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Question: A 23-year-old asks Don and Terry what key things to look for when buying his first hunting property. 58:40 — Episode #260 - Live From the Legends Roundtable - Midwest Sportsmans Classic

• Answer: Don says the surrounding land matters more than the property itself, and to buy within your means. 59:10

Question: Is having a cell phone in the hunting blind a good thing or a bad thing? 26:54 — Episode #259 Apple Tree Spacing in Deer Plots

• Answer: Don says many bucks have been saved because hunters were distracted on their phones and missed seeing them approach. 27:26
• Answer: Don says having his phone helps him sit much longer in the stand than he otherwise would. 27:40

Question: Why doesn’t Terry like hunting out of a tree saddle? 23:15 — Episode #258 - Live Podcast from Mt. Hope Ohio

• Answer: Terry says he’s injury-prone enough to need urgent care every three months, and fears tethering into a saddle would leave him hanging upside down by the neck. 23:53

Question: What were the emotional highs and lows Austin experienced this season with Cody’s hunt and his own buck? 36:24 — Episode #258 - Live Podcast from Mt. Hope Ohio

• Answer: Austin says killing his buck felt bittersweet because he’d invested everything into helping his new friend Cody get a deer first. 36:31
• Answer: Austin told Cody he was sad to have shot the deer himself, but promised Cody would return next year to try for a bigger buck. 40:43
• Answer: Austin calls the whole experience a roller coaster, noting the buck was a bully pushing other deer off and hoping Cody returns for a bigger one. 40:50

Question: What should be done about hunters who pile corn and set tree stands right on property lines? 42:35 — Episode #258 - Live Podcast from Mt. Hope Ohio

• Answer: Playing opposite-Don, Ray jokes he’d tear down fences and invite the offending neighbors over for dinner. 42:48

Question: What was the most fun buck you’ve ever killed, and why? 64:04 — Episode #258 - Live Podcast from Mt. Hope Ohio

• Answer: Ray Miller says his favorite was a buck he and Aidan watched grow from three to five years old on their first farm before finally killing it. 64:29
• Answer: Terry surprises the crowd by naming his smallest mounted buck, around 118 inches, as his most fun kill. 65:09

Question: Jack Bowers from Edwards, Illinois asks whether Illinois hunting regulations can be reversed and made great again, given groups like the Iowa Bowhunters Association. 51:36 — asked by Jack Bowers — Episode #257 - Too Early to Shed Hunt - Show some compassion!

• Answer: Don says reform requires a lobbyist and, crucially, Farm Bureau support, since Farm Bureau is Illinois’ most powerful lobby and could push positive regulation changes if aligned with hunters’ goals. 53:00

Question: Eric Guzman from Woodstock, Illinois asks whether Don considers himself a woodsman and would teach woodsmanship or bring on a proven woodsman guest to mentor new hunters. 60:58 — asked by Eric Guzman — Episode #257 - Too Early to Shed Hunt - Show some compassion!

• Answer: Don says yes, he considers himself a woodsman — his outdoor career began as a trapper and small-game hunter, where true woodsmanship skills like reading sign and terrain are learned. 61:17

Question: Does lactation prevent a doe from coming into heat and being bred, explaining late breeding cycles? 48:17 — asked by Brandon g — Episode #256 - Hard Winter and Early Buck Shed? Illinois CWD Announcement

• Answer: No — a doe will come into heat regardless of lactation, driven by daylight hours rather than nursing status. 48:33
• Answer: Don says the vast majority of late breeding activity is doe fawns coming into heat, unrelated to any 28-day cycle. 49:46

Question: Andy Hendrix asks whether Don prefers hack-and-squirt or girdling to clear timber and promote undergrowth, and when is the best time for either. 36:53 — asked by Andy Hendrix — Episode #254 - Don Improving Cell Cameral Locations, No-Till Food Plots, and Winter Habitat Projects

• Answer: Don prefers girdling for the species he typically cuts, saying it works far better than hack-and-squirt for killing those trees. 37:17
• Answer: Don explains that winter, when trees pull energy into their roots, is the right time to girdle or hack-and-squirt trees. 42:23

Question: Jacob Boston asks why deer are browsing plain fescue cow pastures more than his diverse fall food plots nearby. 46:08 — Episode #254 - Don Improving Cell Cameral Locations, No-Till Food Plots, and Winter Habitat Projects

• Answer: Don explains fescue is one of the least palatable, non-native grasses, mainly used for erosion control rather than deer forage. 46:34
• Answer: Don says deer aren’t grazers like cattle, so some other unseen plant growing among the fescue is likely what’s attracting them. 47:16

Question: Riley Welch asks if Don still owns his 98 acres, how the season went, and what he sees as its biggest strength, weakness, and ceiling. 64:13 — asked by Riley Welch — Episode #253 - Do Not Overcomplicate Habitat Projects!

• Answer: Don confirms he still owns the 98 acres, noting only Terry has ever hunted it there. 64:34
• Answer: Don estimates the property’s realistic yearly ceiling at around 150 inches, with occasional bigger bucks possible. 65:56
• Answer: Don identifies the surrounding neighborhood as the farm’s biggest weakness. 66:37

Question: Ellis Ober asks whether most bucks will shed their antlers early this year, having heard reports of early shedding but not seeing it himself. 68:27 — asked by Ellis Ober — Episode #253 - Do Not Overcomplicate Habitat Projects!

• Answer: Don doesn’t expect widespread early shedding this year, though he’s seen pictures of injured bucks shedding early already. 68:49
• Answer: Don explains one pictured buck had been shot and injured earlier in the season, and that stress caused it to shed early. 69:19

Question: Is there a reason to use a rope instead of a branch or vine for mock scrapes, since vines look more natural? 42:21 — asked by Drew Harmon — Episode #252 - Don says, “THERE IS NO SECOND RUT!”

• Answer: Don said bucks seem to prefer ropes over vines and won’t find ropes scattered everywhere like they do vines, especially valuable on public land. 43:58

Question: How would you approach and investigate a small, motherless doe fawn showing scours before it was found dead, and would you harvest it? 48:49 — asked by Steve Martinez — Episode #252 - Don says, “THERE IS NO SECOND RUT!”

• Answer: Don guessed the fawn was orphaned before its gut fully developed, since it was never seen with its mother, leading to digestive failure. 49:01

Question: Terry asks what the Mexico terrain looks like, wondering if it’s desert, cactus country, or hilly. 12:32 — asked by Terry — Episode #251 - Update on Don & Joe Miles Kills 2 Giant Mexico Bucks!

• Answer: Joe describes the terrain as extremely flat brush country with a few drainages and no trees or bushes over five feet tall. 12:40

Question: Terry asks whether they hunt from tripods or shooting houses in Mexico. 12:55 — asked by Terry — Episode #251 - Update on Don & Joe Miles Kills 2 Giant Mexico Bucks!

• Answer: Joe says they hunt from box-style shooting houses, similar to 360 blinds. 12:58

Question: Terry asks what other animals besides whitetail deer they’re seeing on the Mexico ranch. 14:16 — asked by Terry — Episode #251 - Update on Don & Joe Miles Kills 2 Giant Mexico Bucks!

• Answer: Joe says they’ve seen hogs and javelinas, describing javelinas as small, ferocious critters native to the region. 14:24

Question: Terry asks where in Mexico Joe is hunting and how far south of Texas that is. 15:24 — asked by Terry — Episode #251 - Update on Don & Joe Miles Kills 2 Giant Mexico Bucks!

• Answer: Joe says they cross the border near Laredo and hunt just south of Texas’s Golden Triangle region (McAllen, Laredo, Eagle Pass). 15:50

Question: Terry asks whether killing his South Carolina buck felt like a weight lifting off after so much pressure chasing one deer. 21:49 — asked by Terry — Episode #251 - Update on Don & Joe Miles Kills 2 Giant Mexico Bucks!

• Answer: Joe says he wouldn’t call it the weight of the world coming off. 21:59
• Answer: Joe adds that killing a buck is great but isn’t necessary for him to consider a season successful. 24:14

Question: Nick Dressler from Saint Liberty, Illinois asks what causes acorn-like tips on some of his buck’s antler points. 43:56 — asked by Nick Dressler — Episode #250 - Prepare for Late Season Big Buck Hunting

• Answer: Don explains the acorn-shaped growths result from damage to the antler tip while it was growing in velvet, not from old age. 45:09

Question: Terry asks what causes a hard antler to have a hole going back into it, rather than a horizontal hole. 45:37 — Episode #250 - Prepare for Late Season Big Buck Hunting

• Answer: Don says that’s usually caused by a stick or similar object getting stuck in the antler while it was still growing. 45:52

Question: Drew Harmon from Floyd, Virginia asks whether certain bucks establish a late-season pattern of showing up at the same time and place each year. 46:13 — asked by Drew Harmon — Episode #250 - Prepare for Late Season Big Buck Hunting

• Answer: Don says more new bucks show up on his place during late season than at any other time of year. 46:54

Question: Ricky Lunsford from Williamstown, Kentucky asks what causes some bucks to still be in velvet late in the season. 48:04 — asked by Ricky Lunsford — Episode #250 - Prepare for Late Season Big Buck Hunting

• Answer: Don explains low testosterone, sometimes from very small or absent testicles, causes bucks to remain in velvet longer. 48:32

Question: Glenda Neodor from Auburn, Nebraska asks why Don doesn’t rattle on every hunt to increase his odds of seeing an otherwise unseen buck. 50:00 — asked by Glenda Neodor — Episode #250 - Prepare for Late Season Big Buck Hunting

• Answer: Don says he avoids frequent blind rattling because it risks alerting every buck in the neighborhood to his stand location. 50:36

Question: Colton Willis asks whether does blowing at a mature buck chasing other does signals the does are being harassed by him. 54:08 — asked by Colton Willis — Episode #250 - Prepare for Late Season Big Buck Hunting

• Answer: Don recalls a doe was indeed being harassed by a buck, and theorizes does blow to trick the buck into thinking there’s danger so he’ll leave them alone. 55:14

Question: Nate Miller, buying a property currently being clear cut, asked whether deer avoid such areas and how to improve them for deer. 50:13 — asked by Nate Miller — Episode #249 - Another Big Archery Buck! Terry Peer and Don Higgins Discuss

• Answer: Don said clear cuts are actually some of the best deer habitat available, since deer readily work through and even bed within the fallen tops. 50:36

Question: Terry asks Wes what it’s like to hear the podcast tell embarrassing stories or poke fun at him when he isn’t there to defend himself. 1:23 — asked by Terry — Episode #248 - Big Buck Down! Wes Delks Joins Us to Discuss UHAUL

• Answer: Wes says he doesn’t get to jab back on the podcast, but that’s part of having fun with good friends. 1:33

Question: Brandon Carroll from Chestertown, Maryland asks how to distinguish doe bedding from buck bedding during postseason scouting. 43:52 — asked by Brandon Carroll — Episode #248 - Big Buck Down! Wes Delks Joins Us to Discuss UHAUL

• Answer: Don says a bigger, longer bed found in the snow is likely a buck’s bed. 44:39
• Answer: Don says he pays zero attention to differentiating doe and buck beds when scouting a new property, calling that distinction overrated. 45:00
• Answer: Wes says he narrows a bedding buck down to a several-acre area rather than one exact spot. 46:25

Question: Ray and Aiden Miller from Burton, Ohio say thermal drones are a huge threat to trophy hunting since groups can now locate every big buck. 50:42 — asked by Ray and Aiden Miller from Burton, Ohio — Episode #247 - Lockdown, Drone’s, and Deer Pimps

• Answer: Don says a thermal drone is a poacher’s dream, expressing strong concern about drones in the wrong hands. 51:35
• Answer: Don says a thermal drone herd survey on his property found every single mature buck he already knew about. 52:00
• Answer: Terry says he personally considers it trespassing for anyone to fly a drone over his farm at any time. 55:54
• Answer: Don says if a drone flies over his property and he can get to his shotgun, he’ll shoot it out of the air. 56:55

Question: Dan Schultz asked whether Don field-dressed Zacchaeus where he fell or moved the gut pile away from his sanctuary to limit predator impact. 27:00 — asked by Dan Schultz — Episode #245 - Halloween Hunting Should Be Great! Weather and Hunting Forecast from Don Higgins

• Answer: Don leaves gut piles by the hydrant and says stray cats, possums, and other critters clean them up quickly. 29:56
• Answer: He has no experience with wolves or bears but says he’d still remove the whole deer before dressing it regardless of predators present. 30:29

Question: Terry asks Nick and Evan whether niche caliber fads are driven by the ammunition side or the firearm manufacturing side. 82:38 — Episode #245 - Halloween Hunting Should Be Great! Weather and Hunting Forecast from Don Higgins

• Answer: Nick says caliber fads are 100 percent driven by the ammunition side of the industry. 82:47
• Answer: He cites the 224 Valkyrie as an example of a caliber fad that flopped quickly. 83:16

Question: Terry asks Nick why the six millimeter ARC round is actually a military-developed cartridge. 86:14 — Episode #245 - Halloween Hunting Should Be Great! Weather and Hunting Forecast from Don Higgins

• Answer: Nick explains the military contacted Brenton about magazine function for the 6 ARC as they developed it into a sniper rifle round. 86:23

Question: Terry asks Nick and Evan to compare advantages and disadvantages of 350, 450, and the new 400 Legend straight-wall calibers. 91:19 — Episode #245 - Halloween Hunting Should Be Great! Weather and Hunting Forecast from Don Higgins

• Answer: He explains the 450 hits hardest but arcs more at distance, while the 400 Legend falls in between it and the flatter 350. 92:04
• Answer: Nick adds the 400 Legend should still be a lethal round out to about 250 yards. 93:53

Question: Terry asks what signals a quality, reliable trigger beyond just the three-and-a-half-pound pull weight. 101:46 — Episode #245 - Halloween Hunting Should Be Great! Weather and Hunting Forecast from Don Higgins

• Answer: He points to using a reputable manufacturer, noting Brenton chose Trigger Tech for its strong reputation in bolt-action triggers. 102:51

Question: Terry asks Nick to walk through Brenton’s magazine options so hunters can stay compliant with varying state laws. 106:56 — Episode #245 - Halloween Hunting Should Be Great! Weather and Hunting Forecast from Don Higgins

• Answer: Nick explains Brenton mags ship with orange limit blocks capping capacity at five rounds by default. 107:19
• Answer: He adds every state differs and Brenton has a specific compliance solution for hunters in Illinois. 107:40

Question: Eric Shankster asked what made Don choose archery over gun hunting and wanted his take on the pros and cons of each. 61:34 — asked by Eric Shankster — Episode #243 - Target Giant Non-Typical Buck Success - Don Higgins

• Answer: Don said he took up archery mainly because Illinois’s firearm deer season was only six days long, which wasn’t enough time in the woods for him. 62:00

Question: Jay Tolley, a new Northern Wisconsin listener, asks if he should harvest three mature does that showed up right before his buck pictures stopped, suspecting bullying. 59:25 — Podcast #241 - Don’s Target Buck Revealed - Non-Typical Giant!

• Answer: Don doesn’t think three mature does would bully a hard-horned buck away; he guesses the bucks’ bachelor group simply dispersed, which is normal this time of year. 59:43
• Answer: Don says not to worry about shooting the does at all, and that the listener is misguided in thinking the does ran the bucks off. 60:17

Question: Nate Miller asks which state DNR Don would want to head and how he would manage it. 48:20 — asked by Nate Miller — Episode #240 - If Don Was DNR, How He Would Make Illinois Better Than Iowa

• Answer: Don says he’d head Illinois’s DNR and opposes antler point restrictions, preferring to manage quality without dictating what hunters shoot. 48:55
• Answer: He’d also split the buck limit into early and late season tags, requiring a doe be taken before the second buck, to improve age structure. 50:11

Question: Can Don and Terry reflect on frustrating people-related situations that come with their notoriety and how they’ve dealt with them? 48:37 — asked by Jeremy Van Kirk — Episode #239 - EHD Is Closing in on Don’s Farm!

• Answer: Don said notoriety brings both good and bad, from lost permission and rumors to opened doors, and he chooses to focus on the positives. 53:49

Question: Mike asks if Don can help convince his wife that Deadly Dozen is a good cover crop for their garden. 24:38 — asked by Mike Stoltzwiss — Episode 237 - Cell Camera Spooking Mature Deer? Don Thinks Maybe So…

• Answer: Don says a quarter-acre bag of Deadly Dozen makes a fantastic garden cover crop with turnips, radishes, cereal grains, and clover. 25:04

Question: Given early antler growth and hard-horned bucks already, will bucks end up bigger, keep growing, or shed early? 1:20 — Episode #236 - Antler Genetics Follow Mother or Father?

• Answer: Don answers that all of the possibilities apply, depending on the individual buck. 1:32

Question: Alex Dunlavy asks whether an early fall and later gun season will help bowhunters and possibly reduce the deer harvest in Illinois. 25:22 — asked by Alex Dunlavy — Episode #236 - Antler Genetics Follow Mother or Father?

• Answer: Don says an early fall with November-like temperatures in October would bode well for bowhunters. 26:10
• Answer: Don says he has no idea how the early fall will affect gun hunters’ success. 26:17

Question: Dave Armstrong asks whether Don’s reduced obsession with big bucks, compared to the past, will affect his ability to kill another 200-inch buck. 33:27 — asked by Dave Armstrong — Episode #235 - Is EHD Back in 2024? Bucks Dead in Indiana!

• Answer: Don says a 200-inch buck is no harder to kill than a 150 if they’re the same age. 34:26
• Answer: Don adds the real difficulty is finding the buck and gaining hunting access to the property where he lives. 34:40

Question: Elijah Bagwell asks how Don balances being a man of God, a father, and a serious whitetail hunter. 50:00 — asked by Elijah Bagwell — Episode #235 - Is EHD Back in 2024? Bucks Dead in Indiana!

• Answer: Don says it’s possible to balance faith, family, and hunting if kept in proper balance, without hunting every free daylight moment. 52:05

Question: Elijah Bagwell also asks how Don stays motivated the season after killing a great buck, when he may not see that caliber again. 50:05 — asked by Elijah Bagwell — Episode #235 - Is EHD Back in 2024? Bucks Dead in Indiana!

• Answer: Don says the bigger the buck he kills, the happier he is, but the bigger the letdown after, since finding another like it may take years, if ever. 55:41

Question: Michael Scott asked why Real World hasn’t pursued major retail chains or Amazon to make its products more available and increase sales. 45:39 — asked by Michael Scott — Episode #231 - Timing is Key: When to Plant Fall Plots

• Answer: Don said Real World tried major retail before but found the profit margins big box stores and Amazon demand are too high without sacrificing product quality. 46:18

Question: Tim Gwen said he felt sold out and distraught after the Whitetail Master Academy ownership change and asked how Don would reassure members it’s worth investing in. 52:32 — asked by Tim Gwen — Episode #231 - Timing is Key: When to Plant Fall Plots

• Answer: Don said Tim misunderstood — Jake will not be the one providing content on the videos. 54:06
• Answer: Don clarified Jake is the new owner bringing in other experienced hunters, like Bobby Worthington, to provide the actual content. 54:23

Question: Fred Zorich asked what deer hunting and life goals Don and Terry have for this coming season and the rest of their hunting days. 66:53 — asked by Fred Zorich — Episode #231 - Timing is Key: When to Plant Fall Plots

• Answer: Don’s top hunting goal is to shoot a public-land buck scoring at least 180 inches, which he called extremely difficult at 61. 67:55
• Answer: His other goal is two more 200-inch-plus bucks to reach five total, with at least one coming from somewhere other than his home farm. 68:22

Question: Terry asks Don how he cleans out his big tractor-mounted sprayer to safely switch between different chemicals. 20:40 — asked by Terry — Episode 230 - Don says Switchgrass is not the best bedding.

• Answer: Don says he empties leftover chemical, then flushes the tank, filters, and nozzles with plain water before adding the next chemical. 21:02

Question: Steven asks at what point Don would readjust his outlook on antler growth given the dry conditions he observed on a trip. 37:57 — asked by Steven Lincoln — Episode #229 - Final Thoughts on the Buck Named Babe and Cameras are Out!

• Answer: Don explains most of the whitetail’s range had a mild winter, early spring, and sufficient rain, giving bucks a great start. 40:01
• Answer: Don says bucks that got off to a strong start are still doing fantastic, with growing conditions better than average in most areas. 40:09

Question: Eric asks whether Real World Wildlife Products will ever go public so he could invest. 60:21 — asked by Eric Bowles — Episode #229 - Final Thoughts on the Buck Named Babe and Cameras are Out!

• Answer: Don says he doesn’t foresee the company ever going public. 60:33

Question: Jeremy Sluder asked Don for an update on his daughter Andrea, saying he was praying for a good report. 27:13 — Episode 228 - Is Iowa Really the Best State?

• Answer: Don says his daughter Andrea finished radiation a couple weeks ago and is currently in a holding pattern awaiting a scan. 27:58
• Answer: Don says Andrea will get a scan in late fall or winter to determine if she is cancer free. 28:37

Question: Enes Miller asked if Terry also takes humic acid and whether that could explain their different tick experiences. 45:17 — asked by Enes Miller — Episode 228 - Is Iowa Really the Best State?

• Answer: Terry confirms he also started taking humic acid around the same time as Don but doesn’t think it’s connected to his tick problems. 48:10

Question: Enes Miller asked for the phone number to call and listen to the podcast, since his old number stopped working. 45:23 — asked by Enes Miller — Episode 228 - Is Iowa Really the Best State?

• Answer: Don gives the working Emtek number, 8143229362, and says to dial extension 20 to listen. 46:27

Question: Chad Timmer asked whether Don has ever planted browse species directly in his bedding areas for deer. 52:53 — asked by Chad Timmer — Episode 228 - Is Iowa Really the Best State?

• Answer: Don says he has planted shrub species for deer but considers it his biggest habitat failure. 53:23
• Answer: Don says deer browse planted shrubs off as fast as he can plant them. 53:33

Question: Jesse Fromm asked whether the resurgence of bobcats in Illinois provides any advantage, given effects on turkeys and fawns. 56:02 — asked by Jesse Fromm — Episode 228 - Is Iowa Really the Best State?

• Answer: Don recounts seeing three bobcats together in a blind with Steve Shields last year, showing how common they’ve become. 57:15
• Answer: Don concludes bobcats are roughly a wash for deer, with both negatives from fawn predation and positives from rabbit control. 59:14

Question: How does soybean maturity group numbering relate to the summer solstice and day length? 17:02 — Episode #227 - Science Behind Summer Solstice and Whitetail

• Answer: Don explains soybeans are categorized by maturity group number, with higher numbers indicating a longer life cycle for that variety. 17:09

Question: Does an injury to one side of a buck’s body, like from a car collision, affect antler growth on the opposite side, and can deer recover? 26:48 — Episode #227 - Science Behind Summer Solstice and Whitetail

• Answer: Don explains a leg injury affects the same-side antler if it’s a front leg injury, but the opposite-side antler if it’s a rear leg injury. 27:09

Question: Who will take over Chasing Giants after Don retires or becomes too old to continue? 29:33 — asked by Clinton Martin — Episode #227 - Science Behind Summer Solstice and Whitetail

• Answer: Don says he’s not retiring soon, but he and Terry have an arrangement for Terry to take over Chasing Giants when Don eventually steps back. 30:17

Question: What is your favorite, most essential piece of custom hunting gear you’ve made or had made for yourself? 32:53 — asked by Gabe Shyve — Episode #227 - Science Behind Summer Solstice and Whitetail

• Answer: Don says his favorite custom gear is a camera arm he had made about fifteen years ago that he still uses today. 33:02

Question: After raccoons quickly devoured a Real World NutriCrave mineral block the first night, how do you keep coons from eating it? 40:41 — asked by Kendall Yoder — Episode #227 - Science Behind Summer Solstice and Whitetail

• Answer: Don says raccoons will always be an issue regardless of the product; the real solution is controlling the raccoon population, not the specific block. 41:07

Question: Is there a specific reason Don wouldn’t recommend arborvitae trees for a deer screening barrier? 54:23 — asked by Jason Yoder — Episode #227 - Science Behind Summer Solstice and Whitetail

• Answer: Don explains arborvitae (white cedar) isn’t native to most areas and deer will devour the foliage up to about six feet, leaving no effective screen. 56:32

Question: What would you feed the deer through feeders, since you’re not fond of a corn pile? 46:56 — asked by Mylan Yoder — Episode 225 - Big Antlers this Spring Mean Big Decisions this Fall!

• Answer: Don said he’d use Real World’s complete feed. 47:26

Question: Kyle Tepe asked which faster-growing oak tree would be a good choice to canopy over his long open driveway. 36:54 — asked by Kyle Tepe — Episode #223 - Why are Young Bucks Being Hit on the Roads This Time of Year?

• Answer: Don recommends the swamp white oak, noting it produces acorns quickly and grows as fast as any other oak species. 37:07
• Answer: Terry cautions against planting pin oaks near a driveway because their low, spreading limbs are hard to trim as the tree matures. 39:35

Question: Michael Rayburn from Lafayette, Louisiana asked whether luck can ever be fully eliminated from deer hunting success. 40:48 — asked by Michael Rayburn — Episode #223 - Why are Young Bucks Being Hit on the Roads This Time of Year?

• Answer: Don says luck is always a factor to some degree, but hunters should focus on identifying and addressing whatever is limiting their success to minimize luck’s role. 41:26

Question: John Scott from Oklahoma asked Don how he wants to be remembered by the hunting community. 56:04 — asked by John Scott — Episode #223 - Why are Young Bucks Being Hit on the Roads This Time of Year?

• Answer: Don says he wants to be remembered for using his platform to share his faith and for speaking the truth regardless of the personal or financial cost. 57:03

Question: A listener’s neighbor believes grain sorghum seed mixes can’t be cleaned free of shattercane, spreading it via birds and deer. 42:16 — asked by Carl Wigginski — Episode #218 -Spring Food Plots - Is it time to plant?

• Answer: Don assures listeners quality grain sorghum seed from a reputable source will not contain any shattercane. 42:49

Question: Ray Miller asks what can be planted on trails with a good root system that isn’t an attractant to deer. 39:30 — Episode #217 - Now Don wants to go fishing!

• Answer: Don recommends fescue grass for trails, noting its dense root system stops erosion and deer avoid grazing it. 40:01

Question: Nathan asks whether to keep putting mineral blocks in a spot that fills with rainwater or start a new spot. 51:02 — Episode #217 - Now Don wants to go fishing!

• Answer: Don clarifies the blocks are feed-type blocks, not mineral blocks, and shouldn’t be placed in water. 51:39
• Answer: Don says to keep pouring mineral directly in the lick even if it holds standing water, since deer still consume dissolved minerals there. 52:18

Question: What did Brandon Epperson’s buck finally officially score in the deer scoring competition? 6:16 — asked by Terry — Episode #216 - Don Shoots His First Turkey - Friends Episode

• Answer: Brandon Epperson’s buck scored right around 203 by Buckmaster and 202 1/8 by Pope and Young. 6:34

Question: Robbie Kohler asks how to enjoy hunting without letting work-related stress from his two jobs ruin the experience. 21:09 — asked by Robbie Kohler — Episode #216 - Don Shoots His First Turkey - Friends Episode

• Answer: Don admits he never fully figured out the balance and eventually sold his tree business rather than resolve the conflict between work and hunting. 21:49

Question: How much does Joe Johnson rely on binoculars while shed hunting in big ag country? 41:23 — asked by Terry — Episode #216 - Don Shoots His First Turkey - Friends Episode

• Answer: Joe Johnson says binoculars are the biggest help he has for shed hunting. 41:28
• Answer: He especially relies on glassing bean stubble, early wheat, and clover fields for deer sign. 41:37

Question: Terry asks Don to briefly explain what simazine, quinclorac, and 2,4-D are for listeners unfamiliar with the chemicals. 20:36 — Episode #215 - Could 2024 be a fantastic antler growing season?

• Answer: Don explains simazine is a pre-emergent sprayed before green-up to prevent weeds, while quinclorac is a contact grass herbicide that only kills select grasses like foxtail and crabgrass. 20:50

Question: Frank Zabato asks Don to define what he means by ‘average deer hunter.’ 23:09 — asked by Frank Zabato — Episode #215 - Could 2024 be a fantastic antler growing season?

• Answer: Don defines the average deer hunter as someone in the middle third who thinks about hunting occasionally but isn’t seriously scouting or working at it year-round. 24:54

Question: Duane Lee Yoder asks under what circumstances to feed Maximizer Plus mineral versus regular Maximizer Mineral and the new deer block. 33:13 — asked by Duane Lee Yoder — Episode #215 - Could 2024 be a fantastic antler growing season?

• Answer: Don says Maximizer Plus with its Expect Healthy Deer technology is most critical from about May through September, during the antler-growing period. 33:54

Question: Daniel Bortex asks what Don thinks of an ‘over 160’ deer mineral product and whether he’d compare it to Maximizer. 38:21 — asked by Daniel Bortex — Episode #215 - Could 2024 be a fantastic antler growing season?

• Answer: Don says if a competing mineral is really that great, the company should post its analysis tag so it can be compared. 44:00

Question: Grant Watson asked whether hog manure fertilizer correlates with the larger antlers seen on Iowa deer. 10:58 — asked by Grant Watson — Episode #214 - Don says, “MAKE TURKEY HUNTING GREAT AGAIN!” Easter Sunday

• Answer: Don said he doesn’t believe hog manure correlates with antler size, since farmers balance fertilizer regardless of manure use. 11:32

Question: John Kessinger asked if a big buck ever came between Don and a friend, and for advice on people claiming bucks seen on camera. 32:24 — asked by John Kessinger — Episode #214 - Don says, “MAKE TURKEY HUNTING GREAT AGAIN!” Easter Sunday

• Answer: Don advised reacting to someone else shooting your target buck the same way you’d want them to react if you shot it. 32:59

Question: Michael Riggs asked how Don justifies charging other deer hunters $10,000 for consulting services, saying the price seems ridiculous. 30:44 — asked by Michael Riggs — Episode #213 - Turning old cow pasture in deer sanctuary

• Answer: Don said he did over 50 consulting visits this year, and less than half of those clients paid the full $10,000 fee. 31:19
• Answer: Terry explained that Don deliberately prices close to other consultants, sacrificing deals to push clients toward Terry and others to help establish their businesses. 36:37

Question: An audience member asks whether skunks, like most animals, breed at the same time every year. 5:42 — Episode #211 - Live from RWWP Dealer Event - BINGO

• Answer: Don says he thought so, but recent roadkilled skunks suggest otherwise. 5:47
• Answer: Don jokes he doesn’t know and you’d have to ask a skunk. 6:00

Question: The same audience member asks if Terry has a rough ratio or gut feel for when to take does. 11:24 — Episode #211 - Live from RWWP Dealer Event - BINGO

• Answer: Terry says as long as he can still feed the deer he wants them there, since his farm is managed purely for deer food. 11:34

Question: An audience member asks whether piling a cedar rub on a mulch pile for a year did any harm or benefit. 26:03 — Episode #211 - Live from RWWP Dealer Event - BINGO

• Answer: Don says it likely did no harm, though he’s unsure it did any benefit either. 26:11

Question: The audience member follows up asking if they’d wait until later without a target buck present. 36:04 — Episode #211 - Live from RWWP Dealer Event - BINGO

• Answer: Don says he’d just kill the management buck whenever he gets the chance. 36:07

Question: Sam Lowe asks whether Don or Terry have used liquid lime and whether it actually works. 31:47 — asked by Sam Lowe — Episode #210 - What to do with Bush Honeysuckle

• Answer: Don says he tested liquid lime on a clover plot and found it a poor substitute for real lime, with no noticeable effect. 32:03

Question: Lone Wolf Treager asks what advice Don has for hunters who kill a world class deer, referencing the confiscated Alexander buck controversy in Ohio. 36:56 — asked by Lone Wolf Treager — Episode #210 - What to do with Bush Honeysuckle

• Answer: Don advises carrying a video camera on every hunt and recording the recovery, since documentation is the best defense against accusations. 37:58
• Answer: Terry says an early mentor taught him never to operate on hearsay, speculation, or opinion, applying that standard to the Ohio buck controversy. 43:12

Question: Does the decline in trophy-buck culture in Illinois come from crossbows and trail cameras, or something else? 29:49 — Ep #208 - Live from the FAE Midwest Sportsman Classic!

• Answer: Don says many factors are involved, starting with DNR regulations. 29:57
• Answer: Don says his mentors, the Wensels and Al Foster, instilled ethics where shots past 25 yards weren’t even discussed. 30:33
• Answer: Don adds that CWD hysteria pushed by some biologists also played a role. 31:24
• Answer: Terry says still allowing nonresidents to kill two bucks was a mistake when regulators should have shut down hunting to protect the herd. 32:45

Question: Why did Don buy an adjoining 40-acre parcel instead of a separate 40-acre property? 43:32 — asked by Josh — Ep #208 - Live from the FAE Midwest Sportsman Classic!

• Answer: Don explains he lost his lease when the landowner died, and new hunters began pounding the neighboring bucks. 44:10
• Answer: Don traded tillable acreage for the adjoining woods and creek ground, a deal that saved his farm from being ruined. 44:47

Question: Jeremy O’Donnell asked whether Don believes his efforts, including podcasting and opposing poor legislation, have positively impacted deer quality and hunting. 56:55 — asked by Jeremy O’Donnell — Episode #207 - Was Don a Hippie?

• Answer: Don answers a resounding yes; his advocacy efforts have positively impacted deer quality and hunting. 57:21
• Answer: Don states the only way to enact real policy change is to raise money and hire a lobbyist. 59:20

Question: How do you both feel about the trend of every successful hunter becoming a consultant or podcast host? Has it hurt your business? 14:13 — asked by William Davis — Ep# 205 - Don shares trail camera pictures from 2023

• Answer: Don says the rise of new consultants and podcasts hasn’t hurt his business at all — his phone rings more every year than the year before. 17:49
• Answer: Terry adds that they’ve both been blessed by the amount of people who choose to work with them. 17:57

Question: Do either of you test for CWD on your land? 57:28 — asked by Mike Womhoff — Ep# 205 - Don shares trail camera pictures from 2023

• Answer: Don says he would not test any deer for CWD and actively discourages hunters from having deer tested. 57:58

Question: Aaron McGraw asks whether Don still feels an adrenaline rush after the shot and kill, having killed multiple 200-inch bucks and many bucks scoring 170-190 inches. 19:59 — asked by Aaron McGraw — Ep. 204 - Hinge Cutting - Don Critiques Specific Projects

• Answer: Don says his heart rate still picks up a little when a giant approaches, but the rush is nothing like it was when he started hunting; lasting satisfaction comes through Christ, not deer. 22:42

Question: Dusty Esseck from Highlandville, Missouri asks Don’s thoughts on the hack-and-squirt method for killing trees, noting Don seems to favor cutting over hinge cutting. 25:30 — asked by Dusty Esseck — Ep. 204 - Hinge Cutting - Don Critiques Specific Projects

• Answer: Don calls hack-and-squirt a fantastic, underused tool, often better than hinge cutting; a hatchet chop filled with herbicide kills the tree, needing one hack on small trees or several on larger ones. 26:45

Question: Mike Kelly asks whether, once he can no longer draw a compound bow due to age, he should switch to a crossbow or give up hunting. 49:48 — asked by Mike Kelly — Ep. 204 - Hinge Cutting - Don Critiques Specific Projects

• Answer: Don says he would not hesitate to switch to a crossbow if he could no longer shoot a compound, though he opposes crossbows for able-bodied hunters during full archery season. 50:06

Question: Kyle Mason asks how frustrated Missouri hunters might push back against unfavorable DNR regulations and whether real change is achievable. 52:01 — asked by Kyle Mason — Ep. 204 - Hinge Cutting - Don Critiques Specific Projects

• Answer: Don says meaningful regulation change takes years, significant fundraising, and a hired lobbyist, but the biggest challenge is uniting hunters despite a loud, vocal minority opposing progress. 55:56

Question: Blake Marcus asks whether raising the Pope and Young minimum score from 125 to 140 inches for whitetails would make a difference in deer herds nationwide. 57:55 — asked by Blake Marcus — Ep. 204 - Hinge Cutting - Don Critiques Specific Projects

• Answer: Don says raising the minimum score would make no real difference, since a 140-inch archery buck is now an easily achievable goal for most Midwest hunters. 58:14

Question: Terry asks how Don’s view of the hunting community, and his personal hunting journey, have changed over 200 episodes. 8:05 — Episode 200 - Journey to 200

• Answer: Don believes most people in the hunting community, like society generally, are good-hearted, even though a loud negative minority can seem louder than it really is. 8:52
• Answer: Don says his priorities have shifted—killing big deer matters less now, while relationships and habitat consulting bring him growing enjoyment each year. 13:11

Question: Chase Harris asks for thoughts on where the recreational land and farmland market is heading given recent rapid price appreciation. 41:26 — asked by Chase Harris — Episode 200 - Journey to 200

• Answer: Don says land has historically appreciated about 7% a year over forty years per Midwest Land Group research, but jumped roughly 17% last year, and he doesn’t expect prices to fall given strong investor demand. 41:44
• Answer: Terry predicts appreciation will settle back toward the long-term 7-10% average once the current interest-rate compression works through, as investors keep bidding up land as a stable asset. 45:50

Question: Bob Longo asks whether declining hunter numbers threaten hunters’ political voting power on hunting-related issues. 50:17 — Episode 200 - Journey to 200

• Answer: Don argues recruiting more hunters brings no voting benefit since hunters are always a small minority, while new recruits with money would just outbid current hunters for land access. 52:37
• Answer: Terry adds that even with a voting majority, opposing interests would still find ways to push their agenda through. 53:30

Question: Ali Bros asked how to find a target buck’s bedding area without bumping him into a new core area and ruining the season. 41:31 — asked by Ali Bros — Episode 198 - Buck Traveling Long Distances After The Rut

• Answer: Don says the solution is to locate bedding areas before the season starts, gathering information year over year rather than during the hunt. 41:46

Question: Kurt Kasitka asked Don to elaborate on how he uses Weather Underground’s line graphs to forecast peak buck activity days. 44:17 — asked by Kurt Kasitka — Episode 198 - Buck Traveling Long Distances After The Rut

• Answer: Don explains that when the temperature and barometric pressure lines converge on the graph, that marks prime hunting time. 46:20
• Answer: Don predicts the coming Wednesday afternoon and Thursday morning will be prime hunting time based on the graph. 46:28

Question: Jacob Schulte asked how Don manages windows in his 360 blinds, and whether he opens them early or waits until he sees deer. 55:51 — asked by Jacob Schulte — Episode #197 - Don’s Grandson Kills His First Buck!

• Answer: Don said when entering his 360 blind he typically opens at least two windows facing where he most expects a shot. 56:53

Question: Terry asked whether tree seedlings, like Miscanthus rhizomes, should be stored dormant in a cooler when conditions aren’t right for planting. 44:49 — Episode #196 - Lock Down Breaking Loose as Weather Changes

• Answer: Don explained trees should be kept cool near 35 degrees in refrigerated storage, never frozen, until planting conditions are right. 45:47

Question: Ryan asked what tactics or pointers could help him fill his buck tag during Thanksgiving weekend. 47:21 — Episode #196 - Lock Down Breaking Loose as Weather Changes

• Answer: Don hunts the downwind edge of bedding cover in mornings, since bucks patrol that edge to scent danger or a hot doe. 49:04
• Answer: In the evenings Don moves closer to food sources where does and trailing bucks are headed. 49:17

Question: Terry suggested that on a 40-acre hardwood tract, bedding is likely more important than food, and asked Don to comment on improving bedding. 54:16 — Episode #196 - Lock Down Breaking Loose as Weather Changes

• Answer: Don said the priority depends on neighboring land: if neighbors have big ag fields, bedding cover is essential since deer will naturally feed in those fields. 54:36

Question: Jayden Stall asks whether arriving ninety minutes before daylight, rather than twenty, improves the odds of seeing deer after spooking one. 42:10 — asked by Jayden Stall — Episode #195 - Wes Delks Shoots a Giant and Crossbow Controversy

• Answer: Don typically arrives at his stand only fifteen to twenty minutes before shooting light. 42:53
• Answer: Don doesn’t think arriving ninety minutes early is worth it, since a spooked deer rarely returns in time to be seen at daylight. 43:22

Question: John Lawden asks why Illinois hunting quality declined over ten to fifteen years despite similar archery numbers and far fewer gun-killed deer. 49:50 — asked by John Lawden — Episode #195 - Wes Delks Shoots a Giant and Crossbow Controversy

• Answer: Don explains Illinois’ pioneering biologists first allowed either-sex harvest and county-by-county management, building the nation’s best deer herd. 54:04
• Answer: Illinois’ deer harvest peaked at over 200,000 in 2005, after which regulatory changes drove herd size and buck quality down. 56:38
• Answer: Don concludes the crossbow wasn’t the sole cause but was the final blow after earlier regulation changes had already eroded herd quality. 64:10

Question: The mailman, Steven Polk, asks whether an incident ever made Don or Terry consider walking away from deer hunting, and what stopped them. 53:21 — asked by Steven Polk — Episode #194 - 2nd Target Buck Harvested by Special Guest

• Answer: Don recounted that in 2004 he was falsely accused of wrongdoing and had his first 200-inch buck confiscated by the Illinois DNR, requiring a lawyer to get it back. 53:48
• Answer: Don said that after a few days, resolve took over — he had done nothing wrong shooting that deer and refused to let someone else’s issue destroy his passion. 55:03
• Answer: Don emphasized he holds no ill will toward those involved, noting it happened almost twenty years ago. 59:13

Question: A listener with only farm history (no trail cameras) and one week of vacation asks which seven-day window is best to hunt hard. 34:39 — asked by Mark Zoke — Episode #193 - Babe is Down!

• Answer: Don says if he had to pick one week to maximize odds of killing a good buck, he’d choose November 5 through 12, especially including the 7th and 8th. 34:49
• Answer: Terry plans to travel to Illinois after work on November 3 and hunt the 4th through 8th, splitting his vacation into two separate trips. 36:17

Question: A listener asks about using drones versus dogs for deer recovery, noting drones are illegal in Illinois. 44:04 — asked by Walker Goodwin — Episode #193 - Babe is Down!

• Answer: Don believes Illinois banned drone-assisted recovery mainly to prevent hunters from using drones to locate and scout target bucks rather than just recover wounded deer. 44:55
• Answer: Don appreciates that Illinois requires recovery dogs to stay on a lead of no more than 50 feet, keeping the practice controlled. 46:25

Question: Adam asked whether the rut would disrupt his same-time-same-place pattern for a buck he got last November 28. 25:58 — asked by Adam — Episode 192 - End of October - Tactics and Plans are Changing - PRE RUT!

• Answer: Don says that if the buck survived, it will likely return to the same spot at some point during the rut, even if temporarily off with a doe. 26:42

Question: Why are close bow shots so important, and how should stands be set up to stay hidden? 36:41 — Episode #191 - Babe Out In Daylight - Giant Corn Yields for Food Plotters

• Answer: Don says the key to any tree stand is staying hidden with cover, not height. 36:55
• Answer: Don typically sets up for 15-20 yard shots, with 30 yards as his maximum. 37:40

Question: Why are retail stores in Illinois allowed to sell deer bait when baiting is illegal to use there? 39:32 — asked by Joel Gear — Episode #191 - Babe Out In Daylight - Giant Corn Yields for Food Plotters

• Answer: Don says nothing surprises him in Illinois, blaming state politics for the contradictory bait sales. 39:34

Question: Terry asks if Babe still beds in the same north-facing switchgrass hill above the drainage ditch where the farm’s biggest buck lives every year. 6:26 — Episode #190 - Prep for Youth Season - Green Light on Babe

• Answer: Don confirms it and says there’s a good chance Babe won’t make it through the weekend. 7:03

Question: Ty Miller asks Don and Terry to share their thoughts on husbands making their wives the butt of jokes during hunting season. 45:47 — asked by Ty Miller — Episode #190 - Prep for Youth Season - Green Light on Babe

• Answer: Don says he doesn’t understand why guys would want to make jokes about their wives. 47:55
• Answer: Don says the last thing he wants is for his grandsons to hear him bashing his wife, even jokingly, since he’s setting an example. 48:46

Question: Jay Yoder asks whether Don shoots a coyote that shows up while deer hunting, risking spooking deer, or leaves it alone. 59:19 — asked by Jay Yoder — Episode #190 - Prep for Youth Season - Green Light on Babe

• Answer: Don says he rarely passes up a shot at a coyote. 59:41
• Answer: Don explains coyotes run deer and are bad to have around, so he shoots them at nearly every opportunity. 60:04

Question: Michael Myers asks whether deer-prep work like clearing lanes and setting stands is better done after dark, since coon hunters claim their presence doesn’t bother deer. 13:05 — asked by Michael Myers — Episode #189 - Season Opener and Tough Questions

• Answer: Don says coon hunters’ dogs are the worst possible intrusion on a deer property, regardless of whether it’s dark or light. 13:37

Question: Terry asks, apart from coon hunters, whether there’s any benefit to clearing shooting lanes and setting stands at night versus in daylight. 14:34 — Episode #189 - Season Opener and Tough Questions

• Answer: Don recommends doing shooting-lane work in daylight, but only right after season closes so the pressure is forgotten by fall. 15:17

Question: Jimbo Malpin asks what percentage of deer hunting properties are ruined or set back by bad advice and improvements to the wrong areas. 20:26 — asked by Jimbo Malpin — Episode #189 - Season Opener and Tough Questions

• Answer: Don recommends judging online hunting advice by the actual hunting success and proof of the person giving it. 22:17

Question: Jordan Taylor asks for advice on keeping his hunting goals high after friends and family pressure him about not killing another deer since his once-in-a-lifetime buck. 28:31 — asked by Jordan Taylor — Episode #189 - Season Opener and Tough Questions

• Answer: Don advises Jordan to hunt for his own fun and not base his goals on what anyone else thinks. 28:40

Question: Amos asks if it’s too late to set up in the back of his property for a big buck he suspects his neighbor has. 46:12 — asked by Amos Hershberger — Episode #186 - Disappointing 2023 Buck Forecast

• Answer: Don jokes that Amos has spent too much time on YouTube and should just listen to Chasing Giants and ignore the rest. 47:01

Question: Andrew asks whether Don uses a bleat can while hunting and why or why not. 53:30 — asked by Andrew Bontrager — Episode #186 - Disappointing 2023 Buck Forecast

• Answer: Don says he used to carry a bleat can and they definitely worked, especially when they first came out. 54:23

Question: Adam asks Don and Terry for stories about mistakes that cost them a chance at a great buck. 68:30 — asked by Adam — Episode #186 - Disappointing 2023 Buck Forecast

• Answer: Don shares that a new pair of gloves caused a botched release on a Thanksgiving buck, teaching him never to break in new gear mid-season. 74:50
• Answer: Terry says most hunters mess up more than they realize by hunting the wrong wind, without ever knowing it cost them a buck. 76:14

Question: Drew Peterson asked what experience Don and Terry have using scent drippers on mock scrapes to simulate more deer, and whether they’d recommend it. 54:42 — asked by Drew Peterson — Episode #185 - Bucks are starting to shift - Fall Plots, GET THEM IN

• Answer: Don has tried scent drippers before and says the experience was not good. 55:07
• Answer: He dismisses the idea that scent can trick resident deer into believing an unfamiliar deer has joined the property. 55:51

Question: Dakota Ron asked whether it’s okay to hunt and work on Sundays given the biblical instruction to rest and keep the seventh day holy. 61:25 — asked by Dakota Ron — Episode 184 - the new G Series no till drill from PH Outdoors.

• Answer: Don said hunting isn’t work to him, and he can rest in a deer stand just as much as on a couch at home. 61:55
• Answer: Don added that he makes it a point never to miss church in order to go hunting. 63:48

Question: Caleb Miller asks whether it’s better to own 1,000 continuous acres or ten separate 100-acre farms spread across an area. 53:03 — asked by Caleb Miller — Episode #182 - Don’s Buck Management Plan for 2023

• Answer: Don says he’d much rather have ten separate 100-acre farms, since they draw from different deer herds and increase odds of finding a giant. 53:18

Question: Tom from Owenton, Kentucky asked whether to form a deer cooperative with neighbors or take a lone-wolf approach. 52:02 — asked by Tom — Episode #181 - What is new with Asio Gear?

• Answer: Don said he prefers the lone-wolf approach, letting neighbors push bucks onto his property rather than sharing management plans. 55:06

Question: Garrett Stoops asked whether getting every buck on one trail camera requires an inside corner placement, a rope scrape, or a mineral site. 65:19 — asked by Garrett Stoops — Episode #181 - What is new with Asio Gear?

• Answer: Don said one camera can catch every buck only where terrain funnels deer through a chokepoint; nothing works 100% of the time. 68:52
• Answer: Joe added it depends on the property’s size and layout, citing his sprawling South Carolina lease versus a small fenced Illinois tract. 71:40

Question: Terry asks Don to describe the time he recently got to spend with his grandson. 8:15 — Episode #179 - Is Antler Growth Behind This Year?

• Answer: Don says having grandkids of his own now makes him feel life has come full circle since losing his own grandfather. 10:42

Question: Jimbo Malpin asks whether a celebrity-endorsed food-plot seed blend that’s 80% annual ryegrass should be considered junk. 37:44 — Episode #179 - Is Antler Growth Behind This Year?

• Answer: Don explains ryegrass is a cheap, easy-to-grow filler seed, and companies use celebrity endorsements while cutting corners on what’s actually inside the bag. 38:10

Question: Jay Walls Jr. asks what steps to take to fix his patchy builder-seeded yard. 53:54 — Episode #179 - Is Antler Growth Behind This Year?

• Answer: Don says his own yard is still patchy despite reseeding it five or six times. 54:35

Question: Trevor Pomeroy asks Don if he still regrets prioritizing hunting over family time, given how many people he’s brought to God. 64:56 — Episode #179 - Is Antler Growth Behind This Year?

• Answer: Don says he doesn’t regret time spent deer hunting, but wishes he’d chosen a few family events like Christmas or Thanksgiving over hunting. 66:51

Question: How did Don first connect with Brent Henderson? 7:32 — asked by Terry — Episode 178 - The Bucks and The Corn are Growing Fast

• Answer: Don explains he’s known Brent Henderson so long he can’t recall how they first met, though they always crossed paths at the annual ATA Show. 7:44

Question: What is the feedback so far from the grower of Nutri-Crave Corn? 15:16 — asked by Terry — Episode 178 - The Bucks and The Corn are Growing Fast

• Answer: Don relays that the Nutri-Crave corn crop looks so strong the projected yield could reach 275 to 300 bushels per acre. 16:16

Question: Kevin Heck asks whether Don would ever consider selling his farm and how much money it would take. 21:14 — asked by Kevin Heck — Episode 178 - The Bucks and The Corn are Growing Fast

• Answer: Don says it would take several times market value for him to even consider selling his farm, given his deep family roots there. 22:33

Question: Wilson Newswanger asks if Don knows about a new hunting magazine advertised with him listed as editor. 33:23 — asked by Wilson Newswanger — Episode 178 - The Bucks and The Corn are Growing Fast

• Answer: Don confirms he was asked to be editor of a new whitetail magazine called Whitetail Life, though he has zero ownership stake in it. 33:52

Question: Keith Martin asks if Don has thoughts on hunting 50-100 yards off mineral licks rather than directly on them. 48:22 — asked by Keith Martin — Episode 178 - The Bucks and The Corn are Growing Fast

• Answer: Don says mineral’s attraction fades by fall since it peaks in spring and summer during antler growth, so he doesn’t consider mineral sites good fall hunting spots. 50:14

Question: Mark Yoder asks why Don includes sugar beets in the Deadly Dozen fall blend despite claims they won’t mature. 52:27 — asked by Mark Yoder — Episode 178 - The Bucks and The Corn are Growing Fast

• Answer: Don explains sugar beets and Austrian winter peas are the first plants deer hit in Deadly Dozen, drawing them into the plot early in the season. 54:44

Question: Heath from Freetown, Indiana asks about doe mortality after finding a dead doe that died mid-birth next to his kids’ swing set. 35:06 — asked by Heath — Episode 175 - June Food Plot Update

• Answer: Don says he’s never witnessed a difficult doe birth in 25 years with captive deer, estimating fewer than one in a thousand whitetail births kill the doe. 35:59

Question: Jeremiah Kraft from Mason, Michigan asks Don to elaborate on deer eating and bedding in giant ragweed on his property. 37:57 — asked by Jeremiah Kraft — Episode 175 - June Food Plot Update

• Answer: Don says deer love eating giant ragweed, but it’s only palatable to them in summer when the plant is green and actively growing. 38:25

Question: Ed from Albany, Georgia asks Don whether Babe is an easy buck or a tough buck to hunt. 50:05 — asked by Ed — Episode 175 - June Food Plot Update

• Answer: Don classifies Babe as middle-difficulty, not super easy or tough, ranking him between Smokey and Trump. 50:12

Question: Terry asks Don whether Babe travels as far as Mel did. 50:38 — asked by Terry — Episode 175 - June Food Plot Update

• Answer: Don says Mel is a good comparison for Babe — Babe didn’t travel as far, but Mel’s habits made him neither easy nor tough. 50:56

Question: Ed asks which oak trees Don would plant for food on a property with few oaks, and whether deer like dwarf chinkapin acorns. 52:05 — asked by Ed — Episode 175 - June Food Plot Update

• Answer: Don recommends swamp white oak as the best oak for deer food production. 53:13

Question: Terry asks which oak trees hold their leaves the longest, useful for tree stand cover. 56:37 — asked by Terry — Episode 175 - June Food Plot Update

• Answer: Don says shingle oak and pin oaks hold their leaves best through winter, making them ideal for tree stand cover. 57:09

Question: William Miller asks whether it’s true that coyotes kill more mature bucks than fawns, as a veteran hunter told him. 49:27 — asked by William Miller — Episode #174 Holistic & Regenerative Ag Techniques for Food Plotters

• Answer: Don flatly rejects the claim, saying coyotes are in no way killing more mature bucks than fawns. 49:46
• Answer: Don cites a trail-camera study showing coyotes brought back roughly 50 fawns, joking those same coyotes surely didn’t also kill 50 mature bucks. 50:35

Question: Brady Auto asks Don and Terry how and when they each felt God’s calling to pursue a career in the outdoor industry. 55:18 — asked by Brady Auto — Episode #174 Holistic & Regenerative Ag Techniques for Food Plotters

• Answer: Don believes God placed his love of the outdoors in his heart before he was even born, and it never left, only growing over time. 59:59
• Answer: Terry believes God’s calling is for each person to use whatever platform they have to witness to others, rather than a calling to a specific hobby. 63:08

Question: Nate Meinhardt asks why Don plants long narrow food plots along timber instead of traditional square or rectangular plots. 71:37 — asked by Nate Meinhardt — Episode #174 Holistic & Regenerative Ag Techniques for Food Plotters

• Answer: Don says there’s a deliberate method behind his long narrow plot design, not a random choice. 72:32
• Answer: Don explains a long narrow plot directs a deer’s movement in one general direction while it feeds. 73:19
• Answer: Terry frames the narrow plot as one tool to funnel deer past a huntable spot with good wind access, alongside terrain and bedding design. 76:57

Question: Brandon from Bowling Green, Kentucky asked Don’s thoughts on splitting a small 3-6 acre field into green-to-grain transition zones as a stand setup, and on larger plots. 81:46 — asked by Brandon — Episode 173 - Can you find joy in killing GIANT Bucks?

• Answer: Don said he’s a big proponent of fewer, larger food plots but treats each as one big feeding area containing multiple crop types rather than a single variety. 82:52
• Answer: He explained that within a larger feeding area he mixes corn, clover, soybeans, Deadly Dozen, and edge fruit trees, calling it more a feeding area than a single food plot. 83:07

Question: Is it true deer only digest 20% of Maximizer mineral while a competitor’s mineral is 90% digestible, or is that just marketing hype? 38:59 — Episode #172 - Don is really worried about EHD in 2023

• Answer: Don says no other deer mineral marketed to hunters is also bought by the pallet by captive deer breeders for their pens, which he sees as proof of Maximizer’s quality. 41:38

Question: Will Real World continue to offer the Dixie Dozen blend? 51:07 — Episode #172 - Don is really worried about EHD in 2023

• Answer: Don confirms they’ll keep offering Dixie Dozen and says they need more dealers throughout the South. 51:14

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