Not yet sorted by topic — Listener Q&A
Questions 451–580 of 580 in this category (page 4 of 4). ← previous · All listener questions
Not yet sorted by topic (continued)
Question: Ryan Elenbaas asks how Don built a plan for his 160-acre farm after seeing only about five acres of it in person. 74:24 — Episode #102 - WE ARE GIVING AWAY A TRUCK IN THE LESTER’S FEET RAFFLE!
- Answer: Don says his first priority on any property is locating the sanctuary; if that bedding cover is already thick enough, he doesn’t need to walk the rest. 76:15
Question: Johnny Flynn asks whether whitetail hunting has reached its pinnacle for giant bucks, already passed it, or can still improve. 89:53 — asked by Johnny Flynn — Episode #102 - WE ARE GIVING AWAY A TRUCK IN THE LESTER’S FEET RAFFLE!
- Answer: Don says Illinois deer hunting has declined from mismanagement, even though the state was once home to the best deer herd on the planet. 90:31
Question: Johnny Flynn asks why Wisconsin isn’t talked about as much as Iowa, Kansas, and Ohio despite strong record-book buck numbers. 94:42 — Episode #102 - WE ARE GIVING AWAY A TRUCK IN THE LESTER’S FEET RAFFLE!
- Answer: Don explains Wisconsin produces many high-170-class bucks but few 200-inch giants, which is why it lacks the recognition Iowa and others get. 95:17
Question: Is it legitimate to dig up a scrape’s dirt and licking branch and relocate it to a better stand spot, expecting the buck to find and keep using it? 68:18 — asked by Jake Paris — Episode #100 - Chasing Giants Episode 100 - Predator Control, Doe Factory, Moving Scrapes
- Answer: Don doubted a mature buck would abandon caution and march into a moved scrape just because someone relocated the dirt and branch. 71:50
Question: Jason Hesselberg from Saline, Michigan asks whether Don and Terry ever hunt from ground blinds when no good tree exists. 49:18 — asked by Jason Hesselberg — Episode #94 - Late Season is Here! Change Your Approach
- Answer: Don says he used to ground hunt more but rarely does now, preferring trees. 49:45
- Answer: Terry says he ground hunts often, including killing this year’s buck from the ground. 50:35
- Answer: Don adds that the key with any setup, ground or tree, is staying well hidden. 52:38
Question: Jacob Osborne from Oklahoma asks how to stay motivated after his father-in-law unknowingly shot the buck he was targeting. 60:36 — asked by Jacob Osborne — Episode #94 - Late Season is Here! Change Your Approach
- Answer: Don says he can’t recall a target buck of his own ever being shot by someone else, but stresses no one owns a deer. 61:09
- Answer: Terry says it has happened to him and admits hunters get emotionally invested in a chased deer. 62:24
- Answer: Don encourages Jacob that this adversity builds character and will make future success sweeter. 64:45
Question: Tanner Coleman asked whether a mature buck still prioritizes cover and vantage points for bedding during peak rut, or beds more based on doe locations. 46:44 — asked by Tanner Coleman — Episode #92 - Don in Facebook Jail?
- Answer: Don says a mature buck always wants security but during breeding season will compromise almost daily for a hot doe, which is why so many get killed in November. 47:04
- Answer: Don recommends hunting out-of-the-way corridors like lone fence rows or tree lines during lockdown—you may see nothing for days, but when you do it’s often a giant. 48:25
Question: Todd from Badger, Minnesota asked whether a reported drop in human testosterone from COVID could similarly be affecting the whitetail rut. 52:14 — Episode #91 - Is Don like CNN News?
- Answer: Don questions who could have actually tested enough deer to claim forty percent have had COVID, dismissing the statistic as unfounded. 53:20
- Answer: Don calls COVID a political disease, says no one really knows how many deer have had it, and doubts it affects buck libido or the rut. 54:27
Question: Does ozone scent-elimination technology actually work and is it worth the money for hunters? 45:04 — Episode #90 - November 7th - WHERE IS THE RUT
- Answer: Don has no personal experience with ozone machines but says everyone he’s asked either believes in them or is unsure. 45:51
- Answer: Don’s own scent protocol is simply hunting the wind rather than any product. 46:17
- Answer: Don says it’s entirely about wind direction — an upwind deer won’t smell you at all, while a downwind one will regardless of scent control. 46:46
Question: Terry asks whether an individual doe’s aggressive or bullying temperament matters for herd or buck outcomes. 55:42 — Episode #90 - November 7th - WHERE IS THE RUT
- Answer: Don confirms some does are notably more aggressive toward other deer. 55:46
- Answer: Don says an alert doe’s behavior isn’t about genetics but likely teaches her fawns and nearby deer about danger. 56:19
Question: A listener asked whether deer notice a ground blind placed in the middle of an open field and how to brush it in so it isn’t detected. 30:45 — Episode #89 - 2021 Rut Setting Up To Be FANTASTIC!
- Answer: Don said a blind in the open works but makes entering and exiting without being detected by mature bucks much harder. 31:26
- Answer: Don recommended planting fast-growing Miscanthus grass around an exposed field blind to create quick concealment cover. 32:20
Question: Jake asks whether Don has considered offering a free property consultation as a prize option for next year’s Lester’s Feet raffle. 63:01 — asked by Jake Justice — Episode #88 - Hunting MATURE Bucks on October Mornings?
- Answer: Don confirms he will offer a free property consultation as one of next year’s Lester’s Feet raffle prizes. 64:58
Question: Where are you going to be based out of, and how far are you willing to travel for consulting? 24:33 — Episode #87 - BUCK DOWN! Lester’s Feet Raffle Winner Got it Done!
- Answer: Wes says he’s based out of Illinois and Indiana but travels as far as needed, having covered 14 states last year. 24:38
Question: What’s the best advice for someone with small, long-term permission ground that holds a lot of big mature bucks but has very limited stand positions? 39:52 — asked by Kyle Malone — Episode #87 - BUCK DOWN! Lester’s Feet Raffle Winner Got it Done!
- Answer: Don says don’t tell anyone about the spot and avoid even parking your truck near it. 40:23
- Answer: Don also advises staying on the landowner’s good side and consistently showing appreciation for the access provided. 40:42
- Answer: Wes adds that he’s always trying to secure new hunting permissions. 41:32
- Answer: Terry says he maintains contact with landowners year-round rather than only reaching out right before hunting season. 41:44
Question: Have you two ever considered adding a personal challenge by hunting with traditional archery tackle like a recurve or longbow, especially this year with no true giant to chase? 43:38 — asked by Josh — Episode #87 - BUCK DOWN! Lester’s Feet Raffle Winner Got it Done!
- Answer: Don says he’d seriously consider traditional gear if confident hitting vitals at 20 yards, but right now he’d struggle even at 10 yards, so he sticks with modern equipment. 44:35
Question: Did you have any idea trophy pictures would become such a big production? 52:30 — Episode #87 - BUCK DOWN! Lester’s Feet Raffle Winner Got it Done!
- Answer: Brent says he knew photos would happen but hadn’t considered how much effort would go into them. 52:35
Question: Steven Skipper asked whether Don records all his trail camera locations so none get forgotten or lost. 51:56 — asked by Steven Skipper — Episode #86 - 17,764 trail cam pics in 25 days - no bait or attractant
- Answer: Don keeps a spreadsheet listing every camera’s location and the last date it was checked so nothing gets lost. 52:56
Question: Steven Skipper also asked what type of video camera Don uses to record his hunts. 52:45 — Episode #86 - 17,764 trail cam pics in 25 days - no bait or attractant
- Answer: Don says he films with a Sony camera but can’t recall the exact model number. 53:39
Question: Terry asks Don for a rundown of how his Iowa opening-day hunt went. 1:47 — asked by Terry — Episode #85 - The Ones That Got Away… New Series by Don
- Answer: Don says his one Friday-afternoon Iowa hunt only produced a doe, a fawn, and two coyotes. 2:28
Question: Terry asks Brent to introduce himself and say where he’s from. 8:14 — asked by Terry — Episode #85 - The Ones That Got Away… New Series by Don
- Answer: Brent explains his dad donated to and won the Lester’s Feet raffle, which is how Brent first learned about the podcast and became a listener. 8:27
Question: Terry asks Brent if seeing Don’s property in person puts it in perspective as the ‘Graceland’ for deer hunters. 9:33 — asked by Terry — Episode #85 - The Ones That Got Away… New Series by Don
- Answer: Brent says the property is amazing and looks like a place where real-world deer killing is genuinely achievable. 9:42
Question: Gary Laseko asks if any specific big bucks that got away made Don a better hunter or were a turning point. 49:58 — asked by Gary Laseko — Episode #85 - The Ones That Got Away… New Series by Don
- Answer: Don recalls a giant clean 10-point buck that eluded him decades ago, an animal he shot at once and never recovered, but still considers the biggest-framed buck he’s ever seen. 53:20
Question: Seth Healy asks if Don sits all day during November and how he mentally prepares for it. 57:29 — asked by Seth Healy — Episode #85 - The Ones That Got Away… New Series by Don
- Answer: Don says if he’s confident in a spot as a great buck area, he can force himself to stay in the stand all day. 58:20
- Answer: Terry adds that when hunting out of state he rarely leaves the woods, staying out all day roughly three or four times a trip. 59:15
Question: Nicholas Dawa asks if mature bucks intentionally use their own trail running parallel to the main deer trail. 62:18 — asked by Nicholas Dawa — Episode #85 - The Ones That Got Away… New Series by Don
- Answer: Don says he doesn’t think bucks keep a distinct own trail; rather, mature bucks use terrain and wind to their advantage. 62:31
- Answer: Don suspects the idea of a buck’s own parallel downwind trail was invented to sell an article. 64:07
Question: Now that Don has surveyed his trail camera inventory, what is his hunting objective or goal for this season? 14:04 — Episode #83 Don’s Buck Inventory shows 32 bucks over 150”
- Answer: Don’s entire-season goal across Iowa and Illinois is simply to kill one buck over 170 inches. 15:16
Question: Is a spot in the master course only reserved once the deposit has been received? 30:02 — Episode #83 Don’s Buck Inventory shows 32 bucks over 150”
- Answer: Don confirms spots aren’t reserved until the deposit arrives, after past issues with unpaid reservations. 30:07
Question: What do you consider a world class buck? Anything that scores Boone and Crockett? 40:00 — Episode #80 - Don’s 2021 Buck Forecast
- Answer: Don considers a typical buck over 180 net inches or a nontypical over 200 inches to be world class, a bit better than Boone and Crockett minimums. 41:22
Question: If unable to locate a world class whitetail, what would you be willing to fill a tag on? 40:05 — Episode #80 - Don’s 2021 Buck Forecast
- Answer: Don says it varies year to year and some seasons he’ll settle for a cull buck if no giant turns up. 41:48
Question: How do Sunday mornings work for you guys in the fall, and how do you balance faith, hunting, work, and family? 52:25 — asked by Hunter Simmons — Episode #80 - Don’s 2021 Buck Forecast
- Answer: Terry gave up other hobbies like fishing, turkey hunting, and golf so he can devote time to hunting and family without missing church. 53:34
- Answer: Don treats church as a priority equal to hunting, rarely missing service even during the season. 54:41
Question: Matt Gardner asks why the fall buck dispersal happens and whether the majority of bucks make the shift. 37:38 — asked by Matt Gardner — Episode #79 - Bachelor Group Dispersal and Iowa Update
- Answer: Don clarifies the bucks he watches in summer aren’t photographed on his farm; he’s learned where his fall bucks spend their summers in nearby bachelor groups. 39:18
- Answer: Don estimates roughly 50% of bucks in his ag-heavy Midwest farm country make a definite range shift away from their summer range each fall. 40:37
Question: Curtis Martin asked what causes spike bucks and whether hunters should shoot them or let them go. 47:27 — asked by Curtis Martin — Episode #78 - People ask questions but do not like the answers!
- Answer: Don explains spikes can result from late birth, poor nutrition, or genetics, with no way to know for certain which caused it. 48:04
- Answer: Don states he does not advocate culling yearling bucks at all, so spikes are not cull bucks. 48:15
Question: Terry asks Don to walk through his decision to pass a 160-inch three-year-old ten-pointer and let him go until four. 3:59 — asked by Terry — Episode #77 - Would you shoot this buck? Still looking for a shooter.
- Answer: Don explains most hunters would shoot such a ten-pointer if compared side by side with the clean eight-pointers he posted, which is why he passes it. 5:06
Question: Did Wes introduce Terry’s daughter to the man she just married? 13:38 — Episode #75 - Concerned about cell cams, when should i plant, and purple headed freaks…
- Answer: Yes, Wes introduced them and also served as the best man in the wedding. 13:43
Question: What was going on with Terry’s phone this week? 15:05 — Episode #75 - Concerned about cell cams, when should i plant, and purple headed freaks…
- Answer: Terry’s phone had stopped taking voicemails for days; it’s now fixed and callers can leave messages again. 16:01
Question: When overseeded seed falls through a thick, humid soybean canopy, does it swell and crack but die from lack of light? 28:05 — Episode #75 - Concerned about cell cams, when should i plant, and purple headed freaks…
- Answer: Terry says he can’t fully explain the mechanism, but overseeding under full canopy yields almost no plants, since seed apparently needs sunlight too. 28:19
Question: Drew Peterson asks whether food-plot herbicides and preemergents affect the venison and other game meat hunters eat. 50:10 — asked by Drew Peterson — Episode #74 Don denied access to hunt and more velvet talk (how does weather affect growth?)
- Answer: Don argues food plots are a tiny fraction of a deer’s diet compared to natural browse and agricultural fields, making chemical impact negligible. 52:51
- Answer: Don concludes worrying about food-plot chemicals affecting venison is essentially a moot point. 53:20
Question: Justin Nice asks if Don would settle for a 130-140 inch four-year-old buck in Iowa just to fill his tag. 51:15 — Episode #71 - Trail Cam Deployment, Giant Bucks of Social Media Misused, Raffle Closing Soon!
- Answer: Don says he would absolutely not settle for a 130-140 inch buck since that size no longer excites him. 51:38
- Answer: Don says if a lesser buck came along while a true 200-inch giant was known to be in the area, he’d pass on the lesser deer. 52:19
Question: Don asks Terry to give an overview of statistics on the role a father plays as spiritual leader in the household. 7:44 — asked by Don — Episode #70 - Fathers Day Talk along with comparison of the Hunting Industry and the Drug Cartel
- Answer: Terry cites research that when the father is spiritual leader of the home, he leads someone to Christ about 93-97% of the time, versus 17% for mothers and 3% for children. 8:28
Question: Terry asks whether to spray weeds now while soybeans are only an inch tall or wait until the beans are taller. 21:29 — Episode #68 - Germination, Browse Pressure, When To Spray - DON PICKS IOWA UNIT…
- Answer: Don says bean height doesn’t matter much; what matters is how tall the weeds are. 21:37
- Answer: Don adds that even resistant weeds can still be killed at one or two inches, but once they reach six to eight inches, glyphosate won’t touch them. 21:48
Question: Terry asks why Don has started calling Wes Delks a ‘prodigy.’ 10:26 — Episode #67 - WATCH OUT FOR FAWNS! Don and Terry both have a close call!
- Answer: Don says Wes got goosebumps at a comment about the killing spot, which struck Don as funny, so he started calling him the prodigy. 18:06
Question: Terry asks Don to describe the Lone Wolf Treestands setup he mentioned for stopping a cruising buck. 13:20 — Episode #67 - WATCH OUT FOR FAWNS! Don and Terry both have a close call!
- Answer: Don built a mock scrape by bending a sapling and tying it to a nearby tree so its top sticks out for bucks to check. 15:34
Question: Terry asks how Don gets a fast-moving cruising buck like Joey to stop, referencing the setup used for the Joey Buck. 16:28 — Episode #67 - WATCH OUT FOR FAWNS! Don and Terry both have a close call!
- Answer: How does Don manage to stop a buck moving through at a fast clip? 16:33
- Answer: Don says Joey stopped because he’d thrown out smoky scent before climbing in, and the buck absolutely smelled it and locked up. 16:45
Question: Chad Brady asks what gear Don carries in his trail camera toolbox when covering a new 80-acre timber property. 35:16 — asked by Chad Brady — Episode #67 - WATCH OUT FOR FAWNS! Don and Terry both have a close call!
- Answer: Don says he brought twice as many cameras as needed, plus straps, cable locks, mounts, saws, and his ATV. 35:57
- Answer: Don says the one thing he wished he’d brought was flagging tape to mark trees for later. 36:45
Question: CJ Curtis asks whether Don agrees with Drury’s 13 phases of the deer season. 43:51 — asked by CJ Curtis — Episode #67 - WATCH OUT FOR FAWNS! Don and Terry both have a close call!
- Answer: Don doesn’t believe there are literally 13 phases, but calls it an ingenious idea tied to how TV airtime is sold in 13-week quarters. 45:24
- Answer: Don reiterates he just doesn’t see 13 distinct phases in the deer season. 45:38
Question: Terry presses Don to clarify what people misunderstand when he talks about ‘finding’ doe bedding for stand setups. 52:25 — Episode #67 - WATCH OUT FOR FAWNS! Don and Terry both have a close call!
- Answer: Don says he isn’t literally finding individual beds; he just recognizes the type of cover deer prefer to bed in. 53:05
- Answer: Terry clarifies they don’t mean tromping in to find the actual bent-over grass where a deer bedded the night before. 55:16
- Answer: Don recalls that decades ago he used to walk properties in winter snow specifically to locate actual deer beds. 55:38
Question: Tim Henrich asks whether to use Maximizer minerals at a stand site or in a bedding area to attract deer, and where deer use minerals most. 37:42 — asked by Tim Henrich — Episode #66 - Don has Mel officially scored. Discussion about planting food plot seed. Is planting seed heavy good or bad?
- Answer: Don recommends placing mineral in easy-to-access spots such as field edges, so he can reach it and run cameras without pressuring the property. 38:46
- Answer: Terry says the ideal mineral site is a natural corridor, shelf, or pinch point that’s easy to reach without getting close to deer or intruding much. 41:25
Question: How does Don like using the Genesis drill for the first time this spring? 6:17 — Episode #65 Spring Plot Herbicide Discussion and Fawns dropping
- Answer: Don loves the Genesis drill—it dispenses almost exactly the amount of seed he expects for each plot. 6:42
Question: What is 24D herbicide used to kill? 12:34 — Episode #65 Spring Plot Herbicide Discussion and Fawns dropping
- Answer: 24D is a contact herbicide that only harms broadleaf weeds and will not damage grasses like corn. 12:40
Question: Can Don explain the three herbicide options usable on Enlist three soybeans? 15:56 — Episode #65 Spring Plot Herbicide Discussion and Fawns dropping
- Answer: Enlist soybeans tolerate three different herbicides—Roundup/glyphosate, Liberty, and 24D—giving multiple ways to kill resistant weeds. 16:26
Question: Colby Koonan also asked for tips on identifying plants, trees, and shrubs, since apps like LeafSnap and PictureThis frustrate him. 51:02 — asked by Colby Koonan — Episode #59 - Habitat Projects like Water Holes, Food in Bedding, Structure in Bedding along with other topics
- Answer: Don says he has no shortcut tip; he simply learned species gradually over years, a few each year, until he could identify most trees and plants. 62:15
Question: Damon Marling asked why big bucks tolerate people in urban areas while intrusion is considered so harmful on rural hunting farms. 42:04 — Episode #58 - Burning Native Grass Tips and Great Questions from 3rd Master Class
- Answer: Don said bucks everywhere seek the most secure bedding area available; urban bucks just have smaller sanctuary zones relative to what they grew up with. 42:32
- Answer: Terry illustrated with a poached Northern Kentucky giant buck that lived among houses because no safer sanctuary was available nearby. 43:56
Question: Calvin from Illinois asked why Don and Terry never talk about using deer decoys. 49:13 — asked by Calvin — Episode #58 - Burning Native Grass Tips and Great Questions from 3rd Master Class
- Answer: Don said from experience that for every mature buck a decoy attracts, it spooks about 25 others, so he avoids them. 49:49
Question: Greg from Michigan asked what to look for, and avoid, when buying a future hunting property. 74:49 — asked by Greg — Episode #58 - Burning Native Grass Tips and Great Questions from 3rd Master Class
- Answer: Don said what’s around a property matters more than what’s on it, since neighboring land can make or break its hunting potential. 75:27
- Answer: Don gave an example: a small five-acre field next to a thousand-acre no-hunting sanctuary can be dynamite hunting ground. 75:35
Question: An audience member asks whether Don lets his grandkids shoot whatever deer comes by or has rules about it. 38:28 — Episode #57 - Discussion about Ethics Continues as guest at the 2nd Master Class put Don on the spot with live questions.
- Answer: Don says regardless of what buck walks by, if his grandkids are hunting with him, they get to shoot it. 39:11
Question: Ivan asks how important water holes are, where to place them, and how many per 100 acres. 47:17 — asked by Ivan — Episode #57 - Discussion about Ethics Continues as guest at the 2nd Master Class put Don on the spot with live questions.
- Answer: Don says water holes are overrated in the Midwest since deer seem to find water sources on their own. 47:38
Question: Terry asks whether, between bedding, food plot, or water hole investment, water hole would rank last. 49:17 — asked by Terry — Episode #57 - Discussion about Ethics Continues as guest at the 2nd Master Class put Don on the spot with live questions.
- Answer: Don confirms a water hole would always be the last priority of the three. 49:24
Question: Dean asks Terry and Don how they use e-bikes for hunting access and whether they’ve ever taken a fall on one. 58:14 — asked by Dean — Episode #57 - Discussion about Ethics Continues as guest at the 2nd Master Class put Don on the spot with live questions.
- Answer: Terry says he’s never fallen, and last season was his first using an e-bike, which helped him hunt while recovering from knee surgery. 58:23
- Answer: Don says he never goes past third gear on his eight-gear e-bike because it already goes faster than he wants to fall. 60:23
Question: Jeff Gibson asks how long a section of snow fence can be before it stops working and starts creating the opposite deer-funneling effect. 26:36 — asked by Jeff Gibson — Episode #56 RELOAD - Great discussion live from 2021 Master Class #1 - Terry answers some questions on cell cam test
- Answer: Don explains fence length can push deer up to about 100 yards fairly easily, but going further requires building a much taller, sturdier fence. 27:15
Question: Darren asks Don how he knows when a target buck ‘wants to be there’ at a stand, beyond scouting and trail camera photos. 37:02 — Episode #56 RELOAD - Great discussion live from 2021 Master Class #1 - Terry answers some questions on cell cam test
- Answer: Don explains that a mature buck tends to show up in the same place at the same time year after year, based on trail camera history. 37:37
- Answer: Don uses the previous year’s trail-camera history so he’s already waiting on stand when the buck’s known window arrives, staying a step ahead instead of a step behind. 38:24
Question: A Michigan hunter asks whether it’s right to use trail cameras placed on tractor trails purely for buck inventory rather than stand selection. 51:26 — Episode #56 RELOAD - Great discussion live from 2021 Master Class #1 - Terry answers some questions on cell cam test
- Answer: Don confirms that’s exactly his approach — he doesn’t need cameras to pick a tree, just to tell him which bucks are on the property and when. 51:40
Question: Tyler Neal from Brownstown, Indiana asks Don how he set his hunting goals when starting out, including any long-term plan. 59:48 — asked by Tyler Neal — Episode #56 RELOAD - Great discussion live from 2021 Master Class #1 - Terry answers some questions on cell cam test
- Answer: Don says what helped him most was refusing to lower his standard once he set a goal, no matter how long it took to fill his tag. 61:00
Question: Don asks whether Terry actually used the test cameras in the woods this season as part of his hunting setup. 6:15 — Episode #55 - 2020 Cell Camera Test - The Truth and probably some Hurt Feelings
- Answer: Terry says he deployed the cameras across three different Illinois properties in varying environments throughout the hunting season, not just for testing. 7:17
Question: Are does fighting more because they’re concentrated at feeders as the only food source, or because does get territorial over scarce food? 21:59 — Episode #53 - Iowa Deer Classic, Deer Foundering, Cull Bucks, and Don gets fired up about politics at the end
- Answer: Don says he isn’t certain, but believes the increased doe fighting stems from limited food sources concentrating deer around feeders, with a pecking order forming. 22:10
Question: Does a doe’s first-year reproduction cycle produce fawns that underperform compared to fawns from her later, more mature pregnancies? 57:40 — Episode #53 - Iowa Deer Classic, Deer Foundering, Cull Bucks, and Don gets fired up about politics at the end
- Answer: Don explains a yearling doe bred before her first birthday is still growing herself, so much of her nutrition goes toward her own growth rather than fully supporting her fetuses. 58:20
Question: Can a yearling-culling approach be effective with six hunters sharing over 300 acres? 59:34 — Episode #53 - Iowa Deer Classic, Deer Foundering, Cull Bucks, and Don gets fired up about politics at the end
- Answer: Don doubts the culling approach will meaningfully affect the local herd given surrounding cover and deer movement, but still supports shooting smaller bucks and prioritizing fun for kids. 60:15
Question: Do you think social media has ruined the notoriety of a buck’s true score, given how many mismatched scores get posted? 60:13 — asked by Ryan Howe — #49 - Nutrition: Proteins vs. Fat / Macro and Micro nutrients in Mineral - Know what you need!
- Answer: Don doesn’t think social media has ruined the sport, but believes many people simply don’t know how to properly score a deer, rather than being dishonest. 62:08
- Answer: Terry says the exaggeration isn’t caused by social media itself; social media just lets more people see behavior that always existed. 63:30
Question: Don asks whether Terry took Monday off from consulting to film video content with Steve, who was in town last week. 1:47 — Episode #48 - Antler Genetics (what is a super doe?) When Do Sheds Fall? And Peeing Out of Your Stand…
- Answer: Terry confirms he spent the entire day filming with Steve Shields, along with his friend Joe Johnson. 1:58
Question: Don asks how the super-doe genetics theory translates into practical takeaways for an average landowner managing his herd. 27:08 — Episode #48 - Antler Genetics (what is a super doe?) When Do Sheds Fall? And Peeing Out of Your Stand…
- Answer: Terry says there’s no way to know where a super doe is located within a wild deer herd. 27:17
Question: Tom from Hale, Michigan asks whether his theory about late shedding tied to unbred does is wrong or a later cycle explains it. 40:16 — asked by Tom — Episode #48 - Antler Genetics (what is a super doe?) When Do Sheds Fall? And Peeing Out of Your Stand…
- Answer: Don explains that antler shedding is driven by decreasing daylight and testosterone levels, not by whether does have been bred. 41:45
- Answer: Terry says there’s really only one rut, and a doe coming into heat is almost certain to get bred. 43:06
- Answer: Terry explains that with a lopsided one-to-ten buck-to-doe ratio, a buck doesn’t have to search hard to find the next receptive doe. 45:47
Question: Michael from Exline, Iowa asks whether calling coyotes from thick cover to the edges helps or harms deer, and if he should trap instead. 51:01 — asked by Michael — Episode #48 - Antler Genetics (what is a super doe?) When Do Sheds Fall? And Peeing Out of Your Stand…
- Answer: Terry says he has no doubt coyotes stress deer, citing a property that went from great hunting to nearly worthless due to coyote overpopulation. 51:16
- Answer: Terry says he’s a big fan of trapping coyotes as long as it’s done away from core sanctuary areas, out on edges and open fields. 52:06
- Answer: Terry mentions his friend Todd Hewing, who has killed more coyotes at night calling with night vision than almost anyone in the area. 52:37
Question: Matt Hargis from Prairie Grove, Arkansas asks Don and Terry how they feel about peeing off their tree stands during a hunt. 56:58 — asked by Matt — Episode #48 - Antler Genetics (what is a super doe?) When Do Sheds Fall? And Peeing Out of Your Stand…
- Answer: Don recalls that years ago he carried a bottle to pee in rather than peeing out of his stand. 57:13
- Answer: Don recounts that after he started peeing out of his stand, a two-year-old eight-pointer walked by, smelled the spot, and ate the grass where he had urinated. 58:16
Question: Listener David Least asked how Don and Terry justify using social media platforms whose companies oppose many of their values. 53:22 — asked by David Least — Episode #47 - Hunting Ethics, Annual Cycle Of Whitetail, Should we leave Social Media?
- Answer: Don said social media is mainly a free way to advertise his business, despite disliking the companies behind it. 54:48
- Answer: Terry said he’ll keep using social media personally to make a positive difference in others’ lives until he’s shut down. 57:45
Question: Johnny Flynn asks whether Don’s sanctuary approach still applies when hunting public land, where hunters can’t control other people. 32:49 — asked by Johnny Flynn — Episode #45 - Lessons Learned from Captive Research Deer
- Answer: Don advises hunting either very close to roads and parking areas or in the hardest-to-access spots, since those are the places most public-land hunters overlook. 34:51
Question: Johnny Flynn asks which single state, ignoring family considerations, would be best to live in for hunting mature whitetail bucks. 33:19 — asked by Johnny Flynn — Episode #45 - Lessons Learned from Captive Research Deer
- Answer: Terry says Iowa is hands down the best state right now because of how it manages its deer herd and age structure. 37:17
Question: What makes good thermal cover in a cedar thicket where deer seemingly wouldn’t need it? 40:09 — Episode #42 - Christmas Gift Ideas, Hanging Tree Stands in February, and Last Giveaway for 2020
- Answer: Don explains thermal cover protects deer from wind and cold, and cedars even radiate heat. 43:35
- Answer: Terry says the deer on his property bed in his cedars on the lee side of the hill, making it his best cover. 41:33
Question: John Ziegler asked why Don hasn’t sent teeth from Mel or the Joey Buck to be aged and whether he doubts the aging science. 58:28 — Episode #40 - Transition to Late Season and Picking a Contest Winner- Also, Thoughts about Mel Video
- Answer: Don explains he forgot to have Mel’s jaw saved by the taxidermist but is 99% confident Mel was four and a half years old. 60:29
- Answer: Terry says he trusts tooth-ring counting science over subjective wear estimates and has sent multiple deer’s teeth to Wildlife Analytical Lab. 64:15
Question: Terry asked whether Don retrieved the downed buck using his four-wheeler. 35:15 — Episode #39 - SPECIAL EDITION - DON SHOOTS ANOTHER GIANT! 2 Bucks = 400”+ of Antler in 2020
- Answer: Don said he rode in on his ATV instead of driving his truck, mainly to keep from tipping off local traffic to the location. 35:25
Question: Terry asked if Don would reveal the buck’s official score. 37:56 — Episode #39 - SPECIAL EDITION - DON SHOOTS ANOTHER GIANT! 2 Bucks = 400”+ of Antler in 2020
- Answer: Don revealed a gross score of 185 and seven-eighths inches, nearly 186. 38:00
Question: Terry asked where this buck ranks among all the bucks Don has ever shot. 38:15 — Episode #39 - SPECIAL EDITION - DON SHOOTS ANOTHER GIANT! 2 Bucks = 400”+ of Antler in 2020
- Answer: Don said the buck ranks as his fifth-best ever. 38:19
Question: Dustin Doss from Rockville, Indiana asks whether mature bucks near a subdivision get desensitized to human activity and can take riskier wind chances there. 52:25 — asked by Dustin Doss — Episode #38 Terry Kills a Illinois 8 Pointer and Don gets wound up on some industry topics! REALLY WOUND UP!
- Answer: Don explains a mature buck distinguishes between harmless human activity like yard work and dangerous human presence such as a hunter in the woods. 53:22
Question: Terry asks Don to summarize how the rut has progressessed from peak rut and warm temperatures into the current lockdown phase. 2:09 — Episode #37 - Understanding the Rut, Aerial Photos of Property, Bad Shot Angles and Broadheads Types
- Answer: Don explains that once does start coming into heat, mature bucks pair with them for the most part, which is called the lockdown phase since a hot doe usually keeps one or more mature bucks with her. 3:10
Question: Terry asks how much longer the lockdown phase will last and when bucks will resume more visible daytime movement. 9:26 — Episode #37 - Understanding the Rut, Aerial Photos of Property, Bad Shot Angles and Broadheads Types
- Answer: Don answers that most mature does breed within two weeks of November 8-9, so lockdown activity tapers off around November 23, with fewer does remaining after that. 9:50
Question: Terry asked Don if he was feeling better after being unwell. 26:05 — asked by Terry — Episode #36 Peak Rut Update, Warm Weather, maybe a little election and religion
- Answer: Don said he wasn’t at 100% but was improving a little more each day. 26:07
Question: A viewer questions whether Don’s rut video meant the breeding period specifically, or included the pre- and post-rut phases as well. 21:36 — Episode #34 - Late October Check in - Buck Activity Slower Than Expected - Why?
- Answer: Don clarifies he means the entire breeding phase of the rut, spanning from roughly when a buck sheds his velvet until he sheds his antlers, not just the peak weeks. 21:46
- Answer: Don adds that most people mistake only the peak two-week breeding period in mid-November for ‘the rut,’ when it actually spans a much longer season. 22:18
Question: Terry asks Bronson to give a quick summary of his education and research background. 3:18 — asked by Terry — Episode #31 - Special Guest Dr. Bronson Strickland - Fetal Programming, Deer Dispersal, Minerals, and CWD
- Answer: Strickland says he earned an undergraduate wildlife biology degree at the University of Georgia before pursuing graduate deer-management research that became his career. 3:46
Question: Adam Smith asks how to analyze nighttime trail camera photos and what can be learned from repeated nighttime pictures of the same buck. 46:08 — asked by Adam Smith — Episode #30 - Don prepares for season - Terry has a mishap and misses a target buck PLUS A BIG ANOUNCEMENT
- Answer: Don explains photos near sunrise or sunset suggest the buck beds close by, while a 2am photo reveals little about bedding location. 46:53
- Answer: Don adds that consistently killing big bucks requires hunting the property where they spend daylight hours, meaning where they bed. 47:29
Question: Did any off-the-wall questions come up during the seminar tour, or was it pretty normal? 4:53 — Episode #27 Season is closing in. Final prep work is being done along with addressing some hurt feelings.
- Answer: Don says nothing was too unusual, though a guy in Ohio asked about expandable broadheads and Don may have upset some people with his answer. 5:10
Question: Brian Elements asks how to judge a buck’s age from body size versus antler mass, since deer bodies vary as much as people’s do. 49:51 — asked by Brian Elements — Episode #26 - Don tackles two controversial topics CULLING and AGING BUCKS
- Answer: Don states he personally does not believe a buck’s age can be determined from a photograph alone. 52:03
Question: A listener asked Terry whether someone needs a college degree to work in the outdoor industry. 55:32 — Episode #25 - Don and Terry give an update on their hunting spots and discuss getting into the hunting industry.
- Answer: Terry said no degree is required, but you do need a basic understanding of consumer buying behavior. 55:39
Question: Zach Anderson asks what habitat a mature buck would choose to live in if a landowner could create the ideal property. 54:24 — asked by Zach Anderson — Episode #24 - Don is glassing bucks at night while Terry tests Don’s idea of Saddle Hunting…
- Answer: Terry says his favorite deer habitat by far is an old, grown-up cattle pasture. 54:58
- Answer: He recommends buyers look for cattle pasture land since it makes excellent, often undervalued deer habitat. 56:39
Question: Terry asks Bryan whether he started hunting at a young age. 17:40 — asked by Terry — Episode #22 - Special Contest Winner Bryan Medinger and Don has big announcement
- Answer: Bryan says he started hunting at age 12, the legal minimum age in Wisconsin at the time. 17:44
Question: Terry asks Bryan whether his three hunting properties are owned, leased, or accessed by permission. 18:21 — asked by Terry — Episode #22 - Special Contest Winner Bryan Medinger and Don has big announcement
- Answer: Bryan says two of his properties are owned by his father-in-law and his wife’s grandfather. 18:30
Question: Bryan asks if there are specific geographical features Don looks for when placing treestands. 25:26 — asked by Bryan Medinger — Episode #22 - Special Contest Winner Bryan Medinger and Don has big announcement
- Answer: Don says inside corners of fields are one of the obvious terrain features he looks for when placing stands. 25:36
Question: Bryan asks whether Don hangs stands at a certain fixed height or bases it on the cover available. 28:46 — asked by Bryan Medinger — Episode #22 - Special Contest Winner Bryan Medinger and Don has big announcement
- Answer: Don says stand height is all about the cover, and as he’s gotten older he prefers not to hang stands very high. 28:54
Question: Terry asks Don the minimum number of each fruit-tree species needed for effective cross-pollination in a food plot. 27:31 — Episode #21 - Working on Food Plots and Watching the Weather - Lots and Lots of Questions
- Answer: Don recommends planting at least five or six trees of each species together for good pollination. 28:08
Question: Jeremy asks whether there’s a standard percentage of a property for food plots/bedding, and what perennial-versus-annual ratio to use. 29:24 — asked by Jeremy Sluder — Episode #21 - Working on Food Plots and Watching the Weather - Lots and Lots of Questions
- Answer: There’s no fixed percentage rule; it depends entirely on the property and surrounding area. 31:08
- Answer: In Don’s ag-dominated area, cover is the weakest link and thus the priority. 31:32
- Answer: In a timbered area like Terry’s, getting even 50% of a property into food would be fantastic. 31:54
- Answer: For perennial/annual mix, aim for a diverse, balanced program providing quality food year-round. 33:03
- Answer: A fixed 50/50 annual-perennial split makes no sense; base the mix on what’s already available locally. 33:23
Question: Terry asks Don to confirm that clover shouldn’t be allowed to fully mature and seed out, and should instead be mowed for tender regrowth. 40:03 — Episode #21 - Working on Food Plots and Watching the Weather - Lots and Lots of Questions
- Answer: Don confirms clover and alfalfa should never fully mature since maturing causes them to lose nutrient value. 40:33
- Answer: Don mows his clover about once every 30 days through summer to keep it nutrient-dense. 40:51
Question: Bob asks Don and Terry what their biggest life lesson has been from deer hunting. 51:26 — Episode #21 - Working on Food Plots and Watching the Weather - Lots and Lots of Questions
- Answer: Terry says everyone’s goals and stage in the sport differ, so hunters should enjoy the process instead of comparing themselves to others. 52:37
- Answer: Don says deer hunting has slipped in his priorities over the years, and he’s realized people matter far more than deer hunting. 56:13
Question: Bob asks Don and Terry for one or two favorite Bible verses that help them through daily life. 59:56 — Episode #21 - Working on Food Plots and Watching the Weather - Lots and Lots of Questions
- Answer: Don says his favorite verse came from interviewing devout Christian Matt McPherson of Mathews Archery. 60:26
- Answer: Don’s favorite verse, from Luke, is “to whom much is given, much is expected.” 60:55
- Answer: Terry cites Acts 15’s account of Paul and Barnabas’s sharp falling-out, noting they still each accomplished the shared mission despite splitting up. 65:11
Question: Does Don have all his soybeans planted, or just some of them? 4:46 — asked by Terry — Episode #20 - Food Plot Prep Continues - Native Grass and Miscanthus in the Ground
- Answer: Don has not planted any soybeans yet, only a couple of test plots. 4:51
Question: What soybean seed population per acre should be used when setting up a planter? 30:33 — asked by Brandon Erickson — Episode #20 - Food Plot Prep Continues - Native Grass and Miscanthus in the Ground
- Answer: Don recommends one bag of Real World soybeans per acre, about 140,000 seeds, regardless of row spacing or broadcasting. 30:50
Question: Does a Miscanthus rhizome need to be oriented a specific way when planted in the hole or ditch? 40:14 — Episode #20 - Food Plot Prep Continues - Native Grass and Miscanthus in the Ground
- Answer: Don explains the rhizome just needs to lay flat and horizontal, fully covered with soil. 40:21
Question: What can be rotated with Deadly Dozen instead of soybeans in small food plots that get decimated? 43:08 — asked by Brian Coleman — Episode #20 - Food Plot Prep Continues - Native Grass and Miscanthus in the Ground
- Answer: Don suggests clover as another rotation option alongside Deadly Dozen, ranking soybeans first and Deadly Dozen second in preference. 43:16
Question: Guy Antonacci asked how important it is to brush in box blinds so they aren’t visible from far away. 14:01 — asked by Guy Antonacci — Episode #17 - Live from Don Higgins first Master Class of 2020
- Answer: Don said brushing in doesn’t matter; what matters is putting the blind up well before season so deer get used to it, like an old piece of farm machinery. 14:14
Question: Terry asked Don what the oddest thing he’s seen this year was. 22:24 — Episode #17 - Live from Don Higgins first Master Class of 2020
- Answer: Don described finding an old shack on Guy Antonacci’s property with a huge brick fireplace inside a tiny building, which he’d posted on social media. 22:32
Question: Clayton asked whether Don hunted the same stand nine times without seeing the buck Trump. 24:34 — asked by Clayton — Episode #17 - Live from Don Higgins first Master Class of 2020
- Answer: Don confirmed he hunted the property nine times from three closely spaced stands for different wind directions before ever seeing Trump. 24:48
Question: Ray from Northeast Ohio asked why Don named the buck Trump instead of Nancy Pelosi. 56:07 — asked by Ray — Episode #17 - Live from Don Higgins first Master Class of 2020
- Answer: Don explained he was a big Trump supporter during the 2016 election, which is why he named the buck Trump that summer. 57:28
Question: Wes Delks asked Don to forecast, forty years out, what changes hunters will face and what it will take to stay successful. 60:10 — asked by Wes Delks — Episode #17 - Live from Don Higgins first Master Class of 2020
- Answer: Don predicted hunting will increasingly become a rich man’s sport limited to landowners and high-dollar leaseholders, with everyone else pushed to overcrowded public land. 60:53
Question: Amos Hershberger asked the best way to keep trespassers off a newly purchased property, especially since he lives two hours away. 49:33 — asked by Amos Hershberger — Episode #15 - Passion vs. Discipline
- Answer: Don advises coming down hard on the very first trespasser caught, since word spreads and leniency invites more trespassing. 50:44
- Answer: Don says there are no free passes: the first offender gets the law and an attorney letter to set the tone. 51:26
- Answer: Terry recommends building a relationship with the local game warden, who understands serious deer managers and wants to catch trespassers. 51:53
- Answer: Terry suggests placing a cell camera at entry points so a trespasser alert can be sent to the game warden even from two hours away. 52:12
Question: Terry asks Mark about Mathews’ big year and how pre-release feedback on new bows has been ahead of the show. 6:30 — Episode #13 - 2020 ATA SHOW From Indy - Part 2 of 2
- Answer: Mark says Mathews launched the VXR line in November with two models, a 31.5 inch and a 28 inch bow. 6:43
Question: Terry asks whether the new bow-mount accessories only fit the VXR or can be adapted to older Mathews bows. 13:28 — Episode #13 - 2020 ATA SHOW From Indy - Part 2 of 2
- Answer: The sling and SCS accessories only fit the VXR’s machined cup, but the engaged limb legs bow stand works back to the hang-on line. 13:39
Question: Terry asks Mark where listeners interested in Mathews should go to learn more or buy a bow. 17:40 — Episode #13 - 2020 ATA SHOW From Indy - Part 2 of 2
- Answer: The Mathews rep directs people to mathewsinc.com for information and to their local dealer to get a bow. 17:47
Question: Terry asks Jake the best way for someone curious about QuietKat to find specs and purchase a bike. 41:53 — Episode #13 - 2020 ATA SHOW From Indy - Part 2 of 2
- Answer: Jake says QuietKat supports its dealer network and lists all dealers on the company website for customers to find. 42:03
Question: Seth Miller asks what advice Don has for hunting a leased West Central Illinois property he has limited knowledge of. 47:03 — asked by Seth Miller — Episode #9 - Terry shoots his second buck of the year and Don scouts for 2020 Season
- Answer: Don’s first advice is to never lease a property without seeing it first. 47:27
- Answer: Terry adds you should scout for food, cover, access, and also research adjoining properties before committing. 49:09
Question: Jay Coach asks what sign to look for on a new late-season property and how to tell if deer use it in daylight or darkness. 54:48 — asked by Jay Coach — Episode #9 - Terry shoots his second buck of the year and Don scouts for 2020 Season
- Answer: Don says obviously look for fresh tracks showing deer are currently using the property. 55:36
- Answer: Don guesses most deer are bedding in the adjoining state ground and feeding in the crop fields. 56:49
- Answer: Terry suggests finding out who farms the ground and what their harvest and tillage plans are. 57:17
Question: What is the conversation about doe fawns not coming into heat until they reach a certain weight? 12:23 — asked by Terry — Episode #8 - Lock-down is about over. Great hunting the week of Thanksgiving
- Answer: Don explains a doe fawn’s first estrous cycle happens once she reaches about 80 pounds, regardless of a fixed calendar schedule. 12:43
Question: With the rut just around the corner, what is the best time to be in the stand to maximize time in the field? 30:03 — asked by John Seeger — Episode #8 - Lock-down is about over. Great hunting the week of Thanksgiving
- Answer: Don says the best week to see the most bucks in November is roughly November 5th through the 12th. 30:16
Question: Steven Pope asks how Terry and Don chose Smokey’s rack for the podcast t-shirt logo out of all the bucks they’ve harvested. 38:47 — Episode #7 - Hunting during lock down - Things do not always go easy in the “Real World”
- Answer: Terry explains they chose Smokey’s rack for the logo because the wide frame fit the podcast microphone graphic and its silhouette symbolized Don’s constant motion while chasing a giant. 42:40
Question: Jason Hesselberg of Saline, Michigan asks what he should look for when buying a great hunting property with potential. 55:20 — asked by Jason Hesselberg — Episode #7 - Hunting during lock down - Things do not always go easy in the “Real World”
- Answer: Don says the first step is defining your own hunting goals, since what makes you happy determines what property works. 56:15
- Answer: Don explains that neighboring hunting pressure matters greatly, since 20 acres next to an unhunted sanctuary can outperform a standalone 400-acre property. 56:43
- Answer: Don sums up that layout, surrounding land, and personal goals are the three most important factors when buying a hunting property. 57:06
Question: Do squirrels ever chew through your stand straps, and can straps left out for years choke the tree? 30:59 — Episode #5 - November is Here!
- Answer: Don replaces top straps with chains on stands left out multiple years, since he doesn’t trust straps alone long-term. 31:13
Question: Do you use a lifeline with your stands and leave it out all year despite rodents or UV decay? 33:08 — Episode #5 - November is Here!
- Answer: Don doesn’t use a lifeline at all, relying instead on a Lone Wolf safety harness. 33:17
Question: What tips should be kept in mind getting an eight-year-old son started hunting this year, to make it memorable and spark the same passion? 32:59 — asked by Brad Wendy — Episode #2 - Update on Opening Week and Targeting Don’s First Booner of 2019
- Answer: Don recommends starting young kids on small game like squirrel hunting first, rather than jumping straight into deer hunting. 33:51
- Answer: Don advises keeping early hunts fun without pressuring kids, letting their interest build gradually rather than forcing it. 34:22
Question: Terry asks Don what first made him want to get involved in creating this podcast. 1:34 — Episode 1 - New Show Introduction and Don’s Unique Goal For 2019
- Answer: Don wanted a podcast following one dedicated hunter through the entire year, rather than the single-topic format of typical hunting podcasts. 2:06
Question: Terry asks Don to confirm his top five buck average is just under 195 inches. 4:36 — Episode 1 - New Show Introduction and Don’s Unique Goal For 2019
- Answer: Don confirms his top five average is just under 195, with two of those bucks scoring over 200. 4:43
Question: Terry asks whether both he and Don would use a better product than their own if one existed. 9:20 — Episode 1 - New Show Introduction and Don’s Unique Goal For 2019
- Answer: Don agrees, explaining Real World Wildlife Products began because he wanted the best food plots on his own land and nothing better existed. 9:29
Question: A listener question asks Don whether he prefers hunting from a tree stand or a box blind. 31:23 — Episode 1 - New Show Introduction and Don’s Unique Goal For 2019
- Answer: Don says he likes both, but prefers a tree stand in decent weather and a blind when conditions are cold or wet. 31:48
Question: Terry asks Don if he agrees the 360 blind’s window system is the best he’s ever seen. 34:20 — Episode 1 - New Show Introduction and Don’s Unique Goal For 2019
- Answer: Don agrees, saying it’s the only blind type he uses and he now has five of them on his properties. 34:26
Question: Don asks Terry to tell listeners about the buck he already shot in Kentucky. 35:52 — Episode 1 - New Show Introduction and Don’s Unique Goal For 2019
- Answer: Terry describes killing his target buck, nicknamed t three, on the evening of September 11 after years of tracking it. 39:02
Question: Terry asks Don what he has planned as the season opens. 39:35 — Episode 1 - New Show Introduction and Don’s Unique Goal For 2019
- Answer: Don reveals his goal is to kill three boomer bucks in one season on three different properties at three different times of year. 40:56
Question: Terry asks Don if this is why the first hunt of a stand is considered the best chance to kill a buck. 48:44 — Episode 1 - New Show Introduction and Don’s Unique Goal For 2019
- Answer: Don confirms, saying hunters educate deer quickly, which is why he sets up stand sites months or years in advance. 48:51
Unofficial fan project. AI-synthesized from public episodes; may contain errors.