends Smokies as his go-to scent brand, saying any of their varieties work equally well. 40:50

Question: Colton Bailey asks whether a single trail-camera photo of a buck is enough reason to sit a location for several days. 44:33 — asked by Colton Bailey — Episode #84 Don Choice - Iowa or Illinois for Opening Day?

• Answer: Don says it depends on his other hunting options; with nothing better he might spend time on it, but with better odds elsewhere he goes there instead. 44:53

Question: Is Don’s target 172-174-inch buck number one on his Illinois hit list, and is it located in Illinois or Iowa? 13:46 — Episode #83 Don’s Buck Inventory shows 32 bucks over 150”

• Answer: The buck is located in Illinois, but not on Don’s own farm. 13:53

Question: Is the idea that the moon phase affects deer movement fact or fiction? 44:06 — asked by Casey Larson — Episode #80 - Don’s 2021 Buck Forecast

• Answer: Don pays little attention to the moon and focuses on weather fronts instead, though he allows the moon may have some minor effect. 50:56

Question: Brandon asked what the most memorable moment has been over Don’s hunting and consulting career. 50:06 — asked by Brandon Wolf — Episode #73 - How much bigger will bucks get? Don’s best and worst of the week!

• Answer: Don said the greatest thing deer hunting ever did for him was the friends he made through it, something he’s appreciated more as he’s gotten older. 50:36

Question: Derek Hammond asked whether smaller landowners should hunt deep in a property’s dark reaches to reach less-pressured deer. 56:34 — asked by Derek Hammond — Episode #29 - Don previews some HIT LIST and UP-AND-COMER bucks while Terry is chasing a good buck in KY

• Answer: Don says hunting deep into a property’s interior is usually not the best approach; hunt the edges with easy-access stands instead. 58:12
• Answer: Terry adds that advice must be applied to each property’s specific layout, since he hunts his farm completely differently than Don hunts his. 60:22

Question: A new property owner asked about avoiding mistakes, noting there’s plenty of advice online but little about what mistakes to avoid. 9:56 — Episode #17 - Live from Don Higgins first Master Class of 2020

• Answer: Don advised evaluating whether an information source has personally accomplished what they’re teaching before trusting their advice, since much online deer-hunting information is misinformation. 11:00

Question: Terry poses a scenario to Don: with little shooting light left while hunting a target buck, a coyote walks out—what do you do? 47:21 — Episode #15 - Passion vs. Discipline

• Answer: Don says it depends on the stand; if it’s a spot he’s hunting a target buck, he’ll let the coyote walk rather than risk spooking the buck. 48:00
• Answer: Terry adds that the decision depends on location; near a bedding area they’d lay off, but a transition-area stand might warrant taking the coyote. 48:15

Scouting & Shed Hunting

Question: A listener asks whether shed-hunting videos showing hunters quickly finding lots of sheds on camera are staged for content. 45:01 — asked by Hunter O’Leary — Don Shares Personal News + The #1 Mistake Hunters Make | Chasing Giants Podcast 322

• Answer: Don said he believes a lot of shed-hunting content on YouTube showing quick, easy finds is staged for the camera. 45:50

Question: Gerald asked whether a buck missing part of its skull cap on a shed pedicle would grow abnormal antler tissue that spring or heal back to normal. 33:49 — asked by Gerald Hunter from Larson, Wisconsin — Why Some Hunting Properties Work Instantly… And Others Fail - Chasing Giants Podcast #319

• Answer: Don said he could almost guarantee that buck would develop abnormal antler growth at the base given the size of the skull chunk lost, and it likely wouldn’t heal normally. 34:04

Question: Have you found any shed yet? 15:10 — Doubting Thomas, Dealer Event & BIG Scrape Magnet News | Chasing Giants Podcast 314

• Answer: Don had pulled 23 cameras the day before and found about five sheds while pulling them. 15:13

Question: Terry asked Don why he varies his shed-hunting aggressiveness by situation and what his plan is for finding sheds this year. 35:30 — Snow, Sheds & Sorghum: Late-Season Deer Survival | Chasing Giants #311

• Answer: Don admitted he gets more aggressive searching for bigger sheds or sheds from bucks he plans to hunt the next season. 35:39
• Answer: Don said this year he likely won’t put much shed-hunting effort in until the cold weather breaks, to avoid pushing deer off food sources. 36:50

Question: Terry asked whether Don would ever shed hunt with snow on the ground given reduced visibility. 36:57 — Snow, Sheds & Sorghum: Late-Season Deer Survival | Chasing Giants #311

• Answer: Don said visibility is worse in snow but it depends on location; he actually found a shed 20 yards from his house yesterday, visible from indoors. 37:03

Question: Terry asked Don to explain the origin of the buck forecast segment and give new listeners a rundown of what it is. 15:15 — #288 2025 Buck Forecast: EHD Devastation, Trail Cam Insights & Hard Truths About Trophy Bucks

• Answer: Don said that by end of summer he has a good handle on the forecast, not in numbers but in terms of antler growth being average, better, or worse than average. 15:29

Question: Terry asked whether anything could still change Don’s forecast this late in the year, or if it was locked in. 22:21 — #288 2025 Buck Forecast: EHD Devastation, Trail Cam Insights & Hard Truths About Trophy Bucks

• Answer: Don said EHD is the wildcard that could still change things, noting it has already been devastating in Southeastern Ohio. 22:27

Question: Does the switchgrass burn timing usually correspond with Don’s annual shed hunting day? 1:32 — Episode #262 - The Controlled Burn on Switchgrass GONE BAD!

• Answer: Don is unsure it will happen this year since illness and hospitalization put him behind on his consulting schedule. 1:40

Question: What’s the difference between multiple people walking a consulting client’s property during hunting season versus shed hunting on it? 36:38 — asked by JC Whitet — Episode #259 Apple Tree Spacing in Deer Plots

• Answer: Don says consulting-visit walk-throughs happen on unfinished properties needing habitat work, unlike shed hunting on already-finished properties with no need for extra pressure. 37:59
• Answer: Don argues going in just to shed hunt risks pushing a buck onto a neighbor’s land, gaining the hunter nothing. 38:14

Question: Wesley asks when it’s too late to scout the right tree for a target buck spotted via trail camera on a new property. 60:43 — asked by Wesley — Episode 237 - Cell Camera Spooking Mature Deer? Don Thinks Maybe So…

• Answer: Don says it’s never too late; he’s hung and hunted stands the same day he set them. 61:29
• Answer: Don adds that the whole idea of precisely patterning a buck’s timing is misleading; you can only pattern general routes, not exact schedules. 61:40

Question: Daniel Bortex asks whether Don would allow a shed hunting dog on his property. 38:12 — asked by Daniel Bortex — Episode #215 - Could 2024 be a fantastic antler growing season?

• Answer: Don says he isn’t a dog person but would probably allow a well-trained shed dog on his property. 38:42

Question: An audience member asks what the right thing to do is upon finding a target buck’s shed just over the property fence line. 57:52 — Episode #211 - Live from RWWP Dealer Event - BINGO

• Answer: Don says today he’d call the neighbor and tell him where the shed is rather than keep it quiet. 59:20

Question: What are the survival chances and antler prospects for a shed-hunted buck with a gooey, infected antler base? 37:55 — Episode #160 - Live with Dr. Bronson Strickland at Whitetail Master Class

• Answer: Bronson says the infection likely means the buck will develop a brain abscess and may not survive to the next season. 38:18

Question: Terry asked Don to explain his strategy for shed hunting his sanctuary from each direction. 67:01 — Episode 159 - Captive Deer Breeding… Why Don Got Out

• Answer: Don said they start at one end of the property and only push about halfway through. 67:33
• Answer: Don said the approach avoids pushing the deer entirely off the property. 67:51

Question: How does Don find bucks on state land or spots hours from home — word of mouth, past hunting grounds, or scouting miles? 20:07 — asked by Nick Essenmacher — Chasing Giants Podcast #145 - Bully Bucks and Big Rubs!

• Answer: Don says over 90% of tips he gets never pan out, so leads are rare even though he keeps his ears open. 20:47
• Answer: Don only chases tips from people he already knows and trusts well, refusing leads from strangers. 21:20

Question: Terry asked Bobby what the buck crop looks like this year compared to past years, and what trends he’s seeing. 35:11 — Episode #134 - Bobby Worthington talks Buck Forecast Part 3

• Answer: Bobby said that in a year with rain patterns like this one, he typically expects to see big racks on Tennessee bucks. 36:23

Question: Greg Schimbarger asked what strategies Don uses to find his next giant buck during down years — targeting a known giant, or setting up properties and waiting. 90:27 — asked by Greg Schimbarger — Episode #134 - Bobby Worthington talks Buck Forecast Part 3

• Answer: Don said his strategy is finding secluded out-of-the-way pockets other hunters overlooked and placing trail cameras there, which worked near where the Joey Buck turned up. 92:46

Question: Did you get pictures of a target buck this week? 6:07 — Episode #131 - Don forms his own Dream Team

• Answer: Don confirms he has bucks to chase this fall. 6:12

Question: Jason Clark asks about advice claiming July is a great time to start mock scrapes that will keep mature deer returning throughout the season. 48:30 — asked by Jason Clark — Episode #126 - Should we have deer hunting competitions?

• Answer: Don confirms bucks will hit mock scrapes in July, but cautions those bucks are still in summer bachelor groups and often won’t be around once fall hunting season arrives. 51:13

Question: How many sheds has Joe found this year so far? 4:15 — EPISODE #109 SHED HUNTING and LIVE FROM MASTER CLASS #2

• Answer: Joe has found 44 sheds so far this year. 4:19

Question: Is this shed count a big year so far for Joe? 4:22 — EPISODE #109 SHED HUNTING and LIVE FROM MASTER CLASS #2

• Answer: Joe says February was his best month, getting 32 sheds early due to a cold spell pushing deer onto a good food source. 4:26

Question: When does Joe actually start looking for sheds? 8:25 — EPISODE #109 SHED HUNTING and LIVE FROM MASTER CLASS #2

• Answer: Joe targets the first or second week of February to start shed hunting. 8:30

Question: When will Joe stop shed hunting for the season? 8:50 — EPISODE #109 SHED HUNTING and LIVE FROM MASTER CLASS #2

• Answer: Joe says warm weather like a 70-degree day already slows his shed hunting down. 8:53

Question: How do you approach a new hilly property with unpredictable wind while minimizing intrusion? 76:33 — asked by Rich Hixson — EPISODE #109 SHED HUNTING and LIVE FROM MASTER CLASS #2

• Answer: Don says to locate the pockets of concentrated deer activity and separate them from low-activity areas. 77:34

Question: Are early-dropping antlers just another myth like an early rut, or does whitetail antler drop naturally vary from season to season? 55:43 — asked by Jeff Paltay — Episode #100 - Chasing Giants Episode 100 - Predator Control, Doe Factory, Moving Scrapes

• Answer: Don said antler drop timing does shift year to year based on how much stress the deer herd experiences. 56:14
• Answer: Don recalled a bad ice storm about ten years ago that stressed deer so severely he later found matched shed pairs together in the bedding cover. 56:53

Question: Ryan asked how to scout diligently in Iowa when bucks are likely to shift their range and move into new areas by hunting season. 39:14 — asked by Ryan Elenbaas — Episode #73 - How much bigger will bucks get? Don’s best and worst of the week!

• Answer: Don explained that even if a target buck shifts his fall range, it doesn’t mean there’s zero chance of killing him, since bucks often return to their summer range early and late in the rut. 40:43

Question: Terry asks Don to describe his recent trip to Iowa. 3:27 — Episode #61 - Live from the Midwest Sportsman Show - TOUGH QUESTIONS FROM LIVE CROWD

• Answer: Don recounts that on Monday he hung a couple of tree stands on the Iowa farm where he has hunting permission. 3:31

Question: Terry asks what Don looks for when scouting a newly accessed property this late in the season. 4:41 — Episode #61 - Live from the Midwest Sportsman Show - TOUGH QUESTIONS FROM LIVE CROWD

• Answer: Don says he looks for other hunters’ sign like tree stands, since he avoids stand sites near other hunters because mature bucks avoid human presence too. 5:02
• Answer: Don also looks for past rut sign such as scrapes and rubs, plus deer funnels and potential stand locations. 5:24

Question: Mark Jackson from Indianapolis asked how much attention Don pays to scrapes when scouting in Iowa and whether he builds stand placement around them. 21:20 — asked by Mark Jackson — Episode #58 - Burning Native Grass Tips and Great Questions from 3rd Master Class

• Answer: Don said he uses terrain features, not scrapes, to choose stand locations, and wind direction to decide when to hunt them. 22:01

Question: Joe Johnson asks Don about the “same time, same place” shed-hunting pattern, referencing a buck he tracked via sheds for years. 50:57 — asked by Joe Johnson — Episode #57 - Discussion about Ethics Continues as guest at the 2nd Master Class put Don on the spot with live questions.

• Answer: Don confirms a buck follows the same annual pattern his whole life, so his shed locations recur in the same spot each year. 52:33

Question: Terry asks Joe Johnson whether coyotes ever carry off shed antlers and chew on them, based on his dog’s shed-chewing habit. 23:33 — asked by Terry — Episode #56 RELOAD - Great discussion live from 2021 Master Class #1 - Terry answers some questions on cell cam test

• Answer: Joe Johnson says he’s never seen a coyote carry off a shed, but has seen coyotes strip fresh deadheads and rib cages over about a week without dragging the head away. 23:54

Question: When shed hunting a football-field-sized area with cover on both sides, should you walk end to end, start in the middle, or walk halfway and circle back? 30:19 — Episode #53 - Iowa Deer Classic, Deer Foundering, Cull Bucks, and Don gets fired up about politics at the end

• Answer: Don explains he walks from one end to the 50-yard line and turns back, only covering half the property so pushed deer relocate to the undisturbed half. 30:38

Question: Does Don still maintain his sanctuaries during shed season, or is that the one time of year he’s okay with human intrusion? 60:25 — asked by Bryson Duffy — Episode #46 Dual Bolt Crossbow Opinions and New Products from Real World

• Answer: Don says he does enter his sanctuary for shed antlers but limits trips, trying to go in only once each season. 60:44
• Answer: Terry adds he leaves trail cameras out longer and waits until deer visibly drop their antlers before shed hunting. 61:32
• Answer: Don adds that when entering the sanctuary he deliberately pushes deer in a positive direction rather than toward heavy hunting pressure. 62:43

Question: Terry asked where people can follow Don’s rut report and whether it’s posted anywhere besides Facebook. 25:21 — asked by Terry — Episode #36 Peak Rut Update, Warm Weather, maybe a little election and religion

• Answer: Don said he only posts the rut report on his Higgins Outdoors Facebook page because typing there is easier than on Instagram. 25:26

Question: With rain expected this week, what scouting or indoor projects does Don plan to accomplish? 49:41 — asked by Terry — Episode #20 - Food Plot Prep Continues - Native Grass and Miscanthus in the Ground

• Answer: Don plans to hang two more stands this week among a list of other projects. 49:54

Question: Has Don had a chance to work much on his hunting property yet this offseason? 2:13 — Episode #14 - Don and Terry talk deer during the superbowl…

• Answer: Don says he’s been scouting new properties and found an unprecedented amount of rub sign. 2:35
• Answer: He describes finding a specific unknown buck rubbing large hickory trees, and moved trail cameras hoping to photograph it before it sheds. 2:55

Question: Benjamin Murray asked whether buck poop is always clumped together versus individual pellets, and whether large clumps reliably indicate a buck versus either sex. 39:32 — Episode #12 2020 ATA SHOW from Indy - Part 1 of 2

• Answer: Don said there is no way to tell from a pile of poop whether it came from a buck or a doe; clump size relates more to diet than sex. 41:30

Public Land

Question: Vince Peterson from Seymour, Nebraska asks whether Don congratulates hunters who kill bucks he was targeting, and whether it discourages him. 42:04 — asked by Vince Peterson — CULLING BUCKS: Why Shooting 3½-Year-Old 8-Points Actually Works | Chasing Giants #310

• Answer: Don says he typically does congratulate hunters who kill bucks he was after, regardless of who is involved, and always tries to acknowledge them. 42:35

Question: Did Don walk around and scout the Minnesota property, or cut bait given the pressure and small size of the tract? 2:29 — #292 - Public Land Busts, Big Timber Dreams, & Target Bucks

• Answer: Don only scouted briefly, saw signs of multiple hunters already there, and decided not to put out cameras or hang a stand because the odds were too stacked against him. 3:19

Question: Does Don have more plans to scout public land up north, or is he playing it by ear? 4:03 — #292 - Public Land Busts, Big Timber Dreams, & Target Bucks

• Answer: Don already has a Minnesota trip booked for winter and several more planned in Wisconsin and Iowa. 4:24
• Answer: He hasn’t given up on the dream of shooting a public-land giant and will keep plugging away. 5:11

Question: What are your thoughts on Senator Mike Lee’s public land sale bill? 38:46 — #279 - Live Hot Seat! Don Higgins Faces Tough Questions from Dealers | 2025 RWWP Summit

• Answer: Don is firmly opposed, noting public land is often all that hunters have access to. 38:52
• Answer: Don hopes Donald Trump Jr., as a hunter, has enough influence to stop the bill. 39:15

Question: Joey Kessinger asks what Don uses for public-land stand sets since screw-in steps aren’t allowed there. 23:51 — asked by Joey Kessinger — Episode #263 - Live from the Iowa Deer Classic

• Answer: Don says he now uses climbing sticks, having moved away from screw-in steps which he used to loosen and back out each spring. 23:57

Question: Trey Brown from Fair Play, South Carolina asks how much attention to pay to wind direction and scent control when limited to high-pressure public land. 55:35 — asked by Trey Brown — Podcast #241 - Don’s Target Buck Revealed - Non-Typical Giant!

• Answer: Don says he’s not big on scent control since playing the wind matters far more; wind direction is way more critical on high-pressure public land than on private ground. 56:28

Question: Andy Hendrix asks how Don would hunt if given five equally good public-land areas to choose from. 40:54 — asked by Andy Hendrix — Episode #240 - If Don Was DNR, How He Would Make Illinois Better Than Iowa

• Answer: Don says he’d run trail cameras on all five areas and hunt whichever holds the biggest buck, not avoiding areas due to pressure. 41:25

Question: An anonymous Pennsylvania listener asked whether Don only kills big bucks because of a special property, and how successful he’s been off his own farm. 62:10 — Episode #231 - Timing is Key: When to Plant Fall Plots

• Answer: Don said only seven of the 21 deer heads on his wall came off his home farm, while 14 came from other properties. 63:07
• Answer: He added his top five bucks came from four different properties — only two off his own farm and three from permission-only land. 63:47

Question: Rick Maga asked whether the Whitetail Master Academy benefits public land hunters or is only useful for landowners. 44:31 — asked by Rick Maga — Episode #207 - Was Don a Hippie?

• Answer: Don agrees the Whitetail Master Academy is mainly geared toward land management and offers little direct benefit to public land hunters. 46:57

Question: How long did Don hunt public land before acquiring his current farm? 68:25 — Episode #161 - Live from Last Master Class - Inside QuietKat E-Bike

• Answer: Don said the farm was his grandparents’, where his mom was born, and he began converting it into a deer farm about thirty years ago after they passed away. 68:30

Question: An audience member asked how a public-land hunter can apply Don’s private-land management knowledge to kill a big buck. 41:26 — Chasing Giants #155 - Hilarious Episode Live from Middlefield, OH

• Answer: Don said it’s possible but harder to do consistently on public land, and trail cameras are the key tool. 42:35

Question: When scouting public land this year for shed hunting or future hunting spots, what should be the top priority? 28:45 — Episode #151 - Winter Scouting Tips

• Answer: Don said his top priority is getting away from people, adding that a terrible encounter with another hunter this year has soured his desire to hunt public land. 29:02

Question: Brandon Cox asked for the top three ways to set his 200 acres apart from bait-using neighbors for daylight deer movement in hill country. 57:06 — asked by Brandon Cox — Episode #151 - Winter Scouting Tips

• Answer: Don’s first tip was to minimize human intrusion, since deer avoid areas with human presence, so keeping a property intrusion-free yields more deer. 57:53

Question: Would Don shoot an unfamiliar three-and-a-half-year-old buck on public land rather than risk another hunter taking him? 78:36 — asked by Daniel Brennaman — Episode #125 - Wheat Prices May Change Late Season Hunting

• Answer: Don says if a 200-plus-inch buck shows up anywhere he’s hunting, he is shooting it regardless of known history. 78:53

Question: Terry asks Don what else he accomplished this week besides spraying stand paths, including any public land work. 9:48 — Episode #115 - Don’s Top Four Properties Visited This Year

• Answer: Don scouted a new public land parcel and found a ravine that creates a great funnel right behind someone’s house, with no sign of other hunters. 10:06

Question: Since Don set a goal to kill a Boone and Crockett buck on public land, has he wavered on that goal? 31:59 — asked by Eric — EPISODE #109 SHED HUNTING and LIVE FROM MASTER CLASS #2

• Answer: Don says the public land giant goal has never left him and this may be the year it happens. 34:28

Question: Can you predict a buck’s yearly pattern on heavily pressured public land, or is it a waste of time? 96:39 — asked by Jerry — EPISODE #109 SHED HUNTING and LIVE FROM MASTER CLASS #2

• Answer: Don says research shows bucks don’t change home range from pressure, though they become more nocturnal. 97:58

Question: Luke McCoy asks what compromises, if any, one should make on public land between good access and staying away from human intrusion. 47:39 — asked by Luke McCoy — Episode #75 - Concerned about cell cams, when should i plant, and purple headed freaks…

• Answer: Terry says he won’t compromise: hunters still need good access and distance from human intrusion, even on public land. 47:52
• Answer: Terry criticizes Iowa DNR for making public tracts too accessible, arguing large tracts should instead be left untouched for mature bucks. 50:46

Question: Since public land only allows a small pre-season window, do you leave your stands on state land year-round? 27:36 — Episode #5 - November is Here!

• Answer: Don says no, stands must be removed after each public-land season, but you can prep the tree and bring the stand in on the first hunt. 27:40

Question: Chris Andrews asks how to locate a target buck on public land, the main obstacles there, mobility versus private land, and dealing with pressure from others. 41:01 — asked by Chris Andrews — Episode #2 - Update on Opening Week and Targeting Don’s First Booner of 2019

• Answer: Don locates public-land bucks by gathering intel from trusted friends, then verifying leads with trail cameras. 42:01
• Answer: Don says the biggest obstacles on public land are other hunters and the fact that pressured deer don’t hold consistent patterns. 42:37
• Answer: Don says he stays far more mobile on public land, abandoning a spot if it doesn’t produce after two or three hunts. 44:22

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