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Question: How could Illinois change the deer herd’s sex ratio through how it issues hunting tags? 54:13 — asked by Jeff — Episode #172 - Don is really worried about EHD in 2023

• Answer: Don says moving the gun season to after the rut, like Iowa and Ohio do, reduces young buck vulnerability and would help improve the sex ratio. 58:03
• Answer: Don says while earn-a-buck could help in some regions, he would not support it statewide given Illinois’ diverse deer densities. 59:54

Question: What words of wisdom or thanks does Don have for his mother, wife, and daughters who are now moms or moms-to-be? 1:02 — asked by Terry — Episode #169 - Don is Testing More Corn Seed. WHY?

• Answer: Don says he’s extremely blessed to have a fantastic, supportive mother throughout his entire life. 1:51

Question: What farm projects did Don get done this week, including the Miscanthus planting Terry saw on social media? 5:28 — asked by Terry — Episode #169 - Don is Testing More Corn Seed. WHY?

• Answer: Don says Wes, Corey, and Steve Shields helped plant Miscanthus and trim trees on the farm this week. 5:30

Question: What are the little 100-kernel corn packets Don posted about on social media? 24:50 — asked by Terry — Episode #169 - Don is Testing More Corn Seed. WHY?

• Answer: Don describes receiving 20 experimental corn varieties from a breeder in a shoebox-sized box, each in tiny envelopes of exactly 100 kernels. 26:35

Question: Where does the money raised in the Haiti charity auction go? 60:22 — asked by Terry — Episode #169 - Don is Testing More Corn Seed. WHY?

• Answer: Kevin Miller says the auction supports about 18 different missionary organizations that work in Haiti. 60:36

Question: Terry asked how long mushroom season lasts and whether mushrooms can be picked in summer too. 19:36 — Episode #166 - Spring Herbicides

• Answer: Don explained mushroom season is short, lasting only a couple of weeks in the spring. 19:42

Question: A listener relayed a friend’s claim that Don’s 200-inch bucks came from releasing pregnant does, and that ASIO staff didn’t know who Don was. 39:57 — asked by Jonathan Miller — Episode #166 - Spring Herbicides

• Answer: Don flatly denied ever releasing pregnant does on his farm, calling the accusation completely false. 40:34
• Answer: Don rebutted the ASIO claim by noting ASIO Camo owner Joe Miles has sat in his house filming a video together. 42:07

Question: If crops go in a month early, what tips or things should a hunter or land manager watch for when fall comes around? 2:32 — Episode #165 - Farmers Planting Early Creates New Opportunities - EARLY SPRING

• Answer: Don says with the earlier harvest, many ag fields will already be harvested by October 1 when hunting season starts. 3:33
• Answer: Don recommends overseeding standing soybean or corn fields with products like Plot Topper before the farmer harvests, since sunlight reaches dried-down crops. 4:07

Question: Can you explain how corn maturity days and soybean group numbers work, and how that applies to early planting? 7:15 — Episode #165 - Farmers Planting Early Creates New Opportunities - EARLY SPRING

• Answer: Don says corn maturity is measured in days needed to reach harvest. 7:25
• Answer: Don explains soybeans are measured by group number, where a lower number is a shorter season and a higher number is a longer growing season. 7:56

Question: Jerry Miller asks what Don and Terry have seen deer do with bridges crossing a river separating food and bedding, and what bridge type works best. 27:11 — asked by Jerry Miller — Episode #165 - Farmers Planting Early Creates New Opportunities - EARLY SPRING

• Answer: Don says deer absolutely use bridges, citing a concrete bridge on his farm they cross regularly. 27:37
• Answer: Don warns against wooden bridges with cracks between boards, since deer strongly avoid crossing them. 27:57
• Answer: Don confirms deer will use a dug creek crossing like a land bridge and plans to build another on his own farm. 29:12

Question: David Armstrong asks whether Don ever feels harvesting target bucks, even with a vertical bow, is too easy given his 80% confidence claim. 45:30 — asked by David Armstrong — Episode #165 - Farmers Planting Early Creates New Opportunities - EARLY SPRING

• Answer: Don admits a mature buck on his home farm isn’t very difficult to kill over a full season. 46:25
• Answer: Don says killing bucks on tougher permission or public properties without food plots is more rewarding than killing on his own farm. 47:07
• Answer: Don recommends raising the challenge by targeting six-year-old bucks instead of four-year-olds, since few hunters have the willpower for that. 47:32
• Answer: Don blames the ATA Association’s lobbying for pushing crossbows into archery seasons as part of the industry making hunting easier. 49:40
• Answer: Don clarifies he isn’t against crossbows for handicapped hunters, but opposes healthy full-grown men using them during archery season. 50:03

Question: Russell Hilliard asks whether Don and Terry really think coyote and coon roundups are bad, since they help struggling turkey populations. 52:38 — asked by Russell Hilliard — Episode #165 - Farmers Planting Early Creates New Opportunities - EARLY SPRING

• Answer: Don says he doesn’t think it’s good to put money or prizes on killing wildlife, even if it helps turkey populations. 52:54
• Answer: Terry says he has a big problem with contests that encourage or tolerate trespassing on his farm, where he invests significant money and time. 55:35
• Answer: Don recalls walleye anglers caught shoving lead weights down fish throats to inflate weigh-in results, illustrating how prize money corrupts wildlife contests. 56:50

Question: Terry asks whether CRP enrollment can apply to pasture land or only row-crop ground. 33:00 — Episode #164 - CRP Programs - Know Facts!

• Answer: Don explains that pasture land can qualify for CRP, primarily pastures with erosion issues such as cattle-worn creek banks. 33:04

Question: Carl Compton asks whether Don has ever had a deer string-jump a shot and what he did about it. 68:43 — asked by Carl Compton — Episode #164 - CRP Programs - Know Facts!

• Answer: Don says he rarely has deer jump the string because he keeps shots inside about twenty to twenty-five yards, rarely shooting past thirty. 69:04

Question: How long had Don hunted before realizing each buck has a distinct personality, and what triggered that realization? 7:38 — Episode #161 - Live from Last Master Class - Inside QuietKat E-Bike

• Answer: Don said he’d hunted 25+ years before it clicked, pinpointing 2017 when he simultaneously chased Smokey and Trump, two bucks so different he used completely different approaches on each. 8:12

Question: Where and when did Don and Terry meet their wives, and how long have they been married? 9:52 — Episode #161 - Live from Last Master Class - Inside QuietKat E-Bike

• Answer: Don met his wife while cruising the streets of Shelbyville one evening, and they’ve been married 34 years. 10:09
• Answer: Terry has been married 22 years, having dated his wife almost four years before marrying. 10:34

Question: Can the throttle and gearing sides be switched on the ebike? 26:48 — Episode #161 - Live from Last Master Class - Inside QuietKat E-Bike

• Answer: Justin Roach said although throttles are conventionally on the left, riders can swap gearing and throttle sides to match their ATV or motorcycle setup. 27:17

Question: What is the range of QuietKat’s ebikes from base to higher-end models? 28:40 — Episode #161 - Live from Last Master Class - Inside QuietKat E-Bike

• Answer: Base models get about 20 miles per charge, while higher-end models reach up to 60 miles. 29:48
• Answer: On power level two, range roughly triples to about 100 miles per charge. 30:02

Question: If mineral feeding were legal in Illinois, would the bucks on Don’s farm look different? 59:17 — Episode #161 - Live from Last Master Class - Inside QuietKat E-Bike

• Answer: Don said it likely wouldn’t make a huge difference since the farm’s soil is already among the richest available. 59:27

Question: If this were Don’s last season, what would he want to leave behind in the industry? 72:12 — Episode #161 - Live from Last Master Class - Inside QuietKat E-Bike

• Answer: Don said he hopes followers see that he keeps his priorities in order and is encouraged to examine their own priorities too. 72:25

Question: How can a hunter’s mindset change with trail camera data to not only pick which buck to shoot? 5:05 — Episode #160 - Live with Dr. Bronson Strickland at Whitetail Master Class

• Answer: Bronson says he and clients build both a hit list and a do-not-shoot list to protect bucks with future trophy potential. 5:27

Question: Is it good practice for young or beginning hunters to learn there are deer they should not shoot? 7:57 — Episode #160 - Live with Dr. Bronson Strickland at Whitetail Master Class

• Answer: Don says kids shouldn’t be made instant trophy hunters and should be turned loose to shoot deer and raise the bar over time. 8:18

Question: How does food plot acreage factor into achieving planting diversity? 14:28 — Episode #160 - Live with Dr. Bronson Strickland at Whitetail Master Class

• Answer: Don explains a mix like Deadly Dozen packs 12 plant species into a small plot, so diversity doesn’t require more acreage. 14:38

Question: What hunting lesson from Don’s dad has stuck with him throughout his life? 17:34 — Episode #160 - Live with Dr. Bronson Strickland at Whitetail Master Class

• Answer: Don says his dad taught him to do things the right way or not do them at all, after Don tried to game the tag lottery. 17:42

Question: Was Don’s father a hunter early in his life? 18:36 — Episode #160 - Live with Dr. Bronson Strickland at Whitetail Master Class

• Answer: Don says his father hunted some but not a great deal. 18:39

Question: Was Bronson’s family into hunting when he was growing up? 18:43 — Episode #160 - Live with Dr. Bronson Strickland at Whitetail Master Class

• Answer: Bronson says his parents’ generation hunted quail and rabbits since deer barely existed in the area at the time. 18:52

Question: In Ohio, what’s the challenge of raising five-year-old deer? 20:53 — Episode #160 - Live with Dr. Bronson Strickland at Whitetail Master Class

• Answer: Don says the challenge everywhere is the same: getting hunters to stop shooting bucks at two, three, and four years old. 20:59

Question: If you let young bucks go but the neighbor keeps shooting them, what’s the best thing to do? 21:21 — Episode #160 - Live with Dr. Bronson Strickland at Whitetail Master Class

• Answer: Don bluntly suggests building a fence or selling the property and buying another one. 21:25

Question: What does the term “high grading” mean when applied to a deer herd or local hunters? 24:26 — Episode #160 - Live with Dr. Bronson Strickland at Whitetail Master Class

• Answer: Bronson defines high grading as taking the best and leaving the rest, borrowed from forestry, applied to systematically removing the best bucks. 24:31

Question: What causes part of a buck’s skull to break off along with a shed antler? 26:46 — Episode #160 - Live with Dr. Bronson Strickland at Whitetail Master Class

• Answer: Bronson’s educated guess is that fighting-related injury weakens the skull structure, causing bone to come off with the shed. 27:29

Question: When a creek freezes and deer leave in winter, is there anything to do to keep water accessible on the property? 29:21 — Episode #160 - Live with Dr. Bronson Strickland at Whitetail Master Class

• Answer: Don says water availability for deer is overrated, citing a bachelor group that stays in a section with no water source all summer. 33:01

Question: How much water does a whitetail need per day, and does that change seasonally? 32:13 — Episode #160 - Live with Dr. Bronson Strickland at Whitetail Master Class

• Answer: Bronson admits he can’t recall the exact figure from a physiology class decades ago and will look it up. 32:24

Question: Is there a preferred ratio of oaks, hickory, walnuts, and beech when managing hardwoods for deer? 38:57 — Episode #160 - Live with Dr. Bronson Strickland at Whitetail Master Class

• Answer: Don says he’d manage almost entirely for white oaks, since hickory and beech provide little value to deer. 39:08

Question: What shrub species would you recommend planting to help jump-start deer browse? 39:41 — Episode #160 - Live with Dr. Bronson Strickland at Whitetail Master Class

• Answer: Don recommends hazelnuts, gray and silky dogwoods, American plum, and elderberry depending on the site. 39:55

Question: How do you keep track of individual bucks from year to year? 43:41 — Episode #160 - Live with Dr. Bronson Strickland at Whitetail Master Class

• Answer: Don uses Reconyx’s BuckView software, sorting pictures by camera location in automatic chronological order for comparison year to year. 43:52

Question: How many years does it typically take for a property to reach its full potential following Don’s written plan? 56:12 — Episode #160 - Live with Dr. Bronson Strickland at Whitetail Master Class

• Answer: Don says the average plan takes about five years to complete habitat improvements and get herd management on track. 56:45

Question: Is there a point where too much protein or minerals in deer feed becomes wasteful or harmful? 60:14 — Episode #160 - Live with Dr. Bronson Strickland at Whitetail Master Class

• Answer: Don says free-ranging deer balance excess protein themselves with woody browse, though captive deer with no alternative can be overfed. 60:50

Question: If you could go back and pick anyone’s brain about deer management or hunting, who would it be? 83:26 — Episode #160 - Live with Dr. Bronson Strickland at Whitetail Master Class

• Answer: Bronson would choose Aldo Leopold, considered the father of wildlife management. 83:41
• Answer: Don would choose Fred Bear as the deer hunter he’d most want to talk to. 84:35

Question: Should fruit trees be grouped by species in one area or mixed together across a property? 86:09 — Episode #160 - Live with Dr. Bronson Strickland at Whitetail Master Class

• Answer: Don prefers grouping fruit trees by species, both for cross-pollination and to create predictable, huntable feeding patterns. 86:20

Question: An audience member asked what specifically to look for, beyond overall beauty, when buying an out-of-state hunting farm. 29:19 — Episode 159 - Captive Deer Breeding… Why Don Got Out

• Answer: Don said what surrounds a farm matters more than what’s on it, since interior habitat can be changed but neighboring land can’t. 30:26

Question: An audience member asked why Don is now posting pictures and video of the buck he’s chasing, contrary to his past practice. 31:29 — Episode 159 - Captive Deer Breeding… Why Don Got Out

• Answer: Don said he wanted to do something never done before in the hunting industry. 31:50
• Answer: Don said he wanted to show people the truth about the daily effort he puts into chasing big deer. 33:02

Question: An audience member asked if there’s one thing Don wishes he could change about his farm that’s outside his control. 55:54 — Episode 159 - Captive Deer Breeding… Why Don Got Out

• Answer: Don said more land, citing a couple of adjoining pieces of ground he wishes he owned. 56:03

Question: Billy Ayers asks if Don will print another run of his book Hunting Trophy Whitetails in the Real World. 40:33 — asked by Billy Ayers — Episode #158 - Is Hunting Contests Hurting the Hunting Industry?

• Answer: Don says he won’t reprint the book, which sold out a couple years ago, though he may write a final tell-all retirement book someday. 42:44

Question: Sean asks Terry whether he would have gotten his target buck last season had he been hunting from a love swing, since he’d already be standing. 28:38 — asked by Sean Richardson — Episode #156 - Looking for a Buck Bed…

• Answer: Terry says he’ll never know since he’s too old to try a love swing and prefers hunting the way he always has, regardless of claimed safety benefits. 33:29

Question: An audience member asked Don’s opinion on goldenrod as cover versus planting something that also provides food. 14:30 — Chasing Giants #155 - Hilarious Episode Live from Middlefield, OH

• Answer: Don said goldenrod is decent cover early fall but terrible cover by this time of year. 14:39

Question: An audience member asked whether older bucks get easier to kill because they lose dominant status or simply due to age. 34:46 — Chasing Giants #155 - Hilarious Episode Live from Middlefield, OH

• Answer: Don compared it to aging humans, saying older bucks travel less and their range shrinks as they age. 34:57

Question: An audience member asked Don’s favorite venison recipe. 45:15 — Chasing Giants #155 - Hilarious Episode Live from Middlefield, OH

• Answer: Don said B and M Custom, a local processor, makes the best jalapeno deer bacon he’s had. 45:21

Question: An audience member asked about buck-to-doe ratio and what Don would do if a buck he was chasing winded him. 46:36 — Chasing Giants #155 - Hilarious Episode Live from Middlefield, OH

• Answer: Don said individual landowners have essentially zero influence on buck-to-doe ratio; that’s a statewide biologist issue. 46:53
• Answer: Don said once he spooks a mature buck from a stand, he considers that stand dead and moves it. 48:05

Question: An audience member asked what fast-growing screening plant could work in a semi-shaded, semi-wet spot. 51:03 — Chasing Giants #155 - Hilarious Episode Live from Middlefield, OH

• Answer: Don said there aren’t many trees, especially conifers, that provide good cover while growing well in shade. 51:25

Question: An audience member asked for Don’s top three tips for a 16-year-old just starting to hunt. 65:31 — Chasing Giants #155 - Hilarious Episode Live from Middlefield, OH

• Answer: Don advised avoiding hunting pressure, finding a successful mentor, and keeping priorities in order. 65:44

Question: An audience member asked the odds that doe-in-heat scent would draw a nocturnal corn-pile buck into daylight. 96:33 — Chasing Giants #155 - Hilarious Episode Live from Middlefield, OH

• Answer: Don said the odds are just a little better than zero, calling the tactic largely ineffective. 96:43

Question: Don asks Joe whether he started his season in his home state of South Carolina back in August. 10:48 — asked by Don — Episode #154 - Dogs Running Loose on Don’s Farm. HE IS NOT HAPPY!

• Answer: Joe confirms South Carolina’s season opened August 15, one of the earliest in the country. 10:53

Question: Steven Myers asks Don and Terry for their opinion on using thermal drone services to recover wounded deer and to take deer inventory counts on private property. 44:18 — asked by Steven Myers — Episode #154 - Dogs Running Loose on Don’s Farm. HE IS NOT HAPPY!

• Answer: Don fully supports drone use for locating wounded deer but thinks using drones to take deer inventory counts on a property is ridiculous. 45:09

Question: Scott Barkman asks how Don and Terry became friends despite living in different states and working different jobs. 23:32 — asked by Scott Barkman — Episode #153 - What Should Buck Doe Ratio Be?

• Answer: Don says he met Terry through Patrick’s Simpson Outdoors, which was looking to start a TV show, and that’s how their friendship began. 27:12
• Answer: Terry says Don later hired him to rebrand the company from Real World Wildlife Seed to Real World, and they’ve worked together daily ever since. 27:33
• Answer: Terry says a person tried to drive a wedge between him and Don, causing real division for a time before they resolved it and grew closer. 28:27

Question: David Adams asks whether joining the Whitetail Master Academy gives access to all past posted questions and info. 45:52 — asked by David Adams — Episode #153 - What Should Buck Doe Ratio Be?

• Answer: Don confirms every video ever posted stays in the growing, archived Whitetail Master Academy library. 46:11
• Answer: Don adds there’s a live members-only event coming up Monday where questions can be submitted in real time. 46:29

Question: Jonathan Miller asked whether all human scent smells the same, and if not, whether a buck can identify smelling the same person twice. 47:59 — asked by Jonathan Miller — Episode #151 - Winter Scouting Tips

• Answer: Don said he believes a buck can distinguish individual people’s scent, and that deer on his property recognize his smell over other people’s. 48:32

Question: Terry asks whether small cedars and pines also provide beneficial cover diversity for deer during severe cold and high winds. 13:45 — asked by Terry — Episode #149 Frigid Temps and Deer… Merry Christmas 2022!

• Answer: Don says pines act similarly to cedars, blocking wind and offering thermal cover for deer. 14:14

Question: Terry asks how deer burning fat versus digesting food affects overall herd health during extreme cold. 15:41 — asked by Terry — Episode #149 Frigid Temps and Deer… Merry Christmas 2022!

• Answer: Don explains digestion itself generates heat, so deer want to eat more; without food to digest, they start burning fat reserves instead. 15:46

Question: Terry asks Don to explain the Whitetail Master Academy’s Twelve Days of Christmas giveaway and its prizes. 19:03 — asked by Terry — Episode #149 Frigid Temps and Deer… Merry Christmas 2022!

• Answer: Don says the grand prize, given away on Christmas Eve, is a free consulting visit filmed for a Whitetail Master Academy video. 19:27

Question: Parker from Madison, Kansas asks whether the buck behind a recently found shed was injured and whether drier fall conditions could cause early shedding. 33:00 — asked by Parker — Episode #149 Frigid Temps and Deer… Merry Christmas 2022!

• Answer: Don says he has no idea if the buck was injured since it wasn’t on his own farm but a consulting client’s property. 33:30
• Answer: Don doubts dry fall conditions stressed deer at all, since they had plenty to eat and drink. 34:05
• Answer: Don acknowledges something has caused more sheds to drop before Christmas this year than he’s ever heard of before, though he doesn’t know what. 34:25

Question: Paul Whitworth asks when to expect announcements about new Real World spring seed offerings. 36:14 — asked by Paul Whitworth — Episode #148 - Are Bucks Shedding Antlers Early This Year?

• Answer: Don says the new land management guides, due between Christmas and New Year’s, will reveal details about upcoming spring seed offerings. 36:34

Question: Terry asks whether a buck’s antler drop is physiologically triggered by a drop in testosterone. 64:06 — Episode #148 - Are Bucks Shedding Antlers Early This Year?

• Answer: Don confirms antler drop is triggered by falling testosterone, which makes sense since an injured, stressed deer eats less and would have lower testosterone. 64:19

Question: Terry jokingly bets breakfast that there isn’t actually more early antler shedding this year, just more visibility via social media. 64:49 — Episode #148 - Are Bucks Shedding Antlers Early This Year?

• Answer: Don thinks it’s likely coincidence, since no unusual event this year would explain more bucks shedding early. 65:22

Question: Jeremy asked where the line will be drawn between fair chase and technology in hunting as apps, cell cameras, and crossbows advance. 29:45 — asked by Jeremy K — Episode #147 - Winter Buck Inventory… More Important than Summer?

• Answer: Don said he holds zero hope the sport’s ethical decline can be reversed, calling it now a personal choice for each hunter. 31:34

Question: Kelly asked how soon you can tell if a young buck—one with four points per side and extra kickers—will become a future giant. 43:41 — asked by Kelly — Episode #147 - Winter Buck Inventory… More Important than Summer?

• Answer: Don said there’s an excellent chance that buck will grow into a future giant. 43:58

Question: Brody asked whether Don would go to church or hunt from his tree stand on a Sunday morning if conditions were perfect. 55:59 — asked by Brody Hallman — Episode #147 - Winter Buck Inventory… More Important than Summer?

• Answer: Don said he has never skipped church to hunt, believing scripture calls believers to fellowship with one another. 56:45

Question: Trevor Hagen asks whether Don and Terry think the difficulty of archery hunting on smaller tracts gets enough attention compared to internet hunting content. 63:53 — asked by Trevor Hagen — Episode #146 - Late Season Decisions and Tactics

• Answer: Don says he knows land-management video creators who never show themselves shooting truly mature bucks with a bow despite promoting bowhunting tactics. 64:38
• Answer: Terry says the hunting industry, from his eighteen years inside it, is fundamentally about entertainment rather than education. 67:52

Question: When is the best time of year to hang stands, and does Don take his hang-on stands down every year? 38:54 — asked by Steve Denkelman — Chasing Giants Podcast #145 - Bully Bucks and Big Rubs!

• Answer: Don hangs most stands in late winter/early spring after the season, before green-up, so the woods settle before fall. 39:21

Question: Clint Cross asked Don and Terry to recommend a good product unrelated to deer hunting or their sponsors. 36:40 — asked by Clint Cross — Episode #144 - Where Did All The Bucks Go?

• Answer: Don jokingly suggested a subscription to the Whitetail Master Class as a Christmas gift, drawing accusations of shameless self-promotion. 37:10
• Answer: Terry recommended buying a suppressor now since prices and tax-stamp wait times are about as low as they’ll ever be. 38:58

Question: Alex Jones asks why Don and Terry never lease a piece of hunting property together. 23:50 — asked by Alex Jones — Episode #143 - Welcome to the Lockdown!

• Answer: Terry explains they keep some hunting arrangements private because listeners have followed and tracked their locations before. 26:32

Question: Robbie asks why so many famous hunters now cite November 6th and 7th as top hunting days, wondering if it’s a new trend. 29:26 — asked by Robbie — Episode #143 - Welcome to the Lockdown!

• Answer: Don says few people entering the hunting industry share firsthand-gained information, instead just rehashing what others, including him, have already said. 30:08

Question: Billy Ayers asks whether Don and Terry have ever had to force themselves to go hunting, even loving scouting and trail cameras more. 30:09 — Chasing Giants Episode #142 - Heat Wave Rut - What will Don do?

• Answer: Don says he doesn’t have to force himself to hunt, but relates to how the chase can become more meaningful than the kill as he’s aged. 31:19
• Answer: Terry suggests Billy’s reluctance stems from losing access to a farm with deep family history, unlike Don who has many other properties to hunt. 37:09

Question: Ethan Jansen asks whether existing bucks on a property should factor into a decision to buy a farm for mature buck hunting. 59:35 — asked by Ethan Jansen — Chasing Giants Episode #142 - Heat Wave Rut - What will Don do?

• Answer: Don says he ignores which bucks already live there, since how the farm is laid out matters far more for growing older-age-class bucks. 60:22

Question: Johnny from Columbia, Illinois asked whether the Illinois Department of Natural Resources secretly releases mountain lions. 31:20 — asked by Johnny — Episode #140 - Fall Drought - What does that mean for deer hunters?

• Answer: Don says state game agencies could never secretly release a species due to the immense politics involved; the public would know. 31:59
• Answer: Don explains the question likely stems from a mountain lion found dead on Interstate 74 in Illinois after being struck by a vehicle. 32:39
• Answer: Don reiterates that agencies are not secretly releasing panthers, wolves, or other rare predator species despite common rumors. 33:15

Question: Terry asked whether the mountain lion found dead on the road was a juvenile male. 34:08 — asked by Terry — Episode #140 - Fall Drought - What does that mean for deer hunters?

• Answer: Don says he doesn’t recall its sex being reported, but it was a fairly good-sized mountain lion, not a small one. 34:17

Question: Joe asked whether Don’s preference for cheaper Chinese chestnut over hybrid Dunstan chestnut holds true across the traits Dunstan is praised for. 52:59 — asked by Joe — Episode #140 - Fall Drought - What does that mean for deer hunters?

• Answer: Don says two university chestnut experts he interviewed both concluded the Dunstan chestnut is basically a Chinese chestnut with heavy marketing behind it. 54:18
• Answer: Don says from his own planting experience he can’t tell the varieties apart, so he recommends Chinese chestnuts since they’re cheaper. 55:23

Question: An aspiring entrepreneur asks Don and Terry for wisdom on starting and succeeding in a new business. 33:23 — asked by Lance Fisher — Episode #139 - Plans Can Change… Goals Stay The Same!

• Answer: Don advises the business must be something you’re genuinely passionate about, since without passion in a demanding field you’d be miserable and likely fail. 34:14
• Answer: Terry says your product or service must fill a genuine gap in the market, or it becomes a commodity that’s hard to differentiate and sell. 37:27

Question: A North Dakota hunter asks when to use rattling and grunt calls, since a buck he’s rattled at twice has fled or dropped each time. 54:35 — asked by Scott Heckman — Episode #139 - Plans Can Change… Goals Stay The Same!

• Answer: Don says the only time to call is when a target buck is walking away with nothing to lose, since roughly twenty other bucks get spooked unnoticed for every one called in. 55:16
• Answer: Terry says the friends who succeed at rattling aren’t calling blindly out of boredom; they watch the deer’s reaction and build up their calling accordingly. 57:03

Question: Terry asks whether planting diverse tree varieties helps protect against losing everything to a single disease outbreak. 36:57 — asked by Terry — Episode #137 - Tree Season or Deer Season?

• Answer: Jay confirms diversity helps, noting that varieties less resistant to diseases like scab can lower production in a bad year. 37:31

Question: Terry asks Jay whether trees are sensitive to planting equipment, or if a shovel works just as well. 39:06 — asked by Terry — Episode #137 - Tree Season or Deer Season?

• Answer: Jay says he specializes in fall-planted potted trees, which are more forgiving, but confirms a shovel works great too. 39:17

Question: Terry asks what purpose the tube around a young tree serves — growth stimulation, protection, or both. 43:24 — asked by Terry — Episode #137 - Tree Season or Deer Season?

• Answer: Jay explains tubes give a mini greenhouse effect and protection; a 60-inch tube keeps deer from browsing the top growth. 43:31

Question: Terry asks what buyers should watch for regarding tree provenance and variety when shopping for trees. 48:40 — asked by Terry — Episode #137 - Tree Season or Deer Season?

• Answer: Jay warns that home center trees often come from the Deep South, which grows faster but may not suit northern climates. 48:50

Question: Terry asks what trees Jay can ship versus what customers need to pick up themselves. 53:28 — asked by Terry — Episode #137 - Tree Season or Deer Season?

• Answer: Jay says most of his trees are too large to ship affordably, so he travels to deliver or arranges freight and pickup. 53:49

Question: Brian Woodward asks why Don’s review of Dream Team habitat plans is better than a plan based on an aerial view, given he never visits the properties. 63:09 — asked by Brian Woodward — Episode #137 - Tree Season or Deer Season?

• Answer: Don clarifies that Dream Team consultants create each habitat plan themselves on-site; he only reviews the finished plan before it’s sent to the client. 64:16
• Answer: Terry adds that the Dream Team needs experienced consultants like Mark Lester, Bobby Worthington, and Wes Delks, each bringing different expertise. 65:48

Question: Steve from Albea, Iowa asked why, despite decades of hunting, he’s never witnessed an immature buck actually tending a doe. 44:34 — asked by Steve — Episode #135 - Buck Dispersal - What does it mean?

• Answer: Don explained mature bucks know when a doe is truly ready to breed, while immature bucks just chase does prematurely. 45:58
• Answer: Don added that younger bucks can still slip in and breed while a mature buck is busy chasing off other rival bucks. 46:20

Question: Steve asked what the definition of a world class buck is. 45:18 — asked by Steve — Episode #135 - Buck Dispersal - What does it mean?

• Answer: Don defined a world class buck as a typical scoring at least 180 inches or a non-typical scoring at least 200. 45:30

Question: Ryan Norton from Florence, Kentucky asked whether Don had ever experienced a mature buck staying put rather than shifting locations in fall. 57:12 — asked by Ryan Norton — Episode #135 - Buck Dispersal - What does it mean?

• Answer: Don said once a buck reaches middle age he settles into habits, including location patterns, that he carries the rest of his life. 58:17
• Answer: Don recalled one buck that, contrary to expectations, shifted onto public land in fall, actually moving toward more danger rather than safety. 59:17

Question: Terry asked Bobby about his strategy for hunting big woods where acorns and mast are abundant in every direction. 45:00 — Episode #134 - Bobby Worthington talks Buck Forecast Part 3

• Answer: Bobby said food doesn’t matter for big-woods hunting since pressured deer are rarely killed over food; instead he hunts their travel corridors. 46:17

Question: Terry invited Bobby to speak freely to the roughly 100,000 listeners for a few minutes on any topic he wanted. 51:33 — Episode #134 - Bobby Worthington talks Buck Forecast Part 3

• Answer: Bobby said parents must understand that their own passion for hunting isn’t necessarily their child’s passion, and children shouldn’t be pressured to share it. 52:13

Question: Casey Larson asked whether Don believes there should be a minimum age for whitetail hunting consultants, given his past comment about writers needing to be 40. 71:48 — asked by Casey Larson — Episode #134 - Bobby Worthington talks Buck Forecast Part 3

• Answer: Don retracted his earlier stance, saying age should be taken out of the equation for consultants and writers, admitting he was wrong to set a 40-year minimum. 74:46

Question: Casey Larson also asked how far a bad neighbor’s human intrusion affects the next property over, and what percent of hunters are givers versus takers. 72:15 — asked by Casey Larson — Episode #134 - Bobby Worthington talks Buck Forecast Part 3

• Answer: Don said whether a bad neighbor’s activity counts as intrusion depends on the property layout, mattering most when there’s no physical break between the properties. 79:55
• Answer: Don said he can’t give an exact percentage, but in his experience there are far more taker hunters than giver hunters, not even close. 80:46

Question: Zach Zimmerman from Kenton, Ohio asked Don how he avoids stepping on other hunters’ toes when seeking new permission while searching for his next giant buck. 82:54 — asked by Zach Zimmerman — Episode #134 - Bobby Worthington talks Buck Forecast Part 3

• Answer: Don said his approach is to find where a target buck actually beds and spends its daylight hours, since those spots are typically not where other hunters are. 84:47
• Answer: Don said that, on average, he gives other bowhunters far more respect than they give him, trying to be the bowhunter he wants others to be. 85:47

Question: A listener asks if he’s missing out by not using a popular app that supposedly forecasts deer movement. 22:21 — Episode #130 - Don buys a scent elimination device

• Answer: Don says the only hunting app he actually uses is OnX, for property lines, mapping, and tracking routes. 22:29
• Answer: Don agrees predictive deer-movement apps are unreliable, since even weather forecasts fail a week out, and notes such apps are lucrative businesses. 23:35
• Answer: Terry says analytic trail-camera tools have some value for learning patterns, but he doesn’t trust predictive claims about a specific target buck. 25:02

Question: The same listener asks whether letting old cattle pasture grow up naturally is the best way to create deer cover. 28:52 — Episode #130 - Don buys a scent elimination device

• Answer: Don says simply removing cattle and letting nature take over quickly turns old pasture into prime bedding cover, without spraying the grass. 32:19

Question: Ryan, a 15-year-old listener, asks about ethical shot placement given videos of risky quartering and facing shots. 37:23 — asked by Ryan Hunsaker — Episode #129 - Lessons Learned from a GIANT TYPICAL - Story you haven’t heard!

• Answer: Don’s core shot-placement advice is to only take broadside or slightly quartering-away shots at deer. 41:49

Question: For listeners who drive around glassing open ag country for deer, what are some tips and tricks for doing it effectively? 6:21 — Episode #128 - Watching Summer Velvet Giants!

• Answer: Don says staying low profile is key, and his QuietKat e-bike has been huge for accessing fields discreetly. 6:55
• Answer: Don also seeks high vantage points, such as atop a grain bin with a Vortex spotting scope, to cover more acreage and spot shooter bucks. 7:34

Question: Has anyone ever stopped Don along the road while he’s glassing to ask what he’s doing? 8:00 — Episode #128 - Watching Summer Velvet Giants!

• Answer: Don says no, because he immediately starts driving away like a normal farm truck as soon as he sees another vehicle approaching. 8:07

Question: Nathaniel Bates asked how carrying a gun to church for defense squares with Jesus’s teaching to love enemies. 45:45 — asked by Nathaniel Bates — Episode #128 - Watching Summer Velvet Giants!

• Answer: Don says he has absolutely no problem carrying a gun into church. 48:47
• Answer: Don says if evil shows up in his church he will confront and stop it without hesitation. 48:52
• Answer: Terry says he doesn’t believe God judges people poorly for using all means to protect their church congregation. 51:09

Question: Chris Lovely asked what Don and Terry think about deer urine and scents collected and made straight from a deer farm. 55:39 — asked by Chris Lovely — Episode #127 When to Plant Fall Food Plots?

• Answer: Don said he believes gland-based lures, not urine-based ones, work best, comparing it to trappers who rely on gland lures rather than urine to attract coyotes and foxes. 57:50

Question: Adam Pauls asks whether Don has considered what whitetail hunting would look like if the podcast’s audience grew large enough that most hunters changed their ways. 38:47 — asked by Adam Pauls — Episode #126 - Should we have deer hunting competitions?

• Answer: Don says Adam’s question got him thinking, but he honestly doesn’t see that day ever coming because far more hunters are reached by misinformation than by his podcast. 40:13

Question: Ennis Miller asks what kind of safety harness Don and Terry use since a full harness feels restrictive to him. 37:18 — asked by Ennis Miller — Episode #122 - Extreme Heat Really Hurts the Doe and Fawns!

• Answer: Don says he uses an adjustable Treehopper safety belt rather than a harness because it’s easier to fit over thick winter clothing. 41:39
• Answer: Terry admits he used to skip harnesses but now promises his wife he’ll be safer, especially hunting alone out of state. 44:21

Question: A listener asks how important it is to have a qualifying buck officially scored and entered into the record books. 52:29 — Episode #122 - Extreme Heat Really Hurts the Doe and Fawns!

• Answer: Don says scoring is entirely a personal choice, though he’s had some of his own bucks scored to protect his credibility. 52:47
• Answer: Terry jokes there’s one type of person who avoids official scoring: those whose own tape measure stretches the score 20 inches longer. 54:36

Question: Andre Miller from Auburn, Kentucky asks how Don ages deer from trail camera photos, referencing Mel being aged at four years old. 63:05 — asked by Andre Miller — Episode #122 - Extreme Heat Really Hurts the Doe and Fawns!

• Answer: Don says he ages deer using trail camera history rather than a single photo, since photos alone can’t reliably reveal a mature buck’s exact age. 63:37
• Answer: Terry adds there’s no way to reliably age a buck from body sag or brisket alone since every deer’s build differs. 66:25

Question: Jay Thielen asks whether to cut one big shooting lane or several smaller ones, and how high Don’s stands typically are. 38:25 — asked by Jay Thielen — Chasing Giants Episode 121 - Residual Herbicide Discussion & Don is Buying a Farm

• Answer: Don says his stands average about 20 feet high, though it varies by tree and cover needs. 38:53
• Answer: Don prefers clearing at least two separate, generously wide shooting lanes in late winter and not touching them again until the hunt. 39:30

Question: Garrett Larson asks Don whether he started his tree nursery while still working at the factory, seeking career-change advice. 67:40 — asked by Garrett Larson — Episode #119 - Memorial Day Tribute and Aging Bucks on Trail Cam Pics

• Answer: Don confirms he started the tree nursery while still working his factory job, always looking for a way out. 68:04
• Answer: Don adds the nursery’s fall digging season directly conflicts with deer hunting, making it a poor fit for hunters. 69:52
• Answer: Don says he’s glad a non-hunter bought the business, since a hunter-owner likely would have let it fall apart. 70:42

Question: Terry asks Don to explain why he uses a sprayed herbicide path to funnel deer instead of a mowed path or another strategy. 3:50 — Episode #115 - Don’s Top Four Properties Visited This Year

• Answer: Don says several mature bucks, including one named Smokey, refused to follow mowed paths in daylight, prompting him to switch to sprayed herbicide paths. 4:04

Question: Terry asks Don whether having multiple smaller bedding sanctuaries is similar to having smaller micro food plots. 57:01 — Episode #115 - Don’s Top Four Properties Visited This Year

• Answer: Don answers that deer have a hard time figuring out when they’re within a small sanctuary, regardless of its exact size. 57:26

Question: Royce Corbin asks what Don would want asked of gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey about fixing Illinois’s DNR through a contact on Bailey’s campaign. 27:28 — Episode #113 Prepare Now… Results Come Later!!!!

• Answer: Don says Illinois once had the world’s best deer herd and could again, questioning whether Bailey is committed to restoring that and making the herd more profitable for the state. 30:06

Question: Was a mature buck’s big antler-size drop caused by a shoulder injury, or was it just age-related decline? 28:37 — asked by Levi Rosenthreader — Episode #112 - Chasing Giants in the Big North Woods

• Answer: Don believes the injury caused the antler-inch loss, and confirms he has seen bucks bounce back in antler size after recovering from such injuries. 29:58

Question: Are certain mast tree species nutritionally better for deer than others? 49:47 — asked by Sam Carrozza — Episode #112 - Chasing Giants in the Big North Woods

• Answer: Don says every food species has a different nutrient makeup, so diversifying mast and plot species lets deer balance their diet. 51:01
• Answer: Don adds a deer can balance its own diet as long as it has access to the range of plants it needs. 51:24

Question: Don asked whether the Lester’s Feet raffle drawing would be in October or on July 4th. 33:29 — EPISODE #111 COURAGE or ARROGANCE?

• Answer: Terry confirmed the raffle drawing will be on July 4th. 33:33

Question: Matt Montag asked what the hosts focus on first each spring to prepare for the next hunting season. 41:20 — asked by Matt Montag — EPISODE #111 COURAGE or ARROGANCE?

• Answer: Don said his top focus is taking inventory of which bucks survived and have shooter potential. 41:30
• Answer: Don evaluates which surviving bucks have the most potential to become a hit-list or shooter buck for the coming season. 41:50
• Answer: Terry said the worst outcome is identifying a target buck on a property without a tree stand already set up and ready. 43:23

Question: Clint asked what common trait true giant bucks’ living areas share, given that Don, Joe, and Terry all hunt or consult in different regions. 32:56 — asked by Clint — Episode #110 - Double Episode live from Master Class - Al Foster gives great advise

• Answer: Don said most giants come from properties near large sanctuary areas with no hunting. 33:33

Question: Terry turned the question back on the audience member, asking his actual goal in shooting does on his property. 44:22 — Episode #110 - Double Episode live from Master Class - Al Foster gives great advise

• Answer: The audience member said they shoot does mainly for meat, essentially their only reason for doing so. 44:49

Question: An audience member said there’s a lot of hate toward new hunters who shoot young bucks and asked Don’s stance on that. 105:45 — Episode #110 - Double Episode live from Master Class - Al Foster gives great advise

• Answer: Don said he’s never insulted anyone for what deer they choose to shoot, viewing that as each hunter’s own choice. 106:27

Question: An audience member with 70 acres of 15-year-old planted white oaks asked how to manage the stand for diversity to attract whitetails long-term. 136:13 — Episode #110 - Double Episode live from Master Class - Al Foster gives great advise

• Answer: Don said the oaks were likely planted on a 10-by-10 spacing (436 trees per acre) and need aggressive thinning to let the best trees’ crowns fill out. 136:40

Question: What tips or techniques help find sheds, like gridding or using binoculars? 5:12 — EPISODE #109 SHED HUNTING and LIVE FROM MASTER CLASS #2

• Answer: Joe says he’s an edge person who focuses on field edges and rarely searches deep timber. 5:40

Question: How do you walk into the forest on crunchy leaves while making less noise? 17:17 — EPISODE #109 SHED HUNTING and LIVE FROM MASTER CLASS #2

• Answer: Don says he moves slowly, working his foot into the leaves gradually instead of stomping. 17:47

Question: What plants or shrubs would you plant for cover and browse after cutting an oak flat? 49:39 — EPISODE #109 SHED HUNTING and LIVE FROM MASTER CLASS #2

• Answer: Don says you don’t need to plant anything after a cut; just get sunlight to the ground and existing seed will regenerate. 52:07

Question: How many hunts before you’re over-hunting an open oak-flat property? 52:31 — EPISODE #109 SHED HUNTING and LIVE FROM MASTER CLASS #2

• Answer: Don says it’s better to err on the side of caution than push too far and run the deer off. 53:08

Question: What is the average time you like to arrive at your tree stand before shooting light? 58:29 — asked by Eric — EPISODE #109 SHED HUNTING and LIVE FROM MASTER CLASS #2

• Answer: Don likes to arrive twenty to thirty minutes before shooting light. 58:49

Question: How do you keep track of all the projects and work done on a property over the years? 59:07 — EPISODE #109 SHED HUNTING and LIVE FROM MASTER CLASS #2

• Answer: Don keeps no formal program; it’s continual observation, adding needed tasks to an ongoing to-do list. 59:37

Question: What kind of prayer do the hosts say before or after hunting? 68:56 — EPISODE #109 SHED HUNTING and LIVE FROM MASTER CLASS #2

• Answer: Joe says he thanks the Lord for opportunity, health, and the day. 69:01
• Answer: Don thanks God for the passion for deer hunting and for letting his dream of making a living at it come true. 69:12

Question: Does a renter farming in the evenings when deer feed affect hunting that property during the season? 74:47 — EPISODE #109 SHED HUNTING and LIVE FROM MASTER CLASS #2

• Answer: Don says deer recognize farm equipment as normal activity rather than a threat, so it shouldn’t hurt hunting. 74:58

Question: Where should hunters field dress a deer, on the spot or relocated? 85:16 — asked by Rich Hixson — EPISODE #109 SHED HUNTING and LIVE FROM MASTER CLASS #2

• Answer: Don hauls deer near a water hydrant to clean up rather than field dressing in place. 85:33

Question: Do you prefer hunting with a compound bow or a crossbow? 87:37 — EPISODE #109 SHED HUNTING and LIVE FROM MASTER CLASS #2

• Answer: The answer given is a preference for a compound bow. 87:53

Question: How do you determine carrying capacity or how many bucks to allow others to take? 88:18 — asked by Chad Belter — EPISODE #109 SHED HUNTING and LIVE FROM MASTER CLASS #2

• Answer: Don says his property never nears carrying capacity because surrounding ag fields give deer other food options. 88:40

Question: What’s the biggest behavioral difference as a buck ages from three-and-a-half to six-and-a-half years old? 94:22 — EPISODE #109 SHED HUNTING and LIVE FROM MASTER CLASS #2

• Answer: Don says older bucks move far less in daylight and only make calculated moves, requiring calculated hunting moves in return. 95:30

Question: Trey asks whether Mel and Smokey were fawns born on Don’s farm. 37:49 — asked by Trey Hutchison — Episode #108 - Mind Blowing Deer Management with Dr. Bronson Strickland

• Answer: Don says there’s no way to know for sure, but guesses Mel and Smokey probably were not born on his farm since he’s shot very few does there. 38:49

Question: If Terry could rewrite Kentucky’s season dates and hunting regulations, what would he change? 41:21 — Episode #108 - Mind Blowing Deer Management with Dr. Bronson Strickland

• Answer: Terry says Kentucky could rival any state if rifle season moved outside the rut, while keeping the one-buck limit, to improve buck age structure. 42:25

Question: He asks Don how he keeps hunting from becoming an idol rather than just a passion. 52:27 — Episode #108 - Mind Blowing Deer Management with Dr. Bronson Strickland

• Answer: Don says his faith has grown stronger over the years, and the stronger one’s faith, the more God reveals himself, keeping hunting in perspective. 53:22

Question: A listener asked what to do with a 17-acre field surrounded by no woods to hold deer. 17:47 — Episode #105 Live from Shipshewana, IN - 2 Episodes in One!

• Answer: Don said cover must be created, recommending fast-growing native grasses and Miscanthus for quicker cover, or trees/shrubs if there’s time to wait. 17:52

Question: Terry asked whether region (north-south) and flat vs rolling topography change Don’s cover recommendation. 18:42 — Episode #105 Live from Shipshewana, IN - 2 Episodes in One!

• Answer: Don said trees and shrubs, especially conifers, become a bigger advantage the farther north you go. 19:02

Question: An audience member asked how long it will take politics to admit they were wrong about CWD given the humic acid research. 24:28 — Episode #105 Live from Shipshewana, IN - 2 Episodes in One!

• Answer: Don clarified whether the question meant realizing they were wrong versus admitting it. 24:57
• Answer: Don said politicians will never admit they’re wrong and probably already know it. 25:06

Question: Alex Burrow asked whether large bucks avoid food plots with logs piled on the edges. 37:09 — asked by Alex Burrow — Episode #105 Live from Shipshewana, IN - 2 Episodes in One!

• Answer: Don said buck personalities vary widely; his buck Smokey was the easiest he’s ever hunted. 38:13
• Answer: Don knew he’d kill Smokey and did so on the second hunt after seeing him on the first. 38:23

Question: A listener asked if building a bridge over a muddy creek crossing would help concentrate deer movement. 40:56 — Episode #105 Live from Shipshewana, IN - 2 Episodes in One!

• Answer: Don strongly recommended funneling deer movement any way possible. 41:03
• Answer: Don confirmed a bridge through a swamp will funnel deer right past a stand. 41:30

Question: A listener jokingly asked which consultant Nancy Pelosi would hire if she were a deer hunter. 50:07 — Episode #105 Live from Shipshewana, IN - 2 Episodes in One!

• Answer: Don joked he’d let Tony LaPratt take that client. 50:32

Question: A listener asked what mature bucks think about dogs on a property. 52:48 — Episode #105 Live from Shipshewana, IN - 2 Episodes in One!

• Answer: Don said dogs are worse for a property than human intrusion, the single worst thing. 52:51
• Answer: Don said even a tiny dog walking near captive deer sends them into a panic, unlike a coyote. 53:20

Question: A listener jokingly asked if Don would rather promote mechanical broadheads or vote to reelect Biden. 53:48 — Episode #105 Live from Shipshewana, IN - 2 Episodes in One!

• Answer: Don said there’s no way he’s voting for Joe Biden. 54:48
• Answer: Don said the mechanical broadhead issue comes down to the ethical duty to kill animals quickly and humanely. 54:52

Question: A listener asked about using a forestry mulcher to create a spider-web trail network through thick invasive cover. 68:20 — Episode #105 Live from Shipshewana, IN - 2 Episodes in One!

• Answer: Don said without seeing the property it’s hard to advise, but invasives are a never-ending battle. 68:41

Question: A listener asked Don’s favorite shape for a food plot. 73:52 — Episode #105 Live from Shipshewana, IN - 2 Episodes in One!

• Answer: Don prefers long, narrow plots sized so he never has to shoot his bow farther than 30 yards. 74:04

Question: Justine asked when deer switch from fall/winter patterns to summer patterns. 91:36 — asked by Justine — Episode #105 Live from Shipshewana, IN - 2 Episodes in One!

• Answer: Don said he’s found bucks already back in summer bachelor areas with new antler growth as early as March. 92:11

Question: Nathan Matter asked how close a sanctuary can be to a building. 93:28 — asked by Nathan Matter — Episode #105 Live from Shipshewana, IN - 2 Episodes in One!

• Answer: Don said he has laid out sanctuaries going right up to buildings on small properties. 93:47
• Answer: Don also uses old buildings as blinds, baiting does outside and shooting from a window to protect buck stands. 94:22

Question: John Yoder asked how to keep other hunters off his property line. 96:06 — asked by John Yoder — Episode #105 Live from Shipshewana, IN - 2 Episodes in One!

• Answer: Don said he hasn’t had much trouble because his neighbors know he makes his living from deer hunting and look out for him. 99:19

Question: John Yoder asked Don’s opinion on saddle hunting. 96:16 — asked by John Yoder — Episode #105 Live from Shipshewana, IN - 2 Episodes in One!

• Answer: Terry said he’d never hunt from a saddle himself. 96:40
• Answer: Terry said he has no problem with others who choose to saddle hunt. 97:53

Question: Israel Yoder asked whether Don has a bucket list of hunts outside whitetail deer. 108:48 — asked by Israel Yoder — Episode #105 Live from Shipshewana, IN - 2 Episodes in One!

• Answer: Don’s remaining bucket-list goal is to kill a giant whitetail on public land. 110:02

Question: Parker Yoder asked how long it takes deer to get comfortable using a new small food plot. 112:03 — asked by Parker Yoder — Episode #105 Live from Shipshewana, IN - 2 Episodes in One!

• Answer: Don said comfort time depends on security; deer feel secure and hit a plot almost immediately if human intrusion is low. 112:18

Question: Aiden Miller asked if Don would answer anything differently from last night’s debate. 134:58 — asked by Aiden Miller — Episode #105 Live from Shipshewana, IN - 2 Episodes in One!

• Answer: Don said he wished he’d plugged his own Whitetail Master Course more, alongside Tony’s class. 135:30

Question: Parker Yoder asked how close travel corridors can be to a building or house. 139:16 — asked by Parker Yoder — Episode #105 Live from Shipshewana, IN - 2 Episodes in One!

• Answer: Don recalled a buck bolting from an old barn’s sliding door when he walked around the corner, startling him and causing a missed shot. 140:39

Question: Mike Soyster from Martinsburg, Pennsylvania asks for tips on picking mock scrape site locations while hunting public land timber with mountain laurel thickets. 33:56 — asked by Mike Soyster — Episode #103 - Frost Seeding Tips and Tricks - NO SHORTCUTS!

• Answer: Don advises setting rope scrapes out immediately so they can weather outdoors all summer for the best results. 35:24
• Answer: He also warns against overdoing it—putting out too many scrapes on a property makes bucks pay less attention to any single one. 35:34

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