Not yet sorted by topic — Listener Q&A

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Question: Rod Mordhorst asks whether adding ivermectin to deer feed would make wild deer dependent on it the way domesticated animals become dependent on dewormers. 35:07 — asked by Rod Mordhorst — Making Good Tree Stands GREAT | Don Higgins’ Best Habitat Tricks + Doubting Thomas Premiere

• Answer: Don says wild deer won’t become dependent on chemical wormers like ivermectin to survive, unlike domesticated animals raised in dense, repeatedly-parasitized conditions. 39:20
• Answer: Don believes natural selection likely causes deer weakest to parasites to die off over time, similar to disease-resistant cattle breeding, strengthening herd resistance. 37:41

Question: Edward Miller asked whether habitat projects or low fencing around sanctuaries could discourage coyotes from living on or traveling through a property. 53:44 — asked by Edward Miller — #330 - Can Supplemental Feeding Add 15”+ to a Buck? Don Higgins Answers

• Answer: Don shared that hanging a killed coyote on the fence can make other coyotes associate the area with danger and avoid it, though it works better on smaller properties. 54:27

Question: Ben Byler asked Don and Terry to recommend books for young or starting hunters looking to sharpen their skills for bigger bucks. 59:13 — asked by Ben Byler — #330 - Can Supplemental Feeding Add 15”+ to a Buck? Don Higgins Answers

• Answer: Don recommended Roger Rothhaar’s books, especially his favorite, Whitetail Magic, as great reads for young hunters. 59:40
• Answer: For heavily wooded, mountainous terrain, Don recommended Bobby Worthington’s book as being as good as it gets. 60:20

Question: Terry asks why does sometimes have one, two, or three fawns, and whether twin fawns can be sired by different bucks. 28:56 — #329 | Why Don Higgins Gets More Excited About July Than Opening Day

• Answer: Don explains a mature doe has twins roughly 80% of the time, with singles making up most of the remaining share and triplets around 5%. 30:10
• Answer: Don recalls a Mississippi State study, mentioned by Bronson, finding roughly 25-28% of twin fawns have different fathers. 31:17

Question: Hunter O’Leary from Rosso, Minnesota asks whether to soak an old weathering rope before hanging Scrape Magnet and how to keep it active. 56:07 — asked by Hunter O’Leary — #329 | Why Don Higgins Gets More Excited About July Than Opening Day

• Answer: Don soaks his ropes for Scrape Magnet in a small bucket, coiling the rope in and pouring the product over it before hanging. 57:19
• Answer: Don warns that soaking a chemically-treated rope in Scrape Magnet produces a strong ammonia odor from a reaction with the treatment. 57:36
• Answer: Don says a spray bottle also works to apply Scrape Magnet to a licking branch, not just ropes. 60:14

Question: Alex Wingard from Millersburg, Ohio asked for advice on planning food plots without using any herbicides. 25:54 — asked by Alex Wingard — The Biggest Mistake Food Plotters Make in June | Chasing Giants #328

• Answer: Don said growing food plots without any chemicals is a tough ask that will limit what can be grown. 26:49
• Answer: Don added that keeping soil weed-free through summer then planting a fall blend around September 1 is the best chemical-free option besides legumes. 27:20

Question: Terry asked Caleb about the West Wind store’s goal of being a destination retail experience like the old Cabela’s or Bass Pro. 50:27 — The Biggest Mistake Food Plotters Make in June | Chasing Giants #328

• Answer: Caleb said the goal is to make the outdoors accessible to everyone and create an immersive in-store experience rather than just stocking shelves. 50:44

Question: Terry asked Caleb why service-based Tag Out decided to open a retail store to compete against ecommerce and big box stores. 53:08 — The Biggest Mistake Food Plotters Make in June | Chasing Giants #328

• Answer: Caleb said Tag Out felt their distribution and reach from the show gave them an opportunity to help everyone experience the outdoors. 53:19

Question: Dan Schultz asks why Real World’s clover seed now includes a seed coating that lowers pure seed content, and what changed around the Green Prairie acquisition. 45:15 — asked by Dan Schultz — Why BIG BUCK Areas Often FAIL Deer Hunters | Chasing Giants 327

• Answer: Don explains the coating isn’t their choice; suppliers no longer sell the clover varieties they want uncoated. 47:42
• Answer: Don says the change dates back about five years to a clover seed shortage that pushed suppliers toward coating, well before the Green Prairie acquisition. 47:05

Question: Nathan Kaufman asks if a chemical exists that can be used pre- or post-emergent on a blended sorghum and sunflower planting. 57:01 — asked by Nathan Kaufman — Why BIG BUCK Areas Often FAIL Deer Hunters | Chasing Giants 327

• Answer: Don says he knows no herbicide safe for both crops together and argues moving away from corn and soybeans as a foundation is a mistake. 57:51

Question: Brandon asked whether walking into and around sanctuary areas more often during fawning season could improve fawn survival by deterring predators like coyotes. 54:25 — asked by Brandon — Why Mature Bucks Go Nocturnal | Chasing Giants Podcast 326

• Answer: Don said sanctuaries are too important to disturb at any time of year, so he wouldn’t add human pressure there even to help fawns survive. 55:33

Question: How does Bryhn decide when and where to expand Midwest Land Group’s growth strategy? 23:12 — Why Most Hunters NEVER Kill Big Bucks (Bryhn Craft Tells the Truth) | Chasing Giants #325

• Answer: Bryhn says they receive almost 5,000 applications a year but only hire about 50 people from that pool. 23:54

Question: Terry asks Bryhn to identify common mistakes among sellers and buyers and to profile different types of property buyers. 36:50 — Why Most Hunters NEVER Kill Big Bucks (Bryhn Craft Tells the Truth) | Chasing Giants #325

• Answer: Bryhn explains that nine times out of ten a ‘deal’ on land exists because the property itself is below average, since truly great properties rarely sell cheap. 37:54

Question: What have you seen buyers seeking a forever home or homestead, rather than a flip, struggle with? 43:45 — Why Most Hunters NEVER Kill Big Bucks (Bryhn Craft Tells the Truth) | Chasing Giants #325

• Answer: Bryhn says the biggest problem is buyers having too long a wish list, since a property with every desired feature simply doesn’t exist. 43:49

Question: Terry asked whether flower and vegetable gardens need the same bloom-timing precautions as apple trees. 18:41 — Grow Bigger Food Plots, Gardens & Fruit Trees – Mike Mitchell Breaks It Down | Chasing Giants #324

• Answer: Mike said tomatoes, strawberries, raspberries, and flowers aren’t sensitive to sulfur like apple blooms, so they can be sprayed any time. 18:52

Question: Terry asked if there’s ever a situation calling for spraying more than once a week. 19:54 — Grow Bigger Food Plots, Gardens & Fruit Trees – Mike Mitchell Breaks It Down | Chasing Giants #324

• Answer: Mike said not more than once a week. 20:03

Question: Terry asked Mike for a story about using the product on a nonedible plant, like a rose bush. 20:31 — Grow Bigger Food Plots, Gardens & Fruit Trees – Mike Mitchell Breaks It Down | Chasing Giants #324

• Answer: Mike shared that his sister’s roadside rose bushes flourished with the micros, prompting neighbors to repeatedly ask what she’s using. 21:26

Question: Terry suggested that Al Foster, a dedicated gardener, would want Vital Force for his flower beds. 31:32 — Grow Bigger Food Plots, Gardens & Fruit Trees – Mike Mitchell Breaks It Down | Chasing Giants #324

• Answer: Mike said Al Foster already bought micros and received a Vital Force sample to try, and plans to turkey hunt at Mike’s place soon. 31:50

Question: Terry asked Mike to share common mistakes people make when using Mike’s Mighty Micros. 48:16 — Grow Bigger Food Plots, Gardens & Fruit Trees – Mike Mitchell Breaks It Down | Chasing Giants #324

• Answer: Mike said failures are rare, but when they happen it’s usually one of a few common mistakes: bad water, overdosing, spraying too often, or a contaminated sprayer. 48:23

Question: Terry asked Mike to talk about how the family business has been a blessing to him, his wife, and his kids. 53:00 — Grow Bigger Food Plots, Gardens & Fruit Trees – Mike Mitchell Breaks It Down | Chasing Giants #324

• Answer: Mike said all his kids are part owners of the family business, each taking on different roles. 53:08

Question: Terry asked how listeners can reach Mike if they have more questions. 55:39 — Grow Bigger Food Plots, Gardens & Fruit Trees – Mike Mitchell Breaks It Down | Chasing Giants #324

• Answer: Mike said people can reach him through mike’smightymicros.com, where his phone number should also be listed. 55:45

Question: Why has trapping become a lost art, and what has Don learned from his years as a trapper? 37:18 — asked by Daniel Byler — Don Higgins Breaks Down His Favorite Properties of 2026 - Chasing Giants #320

• Answer: Don says animal-rights activism destroyed the fur market, crashing raccoon prices from $30-40 to about $5, which is the main reason trapping declined in popularity. 38:38

Question: Terry asked Don, for the Higgins Hot Seat segment, what his favorite non-whitetail hunt was and where it took place. 24:07 — Why Some Hunting Properties Work Instantly… And Others Fail - Chasing Giants Podcast #319

• Answer: Don said his favorite hunt was probably a mid-1980s Montana trip with close childhood friends through an outfit called Private Ranches of Montana. 25:28

Question: Terry asks Don whether he’s watched Mike Mitchell’s debut video on the Chasing Giants YouTube channel yet. 16:45 — INSANE Bedding Cover + 22 Bears on Camera?! | Chasing Giants #318

• Answer: Don says he’s been too busy on the road to watch it, though he saw it mentioned on social media. 16:55

Question: Terry asks whether Don would cut a large tract’s mature timber all in one year or phase it in sections over multiple years. 26:08 — Cut More Trees! How Aggressive TSI Creates Better Deer Habitat

• Answer: Don split an Indiana property’s roughly 500 timbered acres into four sections, logging and TSI-cutting one at a time, spaced five years apart to stagger regrowth stages. 26:53

Question: Terry asks whether hairy vetch, being a legume, is more compatible with residual herbicides than a grass-family cover crop. 38:15 — Cut More Trees! How Aggressive TSI Creates Better Deer Habitat

• Answer: Don says he also mixed in Bolanza clover but it barely grew, concluding the residual herbicide suppressed it, unlike the hairy vetch. 38:30

Question: Mike Soyster asked how much time Don and Terry spend shooting their bows in and out of season, and whether they prefer typical or non-typical antlers. 40:44 — asked by Mike Soyster — Permission Properties, Scrape Magnet Explained, and Our Health Journeys | Chasing Giants Ep. 315

• Answer: Don prefers character bucks and giant clean typicals over 190 inches, which he finds rarer and more impressive than non-typicals. 41:11
• Answer: Don shot more last summer while sharpening his recurve skills, about five days a week, but typically doesn’t shoot his bow much. 41:47

Question: Knowing Don, would he use his Higgins Hot Seat segment to thank the people at Shipshewana and the dealer event? 18:35 — asked by Terry — Doubting Thomas, Dealer Event & BIG Scrape Magnet News | Chasing Giants Podcast 314

• Answer: Don says more than anything he just hopes people can see his true heart. 21:26

Question: On a 50-acre property with trouble getting deer to bed in winter, is it a lack of cover? 27:48 — Doubting Thomas, Dealer Event & BIG Scrape Magnet News | Chasing Giants Podcast 314

• Answer: Don says it is either a lack of cover or a lack of food. 28:01

Question: What is the height of the sorghum blend? 33:13 — Doubting Thomas, Dealer Event & BIG Scrape Magnet News | Chasing Giants Podcast 314

• Answer: Don estimates the grain sorghum blend stood about shoulder high on him this past fall. 33:16

Question: Is the buck or doe with all the white on it still around? 41:17 — Doubting Thomas, Dealer Event & BIG Scrape Magnet News | Chasing Giants Podcast 314

• Answer: Don says he hasn’t seen the white deer in a while, though he used to get her picture occasionally. 41:23

Question: What is the total value of Real World products sold in 2026 so far, and what’s the growth percentage to date? 41:50 — Doubting Thomas, Dealer Event & BIG Scrape Magnet News | Chasing Giants Podcast 314

• Answer: Don says year-to-date sales were up a little over 30% compared to last year, though the comparison could be misleading given last year’s slow start. 42:48

Question: Can you explain planting timing, equipment, and herbicides for corn, beans, harvest salad, and deadly dozen? 44:49 — Doubting Thomas, Dealer Event & BIG Scrape Magnet News | Chasing Giants Podcast 314

• Answer: Don says the handbook passed out at the dealer event answers all of these product-specific planting questions. 45:02

Question: Steven also asks what Don and Terry think about AI technology. 8:57 — asked by Steven — Chasing Giants LIVE at the Midwest Sportsmen’s Classic | Shipshewana, IN | Presented by FAE

• Answer: Don jokes that AI needs to be outlawed. 9:04

Question: Dwylan asks whether a deer’s diet, like acorns versus crops, affects how the venison tastes. 23:54 — asked by Dwylan — Chasing Giants LIVE at the Midwest Sportsmen’s Classic | Shipshewana, IN | Presented by FAE

• Answer: Don guesses acorn tannins could affect meat flavor somewhat, but admits he has zero real experience with it. 24:23

Question: Blake Marcus from Germantown, Illinois asked how Don obtains a burn plan or permit from Illinois before doing prescribed burns on switchgrass fields. 51:05 — asked by Blake Marcus — CWD, One-Buck Limits & The Truth About NDA | Chasing Giants 312

• Answer: Don joked his only qualification is gasoline and a match, dismissing the need for official state burn permits. 52:03
• Answer: Don said his common sense tells him to call his local fire department for a heads-up before he lights a fire, rather than getting a permit. 52:44

Question: Jerry Michaels asked whether Don has noticed his outsized influence, since topics he and Terry discuss quickly spread across the hunting community. 56:29 — asked by Jerry Michaels — CWD, One-Buck Limits & The Truth About NDA | Chasing Giants 312

• Answer: Don said he notices it almost daily, with people sending him screenshots of others’ posts or videos discussing topics he and Terry just covered on the podcast. 57:06

Question: Jimbo Moppin asked whether Illinois should follow Iowa’s 2023 move to legalize year-round raccoon hunting, citing rising raccoon damage to cornfields. 61:00 — asked by Jimbo Moppin — CWD, One-Buck Limits & The Truth About NDA | Chasing Giants 312

• Answer: Don said he fully agrees Illinois should make raccoon season year-round like coyote season, since raccoons often cause cornfield damage blamed on deer. 61:15

Question: Jonathan Vilches from Miami, Florida asked whether deer bedded in the sorghum this year amid the storm and how best to keep a winter water source open. 38:44 — asked by Jonathan Vilches — Snow, Sheds & Sorghum: Late-Season Deer Survival | Chasing Giants #311

• Answer: Don said open winter water is less critical than most people think, especially once there’s snow on the ground. 39:38
• Answer: Don said his grain sorghum was completely consumed this fall and he has not observed deer bedding in it, though they might have without him seeing it. 39:51

Question: Brandon Wolf asked Don what he thinks is people’s biggest misinterpretation of him. 40:57 — asked by Brandon Wolf — Snow, Sheds & Sorghum: Late-Season Deer Survival | Chasing Giants #311

• Answer: Don said the biggest misconception about him is that he’s always been wealthy with a great farm and that the farm alone explains his big bucks. 41:15

Question: Mitchell Fanky asked whether thermal scopes or drones pose the bigger poaching threat and which one Don would ban if he could only outlaw one. 45:21 — asked by Mitchell Fanky — Snow, Sheds & Sorghum: Late-Season Deer Survival | Chasing Giants #311

• Answer: Don said that if forced to ban only one technology, he would choose to outlaw drones over thermal scopes. 47:02

Question: Carl Compton from Findlay, Illinois asks whether Darren Bailey, if elected governor, could make Illinois a good deer hunting state again. 49:26 — asked by Carl Compton — CULLING BUCKS: Why Shooting 3½-Year-Old 8-Points Actually Works | Chasing Giants #310

• Answer: Don believes having Darren Bailey in hunters’ corner would be a huge piece toward improving Illinois deer hunting, though real change also needs legislative support. 50:52

Question: Jason Bane from Shelbyville, Illinois asks how to manage woody vegetation like cottonwoods in his CRP switchgrass field before his contract expires. 53:36 — asked by Jason Bane — CULLING BUCKS: Why Shooting 3½-Year-Old 8-Points Actually Works | Chasing Giants #310

• Answer: Don explains fire frequency matters: burning a CRP or switchgrass field roughly every three years typically gets hot enough to kill young cottonwood trees before they establish. 54:54

Question: If a buck has already shed his antlers, will he still breed does? 54:53 — Texas Hunt, Brutal Cold, Late Rut Behavior & Winter Habitat Decisions | Chasing Giants Podcast #309

• Answer: Don confirms shed antlers have no bearing on a buck’s ability to still breed does. 54:57

Question: Can you talk about the property you visited yesterday? 16:08 — LIVE at 360 Blinds: No Script, No Filters — Just Real Questions | Chasing Giants 308

• Answer: Don visited a Chesapeake Bay property with terrain like the Midwest, but with an overwhelming number of Canada geese in every field. 16:14

Question: What is Don’s best advice or lesson learned for a startup company? 23:47 — LIVE at 360 Blinds: No Script, No Filters — Just Real Questions | Chasing Giants 308

• Answer: Focus your business on kids, pets, or hobbies, since people spend ridiculous amounts of money on those regardless of the economy. 24:01

Question: What is Don’s philosophy on getting kids involved in hunting? 26:52 — LIVE at 360 Blinds: No Script, No Filters — Just Real Questions | Chasing Giants 308

• Answer: Don encourages parents to let the child choose their own interest rather than pushing them into hunting. 27:07

Question: Can you talk about the Chasing Giants consulting team and services offered? 33:21 — LIVE at 360 Blinds: No Script, No Filters — Just Real Questions | Chasing Giants 308

• Answer: Besides Don, the consulting team includes Terry, Wes Delks, Derek Burkholder, David Elliott, Bobby Worthington, and Caleb Gehman on the East Coast. 33:37

Question: With all the copycat blinds out there, what sets three sixty blinds apart from the others? 34:19 — LIVE at 360 Blinds: No Script, No Filters — Just Real Questions | Chasing Giants 308

• Answer: The window system is the best out there; it’s been copied but never topped by anything better. 34:31

Question: If you could change one thing about three sixty blinds, what would it be? 35:40 — LIVE at 360 Blinds: No Script, No Filters — Just Real Questions | Chasing Giants 308

• Answer: Don jokes Mark should sell all blinds only in the ASIO Camo from Chasing Giants. 35:56

Question: What are Don and Terry’s dream or bucket-list hunts at this point in their lives? 38:37 — LIVE at 360 Blinds: No Script, No Filters — Just Real Questions | Chasing Giants 308

• Answer: Don would like to charter a bus of friends to a Texas ranch for a week of good food and hunting, whatever the game. 39:15

Question: Are all three sixty dealers also Real World Wildlife Products dealers? 44:19 — LIVE at 360 Blinds: No Script, No Filters — Just Real Questions | Chasing Giants 308

• Answer: No, they aren’t, though Don wishes they were and offers to help dealers get set up with Real World. 44:30
• Answer: They value the partnership with Mark and three sixty rather than competing. 44:44

Question: Have you started any new books, and do you have plans for one? 48:00 — LIVE at 360 Blinds: No Script, No Filters — Just Real Questions | Chasing Giants 308

• Answer: Wes started a book about Don, interviewing him and his parents, and sent it last summer for Don to edit for accuracy. 48:06

Question: Aiden Eisler asks how Don and Terry honor deer they harvest — whether they shoulder mount cull bucks and always mount their season’s target buck. 44:58 — asked by Aiden Eisler — Most Hunters Get This Wrong | The Hard Truth About Killing Mature Bucks | Chasing Giants #307

• Answer: Don says target bucks typically get shoulder mounted, while management or cull bucks instead receive a European skull mount so they’re still honored. 45:34
• Answer: Terry says every target buck he harvests goes on the wall as a mount, unlike management deer. 46:32

Question: Terry asked what triggers antler shedding—testosterone drop or photoperiod. 20:19 — When Managing Deer Means Saying NO to Giants | Chasing Giants Podcast #304

• Answer: Don said stress—from injury, weather, or other causes—triggers shedding, in addition to naturally declining testosterone in a normal winter. 20:29

Question: Listener Corey asked whether Don would ever let his grandsons hunt with a crossbow before a compound bow. 35:37 — asked by Corey — When Managing Deer Means Saying NO to Giants | Chasing Giants Podcast #304

• Answer: Don said he personally opposes kids shooting crossbows, believing they should earn the right and grow into it. 37:44

Question: Listener Duane Yoder asked if does with twins or triplets tend to have fawns that also produce twins or triplets. 41:02 — asked by Duane Yoder — When Managing Deer Means Saying NO to Giants | Chasing Giants Podcast #304

• Answer: Don said there’s no such pattern—healthy does typically have twins regardless of their own birth type. 41:20

Question: Terry followed up asking whether a doe’s single fawn results from losing a twin fetus or starts that way from conception. 43:58 — When Managing Deer Means Saying NO to Giants | Chasing Giants Podcast #304

• Answer: Don said it typically starts as a single fertilized egg from the beginning. 44:02

Question: Terry asks what size the hairy vetch seed is compared to clover or brassica seed. 8:19 — Episode 303 – Late-Season Deer Movement, Winter Food Strategy & The Future of Big Bucks

• Answer: Don compares the hairy vetch seed size to something between clover and a soybean, roughly comparable to grain sorghum. 8:26

Question: Brad Hunt suggests Oklahoma could move toward a one-buck limit starting with nonresident hunters and public land, and asks Don and Terry’s opinion. 50:03 — asked by Brad Hunt — Episode 303 – Late-Season Deer Movement, Winter Food Strategy & The Future of Big Bucks

• Answer: Don agrees that any regulation change is undermined without limiting nonresident hunters, since improving a state’s deer only draws more outside hunting pressure. 50:49

Question: Russell Morris asks Don why he hangs his propane tank on the blind’s platform rather than leaving it on the ground, and whether scent near the tank is a concern. 56:52 — asked by Russell Morris — Episode 303 – Late-Season Deer Movement, Winter Food Strategy & The Future of Big Bucks

• Answer: Don explains he hangs the propane tank at platform height by the ladder so he can turn it on and off easily while climbing up, minimizing extra movement and noise near the blind. 57:15

Question: Terry asked whether a mature buck tries to recover lost weight after the rut or stays aggressive if a late-season doe comes into heat. 19:08 — Late Season Starts NOW — Cold Fronts, Bucks on Food, and Thanksgiving Reflections | Episode #301

• Answer: Don said bucks do not gain weight after the rut through winter; they enter survival mode until spring, as he saw with his captive deer. 19:40

Question: Jacob McGinnis asks whether drone survey companies are searching for shot deer or conducting general surveys, and worries about misuse by hunters. 30:36 — asked by Jacob McGinnis — EPISODE 300! Don Changes His Mind on the Rut + Drone Debate Heats Up!

• Answer: Don says drones in the right hands are valuable, especially for finding wounded deer hunters have shot and lost. 31:19

Question: Caleb asks what happened to Steve Shields and whether he had another opportunity come up. 47:30 — asked by Caleb — EPISODE 300! Don Changes His Mind on the Rut + Drone Debate Heats Up!

• Answer: Don explains Steve Shields took a new opportunity that was a great financial move, entirely his own decision. 47:41

Question: For the Higgins Hot Seat, Terry asked for the craziest, most humbling, or coolest trade-show experience each host has had. 25:11 — The Weirdest Rut Ever: Warm Temps, Barometers, and Big Bucks | Chasing Giants Ep #298

• Answer: Don recalled that William Miller, a young Ohio consulting client, bought his auctioned bow with proceeds going to a fellow hunter’s medical costs. 26:16
• Answer: Don shared that William has since killed a bear and a good buck with that bow, deepening their friendship. 26:31
• Answer: Terry recalled a young lady’s Shipshewana art-contest portrait of Don that looked as polished as a North American Whitetail magazine cover. 28:13

Question: Kurt Colbert asked where Don would prioritize a search for a future recreational farm to pursue true giant bucks. 31:27 — The Weirdest Rut Ever: Warm Temps, Barometers, and Big Bucks | Chasing Giants Ep #298

• Answer: Don said the answer is easy: Ohio and Kansas offer the best chance at consistently pulling world-class or really good bucks. 31:33
• Answer: Don specified he’d personally target Ohio’s more agricultural northern half rather than the rougher southern region. 32:53
• Answer: Don added that in Kansas he’d focus on the eastern side, favoring the southeast corner. 33:23
• Answer: Terry added that western Ohio also has substantial agricultural ground similar to Illinois. 33:12

Question: An anonymous listener whose target bucks were poached asked if Don had dealt with poachers and how to resist taking matters into his own hands. 34:47 — The Weirdest Rut Ever: Warm Temps, Barometers, and Big Bucks | Chasing Giants Ep #298

• Answer: Don said he’s dealt with poaching personally—someone even shot a bullet hole in his address sign. 35:48
• Answer: Don said he captures video or photo footage of every vehicle that travels the roads through his neighborhood. 35:58
• Answer: Don recommended contacting the county state’s attorney and urging them to fully prosecute poachers to the fullest extent of the law. 37:23

Question: James Harris asked whether Don and Terry have relationships with their local game wardens and how that came about. 50:09 — asked by James Harris — The Weirdest Rut Ever: Warm Temps, Barometers, and Big Bucks | Chasing Giants Ep #298

• Answer: Don said he has a good relationship with his game warden—having his number and always getting quick replies to texts. 51:00
• Answer: Terry noted he has the current game warden’s number and, while not close friends, finds him very responsive when needed. 52:31

Question: Adam asked how many years bare-root trees take to produce first fruit compared to buying individual seven-gallon potted trees. 37:26 — asked by Adam Dawson — Barometer Secrets & Rut Forecast for Early November! | Chasing Giants 297

• Answer: Don answered that Gingerich Tree Farm’s Jay sells both bare-root and potted trees, noting he recently planted 25 more potted apple trees himself. 37:48

Question: Drew Harmon asks what Don did to avoid discouragement during years without killing a big buck while keeping focus on his goals. 52:08 — asked by Drew Harmon — “200-Inch Nebraska Giant: Joe Chambers’ Incredible Buck Story | Chasing Giants Ep. 296”

• Answer: Don says failing to fill a tag never truly bothered him; he focused on becoming a better, more proficient hunter rather than trying to impress others. 54:26

Question: Drew Harmon also asks what fixed blade broadhead Don prefers to use. 53:00 — asked by Drew Harmon — “200-Inch Nebraska Giant: Joe Chambers’ Incredible Buck Story | Chasing Giants Ep. 296”

• Answer: Don shares he currently shoots a Slick Trick Magnum fixed blade broadhead, a 125-grain head with about an inch-and-an-eighth cutting diameter. 53:15

Question: Terry asked Don if Wednesday, October 22 would be his first morning hunt of the season. 20:57 — The Magic of Late October | Cold Fronts, Big Bucks & Character in the Woods | Chasing Giants #295

• Answer: Don confirmed it would be his first morning hunt in decades, saying locally Wednesday morning looks like the day to be in the woods. 21:01

Question: Evan Coleman asked the best approach for lower-middle-class hunters who want mature bucks but can’t afford habitat work or land. 54:58 — asked by Evan Coleman — The Magic of Late October | Cold Fronts, Big Bucks & Character in the Woods | Chasing Giants #295

• Answer: Don recommended finding land bordering large sanctuary or no-hunting areas like parks, since that makes for a great hunting spot regardless of size. 56:51
• Answer: Terry said a side hustle is the best tool for budget-conscious hunters to fund their hobby without taking money from family. 57:44
• Answer: Terry advised offering free labor to landowners in exchange for hunting access when money is tight. 59:05

Question: Terry asked Don if he’s planning to take his grandson out for youth season that evening. 5:48 — asked by Terry — #294 From Old School to High Tech: Don Higgins Reflects on 40 Years in the Deer Woods

• Answer: Don said yes, his grandson would arrive around 4:30 so they could be in the blind by five. 5:52

Question: Terry asked Don to explain how his particular age gave him a unique generational perspective on deer hunting technology. 13:45 — asked by Terry — #294 From Old School to High Tech: Don Higgins Reflects on 40 Years in the Deer Woods

• Answer: Don explained he belongs to a narrow generational sweet spot who learned to hunt before modern technology but were young enough to fully embrace it. 14:47

Question: Jason Fry asked what ‘consistently’ means when leveling up buck age-class targets, and how to age or distinguish bucks with limited, color-blind vision. 33:29 — asked by Jason Fry — #294 From Old School to High Tech: Don Higgins Reflects on 40 Years in the Deer Woods

• Answer: Don said consistency means hitting your target buck class roughly 80% of the time, or four out of five years, before raising your standards. 35:50
• Answer: Don said he can usually recognize which specific buck he’s watching almost instantly from trail-camera familiarity, without needing to study it at length. 37:56

Question: Rob Effingham asked how to properly store his leftover planting seed until the next planting season. 54:06 — asked by Rob Effingham — #294 From Old School to High Tech: Don Higgins Reflects on 40 Years in the Deer Woods

• Answer: Don said a lot of seed carries over year to year with very little germination loss if stored properly. 54:51
• Answer: Don recommended storing leftover seed in a plastic tote in the basement, where dampness helps and mice are kept out. 55:24

Question: Mark Jackson asked how to properly calculate seed quantities and slippage, since he always runs short, and how much drill settings matter. 56:22 — asked by Mark Jackson — #294 From Old School to High Tech: Don Higgins Reflects on 40 Years in the Deer Woods

• Answer: Don said every drill varies slightly, so the calibration charts provided are only starting points that should be tested and adjusted. 57:11
• Answer: Don said he always buys a bit of extra seed rather than risk running short. 57:41

Question: What are Don’s plans for the buck called Turning Point, and why did he change the name? 12:22 — #292 - Public Land Busts, Big Timber Dreams, & Target Bucks

• Answer: The original Turning Point buck scored smaller than Don expected once measured, so he decided to give that buck another year to grow. 13:07

Question: Devin Blindsworth from Maryland asks if Don could design a better plan for his 200-300 acre farm than consultant Tony LaPratt did for a neighbor. 35:54 — asked by Devin Blindsworth — Chasing Giants Ep. 291 | Don’s Public Land Quest & the “Turning Point” Buck Story

• Answer: Don says he and Tony LaPratt take very different approaches, without bashing Tony’s methods. 36:14
• Answer: Don says his team’s consulting methods are proven and produce more mature bucks than other consultants’ clients. 37:14
• Answer: Don says the foundational key is getting target bucks bedding on the property, above all else. 38:17

Question: Nolan Franken asks whether a small property under 20 acres should have good deer habitat nearby, or be more isolated, versus larger acreage. 48:04 — asked by Nolan Franken — Chasing Giants Ep. 291 | Don’s Public Land Quest & the “Turning Point” Buck Story

• Answer: Don says larger properties can be more isolated and still hunt well, but smaller properties need nearby deer habitat. 48:50
• Answer: Don says a fully isolated 20-acre property, miles from other cover, won’t hold many deer. 48:57

Question: Tyler Walter asks whether he and his wife can still be good Christians without attending church regularly given their travel schedule. 51:09 — asked by Tyler Walter — Chasing Giants Ep. 291 | Don’s Public Land Quest & the “Turning Point” Buck Story

• Answer: Don says you can be a Christian without church, but it’s much easier to stay strong in faith when gathering with other believers. 51:15
• Answer: Terry argues the Bible calls believers to be disciples, and he doesn’t see how to excel at that without regular training with other Christians. 53:04

Question: Don asked whether the foundation had raised close to $3,000,000 for these families. 4:42 — Faith, Hunting & Courage After Tragedy | Chasing Giants Podcast Ep. 290

• Answer: Terry clarified the foundation has raised just over $2,000,000 since it started, not quite the $3,000,000 Don guessed. 4:47

Question: Mason Miller, 14, asked Don for his thoughts on the death penalty in general, noting many people including Trump had called for it after Charlie Kirk’s killing. 47:45 — asked by Mason Miller — Faith, Hunting & Courage After Tragedy | Chasing Giants Podcast Ep. 290

• Answer: Don said he believes Charlie Kirk’s killer deserves the death penalty, but hopes the man receives Jesus Christ before it’s carried out. 49:36
• Answer: Terry cautioned that support for capital punishment should reflect the severity of the crime itself, not emotional reaction to the victim being a celebrity like Charlie Kirk, since that would be vindictiveness. 51:21

Question: Mason Miller asked whether Don had ever completed the North American Deer Slam. 53:52 — asked by Mason Miller — Faith, Hunting & Courage After Tragedy | Chasing Giants Podcast Ep. 290

• Answer: Don answered that he has not completed the North American Deer Slam. 53:55

Question: Neil Four, a teacher, asked what he should tell young men and women scared to be Christians, especially on college campuses, after recent events. 56:15 — asked by Neil Four — Faith, Hunting & Courage After Tragedy | Chasing Giants Podcast Ep. 290

• Answer: Don said everyone must eventually choose a side between good and evil, since there is no middle ground in this spiritual battle. 57:11
• Answer: Terry added that the best advice is ‘strength in numbers,’ encouraging young Christians to surround themselves with like-minded, supportive people. 59:52

Question: How long does it take for a buck’s velvet to fully shed once it starts, or is it a gradual, individual process? 2:12 — Deer Velvet Shedding & Fall Buck Shifts: Don Higgins Responds to Rumors | Chasing Giants Ep. 289

• Answer: Don explained velvet shedding varies by individual buck but generally spreads over roughly a three-week period. 2:34
• Answer: Don added that many bucks continue shifting range through mid-October, generally finishing by November 1, though timing varies by individual buck. 3:00

Question: Edward Miller asked what got Don and Terry started hunting, and why listeners never hear about Don’s brother hunting. 41:13 — asked by Edward Miller — Deer Velvet Shedding & Fall Buck Shifts: Don Higgins Responds to Rumors | Chasing Giants Ep. 289

• Answer: Don said his interest in the outdoors began at a very young age, likely starting on his grandfather’s farm. 41:34
• Answer: Don noted hunting never came naturally to his brother, who had totally different interests, unlike Don himself. 43:35

Question: Ralph Hartman asked Don’s thoughts on the growing number of new whitetail consultants entering the industry. 59:10 — asked by Ralph Hartman — Deer Velvet Shedding & Fall Buck Shifts: Don Higgins Responds to Rumors | Chasing Giants Ep. 289

• Answer: Don said he encourages people to chase their dreams, including becoming whitetail consultants. 59:32
• Answer: Don added that new consultants entering the field doesn’t hurt his own business since his team stays booked solid every year. 60:45

Question: Emmanuel also asked how ASIO Gear compares to other camo brands such as Sitka and Scentlock. 52:59 — #288 2025 Buck Forecast: EHD Devastation, Trail Cam Insights & Hard Truths About Trophy Bucks

• Answer: Don said ASIO keeps him just as warm as the pricey brand he used to wear, while offering a better pattern, quieter fabric, and more thoughtful extras. 54:42

Question: Terry asks Don about his social media post saying fawn recruitment was extremely low this year due to predators. 18:55 — #287 “Predators, Food Plots & Cracker Barrel Woke?

• Answer: Don attributes the poor fawn recruitment to predators, citing several coyote trail-camera pictures this summer. 20:37

Question: A listener asked Don for a detailed breakdown of his progression as a hunter, from first passing big bucks to targeting age over size. 42:40 — EP #286 - Preparing for Hunting Season: Plots, Cameras & CWD Truth

• Answer: Don said his biggest progression jump came in 2004 at age 41, when he committed his last tag to one specific target buck. 47:02
• Answer: Don advised gradually raising the trophy bar over time rather than jumping levels quickly. 50:38
• Answer: Terry added that a hunter’s goal needs to be realistic and attainable for their own situation. 52:09

Question: Christopher asks whether a doe will accept and nurse fawns that aren’t her own, after observing a doe with two differently-aged fawns. 53:12 — asked by Christopher Blair — Episode #283 “Best Corn Ever? Don & Terry Reveal 2025 Plot Results + Fall Food Plot Timing Tips”

• Answer: Don says based on his captive deer experience, does become more willing to let other fawns nurse once fawns are older, similar to cattle. 53:58

Question: Terry asks whether the older fawn described is now old enough to survive on natural browse without nursing. 54:44 — asked by Terry — Episode #283 “Best Corn Ever? Don & Terry Reveal 2025 Plot Results + Fall Food Plot Timing Tips”

• Answer: Don says fawns nibble vegetation very early and by around eight weeks old they can survive on their own. 55:13

Question: Terry asks where Emerson Day’s southern-rock-infused Christian music style came from, suggesting it could inspire others in that genre. 79:27 — asked by Terry — Episode #283 “Best Corn Ever? Don & Terry Reveal 2025 Plot Results + Fall Food Plot Timing Tips”

• Answer: Emerson says her sound blends traditional church hymns, her mom’s country music, and her dad’s classic rock into a melting-pot style centered on loving Jesus. 80:09

Question: Terry asked Don what his worst vacation experience was for the Higgins Hot Seat segment. 35:24 — asked by Terry — Thermal Drones, Trail Cameras & Big Buck Strategies | Chasing Giants Podcast #282

• Answer: Don said dragging himself to water parks and amusement parks for his kids, despite disliking water, was his least fun vacation experience. 35:57

Question: Terry asked whether bedding area size correlates with how many bucks will use it. 57:46 — asked by Terry — Thermal Drones, Trail Cameras & Big Buck Strategies | Chasing Giants Podcast #282

• Answer: Don said larger, low-intrusion sanctuary areas typically hold more bucks than smaller ones, though intrusion matters more than size. 58:05

Question: What do Don and Terry each consider their greatest accomplishment in the deer woods and in life outside of deer hunting? 48:24 — asked by Jerry Franklin — Episode #281 - How Don Tracks Giant Bucks Years in Advance

• Answer: Don says his top hunting accomplishment is scoring 400+ combined inches on his two-buck Illinois limit twice, both times with a bow, in 2017 and 2020; outside hunting, it’s raising his daughters and leading people to Christ. 49:15
• Answer: Terry says his greatest deer-woods accomplishment is that hunting created a ministry platform, and outside the woods it is raising his three kind, well-behaved children. 51:09

Question: Terry asked Joe whether he knew Chris Yates shot his leopard within a couple days of when Joe shot his. 2:07 — asked by Terry — Episode 280 - Trail Cams, Big Cats, and Camo Drops | Special Guest Joe Miles

• Answer: Joe said Chris Yates messaged him on Facebook that he was also hunting there around the same time. 2:13

Question: Terry asked where else listeners could find Joe’s content beyond Chasing Giants and Mission Whitetail. 2:42 — asked by Terry — Episode 280 - Trail Cams, Big Cats, and Camo Drops | Special Guest Joe Miles

• Answer: Joe said he most recently appeared on the Truths for the Stand podcast hosted by Clint Campbell. 2:49

Question: Terry asked Joe why, from a business perspective, ASIO was launching a new camo pattern after building the market’s top-selling one. 30:28 — asked by Terry — Episode 280 - Trail Cams, Big Cats, and Camo Drops | Special Guest Joe Miles

• Answer: Joe clarified he isn’t replacing the Raptor pattern, but adding a second, universal pattern alongside it. 30:46

Question: Terry asked Don and Joe to share the scariest moment of their hunting careers. 40:34 — asked by Terry — Episode 280 - Trail Cams, Big Cats, and Camo Drops | Special Guest Joe Miles

• Answer: Don described spine-shooting a coyote from his stand, which drew in a pack of coyotes that swarmed the wounded one. 41:08
• Answer: Joe described a wounded elephant bull charging him in Africa, forcing a close-range shot at about eight steps. 42:53

Question: Leslie Horst asked what deer repellent brands Don and Terry recommend, since deer started eating her flowers near the house. 46:10 — asked by Leslie Horst — Episode 280 - Trail Cams, Big Cats, and Camo Drops | Special Guest Joe Miles

• Answer: Don said he’s tested nearly every deer repellent brand for years but hasn’t found one that works well, especially after rain, with most lasting only about a week. 46:48

Question: Terry asked Joe if he had tried Mike’s Mighty Micro yet on his wife’s flowers or backyard veggies. 47:50 — asked by Terry — Episode 280 - Trail Cams, Big Cats, and Camo Drops | Special Guest Joe Miles

• Answer: Joe said he doesn’t have a garden, so he hasn’t gotten any Mike’s Mighty Micro yet. 47:59
• Answer: Joe added that he does have a few flower beds. 48:07

Question: Charlie Green asked whether to hunt a low-deer-density 20-acre cattle pasture during lockdown, hoping a big buck tending a doe might show up. 49:19 — asked by Charlie Green — Episode 280 - Trail Cams, Big Cats, and Camo Drops | Special Guest Joe Miles

• Answer: Don said he would definitely hunt that low-pressure ground during lockdown, since most hunts would show no deer but any sighting is likely to be a giant. 50:04

Question: What is the difference between humic acid and biochar, and why would someone choose one over the other? 8:30 — #279 - Live Hot Seat! Don Higgins Faces Tough Questions from Dealers | 2025 RWWP Summit

• Answer: Don explains they’re different products: biochar is made under high heat/low oxygen, applied once at a high rate and lasting hundreds of years, while humic acid needs reapplication every two to three years at a lighter rate. 8:39

Question: If you could get a permit to feed and bait deer, how much would you pay for it? 14:11 — #279 - Live Hot Seat! Don Higgins Faces Tough Questions from Dealers | 2025 RWWP Summit

• Answer: Don says he’d probably pay $500 on his own property for such a permit. 14:34
• Answer: Don clarifies he means paying for off-season supplemental feed, not in-season baiting, and confirms he’d pay $500. 14:50

Question: Do they use a pesticide to keep mealworms/moths from laying eggs and multiplying in their products? 15:53 — #279 - Live Hot Seat! Don Higgins Faces Tough Questions from Dealers | 2025 RWWP Summit

• Answer: Don says the pesticide isn’t in the product itself; they fumigate the facility where complete feed is stored to keep pests out. 16:04

Question: Have you ever applied humic acid or biochar through your G Series drill, and how does it work? 16:33 — #279 - Live Hot Seat! Don Higgins Faces Tough Questions from Dealers | 2025 RWWP Summit

• Answer: Don applies humic acid via the drill with the gate wide open, delivering roughly 200-250 pounds per acre two inches deep rather than on the surface. 16:45

Question: What is the most challenging property Don ever consulted on, and what did he implement to redesign it? 18:45 — #279 - Live Hot Seat! Don Higgins Faces Tough Questions from Dealers | 2025 RWWP Summit

• Answer: Don says the biggest challenge hasn’t been difficult properties but occasional clients who won’t set aside conflicting internet advice and truly listen. 18:59

Question: What organic plot seed options exist for dealers getting customer requests for organic seed? 24:05 — #279 - Live Hot Seat! Don Higgins Faces Tough Questions from Dealers | 2025 RWWP Summit

• Answer: Don says organic requires certification beyond untreated non-GMO seed, and Green Prairie will offer organic options detailed at the event. 24:22

Question: Is it worth applying a half or quarter rate of humic acid or biochar to save on cost? 45:32 — #279 - Live Hot Seat! Don Higgins Faces Tough Questions from Dealers | 2025 RWWP Summit

• Answer: Don would rather see the full rate applied on fewer plots each year than a reduced rate spread over more acreage. 45:48

Question: Terry asks Don for his most creative story about saving a fawn while farming. 42:31 — #274 - Soil Health: The Foundation of Successful Food Plotting

• Answer: Don recalls repeatedly stopping his tractor to carry bedded fawns to the field’s edge before mowing hay. 43:41

Question: Troy Carper asks whether wax-coated dirt with dough and buck urine could work for mock scrapes and hold scent longer. 45:40 — asked by Troy Carper — #274 - Soil Health: The Foundation of Successful Food Plotting

• Answer: Don confirms a trapper once made a product called deer dirt exactly matching that idea. 46:09
• Answer: Don says the trapper put deer urine in dirt, waterproofed it with wax, and it worked fantastically. 46:25

Question: Matt Kendall from Troy, Ohio asks about the correct timing for mowing clover with fawns present. 48:23 — asked by Matt Kendall — #274 - Soil Health: The Foundation of Successful Food Plotting

• Answer: Don says waiting until June won’t help since fawns keep being born through June and July. 49:29
• Answer: Don explains he watches to the side of his next mowing pass rather than ahead, to spot fawns. 50:56

Question: Matt Kendall asks why the far left keeps finding fault with Trump and whether they hate Trump or America. 49:05 — asked by Matt Kendall — #274 - Soil Health: The Foundation of Successful Food Plotting

• Answer: Don frames it as a battle of good and evil, saying such people lack empathy and reason. 51:31
• Answer: Don points to DOGE and Elon Musk uncovering billions in waste as something anyone should support, yet the left opposes it. 52:02

Question: Terry asks whether a smaller clover plot should be walked instead of mowed to protect fawns. 52:42 — #274 - Soil Health: The Foundation of Successful Food Plotting

• Answer: Don agrees, saying he walks thick clover plots himself. 52:50
• Answer: Don confirms small plots should be walked to spot bedded fawns. 53:04

Question: Terry asks why Don’s corn still isn’t planted, noting it was delayed by using part of the corn plot as access for the new creek crossing. 5:52 — Episode #273 - Clover Maintenance and Spring Planting

• Answer: Don explains that after chisel-plowing the compacted plot from hauling concrete for the crossing, he expects to resume planting as soon as tomorrow afternoon. 7:20

Question: Jonathan Vilches from Miami, Florida asks whether they should intentionally plant red osier dogwood shrubs for browse and cover, or let nature and prescribed fire handle it. 48:52 — asked by Jonathan Vilches — Episode #273 - Clover Maintenance and Spring Planting

• Answer: Don says red osier dogwood is a great plant for deer, offering excellent browse and cover. 50:27
• Answer: Don shares that despite decades of professional planting experience, red osier dogwood is extremely hard to establish because deer browse it down to the dirt. 51:20

Question: Ryan Stel from Smithton, Illinois asks whether Don and Terry add extra anchors beyond the four provided rebar stakes to keep the 360 blind from blowing over. 52:40 — asked by Ryan Stel — Episode #273 - Clover Maintenance and Spring Planting

• Answer: Don says he’s never had a blind blow over despite living on the wide-open, extremely windy prairie. 53:08
• Answer: For a high-wind, field-edge blind, Don augers a deep hole, sets a hooked rebar rod in concrete, and cinches a cable from the tower to a turnbuckle on the rod. 55:22

Question: Terry asked how the nutrient-dense plant theory would benefit a beekeeper relying on clover for pollen. 58:54 — Episode #272 - Farming for Nutrients - Better Food Plots

• Answer: Mike explained a fully genetically expressed clover crop keeps producing pollen all day, so bees are still swarming it even in the afternoon, unlike a nutrient-deficient crop. 59:26

Question: A listener asked what amino acids are and whether it’s a good idea to include rumen-protected amino acids in a deer mineral product. 21:30 — Episode #270 - Deer Nutrition with Dr. Aaron Gaines

• Answer: Aaron says the problem is that deer amino acid requirements aren’t well understood, so values get extrapolated from beef cattle. 23:43
• Answer: Aaron concludes he would not put rumen-protected amino acids in a mineral since consumption is too inconsistent; a complete feed would work better. 24:44

Question: How would Don’s hunting priorities have been different if he’d had sons instead of two daughters? 61:56 — asked by Jeff Morris — Episode #270 - Deer Nutrition with Dr. Aaron Gaines

• Answer: Don answers that he believes God knew what he was doing giving him two daughters, though he’d likely have given up big-buck opportunities for sons. 62:33

Question: Terry asks Don to trace Smokey’s estimated rack score from age two through the year Don harvested him. 22:24 — Episode #269 - Genetics, Nutrition, or Age (which is more important)

• Answer: Don recalls Smokey scored around 120 at two, was confirmed over 170 at three and four via shed antlers, then reached 186 at five and 206 at six. 23:04

Question: Terry asked how Jack determined which deer on the thermal drone survey were bucks versus does. 30:52 — asked by Terry — Episode #268 - Thermal Drone Tells the Truth on Don’s Farm

• Answer: Don said Jack zoomed the thermal drone in so close on each deer it looked like he was only 10 feet away, confirming buck versus doe visually. 30:58

Question: Terry asks how close Don plants conifer trees to a blind when placing them. 40:41 — Episode #267 - Spring Whitetail Habitat Projects - Is it Go Time?

• Answer: Don recommends keeping conifer trees at least 10 feet back from the blind. 40:46

Question: Don’s hot-seat question: has he ever had a close call or gotten hurt doing deer habitat or hunting work? 22:50 — Episode #266 Making a Good Stand a Great Stand

• Answer: Don recalled his foot slipping off a screw-in step about thirty years ago; he caught a branch near shoulder height and hung by one hand before pulling himself back onto the steps. 23:20

Question: Anson Barlow asks whether Don dislikes solar energy entirely or only has issues with large-scale solar farms. 43:06 — asked by Anson Barlow — Episode #266 Making a Good Stand a Great Stand

• Answer: Don said his real problem isn’t solar or wind energy itself but a corrupt government funneling taxpayer subsidy money to politicians. 43:30
• Answer: Don added he’d have no objection to wind or solar if they operated without any taxpayer funding at all. 43:46

Question: Mitchell Davis asks whether a buck shedding both antlers together indicates health versus shedding one side earlier from injury or stress. 52:30 — asked by Mitchell Davis — Episode #266 Making a Good Stand a Great Stand

• Answer: Don said whether a buck sheds both antlers together or separately has nothing to do with the buck’s health. 52:44

Question: Terry asks whether a buck with a dark, chocolate rack like his King David shed always has dark antlers, or if color depends on diet or weather. 55:03 — Episode #266 Making a Good Stand a Great Stand

• Answer: Don said antler color mostly comes from the trees a buck rubs on and where it beds, not a fixed trait of the buck. 55:23
• Answer: Don added it’s usually the environment, more than anything else, that determines whether a rack looks dark or light. 56:10

Question: Tyler Neal asks whether yearling bucks holding antlers late into spring reflects high testosterone from imbalanced herds or good management. 57:22 — asked by Tyler Neal — Episode #266 Making a Good Stand a Great Stand

• Answer: Don doesn’t believe bucks naturally hold hard antlers all summer from estrus exposure — it’s almost always stress that causes early shedding. 58:01
• Answer: Don explained yearling bucks never reach older bucks’ testosterone levels, so they have less to drop, which is why they hold antlers longer. 59:13

Question: What is Don’s best method for planting a bare root tree, from digging the hole to backfilling it? 13:03 — Episode #265 - How To Plant Fruit Trees - Wildlife Orchards

• Answer: Don bought a small auger for his skid loader to dig planting holes. 13:23
• Answer: Don uses a 24-inch auger on his skid loader to dig the holes, which loosens the dirt far better than a shovel. 13:47
• Answer: He adds a copolymer gel to the backfill whose granules absorb 300 times their weight in water to retain moisture. 14:43

Question: Could shady, muddy mineral sites contribute to losing deer, especially bucks, by attracting biting midge flies? 46:04 — asked by Don A — Episode #265 - How To Plant Fruit Trees - Wildlife Orchards

• Answer: Don doesn’t think mineral sites cause deer loss, because the salt content in the mud likely discourages midge gnats rather than attracting them. 46:49

Question: Is it common for loggers to cherry-pick only the most valuable tree species and leave lower-value trees standing? 53:58 — asked by Levi Harmon — Episode #265 - How To Plant Fruit Trees - Wildlife Orchards

• Answer: Don confirms it’s very common and frustrating, seeing loggers cherry-pick white oaks and walnuts while leaving other big, harvestable trees standing. 54:00

Question: Terry asks Don what one thing he wishes he’d done differently over thirty years developing his property. 26:17 — Episode #264 - Big Rope Scrapes and Big Bucks!

• Answer: Don says he planted fast-growing ash trees on advice before the emerald ash borer, and now all are dead; he wishes he’d planted white oak instead. 28:25

Question: Josh Hers asks what top five trees would work in a really wet, flood-prone area of his Colorado wildlife property. 9:31 — asked by Josh Hers — Episode #263 - Live from the Iowa Deer Classic

• Answer: Don says persimmons tolerate wet feet well, while chestnuts need a dry site with low soil pH; he later adds swamp white oaks and burr oaks also work. 10:22

Question: Bub Jenkins asks whether a 100-acre food plot should be split into sections or planted as one big field. 42:22 — asked by Bub Jenkins — Episode #263 - Live from the Iowa Deer Classic

• Answer: Don says 100 acres is extreme for a food plot and should definitely be broken up into sections. 42:32

Question: Simon Yates asks whether the buck-to-doe ratio correlates with how many scrapes are seen. 50:20 — asked by Simon Yates — Episode #263 - Live from the Iowa Deer Classic

• Answer: Don suspects a tighter buck-to-doe ratio increases competition, driving bucks to scrape and rub more while searching harder for does. 50:37

Question: What resources should someone uncomfortable burning switchgrass turn to, and should they contact their fire department? 5:43 — Episode #262 - The Controlled Burn on Switchgrass GONE BAD!

• Answer: Don says volunteer fire departments often welcome the chance to burn for training, and paid wildlife biologists can also do controlled burns. 5:51

Question: How wide should a fire break be when planting switchgrass near a tree line? 8:52 — Episode #262 - The Controlled Burn on Switchgrass GONE BAD!

• Answer: Don recommends a minimum of about twelve to fifteen feet, sometimes 20 to 30 feet depending on what borders the field. 9:04

Question: Looking back at when they went all-in on the deer industry, what would they have done differently? 23:49 — Episode #262 - The Controlled Burn on Switchgrass GONE BAD!

• Answer: Don says he wishes he had been more careful about some of the people he got involved with in business. 24:20

Question: Looking back on the two-fourteen buck he shot twenty years ago, would Don have handled anything differently? 27:33 — Episode #262 - The Controlled Burn on Switchgrass GONE BAD!

• Answer: Don says he has carried a video camera on every hunt since, after discovering he had unknown scrutiny on his back. 27:44

Question: A listener jokingly asks what Don would do if a dealership deal required him to drive a Cybertruck to please Chris Yates, assuming Elon Musk and Chris Yates became friends. 29:04 — Episode #261 - Does GMO Traits Reduce Deer Attraction?

• Answer: Don jokes he’s loyal to Chris Yates but would demand hunting rights on all his farms and a free truck before ever driving a Cybertruck. 29:31

Question: Terry asks when the ideal timing is to do a TSI project on an existing (not new) sanctuary. 33:39 — Episode #261 - Does GMO Traits Reduce Deer Attraction?

• Answer: Don says now, around March 1st and before trees bud out in early April, is the best time for a TSI project on an existing sanctuary. 33:54

Question: Sam Mehdi asks Don’s take on proposed Illinois bills meant to increase deer harvest, including drone use and mandatory doe harvest. 36:48 — asked by Sam Mehdi — Episode #261 - Does GMO Traits Reduce Deer Attraction?

• Answer: Don assures Sam that most such proposed bills never gain traction and predicts these particular measures will likely go nowhere, as happens most years. 37:44

Question: An audience member asks Don and Terry about their biggest ‘God moment’ over their years of deer hunting. 24:28 — Episode #260 - Live From the Legends Roundtable - Midwest Sportsmans Classic

• Answer: Don says his biggest God moment has been the gradual change in himself over nearly fifty years of hunting. 24:53
• Answer: Terry says every moment in a tree stand observing creation is itself a God moment. 26:13

Question: An audience member asks how to age a buck on the hoof while it’s walking, besides the king buck method. 30:19 — Episode #260 - Live From the Legends Roundtable - Midwest Sportsmans Classic

• Answer: Don says he doesn’t believe you can reliably tell a wild deer’s age just by looking at it. 30:35

Question: An audience member who hunts from a saddle asks Don for reasons not to use one. 45:39 — Episode #260 - Live From the Legends Roundtable - Midwest Sportsmans Classic

• Answer: Don says he has no objection to saddles, just that hanging in one for hours seems uncomfortable to him personally. 46:04

Question: A hunter asks whether he’ll ever see the target buck again after it winded him at close range. 50:10 — Episode #260 - Live From the Legends Roundtable - Midwest Sportsmans Classic

• Answer: Don says the hunter may see the buck again but not from that same stand location. 50:23

Question: An audience member asks what Don would tell a 20-year-old as the greatest lesson from his hunting career. 56:52 — Episode #260 - Live From the Legends Roundtable - Midwest Sportsmans Classic

• Answer: Don says big bucks live away from human activity, so location matters above all else. 57:11

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