General Misc.
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Blake from SD asks:Bill, I have become accustomed to setting up stands for my father and brother. Odds are, if I am not sitting in one of my stands, one of them will be. I got some trail cam pics of a couple good bucks this year and was really holding out for one of them, but with two other people sitting in my stands, my hopes were low on actually harvesting the bucks personally. With Greg Clements hunting your land, do you call dibs on certain bucks before the season starts or would Greg be permitted to shoot Double G4? I don't want to steal the opportunities from my family, but I would like to save some for myself. What do you think I should do? Happy New Year and God bless!Winke Responds:Blake, I do have some bucks off-limits at times, but mostly I just let other people hunt certain areas of the farm and I hunt other areas. That works fine too. Easiest way to do it is to reserve a few areas for your own hunting and stay out of their areas. You can always rotate from year to year. That makes things more fair and reduces the chances for hard feelings. Good luck. Happy New Year. (12-30-11)
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Rod from IN asks:There are alot of coyotes on my farm killing my deer. I try calling them with a rabit distress but it hasn't worked yet. What would u recomend so I can protect my deer?Winke Responds:Rod, I think is a big deal all across the Midwest. The only really good course of action is to trap them. That is the only way that you will kill any real number of them. Good luck. Happy New Year. (12-30-11)
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Owen from IA asks:Bill, I recently purchased a 320 acre farm and have been going over the aerials and topos trying to set it up for hunting... I would really value your opinion of what you would do differently... Can you take a look at the maps and figure out a price that you would charge to "map" out the farm.... It would be more than worth it considering the huge investment involved! Good luck with that big buck you're after! Thanks! OwenWinke Responds:Owen, I appreciate the offer. I may take you up on it. I have done this many times in the past. The last time I did that was last spring. Those projects are always very time-consuming because there is so much to consider. If I get back into that I will announce it on the blog and take maybe a dozen or so projects this off-season. I will let you know if I decide to do it again. You can figure it out. You're a smart guy. Happy New Year. (12-31-11)
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Jeremy from MN asks:What is the first step for a non-resident (in this case, a Minnesotan :) to take to hunt in Iowa? I have a good friend that owns land and is willing to let me come down and hunt. I have read a few articles on "sticker shock". understand you have to pay big bucks, to harvest a big buck! Minnesota hunting this year, especially late season, has been terrible!!Winke Responds:Jeremy, Sometime in June you can put in for the drawing. Keep tabs on the schedule by going to the IA DNR website. You probably won't get drawn the first year (though some gun hunters do the first year depending on unit). That will get you a preference point (if you are unsuccessful) and the pref. point will move you up in the draw the next year. Some units require three points to draw a bow tag, others less. I understand it was tough there this year. I think the deer numbers are down all across the Midwest. Good luck. Happy New Year. (12-28-11)
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Hunter from OK asks:Bill, Good luck with the blind and the G4 buck! I am also hunting an old buck that is frequenting a particular food source. I read your book and thought the section about taking advantage of the "first time hunter's luck" was valuable. With that being said, I've been giving some thought to hunting from the ground in a Ghillie suite (with a bow). Obviously this is not an option for you because you film your hunts, but what do you think about this strategy? I've been hunting the fringe of this deer's morning and evening pattern (he is pretty consistent) because I do not have any good trees to set up in on his particular routine. The ghillie suite would allow me to sneak in there without the intrusion of a ground blind. Did you ever try bow hunting from the ground earlier in your career? Thanks for the help.Winke Responds:Hunter, Thanks. Makes sense. Hunting from the ground will work. I have never tried hunting in a Ghillie suit. I have always put up a blind and brushed it in good. I think the Ghillie will work but you need to be sure not to move when the deer is looking your way. They don't like movement. In a blind that is not as big of an issue. I have not bowhunted whitetails from the ground, but I have hunted other big game a lot from the ground. The key is always movement. Make your move when they are concealed (or you are) and you will do fine. Good luck. Happy New Year. (12-28-11)
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Greg from MO asks:Hi bill love the site seems like i learn something new every show, but anyway i wanted to ask you how do you think global warming if you believe in it, will affect whitetails in the future and for the next generationWinke Responds:Greg, I am not sure about global warming. I know we had three really hard winters back to back to back recently. I guess this year is warm, but I am not sure what the real long-term trends will be. I know what some people think they will be, but data changes every few years on this stuff. If it gets consistently warmer throughout the whitetail's range, they will adapt to it as they always do. I am not sure if they will just have a thinner coat or what will occur, but they will still breed and the rut will happen either way. Good luck. Happy New Year. (12-28-11)
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Paul- AKA Pastor Paul from IN asks:Hey Bill love the show. You haven't been asked this question so I thought I would. When I drive my old 1995 suburban to hunt our property in Kentucky it costs me $40 because I only get 10 miles to the gallon in that old beast. If I drive my 2007 Ford Fusion (car) there to save some gas money, can I get a 175lb plus, mid 130's or higher buck in the trunk? Thanks for your expert advice! By the way I will put a tarp down so as not to get blood on the interior of the trunk :-)Winke Responds:Paul, That is funny. In my experience, yes you can get him in the trunk. Bring a tarp! Good luck and I hope you find out! Happy New Year. (12-31-11)
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Jared from PA asks:I live in the most poorly managed for deer, state of pennsylvania. Im ready to quit hunting in Pa and ready to try Ohio. Do you have any suggestions on outfitters that a working man can afford? I pity wisconsin because they are now getting Gary Alt. Keep your eye on him guys!Winke Responds:Jared, Sorry to hear the problems. I am not well versed on outfitters. You will need to do that research yourself. Look them up on the web by doing a search and then call the references, etc. I am sure there are some good ones in OH, I just don't know which ones to recommend myself. I have only hunted with outfitters a few times for deer, so I don't have enough experience to make personal recommendations. Good luck. (1-2-12)
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I have been attacked by a deer before and now I am afraid to go to and from my stands; can you help?cedric blair from MO asks:hey i am wondering if you have an answer for me becuase i would like to go out into the woods without being a little scared because i have been attacked before and ever since i have i have been scared if i see a deer and i am on the ground. but if i am in a stand than i will be just fine. i would like to go out in the woods and not be scared of a deer. thank you and hope you can answer my question.Winke Responds:Cedric, I think you were victim of a very rare event. I have hunted deer all over the place and I know many people who have too - thousands and thousands of days and none of us have ever been attacked by deer. The odds of it happening again are lower than getting struck by lightning, I am thinking. That may not help, but there is nothing I can say to help you feel better about it other than the fact it is very, very rare. I guess you could carry a sidearm or possibly some kind of pepper spray if feel the need to use something to remedy a future attack, but I would be extremely surprised if it ever happened again. Good luck. (1-2-12)
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Eric from PA asks:Hi Bill, I know you are not in the outfitting business, but next year should be the year that i draw an Iowa tag, and wanted to know if you could recommend some good ones. Also do you know anything about Weldon Creek Outfitters? Thanks love the show!Winke Responds:Eric, I don't know anything about that one. Actually, I have only hunted with whitetail outfitters a few times in my life so I don't have much firsthand experience. For that reason, I never recommend one. Sorry. If you do the research you will likely find a good one. Good luck. Merry Christmas. (12-23-11)
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Chad from IA asks:Please settle a friendly debate for me. If you are an Iowa Resident AND qualified "Landowner" how many ANY-DEER licenses can you obtain? (I think your success this season and late season plans may have tipped the answer but I told my buddy I'd try to get the direct word.) Thanks for any response and Merry Christmas to you and yours. Peace.Winke Responds:Chad, Three any-deer licenses. I bought a regular statewide bow license, a landowner bow license and a regular statewide late Muzzleloader tag (that I can fill with a bow if I choose). That is the three tags and the one I have left is the late muzzleloader tag. Of course, we buy a good number of doe tags too. Good luck. Merry Christmas. (12-23-11)
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Seth from WI asks:Bill- I may ask too much in one question and I am sure you could write a book about most of this information but, I have lots to ask! Since were all in a good Christmas spirit I'll start if off with, all I want for X-mas is to sit down and talk deer with you...is that too much to ask Santa!!!???haha On a serious note, I am a huge fan of your show! Some of my questions may be to broad, but I am extremely into QDM and want to soak in as much information as I can. Can I ask how many acres your farm consists of? I have acquired a new farm in the Bluffs of SW Wisconsin. My question to you is, how would you go about starting a management plan for a 535 acre farm. Guessing, I would say our deer per square mile density is around 45. Would summer trail cameras/scouting give me a good idea as to my age structure with bucks on this farm? I have two other farms that are within a couple hundred yards of the new acquired property, one neighboring farm seperates them. Total acres is 870 acres. We kWinke Responds:Seth, It is 1,000 acres. I started buying land back in 1995 when it was cheap. I had no money, literally. Our entire life savings is and has always been in hunting land. That is risky, but at least I was able to get some bought before the prices went up too fast. Management plan: Trail camera surveys are fine, I am sure. I have never done one, but they make sense. For me, it always starts with food. I can't overemphasize how important it is to have good year around food on the property. I am not a big numbers guy and I am not too concerned about stuff I can't control. Glassing fields beans and afalfa in mid to late summer will help you know how many deer you have and what the buck to doe ratio is. The age structure will take care of itself over time. If you have low deer numbers, lay off the does for a couple of years. If not, look to shoot roughly 40% of your does each year for two or three years to bring the numbers (ratio) more in line. Personally, I would rather have too few deer than too many. It just seems that things work out better if your numbers are under the carrying capacity than at or over it. So if you are going to err initially, I would err toward shooting too many does. You can always stop and let them bounce back. Like I said, roughly estimate the number and try to shoot around 40% of them. That should get you started. Good luck. Merry Christmas. (12-23-11)
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Nicholas Ortego from LA asks:Hey bill I was wondering why this year has been so different from the previous years. What i mean is that last year i saw lots of deer and this year I saw less than half on the same stands. What makes that happen when im doing the same thing?Winke Responds:Nicholas, Way too hard for me to know that. My guess would be that there are likely less deer. I think there are less deer all over the country now than in the past. I think deer numberrs are dropping everywhere. That is my sense. Certainly the case here. Also, it could be food sources or crop rotation or something like that. Deer are where the food is. If the food isn't there, the deer won't be there either. My guess is that you will find the answer in one of those two areas. Merry Christmas. (12-22-11)
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josh from IN asks:Hi Bill, I was wanting your opinion on why you think there are so many big mature bucks in Iowa. I've noticed you guys can take up to three bucks in Iowa. In Indiana where I'm from, you can only take one, and your lucky just to see a mature buck. In theory we should have more. It seems like every time anybody goes hunting in Iowa they see or take a big mature buck. I would think you guys have more hunting pressure in lowa, I'm just a little confused. thanksWinke Responds:Josh, You are only seeing good farms. There are good farms in Indiana too. It comes down to age. If you let them grow up they will get big, but the management mentality seems to have taken root a bit more here simply because guys just want to shoot big deer, so they won't shoot a small ones. Some neighborhoods are better than others, but overall Iowa has a lot of neighborhoods where big deer live. Only landowners can shoot three bucks and most of them rarely if ever actually shoot all three. I have only done it once in my life. Overall hunting pressure likely lower here than where you hunt. It all comes down to age. You either need less people shooting bucks or you need people who are more selective. My guess is that we have both. Merry Christmas. (12-22-11)
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Dan from MO asks:Bill I know you get a ton of questions but I've been checking for the answer to the one I sent several weeks ago. Could you do a segment maybe in off season about taking photos of your harvest. The best angles, lighting and what not. Thanks and God bless. Merry Christmas to you and your familyWinke Responds:Dan, I did answer that one recently. Please check through the Most Recent entries to see if you find it there. If not, please ask again. Thanks. Merry Christmas. (12-22-11)
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Jason from IA asks:Generations from now will we really know how to hunt without our gagets. What are your thoughts on fair chase?Winke Responds:Jason, For sure the line is getting blurry. I was just talking with my retired game warden friend today about that. Trail cameras can teach us so much it is like we were hunting blind before. I won't say they take the challenge out of it, because there is still plenty of challenge, but they make it much, much easier to be in the right place at the right time. It is amazing the kinds of decisions you can make with the right information. I never thought I would use them as heavily as I have, but I get tired of getting my butt kicked by the deer every year. It is nice to have a way to even the score once in a while. Within the law, every deer hunter will find the mix of tech and tradition that produces the most satisfaction for him. Not everyone feels they need to shoot the biggest buck in their hunting area and thus are happy hunting with less information. I still enjoy going into areas blind (with camera photos), because everything is a surprise, but man those cameras sure make it easier to learn the behavior and patterns of the bucks we hunt. I have learned more in the past few years hunting with cameras than I learned in the previous 10 hunting without them. It is a good question. Good luck. Merry Christmas. (12-21-11)
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Phil from KY asks:Regarding an earlier question about coyotes, here is a link to a photo sequence of coyotes pulling down a mature buck. http://www.deeranddeerhunting.com/coyote-kill On a different note, I understand that you use reflectors for your still photography (hero shots, hunters in action, etc). Have you found a good one that balances field portability with function? Thanks.Winke Responds:Phil, Yes, that has circulated. I think there had to be something wrong with that buck. Why didn't he just run away. He had to be sick or something. I have seen deer run from coyotes all the time and get away from them easily. Yes, coyotes eat a lot of fawns, but it is the rare adult deer that they bring down. Something was fishy about that setup - something was wrong with that buck. I use a reflector from PhotoFlex. It is about 4 feet long by about 15 inches wide. When folded up, it is roughly 14 to 15 inches in diameter. It is not super portable, but to do a really good job, you need one that big. I use the silver side almost all the time and move back from the subject if it is too bright. Good luck. Merry Christmas. (12-20-11)
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Len from MO asks:Bill, I am considering buying a small, 60 acre tract of land. Is it worth possibly waiting more years to save the money to buy a couple hundred acres, or can small pieces be productive? I live in Missouri in the Northwest region, but have wondered if buying in Northeastern Kansas is better given their gun seasons being later, much like Iowa. Is owning ground next to big timbered public land a bad thing? Any other tips and suggestions on land buying would be appreciated. Have a Merry Christmas! -LenWinke Responds:Len, I would not buy land next to public land. I would look for land in a good neighborhood where people are letting bucks grow older. You may have to pay more, but it is worth it. Do a lot of research, personally, I would likely keep saving and keep looking. When the right one comes along, be ready to act. Also, I a big fan of buying land close to home. Even an hour is too far for me. I want to be able to get to it easily. You bought it to enjoy it. The farther it is away, the less likely you are to use it. Good luck. Merry Christmas. (12-20-11)
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derrick from MI asks:I missed a buck about 9 days ago, we found him yesterday dead, we could find no damage from bullets, the only damage we saw was where the coyotes had been eating it. He looked to have been dead for a day or so. I am sure I did not hit him, no blood or hair in snow for several hundred yards until he went into the swamp. Do you think coyotes can bring down an adult buck. We have seen coyotes about 6 or 7 times this season, which is alot more than usual for us.Winke Responds:Derrick, They can do it, but generally not if the buck is healthy. However, the coyotes are learning to hunt in packs and may have been able to corner him. I would not rule it out. We need to do something about all these coyotes. Good luck. Merry Christmas. (12-19-11)
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Ken from IN asks:I believe you are right on with your response regarding high populations of coyotes and low deer populations, We have a exploding coyote population here in Indiana, I've been hunting deer 39 years I know from experience when something is out of balance in the deer woods, I've seen a definite decline in deer numbers on my farms, Im seeing more and more lone does in the late spring and early fall and its getting worst each year, Michigan DNR placed a trail cam on a coyote den last spring that one pair of coyotes averaged 3 to 5 fawn kills a week to feed those pups, My message to all you midwest whitetail members is you need to start killing these song dogs when you see them, I took up coyote hunting with a vengance for two years now I've killed a few and I'm getting better at it, great off season fun.Winke Responds:Ken, I couldn't agree more. While hunting them is fun, trapping is the real key. I know guys that have killed 30 to 40 with snares in a few weeks and they aren't professional trappers by any means. I think that is my next project. We need to get those coyotes back under control. Likely it will take mother nature to clean them out with mange or something like that. I have even talked to a friend up in Newfoundland that says the coyotes have come across on the ice onto that island and are taking over the place. The woodland caribou numbers (that I used to love to hunt) are dwindling fast. I hate coyotes. We need to find a way to kill as many as possible. Good luck. Merry Christmas. (12-16-11)
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Jim from IA asks:Bill- I can't afford to buy land to hunt but would like to lease so I can secure sole hunting access. What's the best time of year to shop for a lease?Winke Responds:Jim, Boy, I am not sure. I would say during the winter, when you can still what the land looks like and the farmers aren't too busy to talk with you. Good luck. Merry Christmas. (12-16-11)
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Chuck Johnson from KS asks:Hi Bill, I live and hunt in SE Ks. My filming partner decided to give up the sport this season, but I'm not ready to throw in the towel. Can you please post my contact info so that anyone else intersted in getting into filming can get in touch with me? Thanks, Chuck C.Johnson6607@gmail.comWinke Responds:Chuck, I am happy to do it. If anyone is looking for a good filming/hunting partner in SE KS, please contact Chuck at c.johnson6607@gmail.com. I know he is a good hunter. Good luck. Merry Christmas. (12-14-11)
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Jamie from MI asks:Hi Bill, I hunt a 22 acre parcel of land that butts up to a large parcel of Federal forest land, in which they are in the process of clear cutting. What in your opinion will that do to the deer traveling in that area. The terrain is rolling hills with a lake on the west end. They are leaving some of the larger oaks in the woodlot. Thank you for time.Winke Responds:Jamie, I think long-term it will help you because the cover will get thick and the browse will be more plentiful. The deer will spend more time feeding in the timber. Short-term it will change the behavior of the the deer slightly as they won't feel quite as comfortable bedding in that area. It might push a few more deer onto you than normal. Really, if I had to guess, I would say you won't see a huge difference in the short-term but you will likely see some increased activity there in about a year or two as more deer use the area. Good luck. Merry Christmas. (12-15-11)
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Jonny from IL asks:Why do you think the herd numbers are so far down here in central IL. Too many antlerless late seasons or hunters? Do cows affect the deer herd when released into a harvested corn field?Winke Responds:Jonny, I think it is two things: too many antlerless tags and also a very fast growing coyote population. They are really out of control here. Tons of coyotes everywhere. Regardless of what anyone says, they have to be eating a lot of fawns. When cows are released into a cornfield, the deer will tend to feed there much less. That is what we have seen. Good luck. Merry Christmas. (12-13-11)
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Thundoer from MI asks:Hey Bill, I had a question on measuring your rack with pope and Young scoring method. I notice on some sites people measure tip to tip, greatest spread, and inside spread added in with tine length, main beam length and circumference. Than some sites say to measure just main beam,tine length, inside spread and circumference. which is correct? reason I'm asking is I'm holding a buck poll contest and I'm wondering whats the correct way to score them pope and young method. Thanks!Winke Responds:Thundoer, Circumference (four per side), tine length, beam length, inside spread. Those are the basic measurements and if you are dealing with net or gross that affects which ones you subtract back out, etc. But if you are just using total gross then taking those measurements will give you a good number for comparison. Good luck. (12-8-11)
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Matt from IA asks:Bill, Started following Midwest Whitetail religiously this year. You had an exceptional year! What did the two bow bucks score? Do you still think that the 2011 rut was strange? If so, I agree, seems like the breeding has been strung out the past few years keeping the mature bucks locked down for extended periods. My question is on books. I am always looking for books about deer and deer hunting to read and have had several recs on your Hunting Hard for Whitetails. I was wondering if you knew where I could buy a copy. I would also like o find the first version of Legendary Whitetails if you know where one is at. Thanks! MattWinke Responds:Matt, I guess Daggers was just over 180 and the G5 buck was around 190. It was an awesome year. I thought the rut was slow again. It seemed that there was no cruising. You either had the hot doe and all the bucks or it was pretty dead. Not sure why the bucks weren't cruising more. You can buy that book in the MW Gear section of the website. You will see the link at the bottom of the home page. I wrote a few chapters for the Legendary Whitetails book but I don't have any extras to sell. I believe it is out of print. You may be able to find one on e-bay or do a google search to find someone selling one. Good luck. (12-8-11)
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Carl from IA asks:Bill, Wondering how you feel about the DNR not allowing hunters to use a bow during shotgun season? The reason I ask is… I have two areas I can hunt, but the land owners don't want gun hunters on their land do to safety and noise. I called the DNR to ask this question and they told me it’s not even a valid question...what I said we bow hunt during early muzzleloader season, early doe season and late muzzleloader season. I understand I would buy a shotgun tag wear orange, but want to use my bow as a weapon…I think it would be much safer and the DNR didn’t agree at all…just wanted to hear you thoughts. Thanks Bill and nice job this year with your show.Winke Responds:Carl, I don't have strong feelings on this one. I would like to be able to keep bowhunting, but it is not a huge deal that I have to sit out. It has been that way for a long time so I really doubt it will change. You just have to wait until the late season to get after them again. Good luck. (12-5-11)
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justin from IA asks:i shot a buck thanksgiving morning.As you know the temps were 60. Inside the garage was 55 average through the night. I packed him good with ice. Is he still good the morning after to butcher.Winke Responds:Justin, Congrats. Yes, he will still be fine. The area to watch is the place where the back legs come together. If the legs were left closed, that can be a spot that stores heat. If you left the deer with back legs open and ice inside, you should be OK. Good luck. (11-25-11)
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Noah from WI asks:I was wondering, I noticed you shoot holding the bow with your hand closed is it more accurate than open handed, and which is better to shoot with. I love the show keep up the good hunting.Winke Responds:Noah, I don't like using a bow sling so I shoot with my fingers dangling but closed. I make no effort to keep them closed or open, they just dangle. With today's low recoil bows, even with a surprise release the bow doesn't try to jump from my hand. Though a sling is the best way to support a surprise relase (so you don't shoot the bow out of your hand), it just takes too long to get into a sling when a deer shows up fast (at least in my opinion). I have no problem keeping the bow in my hand with this method even with a surprise release. Good luck. (11-25-11)
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How do I know how much Oust XP to put into my backpack sprayer to treat my oak regeneration project?Jeff from WI asks:Bill, i'm thinking about purchasing some Oust XP for my oak regeneration project. I will be applying it with a 5 gal backpack sprayer. I've read the instructions online and it only talks about how much chemical per acre. Do you know how much oust xp to mix in a 5gal sprayer? Any help with this would be great! Thanks for your time.Winke Responds:Jeff, It has to be based on how much coverage you will get when spraying. In my experience you always get less coverage with a hand sprayer than with a tractor of 4-wheeler mounted sprayer because you tend to dowse things a lot more with the hand sprayer. My guess is that you will get 1/4 at the most with the hand sprayer, but you need to test that first. You don't want to overdose on the Oust XP as that can do damage too. Pick an area that you know is 1/4 acre by measurement (an acre is roughly 43,500 square feet). 1/4 acre would be roughly 10,800 square feet or 104 feet by 104 feet. Mark it out on the yard and fill the sprayer with water and see how far you get. That will tell you how much Oust to mix in. It is calibrated by acre so if it is 4 ounces per acre (not sure if that is correct) and you get 1/4 acre from the backpack sprayer you need to put one ounce in the sprayer or mix two ounces with a gallon of water and pour 1 quart into the sprayer before filling it up with water. I hope that helps. Good luck. (11-22-11)
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Will from SC asks:Bill, First off, I enjoy the show immensely. I am a new Christian and am struggling with balancing my walk with Christ, family time (I have a wife and 3 young kids), hunting, and work. Please give me some perspective of how you do it. I really appreciate your outspoken witness for Christ and look forward to your reply. WillWinke Responds:Will, Awesome. I am not always perfect, but I do have a strategy for this. It really just comes down to making a conscious decision (a choice) as to how you will prioritize things. At first, it might not feel good but simply doing the right thing will produce the reward and within a short time you will feel very good about your choices and you will enjoy everything more. Just write your priorities down from one through whatever. Mine: God, family, friends, work, hunting, etc. Then when faced with a tough decision simply refer to the list. If the thing you should do is higher on the list than the thing you want to do, just do what you should do. Don't spend a bunch of time thinking about it, just do the right thing, don't second guess. Long term you will be rewarded for this approach through peace of mind and through actual joy and prosperity. In every situation, just do the right thing. Once you know what you should do, don't think about it again, just do it. All the best. (11-22-11)
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I own a farm not far from you; I am not seeing many deer and few mature bucks. Any idea why that is?jason from IA asks:Bill I recently bought a farm that is located off of the monroe/wapello road about two to three miles north of hwy 34. I was fairly disappointed in the deer numbers and also the lack of mature deer sightings. I was wondering if deer numbers are down, if i am in a good area, and also how far away from your farm am i located?Winke Responds:Jason, I don't think there is any doubt the numbers are down some. I have been saying that for a couple of years and this year is no different. All of that area can be good, but each year brings its own challenges. I have looked at buying land in that area, so you know how I feel about it. Good area. Not sure why you are seeing few mature bucks. We have not been seeing many this year either. It seems that the movement was pretty good in late October and since then it has been dead. Usually, November 20-26 is good, so if you can still get out, it may turn around for you. I am about probably eight to ten miles from your farm - to the south. Good luck. (11-21-11)
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Rob from AB asks:Hi Bill, I am a big fan of your work! Do you have a deer hunting book coming out any time soon? RobWinke Responds:Rob, I appreciate the support. I don't have a new hunting book coming out any time soon, but it might be a good thing to put on the list of projects. I do have the book that we are selling in the MWGear section of the website that I wrote back in 1996. I have learned a lot since then, but it is still a pretty solid, useful book. Good luck. (11-21-11)
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mark from VT asks:Hey Bill, Congrats on your season so far!! Those are indeed deer of a lifetime for sure!! My question is....what are your thoughts on the full-moon? I have a chance to hunt in Bethany Missouri next fall, right around the full moon of Oct 29. With all the history you have hunting the mid-west, would you have any concerns hunting the week of the full moon. Awesome show, keep up the good work!! Thanks.Winke Responds:Mark, I would not have concerns related to the moon. I would be more interested in weather. Of course, you can't predict that a year ahead, but a cold front coming through at that time is like lighting a fuse under their backsides. They really take off. I would say to go for it. Good luck. (12-10-11)
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Jeff from WI asks:Do you have Buckthorn on your propery? If so what did you do about it if anything? I have it on my 30 acres and i am not looking forward to dealing with it. Any tips?Winke Responds:Jeff, I don't believe we have that, but we do have bush honeysuckle which is much the same. Both have to be treated correctly. I have an ongoing project right now with the USDA to remove it from pockets on our farm, but it has not yet been done, so I can't say how well it will work. Best method is spelled out several technical white papers on the web. Just google Buckthorn and you will find some from WI DNR detailing how to remove it. Here is the link: http://dnr.wi.gov/invasives/fact/buckthorn_com.htm Good luck. (12-2-11)
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Jamie from IN asks:Bill, I know you took a little flack on the shot at your last buck. I was just curious as to how many deer over the years you have shot, but did not recover, that you are certain died? Shots you know that eventually killed the deer, but for whatever reason, you did not recover the deer. I realize this may be asking something a little uncomfortable, but my guess is the number is small. Thanks, JamieWinke Responds:Jamie, Thanks for your support. I added them up one time and I have killed hundreds of deer (the majority being does). I would say that the number I know I killed that I didnn't eventually reocover is less than five. I would say I am sure of only two bucks (one that that I know I killed that got away and one that I suspect eventually died though we never found the carcass later), and a very small number of does. I have seen a number of them the next year or later in the season. The only X factor is infection. Flesh wounds usually heal fast and fully, but if for some reason they get infected (which rarely happens) they can cause death eventually. The only shot that is very hard to recover that causes death most of the time is the single-lung hit. I try really hard to avoid that. If I think I might get just one lung, I try to wait for an angle where I can get the liver too. That usually results in a quick kill. Good luck. (11-17-11)
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Colin from GA asks:hey me again, ive been watching your shows everyday they come out and i see that you guys are getting many big deer and are seeing lots of rutting. I hunt mid state in Georgia and the rut is usually about this time of the year but all ive seen is 10 little bucks but they were all pushing does. I know they are plenty of good deer on the property but they wont show them selves except for on the cameras everynow and then. but usually the pictures are in the day but i never see the deer. do you think maybe the rut is just kicking off down here or am i just not seeing the big deer?Winke Responds:Colin, In my experience, your rut runs a bit later than ours. I would guess that you are just starting to see the front end of it. Good luck. (11-30-11)
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leng from WI asks:Hi Bill, congrats on the G5 buck. That deer was a beauty and huge body. Its there anywhere I can send you photos so mayble you can help me judge how old the bucks are at my hunting area? Thanks LengWinke Responds:Leng, I discourage people from doing that as I would get snowed under. Instead, at some point we will produce a segment on how to age the deer yourself. That might be much better and make my life easier for sure. Good luck. (11-27-11)
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Skylar from IA asks:First off love your show, it's really helpful me being a new bowhunter. But, my dad and I started bowhunting last season on an old abandoned hog shed about 10 feet off the ground. My dads first bowhunt ever he shot a 110" 10 point buck off of it. Then this year I shot my first buck Just a little 7 point. My friend thinks it's a terrible way to hunt and we just got lucky on those 2 bucks. What do you think?Winke Responds:Skylar, If it works don't fix it. In other words, who cares what they think. If you are killing deer and having fun, it is all good. Eventually I am sure you will branch out and try some stands along trails and funnels, etc. But for now, enjoy every second of it. Sometimes the creative ways of hunting are the most fun and often the most productive. Congrats on a great season. Welcome to the great sport of bowhunting. Good luck. (11-27-11)
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Mike B from NY asks:Congrats on the best hunt I have ever seen on film!! What an amazing hunt with 2 amazing bucks. I would have taken that shot all day with the adrenaline pumping. I was pumped up just watching!! Keep up the great work. Since It's ask Winke I'll ask, do you think this years rut is MUCH more intense than the last 2 years. I do. I saw more bucks last weekend than I have in the last 2 seasons combined in upstate NY. Thanks for opening yourself up to criticism and showing us your experiences.Winke Responds:Mike, Thanks for the compliments on the hunts. I thought they turned out awesome too! I will never forget that evening on November 9. I don't think this year's rut is better than the past, at least not here. I am not sure why, but the mature bucks on the farm just aren't cruising during the daylight and maybe not cruising at all. I left a trail camera in an open gate in the middle of the farm, one of the spots I hunt a lot. It sat there for a full month. It was Bushnell so the trigger speed was fast enough to catch anything passing through. During that month only one mature buck went through that gate! One! It seems that over the past two yeasrs that if you had a hot doe the hunting was good, if not, it was pretty dead. Not sure exactly why yet. Late October was good and from all accounts the time from October 20 through about now has been good too. It must be somewhat different there. Good luck. (11-27-11)
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Allen from MO asks:I have a neighbor that I am having trouble with. On the second day of gun season here I watched two guys walk in from his side and onto mine without permission. After a short time I decided to go run them off and ended up getting into a huge argument with them. I have all my property lines marked with no tresspassing signs but I always get the same "I didn't see them or I didn't know" responce from them. I wanted to call the game warden but didn't really want to upset the neighbor either. I have had to track deer over onto his property before only with his permission and he implied that if I turned them in I wouldn't be allowed to anymore. The guys I found tresspassing were also drinking beer and smoking to boot Great combination!. This happens almost every year. Any suggestions???Winke Responds:Allen, Tell the neighbor that you want your property rights honored and that you are going to turn in any and all trespassers without any questions. Turn them in, piss the neighbor off. Right is right and wrong is wrong. If he is that kind of person that can't see the wrong in what his guests are doing, you don't need him for a friend. You have to take a stand at some point. Either that or take some martial arts courses during the off-season and kick their butts next year. Either way is good. You have to take a stand on your rights of land ownership or they will run all over you every year. Some people only understand force. I have no tolerance for people like that. I always hated bullies even when I was a kid. I used to beat them up - seriously. You just have to deal with them on that level, unfortunately. Good luck. (11-15-11)
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Kyle from MO asks:It's seems that on some of these days you stay out almost all day or for long stretches of the day. What do you do when "nature calls?"Winke Responds:Kyle, I call back. I never worry about peeing from a tree. I hold the other until I get back to the office. I have seen time and time again that human urine doesn't scare deer. Good luck. (11-15-11)
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rob from IA asks:Hey bill I`d like to congratulate you on a great bow season but I`ll admit it i`m damn jealous. I guess it makes up for a hard slog last season though so kudos. Question is what`s your favorite way to cook inside tenders and backstraps?Winke Responds:Rob, I have had some bad luck over the years. I keep asking myself, "Am I really this bad of a hunter?". Sometimes all you can do is just keep plodding until the luck turns. It definitely turned this year. I am a bit afraid now what the future holds because no lucky streak lasts forever. Inside Tenders: We love cutting them small, wrapping them in bacon and marinading them in A1 Steakhouse marinade for about three hours. Then putting them on the grill. When the bacon is done, get them off fast so as not to overcook. Very, very good eating! Really, that is the best food I have ever eaten. Good luck. (11-23-11)
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Paul from LA asks:I recently took a few guys from Iowa fishing with me with thoughts of hunting there farms. Didn't realize how hard it would be to get a non-resident tag. Is it really that hard to hunt your state of Iowa?Winke Responds:Paul, It is that hard. Depending on the zone and weapon (gun is usually easier to draw) it can take up to four years to get the tag. Good luck. (11-23-11)
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Phil from KY asks:Congrats on a truly amazing season. Thanks for letting us tag along. My question is in regards to still photography. What reflector(s) do you use for hero shots and hunter in action shots? Have you found a good balance between field portability and function? Thanks!Winke Responds:Phil, In full sun we use a PhotoFlex Light Disc. It is about five feet long and about 2 1/2 feet wide. I use the silver side because the gold side is too warm. I also use the flash on the camera. We use the reflector to fill in areas that look dark after the first shot with the flash (it is sure nice to be able to use the digital cameras for immediate feedback on where you need the light added. I have used smaller ones, but the bigger one is usually necessary for full light coverage. It folds up pretty small. Good luck. (11-22-11)
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David from MD asks:hey mr. Winke this David from Maryland. first off i want to say i love your show and i have learned a lot from it being a young hunter. i just put a trail camera out and just checked it for the first time today and low and behold a big 10 pointer showed. i had an encounter with a big deer early bow season right at dark. i haven't shot anything with my bow yet should i just shoot a deer of any size for my first deer or wait for that big one because im trying to manage my property? And what are my odds of seeing him during day light hours this season?Winke Responds:David, Absolutely shoot any legal deer to get the feel for killing something with a bow. You will be immediately hooked! You can always learn to hunt those older bucks later. First, you need to taste success and see what this is all about. I have no idea what the odds might be of seeing that buck. It really depends on a lot of things, such as his personality (is he moving during the day?) how carefully you are hunting (are you getting to and from your stands without educating any deer?) and even how big the buck's range is. Keep running the trail camera and keep learning. Little by little you will start to put the pieces together. Good luck shooting something this season. (11-20-11)
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Jack from ME asks:Would fixing your trucks cracked windshield ruin your chances at shooting the G4 buck or Big during the late muzzleloader season?Winke Responds:Jack, That is funny. It has been cracked for a few years. If it ain't broke don't fix it - wait a minute, it is broke! I do think that is my good luck charm. By the way, I am going to give Big a pass this year. I want to see if his rack bounces back next year. He has been such a home body, I really think he will still be here next year unless he dies during the winter. It would be cool to learn from him for another year. Good luck to you. (11-12-11)
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Luke from WI asks:Hey Bill, love the show, I am wondering how many pope and young deer you have harvested, boone and crocket caliber deer, and what is your biggest buck ever?Winke Responds:Luke, I have never officially scored any of them so I don't really know. I have shot a lot of nice bucks over the years. When I used to travel a lot I had some years where I killed several (five or more) that were pretty solid deer. But short of going back through my photo records I would struggle coming up with a number. Some of the heads are at Mom and Dads, some at my sister's, some at friends' homes, some at lodges. I have some here too, of course. I have five or six that would gross over 170, but I am not sure if any would net over 170. My biggest is either G5 or a buck I shot in eastern Colorado in 2000 that scores right around 190, as well (gross score). My very biggest is a mule deer that scored over 200 inches. I know that doesn't really answer your full question, but I really don't know and don't want to figure it out. I just don't like to get into numbers because then your hunting career becomes a number and a target for someone else. I don't have any interest in that. Hunting is not competition. It is about the joy of the quest. Numbers are OK, I would never tell someone else not to score a deer, but the numbers can't capture the thrill of the hunt. We just need to be careful we don't get caught up in the numbers. Good luck. (11-17-11)
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Mark from IA asks:Bill, I own land not too far from you in Marion County. Over the course of the last few years I have noticed a decline in the number of does in my area. I have actually improved the habitat on farm too. I have talked to many other hunters and some say the same thing, others though dont noticed much change. Have you noticed any change and do you think the DNR will make any changes to the extra antlerless tags next year? Love the daily video blog. ThanksWinke Responds:Mark, There are definitely less deer. My guess is that they will change it some next year. Normally, the department will overshoot goals with the deer numbers both to the upside and to the low side. Basically, if they are trying to bring the numbers down they will get too low before they react. It is hard to nail it exactly, so this is natural. Yes, the numbers are definitely down. If they don't pull back a bit on the antlerless harvest we will start to lose some of the more casual deer hunters (I think this has already started) as they will not be interested in spending long days without sightings. We got spoiled through the 90s and most of 2000s. Many will drop out when the numbers are low and stay low. Good luck. (11-17-11)
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Elwin from ME asks:U my have been asked this before but when it comes time for the new bows to come out and Hoyt is a sponsor do u pay anything for the bows? This my not be my place to know but if u don't or only got to pay a lil for such great bows then wow are u lucky. Or and congrats on the monster u just took. Keep it coming love it.Winke Responds:Elwin, I don't buy mine. I haven't bought a bow from any manufacturer since 1991 when I started in this business. They would all send them for free because of all the writing I still do. I could get tons of free bows if I pushed, but after a few years of setting up and shooting several bows a season, I now count it a luxury when I can just use the same one all season long. I don't want a bunch of bows. It is a good job, for sure. Good luck and thanks for the support (11-16-11)
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mike from AL asks:bill im looking into buying some land in the near future. Do you know of any grants or low intrest loans that will help me out. thanks and congrats on your kill of daggers.Winke Responds:Mike, There are a few low interest loans out there for first time farmers, but I am not sure what it takes to qualify. Also, Farm Credit Services has a pretty aggressive interest rate most places where they operate. I would check them out. Good luck in your quest for the perfect piece of dirt and thanks for supporting MW.com. (11-16-11)
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Tom from IL asks:Me and my girls all hunt and just want to say we love the TV show and I personally like the daily blog. Do you hunt mostly in in Illinois? Also a suggestion in helping hunters in the Midwest would be having a place on Ur site showing major feed times and minor feed time moonrise and moonset also would be a plus. This woulld be helpful in pursuing are big bucks. Thanks, TomWinke Responds:Tom, Thanks to all of you. I appreciate the support. I hunt mostly in Iowa. I used to travel all over North America hunting whitetails, but hunt near home mostly now. The kids are at the age where I want to be here. When they are out of high school I will likely travel to hunt again. I am not sure the moon rise, moon set times are relevant. One of the best biologists I know refutes them and says that they may be one piece of the movement puzzle, but only a small piece. What makes a deer move is very complex and hard to put a finger on. We have a few times when we know it will be good, but lots of times surprise us - when we expect movement and don't see it or have movement when we didn't expect it. Good luck to you all. (11-16-11)
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James (Jim) from KS asks:when you say on the farm where is the "farm" do you ever let any paying persons hunt there? I ask because my son has had a hard life/down syndrome baby/ foster 2, nephew and neice their dad died at 26/ has 6 kids under 10 now lost job for awhile I have brain injury He loves to hunt would like to set up a "special" hunt for him some time would have to be in future though too. He is a bow hunter mostly long bow/ I would like to see him use compound but he like long bow/ I cannot use shoulder anymore/ have a crossbow permit/but have been unable to buy because of cost.saving though/was hurt a little over 10 years ago/ now am almost 65 enjoy your reports why do you not have any from Kansas? I liked "Daggers"Winke Responds:Jim, We live in southern Iowa. I don't take any paying hunters. Maybe some day I will take one or two, but for now I just let a few friends hunt and enjoy hunting it myself without any worry about trying outfit others. We do have a few hunts from Kansas in the Great Plains show, so you may want to check that out sometime too. I appreciate your support and hope you and your son have a great season. There are some very good days left in the season. Good luck. (11-16-11)
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Chris from IA asks:I notice a lot of times you show bucks that are shot in the evening and not recovered until well after dark. You then so video or still frame harvest photos taken the next morning. What do you do to keep the deer from spoiling. Or do you not keep the meat? Thanks, ChrisWinke Responds:Chris, When it is cool out like it has been it takes a long time for the meat to spoil. Recovering them a couple hours later is no big deal but getting them opened up and cooling out the next day can be a problem if it is over 35 or 40. If you get them gutted and cooled out within a couple of hours the meat will be just fine. The next day the meat is still fine if kept in a cool area with the body cavity propped open. We eat them like that all the time and they are very tasty. Good luck. (11-9-11)
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Cody from WI asks:Hey Bill! It's kinda disappointing when you plan on hunting a stand on the 'perfect' night, but you find out that the neighbor is hunting 50 yards away in his woods, and you plan on hunting this stand particularly for a hit list buck that takes weeks, time, and picture's to pattern this buck out, and to find out the next morning that the neighbor had just shot my #3 hit list buck that supposedly came walking 10 yards from my stand site. Beautiful 160 class 10 pt, only a 3 1/2 yr old but boy, for a 3 1/2 yr old buck, he was beat up! He had two puncture wounds in his neck, and scars all over, split ears. Unreal! Have you ever had a hit list buck get killed by someone else? And my question is, recently i have noticed that almost every deer i see is walking with the wind, or not into the wind. Even mature bucks! like my hit list buck that got shot was walking with the wind, is this a bad thing, or good thing? Someone told me it's good cause this way you know the deer are under no pressureWinke Responds:Cody, Yes, for sure I have. Most of them end up dying from something other than my arrow. It is hard to swallow for sure, but there is no good remedy. You have to respect the rights of others to do what is legal even if it works against your goals. You hope that people will respect your goals, but sometimes it is unrealistic for them to pass the same deer you will pass. That is why being in a great neighborhood is actually better than owning a lot of land. If I could have half as many acres in an awesome neighborhood, I would be farther ahead by far than I am now. My neighborhood isn't bad, but very few here will pass up a 160s 3 1/2 year old either. All you can do is live with it, accept it, or move on. Good luck. (11-15-11)
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Dave from IA asks:Bill, the video blog was a great idea. I enjoy your updates as well as those from the other pro staffers. I saw a question about how you went about acquiring your farms. 1,000 acres won't be in the cards for me but I own 40 (mostly timber) and may be able to pick up one or two more parcels, 40-60 acres at a time. My question is would I be better off with distinclty separate parcels or trying to add contiguous ground to create one larger farm? Parcels separated by 10 or 20 miles might create some diversity but getting to know neighbors and what they're up to can be a mystery if you don't live in the area. A larger contiguous block may create some options for stand placements and food plots and an opportunity to acquire niehgboring ground might come up down the road. I'm just wondering if you were going through your land acquistion now and found yourself in my postion (40 at a time) vs the approach you were able to take 15 years ago how you might go about it. Thanks for your thougWinke Responds:Dave, Unless you are buying in proven neighborhoods (a good idea but hard to do) you are better off buying more where you are - The devil you know is almost always better than the one you don't know. In other words, you know what your challenges are there, so the risk is much less than wading into a new neighborhood - unless, again, you are able to get into a proven area. I would do the same thing today I did then. Find a decent neighborhood (maybe not the best but good) and then start adding to it when possible. I don't want to be spread around. I like having it all in one place. Makes all the logistics (like food plots) way easier too. Good luck. (11-15-11)
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Joe from WI asks:Hey Bill, I asked you a question yesterday about a hit buck and if the shot would be lethal or not, well we ended up finding him yesterday afteroon. Awesome buck, ended up being a 160 class nine pointer. Love the show, and keep up the good work!Winke Responds:Joe, Congrats. I am so glad you found him. Good work on the tracking job. Best regards. (11-8-11)
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John from MN asks:Bill, big fan here. I saw that you have done some hunting in Michigan. Was that the lower peninsula or in the U.P.? also saw that you have a degree in mechanical engineering-what college did you go to?Winke Responds:John, I hunted both upper and lower. My first ever buck came from the Upper Penninsula. I used to go up there grouse hunting and duck hunting and met some guys that let me deer hunt. He was a small buck, but hey, I will remember him forever. We didn't have many deer in Iowa when I was growing up. We hunted ducks and pheasants. I got my ME from the University of Iowa. I started an MBA at Western Michigan but never finished it. Good luck. (11-8-11)
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Cody from MN asks:Not too long ago I asked how to keep positive when I've been in the woods so many hours and working so hard to get a decent buck for over 10 years. Now in one week I've had 2 nice bucks get away. I've gotten shots, one with bow one with gun. I love seeing deer so much I get overly hyped up and lose some concentration. Everything happens so fast always. I still enjoy the scenario but need advice on any little secrets to keep focused under pressure.Winke Responds:Cody, Visualization is the key. You need to mentally rehearse how you will handle things so that when it happens for real it is more instinctive. Go over it many, mamy times in your mind and you will perform better in the excitement of the moment. Good luck. (11-8-11)
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Drew from IL asks:Hey Bill, Im hunting here in Calhoun country Il and there is a monster 14 pointer on the property. The only bad thing is I think he is still pretty young. Is there any way I can send you a trail cam picture and you can see if you would say he is old enough or wait another year and see what he looks like completely mature?Winke Responds:Drew, I try to discourage this. Do you have any idea how many I would get if I said yes? It is really, really hard for me to age deer off photos anyway. I do much better when I can see them move and see their body size in context with the surroundings, etc. If the deer looks like it has a streamlined head and long legs he is likely fairly young. If he look bulky, thick necked, wide forehead and short legs he is likely older. Tough to get that right from a photo. Good luck. (11-14-11)
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John from PA asks:Bill I live in a state where baiting is not legal. I myself do not have a desire to bait. But more and more hunters are planting food plots to attract deer for the sole purpose of harvisting them. There is no attempt to harvest the crop for a profit or consumption, its only purpose is to draw deer to a spasific location to harvist it. To my amazement this is considered legal by my state game commission. But it is not legal for a hunter to place any type of food sorce and hunt over it, it must be grown. This drawls a large percentage of deer away from my hunting area and holds them in theres. This is a very frustrating situation especially during the rut when the does are on the food plots. Can you explain your thoughts on why it is legal to grow bait but not to place bait to harvist deer. And do you think it is fair to those who dont have ground suitable for a food sorce.Winke Responds:John, I understand the sense of frustration. Growing a food plot is not the same as baiting because the food plot spreads the deer out and they are not conditioned to human scent like they are with bait. If you bait long enough and don't hunt over it, the deer will become less sensitive to human odor in that area. However, that is not the case with food plots. Yes, the plots will pull deer and hold deer. They also feed deer if done correctly, helping the health of the herd. There are things you can do to create better bedding cover on your property and to improve the native browse even if you can't plant a food plot. Does creating better security cover make your property more attractive to deer at certain times of the season? I suspect it does. Is that unfair to the guy with thin cover nearby? Again, I understand what you are saying, but I am not sure the answer is simple. Anytime you make your property more beneficial to the deer, you make the neighbor's property less appealing by contrast so you will seem to have a leg up. Good luck. (11-14-11)
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Joe from TX asks:Not really a question but an observation. Many of your prostaff have their own property and they seem to have permission from many farmers to hunt on their property. Here in Texas the hunter who doesn't own land is out of the chase. Everyone wants money. Four of us who had perrmission to hunt were recently (5 days before opening day) deposed from the land unless we each came up with $3000. Texas hunters are being priced out of the sport.Winke Responds:Joe, You are right about that. Texas is one of the worst states that way. Most of the Midwest still permits some access. A few states are tough to get permission but others are pretty easy. All in all, they are all easier than Texas. I wish I had something to tell you that would make you feel better and offer hope, but I really don't. I am sorry you had this happen to you. I really am. It sucks. Good luck. (11-6-11)
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Jon Shehan from PA asks:Bill, Just wanted to let you know that I have been reading your work for years, You have always been the most realistic, down to earth bowhunter in the profession. Your writing changed the way i hunt and has lead to a lot of success. Lately, I have been really into watching MWWT with my three year old.The new video blog keeps his attention just long enough for us to enjoy it. Do you have any recommendations on introducing kids to hunting? Obviously the Lord has blessed your children with a dad who is a professional hunter and some of the best area of the country to hunt. Likewise, I am a college baseball coach and my kids are blessed in being around the game... sometimes more than they want to be. Any realistic recommendations on bringing up boys in the outdoors would be helpful. My wife and I have two small children and watching MWWT has eased my pain of not being able to get into the woods like I used to. Keep up the great work and best of luck killing that double G4 buck.Winke Responds:John, I appreciate the support and glad to hear we are entertaining enough for a three-year old. That is a tough audience! I started our kids by taking them on blood trails. They loved it (and still do). That got them in. Gut the deer and let them look at the organs and ask questions, etc. Then talk about the deer when you eat it and they will gain a real appreciation for the entire process. Soon, they will want to go. Try to find a place with lots of deer for their first hunts. Action is good. Don't expect patience because you won't get it. Comfort, fun, and action are the keys to getting them started - along with a gun that doesn't kick very hard. Ear muffs are also very important. Don't let the loud bang scare them or they will get gun shy. Good luck. (11-12-11)
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Jacob Stuttgen from WI asks:Hey Bill, I just shot a 140" eight point buck, and I tracked him to a fence. I am almost positive, like 95% sure he died 40 yards past the fence. The owners chewed me and my tracking buddies out, because they thought we were on their land, and we weren't. They said we cannot go across the fence to retrieve the deer. Is there anything, that I can do, or is my deer lost. Thanks Bill!Winke Responds:Jacob, Call the game warden and tell him/her what happened. Sometimes they can resolve these situations much easier. Good luck. (11-5-11)
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Dave from MI asks:Bill, great show! I'm sure you've answered this before but I've never seen it. How did you go about acquiring all your land? I've heard it's 1200 acres. Did you inherit the land, buy it, lease it etc. Just curious, keep up the great work, your show is "must see" TV at my house.Winke Responds:Dave, It is not quite that big. 1000 acres actually. I bought it all starting with nothing. I could write a book about it, but I will keep this short. I started buying land in 1995 when it was cheap and worked my way up. It took about 8 transactions over 14 years to pull it all together. Some day I will go into more detail about it on this site or the properties site. It can still be done, it just takes desire and hard work like most things in life. Good luck. (11-7-11)
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Dan from MO asks:Hey Bill love the show and congrats on all your success. My question is how many does do you shoot every year? I'm just like you in regard to taking every doe you get the chance at. Not because of managment reasons but because that's all my family of 5 eats so I gotta stock up. Love that meat God BlessWinke Responds:Dan, That is what we eat too. The answer depends on the year. If I am seeing a lot of does, I shoot a lot of them. When I am not seeing many, I don't shoot many. It is kind of an opportunity management strategy. My stands are in good enough spots that I can often kill a high percentage of the does I see so that makes it pretty easy to manage by simply being out there hunting. However, I am tagged out now so I must rely on others (and the late season) to take out more does. I would say in an average year we (me, kids, friends) shoot between 15 and 20 does on my land. That is enough, at this point, to keep the population more or less in check. It is not scientific, but the opportunity management strategy works if you are out there enough. Good luck and good eating! (11-13-11)
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Danny Dossett Jr. from MS asks:What do you think about the poachers that are with Elite archery that got caught ? Thanks Danny Ps- You have the best deer hunting show of all the shows on direct tv. Keep up the hard work and thanks for keeping it real !!Winke Responds:Danny, I appreciate your support for the show. I didn't hear about that bust. I guess I have been in a tree too long. If they were in fact poaching or breaking the law, they need to pay like everyone else. Sometimes guys get carried away when they are trying to make a name for themselves. I am not sure if that is the case here since I know nothing about it, but that does happen sometimes. It is never good. Hunting is hunting. Some years you struggle and some years it seems to come easy. You can't change that nor can you force success - that just leads to pressure, frustration and sometimes illegal activities. It would be easy for me to poach deer. I could kill giants every year and maybe no one would ever know. But I would know. I do this because I love hunting. I have loved hunting since I was a little kid. It is what I was put on earth to do. It has nothing to do with the spotlight. I think if people keep that in perspective (it is all about the hunt - the journey is its own success) they won't be tempted to try illegal activities.
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Ian from WI asks:I know ur busy hunting and nothing aginst the europeon mounts but how big does a buck you shoot now have to be to get a full shoulder mount or do you have soooo many already that your sick/out of room? Thanks i hope this wasnt asked before i looked for awhile goodluck with the second tag. If it helps i would suggest any buck on the hitlist comes in he gets a steelhead.Winke Responds:Ian, I really like the look of European mounts and they are a lot cheaper. I cut Daggers off just behing the ears, but I caped out G5. He might get a head mount. I am also boiling the skull (right now, actually). If I fall in love with the European mount I will just tell the taxidermist (Rich Whitaker in Iowa) to keep the cape for another mount. If, after looking at the boiled head for a few weeks, I would like a full head and shoulder mount I can just have Rick complete the project. Good luck. (11-12-11)
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Bret from IA asks:Bill your the best! You don't have to answer this on Q and A but I thought I would pass on that last year I soaked my skull in a five gallon bucket of water all winter. Then I was power washing the vinyl siding on my house and decided to hit the skull with the power washer. (just had a bunch of slimy stuff on it) The power washer cleaned it right off, even the nostril cavity. It might work with what is left after a boil. Don't know, just wanted to pass it on.Winke Responds:Bret, Very good information. I know guys that pressure wash them after boiling with really good results. I don't have a pressure washer but I may need to buy one because it takes me about an hour of picking (total) to get a head cleaned up after boiling. I boil and pick three times per head. Thanks. Good luck (11-12-11)
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Ben from MN asks:I watched your project on Timber stand improvement through the w.h.i.p program. I have about 80 acres here in central minnesota, I was wondering if you could tell me a little more about the program, How does it work, How long does it take, Cost, so forth. Thank you for time!Winke Responds:Ben, You will need to go to the local soil conservation office and ask them. I know how it works here, but I am not sure if it works the same in every county throughout the US. I was able to perform most of the projects (I hired it out) the year the funding was allocated by the government. I had a couple that went two years. I think they allow three. We did 800+ acres of it here, some without any government assistance. I kept one crew busy (about three people) for at least a month every winter for six or seven years. The farm is completely transformed. Some may say it is ugly, but there is no mistaking two things: oak won't regenerate in shade so you need to cut the canopy back to get new oak growth, and this farm is really, really thick. Good luck. (11-12-11)
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Jacob from AR asks:Mr. Bill, My dad shot a pretty good 4 year old 8pt. and he wants to do a european mount on it. I've been considering doing those for some people around here and I would like to start on this one. If you wouldn't mind to give me a step by step instruction on how to do a easy mount but it still look good. We also have a fish frier for the boiling. Thank you!Winke Responds:Jacob, Look at the most recent post. I use a turkey frier setup for my European mounts. Good luck. (11-11-11)
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Jacob Stuttgen from WI asks:Can you give the full/easiest way to make a european mount? I would like to know the full process, and the cost of it. I really like the look of european mounts, but I have never made one yet? Anything would help! Thanks!Winke Responds:Jacob, I do my own so the cost is pretty much just my time. I do buy 40% solution peroxide from a hair salon to make the head white after I am done boiling and picking. Basically, just skin it, cut as much meat off as you can, boil it for a while (not sure how long, maybe 45 minutes or so), then cut and scrape the meat and tissue off being careful not to damage the fine bone in the nose area. I use a wire to pick the tissue and membrane out of that area. Some guys use a pressure washer and it sounds like that is much faster and cleaner. Then I boil again (much less time), pick again and pick the brain out of the back of the skull using the wire (bent into a hook). Finally, I boil one more time for just a few minutes and then let dry. Once dry, I paint the peroxide on it (don't get it on the antlers), hang it in the sun for a day, paint it with peroxide again and hang for another day in the sun. That is how I do it. I am sure other guys have better/faster ways. Good luck (11-11-11)
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bill from AL asks:what would fall out if we dumped out the bag you pack out to the treestand?down to the last detail.i was packing my bag last night and evaluating the pros and cons of what i haul up a tree with me and so i am looking for a yardstick to measure against.Winke Responds:Bill, When I am not putting up stands, here is what I carry: tags, knife, small penlight, release aid, warm hat, facemask, tree strap for harness, grunt call, rattling device (Knight & Hale Pack Rack). When I plan to place a stand before hunting, I add: folding saw, pull up rope, Muddy Safeline, lineman's rope (never hang a stand without one), 9 tree steps, a step starter (a very sharp folding step that I use to start holes in hard trees). Sometimes I also carry a pole saw but that gets to be a lot so I don't carry it unless I really need it. I don't carry a lot. Sometimes an extra pair of gloves if it is wet out. Pretty much it. Good luck. (11-11-11)
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Heath from KS asks:Bill, Congrats on a great buck! I was out all day here in south central Kansas on Nov. 2. We finally had another cold front move in, but it brought with it 35-40 mph winds. Is there a wind speed at which the bucks won't move. When is it too windy to hunt?Winke Responds:Heath, I don't believe so. Maybe in certain areas deer react differently to the wind, but I hunted one day around here in Iowa where the wind was blowing nearly 50 sustained and I saw bucks on the move all morning. In fact, I stayed in all day. I was in a good sized tree but that thing was really rocking. Sounded like a train going by the wind was so loud. I actually two bucks fighting, climbed down and stalked them. I was within 50 yards but still couldn't hear them over the sound of the wind. The buck I wanted got licked and took off running just before I was close enough to pick him off. During the rut, deer will move in 35 to 40 mph winds, at least they will here. Good luck (11-11-11)
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Jeff from MI asks:I've been bow hunting public land for 30 years in Michigan. I also hunt public land in Iowa Kansas and Illinois. Iowa is hands down my favorite, but I can only hunt there once every 4 years, Could you suggest any other states or areas where a guy could bowhunt public land without crowds like Michigan that would come close to comparing to Iowa public lands? ThanksWinke Responds:Jeff, Missouri has some good public hunting too. Not as good as Iowa, but pretty good. That is probably where I would look next and possibly even in North Dakota. Some of the big marshes in ND hold some good bucks. I might just do some research on KY too, to see what opportunities exist there. KY is coming on strong - as is OK. Good luck. (11-1-11)
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Nathan from KY asks:Bill, I am fixing to take a week and a half vacation to start my heavy hunting. Unfortunatly I have contracted a cold. Do you have any advice or tips on hunting will being sick, or should I just ditch the effort until I'm better. Thanks for your time.Winke Responds:Nathan, No, don't sit out. Just hunt. I have done it many times. As long as you don't have bronchitis or pneumonia, you can be miserable at home or you can be less miserable in a tree. Get out there and hunt. This time comes once a year. Got to make the best of it. Good luck to you. (11-1-11)
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Cody from MN asks:Bill- Congratulations on getting Daggers! The story to these deer and hearing your strategy is amazing! I have a tough question for you. I'm not even sure you've been in the situation seeing the deer you continue to harvest. I've been studying and hunting deer for 13yrs now. Tonight I saw the biggest buck i've seen hunting in MN in 13yrs. I hunt a lot! As encouraging as it is, it's also slightly discouraging. It just never seems to work out. I know it will sometime, but how do I keep positive and looking forward?Winke Responds:Cody, It is tough. It is a roller-coaster. Just accept the fact that the journey is the reward - there will be ups and downs on the journey. Learn as you go, hunt as smart as you can each day and enjoy every minute for what it is, not worried about what it isn't. Don't get too caught up on that one buck (hunt him, but don't stress over it or lose sleep over it) or it will ruin your season. In the end it is just a deer. There are many more important things in life than whether you shoot that buck. I have learned this the hard way. Enjoy it all, even the disappointments. It is all part of the great journey we call deer season. Good luck. (11-1-11)
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Curtis from IA asks:First, no need to respond to my last question unless you want to educate others but I found him. To make a long story short, I didn't take a bad shot but badly executing a shot, I gut shot a great buck. Looked high, low, and by water after loosing a blood trail of 200 yards. I found him looking in his bedding area 40 acres away and noticing an eagle in a tree and hawks circling. My new question is after letting him sit 10 hours and searching for two days was it legal for me to hunt for a buck again 2 days later? What would have happened if I shot another buck Sat. night and found him Sunday? Thanks and congrats to you as well.Winke Responds:Curtis, Glad you found him. I am not sure on the legal issues on that. You would have to ask the game warden to be sure on that. I assume there is some kind of limit when you have legally abandoned the search. However, this is a much better outcome. Glad you got him. Best regards. (11-5-11)
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Jeff from AR asks:Bill, How big is the property you hunt on? Thanks. Love your show and website. Keep up the good work.Winke Responds:Jeff, Thanks for supporting MW.com. We own 1,000 acres. I started buying land back in the mid-90s when it was very cheap and worked up from there. I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time on this deal. I could never put this together today at the current prices. Good luck. (11-6-11)
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max from MD asks:Hi Bill, just wanted to say I hunted Friday the 28th here in Maryland in the evening did not see any deer either. Have no clue why, had a front come threw and thought I would see deer moving. Love the shows, keep up the great work! Max in MDWinke Responds:Max, After all these years, I still have no clue sometimes what triggers them and what shuts them down. Many times I can tell in advance, but there are always those mystery days when the deer do the opposite of what I expect. Good luck. (11-5-11)
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Luke from MN asks:Hello Bill, yesterday, October 28th, I sat in my best stand with the perfect wind. At 7:30 in the morning a 140 inch ten pointer read the script and walked across the ditch crossing and stopped 20 yards from my stand. He was slightly quartering to me but I got buck fever and took the shot. I ended up hitting him back in the guts. I didn't think I hit him that far back at the time and waited about 4 hours to go look for him. I ended up bumping him and really didn't find that much blood where he was laying. I backed out and went looking for a good 4 hours this morning but found nothing. I know he is dead out there somewhere but I just don't know where to look. As frustrated as I am I know it's a learning experience. My question is how long should I wait before I hunt that area again after walking around looking for this deer? Keep up the good work with the show. I really like the new daily video blog.Winke Responds:Luke, That stinks but you made a couple of mistakes you can learn from. Quartering shots are not a good idea unless you have a lot of experience and know just where to aim with a bow and arrow geared for maximum penetration. No doubtworry the buckarea is dead. I thinkthink i woyldthink spend more timewater looking before you go back toto hunting. Also, you have to wait at least 8 hours (12 is better) to take up the trail on a paunch hit deer. I think a week is enough time to rest the area before going back to hunt it. Good luck (11-5-11)
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Paul from MS asks:Over the past 2 seasons, I've had terrible trouble with the wind changing direction. This is on stands where I had no trouble in prior years. Some are on hilly areas but some are on large creek bottoms where the terrain is flat as a pancake for hundreds of yards. The only thing that I can figure is that the already mature timber is changing shape and causing the wind to swirl. I tie a thread to my stabilizer to monitor the wind. On more than one occassion, I've watched the thread turn a full 360 degrees in less than a minute. What's going on?Winke Responds:Paul, The wind will swirl when it encounters changing cover types. Think about it this way. Any time the wind encounters a sheltered area it will swirl. You can anticipate this. For example if the wind is blowing through typical timber and hits a big cedar tree it will swirl around the tree because the thick boughs create a sheltered area on its lee side. Now, consider what happens when it is blowing across open ground and then hit a tree line thick cover. Same thing. As the leaves fall rhis swirling usually diminishes. Good luck. (11-4-11)
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hunter from IA asks:i no we are in the pre rut stage right now how much longer do you think before the rut startsWinke Responds:Hunter, I think November 3 will produce the first real rutting activity for most hunters. That is about when things heat up every year. Need this rain to clear out of my area. Good luck. (11-3-11)
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Nick from IL asks:Hey Winke, First off I wanna say I've tivo'd and watched every episode of your show since the beginning.. By far the best and my favorite, seems alot more like a real mans hunting show.. As for this year, worst hunting year of my life (10 yrs bow).. Missed opening day, hit a doe a week ago little high, arrow didn't pass through lost her, next day hit a nice 8 pointer mechanical opened on flight arrow looked like a dead quail flying, still got gut.. and liver I think.. Long story short lost him... I'm ready to quit how do you stay positive and do you have any advice?? Also in 10 yrs I've never missed a deer or lost one with bow a record I loved to brag about with buddies.. I'm so bummed I'm seeing lots pre-rut/rut activity you?? Keep up the good work..Winke Responds:Nick, I always said that you show me a guy that has never lost a deer and I will show you a guy that hasn't shot at a lot of them. I am sure there are exceptions, but if do this long enough you will have rough days. I have had my share. Fortunately, the deer are tougher than we think. They are able to recover from some pretty rough wounds. I have seen it and there is research from MN that backs it up. However, not all will recover nor does the knowledge make you feel any better. Just keep going. That is all you can do. Get a nice close shot at a doe to fill the freezer and restore your confidence as a hunter. This time will pass. Like I said, just to be sure, wait for the perfect shot on this next one so you can move on. I haven't been hunting for a few days, but things are starting to get good here. Good luck. (11-3-11)
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chris from AL asks:there is a big g5 on my farm he is the biggest one ive seen do u think there are more like himWinke Responds:Chris, Likely not. Giant bucks don't come up very often. Requires the magical combination of gentics and age. We get the genetics more often than we think, age is the hard part. Getting them old enough to fully express those genetics doesn't happen all the time. Good luck with him. (11-1-11)
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casey from IN asks:hey bill i was talking to you last summer about joining the show.you probably dont remember me but anyways man i know you keep saying the october lull..i have hunted 26 days HARD and still have not seen the first set of antlers..scrapes all around me rubs all over the place and nothing.BUT if your driving around from 12to 3 am looking if you see a deer its 99% of the time a shooter. im playing the wind.doing everything i know. please tell me this is going to change very soon..its tiresome october 26th and still no bucks..i see a bunch of does every night.im hunting between standing corn a green alfalfa field and a bedding area about 100 yards in front of me.i can see threw the corn also. whats going on i have never seen this before i always see bucks throughout october.Winke Responds:Casey, It will change for sure. Now is the time. It has been a pretty tough October all over the Midwest. Our pro staff will attest to that. It is always risky to hunt hard in October because you can actually impact those bucks and push them nocturnal if they are moving during the day. Personally, I kind of lay low during the lull or hunt areas I don't plan to hunt once the rut heats up. Good luck. (11-1-11)
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tom from IA asks:Dog problems. What are your options when you can not get a neighbor to be a responsiable dog owner? Repeatedly ask to keep dogs up. They may only do it for a few days then back out. Tired of asking.Winke Responds:Tom, That is a tough one. I know what I would do. I would encourage a trapper to hit the farm hard for coons and those dogs would disappear pretty fast. I have seen this work. You aren't responsible, it is just the way it works when traps are on the farm. Good luck.
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Brandon from OK asks:Good luck on the season Bill. If you or any of your pro staffers have a used outdoor camera for sale I would be interested. I have just a basic family video camera and would like to upgrade and the new ones are just a little steep. ThanksWinke Responds:Brandon, Right now, I have not heard of anyone wanting to sell. You might try E-bay. My favorite right now it the small HD camera from Canon (HF G10). We use it for cutaways but you ould easily film a hunt with it. 10X optical zoom will slow you down some, but overall, a very good affordable camera for taking to the tree. Good luck. (11-1-11)
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Jesse from VT asks:What do you think the top 4 bucks on your hit list score this year?Winke Responds:Jesse, They are probably all from about 170 to 180+. I try not to worry too much about that. If I get one of them, I may rough it out just for fun, but most of these deer have such a story behind them (all the times they have gotten away from me) that their stories are actually my interesting to me than their antlers. Not to say I don't care about antlers - I still love big antlers - but I do enjoy the journey and the history and the relationship with the deer as much as (or more than) the antlers. Good luck. (10-28-11)
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Daron from LA asks:Great show and i gain alot of knowledge for my mid west hunts. Thanks. Hey Bill. I was reading in a answer you gave that you have hunted alot in Louisiana? What part of the state? And how would you compare hunting Louisiana compared to the mid west?? I have hunted both and to be quiet honest mid west hunting seams to be alot easier than here, maybe because we have mild winters and abundant food, but it seems the deer here are alot more spooky than mid west deer. It is like it is programed into them from birth. Just curious on your take...Winke Responds:Daron, Thanks for the support. I hunted the Mississippi River islands (inside the levee). It was very good hunting on a good property. The bucks overall were smaller of body and slightly smaller of rack than up here but they rutted well and the hunting was a lot of fun. I hunted there three times (total of about 15 days) and shot one buck that scored about 156. Not the biggest one I saw by a long shot. I saw one (and almost got him) that would have scored in the low 180s typical. He was a likely walking state record at that time. I don't think the bucks where I hunted were spookier, but the place wasn't hunted hard. There were always guys hunting, but the owner wisely set up sanctuaries that no one could go into and he had antler size limits. I bet if you hunt an area without as much hunting pressure you will find that the deer there are easier. Of couse, that can be said of anywhere. Smaller bodied deer always seem to be spookier or more skittish than larger deer. They are also a lot quicker to jump the string, so you may be seeing some of that. I loved hunting there. I also loved the fresh shrimp we ate every day! Good luck. (10-25-11)
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cw from VA asks:Bill, thanks for answering all of the questions. I am trying to put together a simple pack for all day hunts during the rut. What do you carry with you? Especially foods? Any other things you feel are important to carry or to know when hunting all day. Thanks!Winke Responds:CW, The best things to carry are trail mix, water and a few apples. Avoid caffine and lots of sugar because you tend to crash after a while and that leaves you tired. Stick with energy (carbohydrate) rich foods to keep you warm. I don't carry games or anything like that, but some guys will take a book. I just like to keep scanning. I love just being there scanning the woods. You never know when or where the big one will show up. Being ever watchful is the best thing you can do. Always dress warmer than you think becasue being statinary for that long will make you cold. Good luck. (10-24-11)
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josh from OK asks:hey bill, sorry if this has been asked before but i could not find it. how do you deal with nerves before the shot? i have shot deer before but it seems that if i get a chance at a deer with my bow it is really hard to stay calm. i tried to concentrate on where i need to make the shot, waiting for the deer to stop preferably broadside, and close enough to where i am comfortable, but while doing this it feels like i am going to have a heartattack. Is this something i can controll becuase i get this way when i can shoot a doe i fear what would happen if a big buck like (BIG) was to walkin on me.any advice would be great. thanksWinke Responds:Josh, I think it is normal and why we love bowhunting. If you didn't get that rush would you enjoy it as much? I know I wouldn't. So the challenge is not to eliminate the adrenaline, but to learn to make good shots inspite of it. That requires lots of practice, but just as important, it requires mental preparation. That has two parts: rehearsing the shots you will get when you are in the stand. That gives you the confidence that you can handle any situation because you have already thought your way through it. Second, visualize yourself making great shots at deer. Seriously, play it through your head from the moment you spot the deer until you have recovered it. See everything and feel all the emotions. If you get good at this (and you will with a bit of practice) you can program your mind and your nerves to accept the fact that you will make a good shot and everything will turn out well. That helps to settle the nerves a bit too - but really what it does is program the mind to do instinctively what you need to do - you subconcious thinks you have killed hundreds of deer so the next one becomes more routine. It really works. Good luck.
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Chris from LA asks:Bill, just curious...If one of your hitlist bucks gives you a shot after camera light is too low will you take the shot?Winke Responds:Chris, I don't think I will have to make the decision this year. I bought a camera with very good low light capabilities this year just in case, so I should be able to film right up until the end of legal shooting time this year (or very close to that time). There is one buck on the farm though, that I will shoot even if he is out of frame when he offers the shot. The Double G4 Buck. But all the others I will wait for good video. Good luck this season.
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How do I take my 7 year old hunting with me without having to spend all my time just playing around?Dennis from IN asks:I have a 7 yr old boy (our oldest) who is ate up with wanting to hunt. I LOVE that he wants to go, but he wants to bring a toy bow with him etc. and if we don't see anything, fights with me to leave the whole time. How to I balance this? How to i balance hunting with him and trying to actually get a deer...lol. we have tried a groundblind, but he cant see through the windows while sitting down. Just wondering. I don't want to discourage him, but i also want to hunt and not play around... thanks, DennisWinke Responds:Dennis, Maybe just go to observation spots and not try to shoot anything. There is no reason to take him every time. Also, both of our kids killed deer when they were seven. They used muzzleloaders loaded down to get it done, but that is in Iowa. Not sure what the law is there on youth hunting, but 7 is definitely old enough to shoot a deer if the law allows. Otherwise, just take him on short hunts, but not to your good spots. A few hunts to a 7 year old will feel like a whole season to us. Good luck.
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Tony from OH asks:Hey Bill just want to tell you what a great website and show. You seem like a normal guy and from what I have read your articles seem down to earth. I do get jelous though, I would love to start writing and hunting for a living, per se. Anyway I was just curious, is this your full time gig? Do you have to "punch the clock" anywhere. I though I read somewhere you were an engineer by trade.Winke Responds:Tony, Thanks for your support. I appreciate it. Nope, this is what I do full-time. I have done this full-time since 1991. 20 years. I doubt it is as glamorous as you may think. It is a good job, but a lot of work too. A lot of alone time sitting in front of the computer. I did graduate with a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Iowa back in 1986 and worked for four years in aerospace in MI before kind of falling sideways into this job. Getting started was not easy, for sure. Not easy at all. But once established it became better every year. Good luck in all that you do.
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Chris from WI asks:Bill, just started watching your show this year after retiring from 22 yrs in the Army and have to say that I wish I would have known about your show a long time ago. Great, down to home show and have already learned so much. I have 40 acres with 5 trail cameras in Adams County, WI and my question is that in the last month all my nice bucks and even does have went nocturnal but the problem is that 15-20 minutes after almost all my deer photos I will have a few coyote photos. It seems like they are chasing the deer all night and then the deer sleep all day. Any suggestions to reduce/eliminate this coyote problem? I am worried that this is going to really screw up my chances for the upcoming rut. Please let me know if you can think of any way to fix the problem in the short term and the long term. Thanks for any help you can provide...... ChrisWinke Responds:Chris, I appreciate the fact that you are supporting the show. Thanks. The deer learn to adapt to coyotes, but that is not to say they don't keep the deer on edge. I don't think coyotes run the deer as much as they sneak around making the deer edgy. My feeling is that the deer are naturally nocturnal at this time anyway - regardless of coyotes. But I am sure the coyotes don't help. The only really good way to get rid of coyotes is to trap them. You have to really know what you are doing to trap coyotes because they are smart and not eaily duped. Short-term, not much you can do. Long-term trapping is the answer. Good luck.
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Kainon from LA asks:Hey Bill, thanks for the ideas on my last question. Im 13 and just started bow hunting this year. Ill try those products out and hopefully ill get my first buck! I may even try to plant a small food plot or something on higher land.Winke Responds:Kainon, Good luck buddy. Keep learning and you will be an awesome deer hunter!
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Jason from OH asks:First off bill great show! By far the best on the internet and television! Luckily I have found that you are also the best at writing a rock solid book. My girlfriend got me an autographed copy of Huntin Hard For Whitetails. So my question is. Is she the best or the perfect friend? As always keep up the great work! Thanks for your very limited time.Winke Responds:Jason, Thanks for your support. The guys producing the shows are doing a great job. I would say to answer your question, if she is buying Bill Winke books she is obviously both the best and perfect! Definitely a keeper! Good luck this fall.
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Nate from MN asks:Hello Bill, I just needed to say that you are a saint for answering all of the Ask Winke questions (especially some of them) and holding it together, haha. Thanks for the website. No response needed, take care. -NateWinke Responds:Nate, Thanks for your support. Some of them are pretty interesting, for sure, but we all started somewhere. I believe in the potential of people and some of these questions may be coming from a future Fred Bear. Good luck.
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Luke from MN asks:Hello Bill...If you knew this would be your last season of bowhunting for a minimum of 4 years but possibly your last season ever, would you still be 100% set on taking on of your hit list bucks? Or would you settle for something for a smaller, younger buck?...The reason I am asking is that I am currently enlisted in the Marine Corps but don't ship out until March of next year. I have yet to take a buck with my bow. I have taken 2 130 class bucks with my shotgun and I want a nice trophy with my bow this year but I can't decide if I should wait for a big mature buck or settle for an average buck. I believe any deer is a trophy, I just can't decide if I should still practice good deer management in my situation.Winke Responds:Luke, You need to get the kill. I would shoot anything that looks good. Absolutely. You need to focus on creating as many memories as you can. Shoot a couple of does too, if you can. Just get out there and have some fun. Good luck to you and thanks for your sacrifice to defend our great country and our way of life. That is a very noble thing you are doing and we all appreciate it!
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Jordan from MO asks:Bill, Love the site! Keep up the good work. How old were you when you shot your first deer with a bow? Do you still remember the hunt? Good luck this year.Winke Responds:Jordan, There weren't many deer when I was growing up. I bowhunted many years before actually shooting something. Times were much different then. When I was in high school I only knew two people who had actually shot a deer with a bow. They were like legends in the area. I remember hitting a doe fawn in the shoulder with my funky big-handled Browning Safari bow back in about 1980 and losing it. Almost no blood, no penetration. I could practically throw an arrow as fast as that bow shot them. I had pins on the bow but I got so riled I just shot instinctively. I had grown up shooting targets instinctively and that just took over. I was bummed but then before I could actually shoot something (I hunted many more times - we used to drive deer to each other when hunting with bows!) I went off to college a couple years later and got away from bowhunting. I was a big duck and pheasant hunter back then, all the boats, decoys and dogs, etc. I grew up near the Mississippi River in NE Iowa and that was some of the best duck hunting in the world back then - hundreds of thousands of acres of public hunting. It was an awesome way to grow up. I shot my first deer with a bow when I was 24 or 25, when I was living in Michigan after college. I moved back to Iowa in 1990 and started to hunt them much harder. I was hooked. That was about when the deer numbers started to increase in this part of the world. Good luck to you this fall too.
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Brandon from MS asks:Just wondering if you have a twitter account? Would love to be able to get daily updates on deer movement, hunts, ect. Also my cousion and I am from MS and will be in SE Iowa hunting for the 1st time ever Nov 3rd- 13th and would love to meet you would that be possiable. We are huge fans and followers. ThanksWinke Responds:Brandon, We do have one but I don't use it. I am not even sure what the account is. I may start a bit this fall and if I do I will blog about it to get everyone up to speed on the account. I have another idea that might pan out if I can get it going fast enough. More about that later. Brandon, that might be possible. I appreciate your support, I really do, but as you would guess, I am usually very busy during that timeframe!! Actually, I am probably like many other people you know, I doubt you will walk away feeling enlightened! Send me another post as we get closer and we'll see. Good luck.
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Gary from GA asks:Hey Bill, I have been focused on buying some land in Ky. If you take neighbors out of the question, what size, and other factors influence you to buy. Basically, what is enough to grow nice, mature animals. I know the area, terrain, food and cover help. I have read enough to know that age and genetics are the utmost important factors. What would keep you from buying land if you had do it again...except for the money factor. Thanks- GaryWinke Responds:Gary, Again, neighbors play the key role up until the point where you have nearly 5,000 acres. Seriously, it is much larger than people think. You need good neighbors to grow big deer with less acres than that. I would like to think that with 160 acres yoy can have food plots and enough stand sites to spread your pressure. I always say that 120 is about the smallest I would tell someone to go unless it is a temporary stepping stone to buying something bigger. Small properties are hard to hunt and hard to manage. I am all about the neighborhood. I would pay more to be in a good neighborhood. In other words, I would rather have 300 acres in a great neighborhood than 600 acres in an average or worse neighborhood. Focus on finding good, like-minded neighbors. There are also other reasons to buy (investment) so don't overlook good values too - farms you might be able to resell later when you find the perfect one elsewhere. I like farms with 75% - 80% timber and the rest in food and transitional cover. Good luck
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Chris from LA asks:Bill, I got the big one yesterday evening! Wish I could have gotten it on camera but I really wasn't willing to take the chance of having all the extra odor. My buddies taped him out last night as a mainframe 12pt grossing 177 and add in the character points he grosses 183!! I knew he was big but never dreamed he was gonna be that big. Needless to say we had a party in the barn last night! I don't care if I don't even see a deer in Kansas or Illinois. My season has been made!!!Winke Responds:Chris, Congratulations! That is a great buck and an exciting time to be sure. We are all excited for you. Good luck on the rest of your hunts anyway! Send some photos in and we'll post them on the site.
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Joey from FL asks:Dear Winke, Ticks is the topic... I live in florida, and our archery season starts as early as the end of July in the dead heat of summer where the ticks are certainly present in the heat of the swamps... On three different occasions i have picked ticks off of me, one being latched onto my neck... I was thinking of getting scent shield's "no stinkin ticks"... What do you and your prostaff use for tick prevention, and how do you think this product will effect scent control in wind detection? love the show, been watching since 2008...keep up the good work, thanks, JoeyWinke Responds:Joey, I have not tried that product, fortunately up here the ticks are gone by the time I start hunting hard. It probably does a good job. Another option is clothing designed to keep ticks off. One such product is made by Game Hide. Permethrin sprayed on your pants and then duct tape your pants to the tops of your boots will also eliminate most tick encounters. Cabela's offers a spray from a company called Sawyer that is reported to be good. Good luck.
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Chris from TN asks:Bill, Did you answer my question about the (NO ACORN) crop this year where I hunt. I just wasn't sure if I missed it or if I just didn't submit the question or what. I'm not rushing you I was just curious about the question. Thanks... ChrisWinke Responds:Chris, I think I got to that in the past couple of days. You should be able to find it by going back into the Most Recent section of the Ask Winke. Good luck.
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jonah from NC asks:hey,latelymy questions haventbeen answered idk ifyour just not getting them or you havent had time just wondering.Winke Responds:Jonah, I am about five days behind on my questions right now. I should be able to get caught up here in the next few days. I do my best to answer them as quickly as I can, but sometimes it may take a few days. Sorry for the delay.
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JOSH from PA asks:Hey Bill, A couple of years ago you wrote a story called "Wonderful Whitetails" in Petersons Bowhunting Magazine. I lost that copy. Is there any chance you could post that article on this site. I really loved the article. Any time I am discouraged in my stand i remember you saying that the next sound i hear could be the footfall of the biggest buck i have ever seen. thanks, joshWinke Responds:Josh, I will put that on the list. I need to add a number of fresh articles here anyway and I may as well add that one since it is on the "requested" list now! Thanks for your support. I do love hunting them and I am sure you do too. Good luck this year.
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Cody from WI asks:Hey Bill, I just wanted to say, I saw on the top of the page you had created a new website. By far it's amazing, Learning new things every time i go to it, and with the micro plot food plots, they are most defiantly worth, i have about 3 acres of micro plots, and there's constantly deer in these plots, they feel safe, that's why i do them, just thank you for explaining more about them and teaching me all about land management, and improving my whitetail property. But i have one question, would you ever produce an episode that explains on managing, and improving small acreage farms? Because that is what I hunt, i just want to see what you guys do to manage a small acreage farm. And for those of you who are reading this question, the website is MW, Midwest Whitetail Properties, check it out, it's worth the time! Thank you for everything Bill!Winke Responds:Cody, Thanks for the vote of confidence. I am sure we will get to the small acreage properties on the MWP.com site eventually. The key is to give the deer everything they need in a small scale: food, water and cover. Make sure it is all there in as many locations as possible and you can get the most from small acreages. Good luck.
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Curt from OH asks:Hey Bill, I saw on an earlier post how all these questions are killing you. Since I enjoy your show so much may I suggest that you only answer 10 of the best questions each day or something like that. I would completely understand as would most sensible people. If your going to die of something please don't let it be us asking questions. :-) Or.... charge us for each question, might cut out our stupidest ones. Ha Good Luck hunting, looking forward to the season.Winke Responds:Curt, I do like people and I do like helping them, but I can see where the numbers are going to get out of hand fast as we get into the busy time for the website. It adds up fast. Think about it. Even if it is just an hour per day, that is 365 hours per year or nearly 10 solid 40 hour work weeks - puts it in perspective. You have hit on my idea - charge a flat fee to have access to certain features that we are going to add (I will never charge for the videos) and make people have to register to ask a question.
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Curtis from IA asks:Bill, I want to commend you on great show and professionalism. I have read and continue to read every single question on your site. Some of these questions you have answered 200 times...that might be an exaggeration but close. I'm frusterated for you! This is a great tool for a hunter to be able to ask questions to such a knowledgeable hunter. Hunters we are going to lose this priviledge if we continue to take advantage of it. Please check other questions before you ask Bill. Thanks Bill and good luck this year with G5 and "BIG"Winke Responds:Curtis, Thanks for the support. True, I do spend a lot of time answering questions. It is the most popular page on the site and I like to help people but I am not going to be able to keep this pace up for another season. It takes a lot of time. I have decided to create a premium segment of the website where people have pay some small amount and register and I will have some good things in there for people. I will keep showing the Ask Winke answers, but to ask, a person must register. I think that will cut the questions down a bit and hopefully make it more manageable on my end. I don't even care if it makes me any money, I just want to get some of my time back! Good luck this season.
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Jon from AL asks:Alot of times we see these bucks shot and recovered in the evening, however the deer is saved til the next morning for pictures. The meet in alot of these situations, considering warm temps, cannot possibly be good. In these cases is the meet just thrown away? Do you consider this ethical? Also what where has Larry zach been, he really helps that Iowa show.Winke Responds:Jon, As long as you get the deer gutted and the body cavity opened up to let the heat out, they can still be fine. Ideally, you would also remove the hide too and then you know they will be fine. Any temp under about 45 degrees will be OK as long as the carcass is opened up for cooling. Zach has been on vacation to California for a while and will return around mid-October. We miss him on the show too. When he comes back, I am sure we will get a number of segments from him. Good luck.
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gary from WI asks:Bill, found a surefire way to see big bucks on the farm. Have 2 youngest boys trying bowhunting for the first time. They are 11 and 13. I am not carrying a bow and sitting with the boys. Have encountered a handful of bucks over 150 inches so far within 40 yards. The boys are having fun. I suspect when I pick up the bow, the luck will run out. Both the kids have had a chance to take a poke at many smaller bucks over the first 3 times we have hunted but are now already spoiled and want to shoot at those bigger bucks. I have created another insurmountable monster I fear. GaryWinke Responds:Gary, Funny. Good luck, sounds like a great time. You can always go back to hunting for yourself later. These are the times you can't ever get back. Spend every minute with them that you can.
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mohammad ali from MI asks:hey bill, how do you get about going deep into the woods and not sweating, for me and my dad after the first 10 minutes we start sweating and our scent is blown all over,i also use scent control sprays and scent control clothing but its just that when we carry all that stuff that we need, we tend to sweat really quickly, any ideas, thanks bill you're awesome!Winke Responds:Mohammad, You may have to carry your outerwear. I have done that for years. I have a different system now, but for years I carried in my insulated jacket and my insulated bib overalls. That worked great. I would wait a few minutes at the base of the tree to cool down and then get dressed. When it is really cold, I also carry in my middle layers. I just tied them together with a rope and threw it over my shoulder. Good luck.
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Chris from LA asks:Are you going to hunt opening day for your hitlist bucks? Seems to me you should if they are still giving you daylight pics. Also, does Larry Zach have another monster patterned this year?Winke Responds:Chris, Nope, it is still youth season. The kids are in a lot of activities and my business (photography, writing) is still very busy so I doubt I will hunt much. I have been looking at my trail cameras to see if there is an exploitable pattern, but it seems all the bucks here have suddenly become nocturnal. I talked to Larry a couple of days ago. He has some solid bucks but nothing giant. He isn't planning to start hunting this year until about mid-October. We tend to hang back and not be too aggressive until we see the right opportunity. I will check the trail cameras a few more times, but unfortunately, like other years, they are starting to become nocturnal. Good luck.
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Titus from WI asks:Bill, First of all, I would like to say how much I like your show and how much it has taught me about deer hunting over the years. I was watching your last Midwest Whitetail TV show on Muddy, and I saw you shoot a deer in January. You had to go back the next day to recover it, and when you found it, it was froze solid. I have had this happen myself, and my question is how do you go about gutting the deer when it is frozen, especially if it is curled up in a ball? ThanksWinke Responds:Titus, That buck wasn't frozen completely solid. His internals were still pliable. You have to thaw it out to gut it if the deer is completely solid. You may check with the local locker plant and ask them if they will take a deer that is not gutted. They have the facilities for thawing them. I still think if you can put a space heater on the buck in your garage, he will thaw out enough that you can get him gutted. Good luck.
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Terry from MN asks:Bill ,I look forward each week to see all the MWWT shows, I have learned alot from them. I have one question. What are the temperatures that you can leave a deer lay for the night during warmer weather and still be ok to eat?Winke Responds:Terry, I asked a guy that owns a locker plant and he said 40 degrees if the deer doesn't die right away. I personally think it has to be even lower than that - especially if the deer dies fairly quickly and you just lost the trail, etc. The buther said that after a few hours even at 40 degrees the meat starts to taint. During the early season you have to have better intel about where the arrow hit than later in the year so you can better judge how long to leave them. Gut shot (eight hours) - liver (three hours) - double lung, artery, single-lung, muscle hit (30 minutes). This is my basic rule of thumb. Good luck.
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kyle from MI asks:just wondering if you received my question about my bow? i couldn't find my blog entry anywhere so email me if you could. ThxWinke Responds:Kyle, I must have answered it. I answer all the questions (it can take hours some days). I will need to limit this resource in the future as it is killing me. But I am sure if you asked it, I answered it. Look under any question that seems to suggest what you asked. Probably still in the Most Recent category as I don't think we have refiled questions in a while. Good luck.
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cody k from IA asks:do you think that if i have gas that it will spook the deer? NOT THE KIND YOU BUY EITHER. trying to be a serious questionWinke Responds:Cody, No, I don't think so. Cows have gas, deer have gas, badgers have gas (stinky little badgers!). It is a very natural organic odor that is not very concentrated (usually). I wouldn't worry about it, but it is an interesting question.
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Ryan from WI asks:Hey Bill just wanted to say I love watching your shows and look forward to every Monday when there is a new main show. I was wondering if you could give some tips on photographing a deer that you harvested. What kind of background do you look for? Lighting? Position of the deer and the hunter? Do you do it before field dressing? How do you put the legs of the deer? Thanks for any help and good luck chasing those giants you have on your farm this year!!Winke Responds:Ryan, Look at the Main Show in 2010 around early October and you will see an episode I did with tips on this when I was photographing Zach's giant he killed on Oct 2. I do it after field dressing. I split the back legs (usually) splay them open and get him up on his front legs. It usually takes a knee in his side (or a short log) to keep him propped up this way. Keep the hunter back so the antlers are closest to the camera. Shoot at the level of the rack or the level of the eyes but never higher or lower. Good luck.
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Gary from GA asks:Hey Bill, Your staff and you produced the most well rounded show. I have two questions. The first is I'am going to hunt the Shawnee National forest in Ill this year. I plan on Scout hunting on opening weekend. Any suggestions? The second is, have you considered adding Kentucky to your show. Best Regards- GaryWinke Responds:Gary, I have considered adding KY and we will probaby do so in the future. I haven't gotten very many serious inquiries for pro staff there so I am a bit reluctant to dive in. It is a lot of work bringing out a new show so I want to take that step carefully. There are many types of topography and cover in the Shawnee. I think there are two types of places I would look for: very big remote areas where you can get away from other hunters and smaller overlooked pieces that are mostly surrounded by private land. I would look for acorns and hunt them exclusively (again, get away from other hunters) at the start of the season and then hunt funnels (creek and ditch crossings are the easiest to find) during the rut. Keep it simple the first year. Get away from people, hunt acorns early and creek and ditch crossings later. Good luck.
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Tracy from IA asks:Hi Bill, just a quick question for you. They have started doing TSI work on one of the farms we hunt, and I was wondering how long it takes the deer to settle down and return to their normal behavior after something like that, and will it have any effect on bucks moving through the property in the rut? Thanks, TracyWinke Responds:Tracy, I would give it about a week to ten days. The deer never stress out too much from chainsaw activity on a property unless it is prolonged.
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Kevin from IL asks:Love the semi-live shows and the new website! Keep up the good work! My question is about TSI. The NW corner of my 40 is covered with maples anywhere from sapplings up to 14" trees. There are a few oak and hickory trees scattered about, but mainly maple. I am planning some pretty aggresive TSI work after deer season this year. Would you suggest completely falling the maple trees or hinge cutting to hopefully provide a quicker bedding area? I know I can't expect to hold deer, but would still like to create a 10 or 15 acre sanctuary to maybe slow them down a little as they pass through.Winke Responds:Kevin, There is some decent market value to maple. In fact, I have done well selling maple over the years. It grows fast. I would not not cut the maple, but in a few years (it grows about 1/2 to 3/4 inch diameter each year) I would have a timber sale to remove the larger maples. I would not cut those maples until you get a forester in there to look at it and see if it is worth waiting for the maple in order to have a timber sale. After that, I would suggest hinging some and cutting most down. Hinge cut trees still keep sunlight from the ground so I wouldn't hinge them all. Also, doing some aggressive TSI might also help your existing maples to mature faster. Again the forester is the key person here. Good luck.
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Jason from PA asks:Hey Bill Love the show. I have a two part question. First do screw in tree steps really hurt the tree? I have been having problems of people using or taking my hang on laters and i was thinking on using the screw steps so i could take them out and put them in were i need. Your thoughts? Part two how far dose human scent travel? I hunt small farm country wood lots maybe a few hundred yards thick if i walk buy on the wrong wind will every deer know I'm there? PS what kind of grease do you use to quite your bow limb pockets from squeaking?Winke Responds:Jason, They can kill some oaks at certain times of the year. A beetle carrying oak wilt gets into the holes and kills the tree. It happens regularly, but usually only if you put in the steps and cut branches in the spring and summer. Fall and winter is usually OK. You can degrade the timber value if you leave them in the tree for years. The wood grain takes on a rusty streak (runs a long ways up and down the tree) from the steps. I have done exactly what you are talking about. I took out the bottom four steps for many years because I couldn't afford to buy tons of steps and that allowed me to hang more stand locations and also keep others out of my stands. To answer your second question, I just use axle grease. Yes it smells but I have not found a better alternative. A little bit (you only need a little bit of it) is OK. To do this right, you have to actually take the bow apart. You can't just smear it on there, unfortunately. You have to get deep into the pivot points. Good luck.
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ryan from MO asks:Hey bill, Great show check you out once a week. I killed the buck of a lifetime on our opener and wanted to say thanks, i feel i wouldnt have killed him had it not been for some of you and your prostaffs information. Thanks again for putting out a great show.Winke Responds:Ryan, I appreciate your suport and am excited that we could help you have a successful season. Good luck the rest of the season.
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Randy from MN asks:Hey Bill, I wanted to bring to your attention a new mineral i have been using for the past 6 months. Maybe you've heard of "Antler Attakk" It has been absolutely amazing the results i've seen since i put this stuff out. And it is not just salt like most minerals it has a ton of great nutrients and is reasonably priced. Check it out at www.antlerattakk.com It actually brought out a 6 1/2 giant we haven't seen on camera in 2 years. happy hunting and good luckWinke Responds:Randy, I will definitely take a look at it. I appreciate the heads up. Good to hear you have an old buck to hunt. Good luck shooting him.
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Chris from LA asks:I recently asked a question regarding the ranking of the deer states. I get another week of vacation next year and I'm contemplating adding another state to Kansas and Illinois. I'm not a big fan of Texas type hunting. I like the cooler weather up north. I like Kentucky and Missouri right now but I see a lot of leases in Nebraska available. What do you think about Nebraska? It seems to me that NE kind of gets overlooked.Winke Responds:Chris, I think it gets overlooked a bit. I have hunted it some and it can be good. There is not a lot of cover there, so the hunters are fairly concentrated and that can sometimes create competition. I was impressed with the Niobrara River valley when I hunted that area. Down south, the Republican gets a lot of attention and much of that is hunted pretty hard. The Missouri River breaks can be good too. I hunted the Platte and it was OK. We ended up hunting quail and pheasants more than deer because the farm I was hunting had been hunted pretty hard all season and the deer were skittish (nocturnal). Try to stay away from the popular areas and focus on lower profile areas and I think NE can be very good. Remember, limited cover is only good if the deer aren't gun hunted hard (they are very vulnerable) and if there aren't other bowhunters in the area bumping them. Under the right conditions, these small creeks and river systems can be easy to hunt and very productive. Like any situation, you need the right ranch/farm for best success. Good luck.
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kane from IN asks:I hunt on about 500 acres in the river bottoms and there are a lot of big deer there. The problem is i have not really an any encounters with any of these monsters every one talks about do you know why this could be?Winke Responds:Kane, Could be a number of reasons. First, maybe they aren't actually there. Consider running a trail camera to learn for yourself. Second, maybe they know you are hunting them because they see, hear or smell you approaching your stands. Those are the two most likely reasons. Or maybe they are just nocturnal (or nearly so) and they just don't move much during the day. All you can do then is hunt smart and hope a hot doe drags one by your stand during daylight hours. Be sure to be out there as much as you can from about November 3 through November 10. Good luck.
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Fiong from MN asks:BILL, is it possible to come visit you on your farm? It will be great just to meet you.Winke Responds:Fiong, It is very hard for me to keep up with all the day-to-day stuff that I have to do. Lots of interuptions and things to pull me left and right. I try to discourage people from stopping by. Sounds anti-social, I know, but I need to be able to get work done. At some time in the future I may host a field day at our farm and show everyone interested what I do here with regards to hunting strategies, how I break a farm down and how I set up my strategies for the season, entry and exit, etc. I think that would be a useful event and I could get everyone in at once. I will put out a blog if I ever get to that point. Not likely until next winter at the soonest. Thanks for your support and interest. I appreciate it.
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Jarrod from KY asks:Bill, please explain how thermals affect our scent. I've always thought that the change in temperature determined thermals. As the temperature drops, so do the thermals. As it rises, so do the thermals. Is this correct? Also what happens to our scent when the wind and thermals collide?Winke Responds:Jarrod, Yes, that is kind of it. But it is really more a factor of temperature difference. For example, for air to rise, it has to be lighter (warmer) than surrounding air. That means that there has to be other air nearby that is cooler. Part of this is related to sunlight hitting a slope and causing the air near the ground to warm up and rise through the air above it. Same goes for shadow. When shadows fall on a slope, the air near the ground cools and starts to slide down the hill because it is heavier. I have hunted rugged terrain in NE Iowa (MS River bluffs) and you have some thermals there, but only on still days. To really learn about thermals you need to hunt the mountains. In our relatively flat land in most of the Midwest (compared to mountainous terrain) the day winds (forecast wind direction) will easily overpower the thermals and dictate the local wind direction. This is not as true in mountainous settings because the temperature gradient (difference) between warm and cool is greater and the distance the thermals travel is greater (can be 100 miles of more) so they build into truly rushing winds. I have hunted areas on the east slope of the Rockys down below the foothills where the thermals are 10 to 15 (even 20) mph in the morning! In even rugged parts of the Midwest, a strong thermal might be one or two miles per hour - just a gentle drift that you feel on still days. I would never consider thermals in most areas except on still days. Good luck.
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Matt from IA asks:Last year bow hunting southern Iowa was tough, at least for me. I saw very few big bucks on their feet. I've heard people say this year should be more "normal." What are your thoughts?Winke Responds:Matt, Me too. It was tough! I am not sure that I heard a bunch of people properly predicting that last year's rut was going to be tough so why do we now believe that they are right about predicting that this one is going to be normal? Just hunt as much as you can on what are normally the best days of the season and take what you get. Sometimes you can react and make moves to hunt different areas if things are going bad, but you can't make bucks move when they don't want to move - short of driving them. Last year I thought the late season was very good. So sometimes if the rut is weak, you get other opportunities. Make the best you can from what you have. I personally think it is impossible to predict the intensity of the rut from one year to the next. I may well be wrong but I have hunted a bunch of them and it seems that there are so many factors that any one (like the moon) is not enough to shape the rut. Good luck.
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Chris from LA asks:Bill, I recently read Darren Warner's article in Petersen's BH and I have to seriously question his rankings of the top deer states. I know Kentucky should be pretty high but this guy has Mississippi ahead of Ohio, Iowa, Texas, and Illinois. What's he trying to do? Take some pressure off of those states? I personally think that P&Y bucks are so common in those states that fewer people actually score them or enter them. I find this article very misleading. What's your take on it?Winke Responds:Chris, No doubt that few people score bucks in the better states. I have quite a few that would make P&Y and have never scored one. Not that I have anything against P&Y, it just never ocurred to me that I needed to enter them in a register. I know what he was trying to do, break the numbers down by dividing the number of trophy bucks by the number of total bucks shot. Like you said, if the bucks aren't entered then it skews the data. I have hunted MS and LA and most of the states on his list. I still say Iowa, IL, KS and some of the others are better. You are right KY is a sleeper, as is OK. I think there is some awesome hunting in parts of OK. Some of the western states are also very good. The very easiest place I have ever seen for taking a P&Y buck without bait is Montana. The first time I hunted the Milk River there were 14 of us in the group. In five days, 12 of us killed P & Y bucks! Crazy. The easiest for taking a good P & Y over bait is definitely TX. Neither TX or MT have the upper end scoring bucks as regularly as the Midwest, but they have a ton of nice bucks.
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mike from IA asks:Bill, Just a quick note to thank you for spending so much time with us at Scheels on Saturday. It was very thoughtful and gracious of you to do so. I found your comments very informative and suspect they will prove to be useful. Best of luck this season...stay safe. Mike MonsonWinke Responds:Mike, My pleasure. It was actually the highlight of my weekend. Thanks for coming by to see me. Have a great day and good luck this season.
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darren from WI asks:hi my name is darren becwar me and my buddys all have cameras this year and plan on filming everything in this years 2011 bow season to try and make our own video we already have an elk hunt on film for this year we kill several big deer a year (bow only) and was just wondering if the video didnt work out if u would want some of our footage to put on your siteWinke Responds:Darren, We don't take footage from people other than our pro staff. We sometimes add new people to the pro staff, so that would be the only option. You are welcome to apply for the pro staff, but just realize that most of the new additions to the pro staff start out at what we call the developmental level until they gain some experience producing the kind of footage we need. What we do is much harder than just filming hunts. There is a whole story that you have to tell and that takes practice and experience to do well. Good luck with your project.
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Patrick from LA asks:Bill, I'm addicted to your website and have been from day one of its launching. The main show and all the others. I watch them all. Quality people and quality product! Just watched the 05 SEPT main show addition and noticed in the bonus footage during the credits you had your pants legs duck tapped. What was the reason? Deer ticks? I just hung stands in Ohio over Labor Day weekend. I hesitate applying insect repellent because of laying down scent and any potential residual left on the tops of the boots even after washing. But, when it comes to Lyme' Disease, better safe than sorry when the ticks are still active... thanks again.Winke Responds:Patrick, Chiggers (and it would work for ticks too). Specifically that day it was to keep chiggers off. It works great. You have to tape right to your boot tops and then remove the pants as soon as possible and toss them in the wash. It works great. Good luck.
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Jeremy from KS asks:You're in the stand all day hunting during the rut.... You've got to pee. Do you pee on the ground or in a bottle? I've heard both ways, what say you?Winke Responds:Jeremy, On the ground for sure! I have done all the research and talked to biologists about it - and done it myself for many years. I have not seen any negative response from hundreds of deer that have passed right under my stands over the years. Good luck.
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Sean from KS asks:Mr Winke, I have never bought anything on contract but do have some land for sale and been inquired if i was interested in selling it on contract. Now obviously there would be a lawyer involved and a legal contract written up but what are your thoughts when it comes to selling on contract? Thank you!Winke Responds:Sean, It is OK if you don't need the cash right away. Sometimes you will end with it back again. I have seen that happen. I have bought some things on contract, but most had a short-term payoff - like five years. Payments were set up like it was amortized over 30 years but then it had a lump (balloon) payoff. I did this because I was able to buy some time to save up enough money to make a bigger downpayment to make the bank happy. The only reason to sell on contract is to miss some capital gains in a given year or because you want to take the interest rate (if it is decent) instead of the cash and then trying to re-invest it. It works just fine. I have never sold on contract, but I have bought on contract a few times. Good luck.
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jeremy from OH asks:Bill wanted to tell you have the best show going and you are not affraid to tell us how to get on these deer, unlike alot of shows where it is all about them and what they did. thanks again If you ever need any taxidermy work done will be more than glad to help you, also what does it take to get me listed on your site Thanks jeremyWinke Responds:Jeremy, I sure appreciate the support and the offer of your services. We don't have open advertising on the site. The banners are only for the show sponsors so there really aren't any open advertising options. I am sorry about that. Have a great day.
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Tony from WY asks:Bill, I have been invited to hunt on a couple of farms in Iowa and need to know a couple of things if you don't mind. First let me say that your show is top notch! The farms in questions are in the area of Aplington and Parkersburg. What can you tell of the area? If you are unfamiliar then maybe you can direct me in the right direction. Thanks a buch and aim straight! TonyWinke Responds:Tony, I have never hunted that area, but I have driven through it a few times and played golf in Parkersburg a few times. It is farm country with mostly wood lots and occasional creeks or small rivers for cover. It is not a high profile area, but that can be good too. I would try to contact someone else who is more familiar with the hunting there. The best bet is likely to call the Game Warden in that area. Or possibly, you can get ahold of a local biologist. Contact the Iowa DNR through their website for the proper numbers. Otherwise, you can try to find an archery shop in that general area too, for more info. I am guessing it is good hunting because most parts of Iowa have at least some good deer (the worst areas are those that are nearly entirely farmland, of course). Good luck.
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Jesse from MO asks:Hi Bill, Thank you for the information you provide for us new comers, it is priceless, and only comes with experience. I'm a little excited this year to start hunting and have my trail cams out. One thing I'm having a heck of a time with though is when I go to check the cams I always get into seed ticks, which are nasty boogers and can ruin an afternoon in a hurry. I have cut the weeds down and raked my entry ways so when I start hunting I can enter quietly. My question is can I spray my walk way down with tick repellent so I can check my cams or does that upset the deer habitat too much? Thank you again, your show is one of my favorites, Jesse Central MissouriWinke Responds:Jesse, I have never tried it, but Game Hide makes a line called Elimitick. Also, there is tick repellant called permethrin that you can spray right on your pants and shirt. I always duct tape the cuff of my pants to my boots to keep them (an chiggers) from getting to my skin, but the best solution is to also spray with permethrin to actually kill or completely repel the ticks so they aren't staying on your pants. This will help a lot. Good luck.
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Doug from MD asks:Why is it so hard to draw a tag in Iowa?I keep trying but no luck.Is there a suggested region or season that is better than others?I went pheasant hunting in Mt.Ayre 5 years ago and fell in love with Iowa.It upsets me to see on tv so many people every year drawing tags over and over.Do I have to be a music or movie star to get drawn? Any help would be appreciated.Winke Responds:Doug, I think it is restricted to 6500 tags and each zone has its own quota within that total. Depending on the zone and weapon, most people draw every three to four years. If you want to draw sooner, forget about bow and get a gun tag. The odds are higher. The number of non-res bow tags for Iowa is limited to 30 or 35% of the total non-res tags. Many people put in for those bow tags. Good luck.
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Curt from OH asks:On your MW Properties site you talk about manipulation techniques for a property. What ethical difference is there between setting up a low fence 3-5 feet to help funnel deer vs opening a gate and hunting the gate opening or pulling down a strand of existing fence wire and hanging a stand by it?Winke Responds:Curt, There is really no difference, it is all in the sight of the person doing it. I never argue with anything that is legal, but there are somethings I don't do not because I think they are necessarily wrong, but rather because I just don't feel like doing them. I think it really just comes down to that. What creates the most satisfaction in bowhunting - not just the most bucks? Do the things that create satisfication (as long as it is legal). Good luck.
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Josh from OH asks:Bill, what type of SLR do you use for your hero shots and what lens do you prefer? I use a Nikon d3000 with a 18-55mm lens and I'm always looking for quality photography tips. Thanks for your time.Winke Responds:Josh, That camera setup will get it done very well. I use a Nikon D7000 or D2X and a 17-35 lens. I like the 18 mm setting for your shots. Make sure the closest thing to the camera is the antlers of the buck and get down to antler level - maybe eye level, but no lower. I shoot f 5.6 because I like the depth of field I get at that aperature. Good luck.
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Aric from WV asks:Hey Bill, I really like your shows, they are very interesting and helpful all year long. I just have a few questions about the timber stand improvement. First of all, how much room do you like to give your oak trees when clearing around them? Do you fertilize any of your oak trees? Thanks, keep the great shows comingWinke Responds:Aric, I don't fertilize. The distance depends on your goals. If your goals are to improve the timber value of that tree, you cut back only far enough to release the crown. You really don't want sunlight hitting the trunk of the tree consistently or it will sprout lots of small branches that reduce timber value. If you are interested in deer hunting first and foremost and have no real concern for the timber value, you can cut back farther to open up more ground around the tree for regneration of more oaks. There are also other considerations, such as whether are you releasing valuable or intrusive undergrowth by cutting back the trees aggressively. A forester is the best way to get those questions answered in your specific stand of trees. I release many of my oaks aggressively - especially the big old wolf trees that drop a lot of acorns.
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drew from FL asks:would you be able to tell me some hunting lodges, that you would swear by to hunt whitetail in ill. and wis.Winke Responds:Drew, Sorry, but I just don't make those reccommendations. I don't hunt deer with outfitters in the Midwest (not because I don't think there are some good ones but because I like doing it myself). So I don't have any firsthand experience with outfitters and hate to offer advice with experience. Do a web search and you should find several options. Then call their references. You will get a sense of who is good and who is blowing smoke pretty fast. Good luck.
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Curt from OH asks:Bill, another question here, I read you have 1000 acres could you discribe in a little detail how you go about your Timber Stand Improvement projects? Do you... Use a forester, divide your land into sections to harvest timber off of every 5-10 years in a rotation, do crop tree release every year, do you mess with any of the work or just hire it out??? and anything else you could teach us about this. Thank You for your time.Winke Responds:Curt, I did (had someone else do) 850 acres of TSI over a 9 year period. I broke it up and did one section per year. That was manageable and keeps the farm on a rotation with different areas at different stages of succession. I believe you will need to go through each piece every ten years. The second trip is to remove invasives (honeysuckle, etc) and to thin out the small trees to again maintain ground level habitat and encourage oak regeneration. I used a forester on the first segment and then just used the same strategy in cutting the rest. I hired the actual cutting done using cost share from various government programs. It is dangerous for non-professionals, so don't cut the trees unless you really know what you are doing. Very dangerous!! Go to the NRCS office (USDA) in the county seat and they can give you some details on the cost share programs. For more information check out our new website (there is a video playing there right now on TSI). This site is not quite ready for launch but very nearly so. We have a few more details to hit but it is pretty close to ready. You can check it out at: www.midwestwhitetailproperties.com. Good luck.
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Carl from IA asks:Bill, I have never missed a show since you started. You all do a great job and it has to be very hard filming and hunting. Question…how do you handle trespassing? Do you use signs, patrol or do you let people hunt certain parts? How do you handle the gun seasons? I know people that own land in your area and just wonder how you handle your land. Thanks for the time and looking forward to another season of Midwest Whitetail.Winke Responds:Carl, I don't post the farm. I hate no tresspassing signs. People know they aren't supposed to be there, my telling them won't make a difference. We live on the farm so it is pretty easy to know what is happening out there. I also have great neighbors that watch out for me. Most of the problems people have in rural areas come from hunters who are not locals or the problems come for non-resident or absentee landowners because they aren't part of the community. Those are harder to solve. Basically, someone needs to patrol the place regularly if you don't live on it yourself. Thanks for your support. Have a great day.
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Dean from NJ asks:Hi Bill, Love the shows! Well, me a few buddies are looking to buy some property in NY, PA, or maybe even Ohio (where i want to go). My question is, how many hunters can you hunt on around 100 acres. We will only be hunting the property maybe 2-3 weeks out of the year, plus turkey season? Any info would be great! Thanks! DeanWinke Responds:Dean, I know it is not what you want to hear, but really one guy - two max - on a piece of ground that size. Sure you can pile them in, but the hunting will definitely suffer with the greater activity level. Hope that helps.
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Will from AL asks:I know you are a family man and it always looks like you just finished playing with your kids! Serious question...I sometimes make videos of property that I hunt and use screen shots from google earth, bing maps, etc and post them to my blog...whatever is free. I was alerted by some of my viewers that occasionally there are obvious geographic giveaways on the maps and/or street numbers that give away the location of my property. Should I be concerned about this? Are people really crazy enough to watch a video on a blog and go hunt that property? I have good deer...really good deer. Should I be more careful? It seems that you might have some advice being a more public hunting figure and I assume more people may know the whereabouts of your property. Incredible 4 bucks, by the way!Winke Responds:Will, Thanks for the support. Maybe they are crazy enough, but doubt they will bother if you are hunting nice but not extraordinary deer. Most people are decent about that. But if you keep showing shots of big deer year after year, you may attract attention. Not to say they would necessarily trespass if you are around quite a bit, but if you aren't, you do run some risk. People know - that figure that stuff out pretty fast. In other words, if you are showing an area that you or friends don't patrol, I think I might shy away from showing landmarks and location details. Good luck.
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Brian from NY asks:Hi, my name is Brian and I just want to say that I love your show and a watch your online episodes during the season. I think it's really cool. I also have a group of guys that film hunts in multiple states around the country. Right now we sell DVDs and have online episodes for free. I'm concerned that with us expanding out of our local areas that we may start to lose some of our local sponsors that we have. I feel that we need to seek national sponsors from brand name or new companies. I'm asking you because you are the pro at this. Could you please give me some advice and some kind of idea about the amount of product or monitary(cash) sponsorship to ask for? How much do you get from one sponsor? Thank you very much and I hope to hear from you soon. -BrianWinke Responds:Brian, Thanks. I appreciate the support. I can't tell you the amount we get, but I can say the national sponsors are a tough nut to crack. Everyone goes after them. If you can keep a regional type of following (even if it is many regions) and then sell to local sponsors in each region you may actually have a better chance for make some money on the project. Otherwise, I think you will get a few (three maybe) tree stands, a few dozen arrows, maybe a couple of bows, etc. The companies will want to see if you impact their bottomline (can they see the difference in sales) before they pay you for a sponsorship. They have many options whereas the local companies have fewer good options making them easier to sell to. Granted, you won't get as much from a local sponsor for a specific market, but you won't be hitting your head against the wall like you will probably be doing with national sponsors. Have some numbers available (real numbers) and e-mail a few bigger brands to see what response you get. If the numbers are decent, you will get some interest, but it will take a while before that turns into paying sponsors. But, you have to try. You have to dream big!
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Will from AL asks:Why is your hat always crooked on your head?Winke Responds:Will, I guess I don't look in the mirror much. I am not usually too worried about how I look, to be honest with you.
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Live in ID but own land in NE MO that I have not hunted; is the whitetail hunting good in this area?mike from ID asks:Bill, I have watched your TV show and think it is only getting better. Thank you. Although I have lived in Idaho for the last 30+ yrs, grew up in SE Iowa. I currently own my grandfather's 420a farm SW of Memphis, Mo. Never have hunted wt deer there and don't see the size deer thats on your show there. Must be a difference in Mo deer management and Ia. I have hunted muleys here for many years but shot my 1st Id. wt last fall. The Id. panhandle has lots wts. Thanks again for sharing your show with all us hunters. Best wishes, Mike YantisWinke Responds:Mike, Thanks for your support. I have hunted whitetails in ID, have fly fished there and hunted elk and bears there - I love it there. It is an awesome state. Pam and I even considered living there after vacationing in the state in 1990. I hit and lost a big eight pointer in the early 90 when hunting not far from Peck. I hit him in the brisket (very low). So I never have recovered a whitetail there. NE MO is good deer hunting. It has some big deer. You may not see as many as you see in Iowa, but they are definitely there. I would recommend setting aside a week in early November to try it out. Good luck.
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Phil from NY asks:I've been having trouble editing & loading my videos from my video camera (hitachi) to my editing software (Pinnacle v15) The files are showing up as MTS files & i was wondering if you or anyone you know has a conversion or a fix so the editing software will recognize the file. I have also heard that it could be my computer, i'm running windows 7 64 bit & i've heard that i may need to run the 32 bit version. what are you working with? Thanks, PhilWinke Responds:Phil, We have no problem with that format. We run Windows 7 64 bit but use Adobe Premiere Pro. I am sure it comes down to the editing software you are using. I would contact Pinnacle customer support directly and see if they have an update. .mts is a common file format (it is in the mpeg family) so I would think they have a solution there. Otherwise, I am sure you can find a piece of software on the web to convert to mts to mpeg2, but that is just another step you don't need if Pinnacle has an update for you. Good luck.
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Jason from MI asks:Mr. Winke, hello from Michigan and congratulations on your great shows! What do you think of Tony Lapratt's techniques of making deer beds and time management for bucks (he says that the more food plots you plant the more buck deer will stay on your property because they have to scent check each plot)? I went to his boot camp two years ago and have done his techniques but they aren't working. Wasn't sure if you heard of these ideas and if I'm doing something wrong. He makes scrapes with rope hanging from the trees, but deer don't seem to be using mine.Winke Responds:Jason, Thanks for your support. I really appreciate it. I am sure some of Tony's concepts work. I have not been to his course but have heard some things about it. I know people who have gone. I have never felt like you can program a buck to do anything. You may be able to stop him in your shooting lanes with a scent post or something like that, but to completely change his daily patterns by manipulating his environment is a bit of a stretch - at least in my opinion. I suppose I had better keep my opinions to myself, without going through the course I am only basing my answer on second-hand information. But again, in general, it is very hard to program deer - especially bucks. You can change their tendencies a bit, probably. But you can't program them. Good luck.
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Mark from TX asks:Bill, Enjoy the show. Last year we had some success walking to our stands in the dark using powerful green flashlights. The deer had very little reaction and just walked off in very calm manner. I'm hoping to have the same luck with deer in Iowa this year on the plowed fields. Have you had or heard of any similar stories? ThanksWinke Responds:Mark, I used to hunt with a cameraman (actually it was Nick Mundt in the old days) that swore the deer didn't react to a red light and he used that when packing up each evening, but I have just never used lights. I usually do better letting my eyes get used to the dark and picking out landmarks that way. I get turned around easier when using a flashlight. Good luck in Iowa.
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cameron from AB asks:Hi bill, Id like to come down to Iowa and hunt some of those big bucks. Could you recomend a good outfitter? Thanks Bill, Looking forward to the seasonWinke Responds:Cameron, I don't like to recommend outfitters. In the first place, I haven't hunted with any of them so I can't vouch for their services firsthand. The cost is high enough that I would feel bad if someone took my advice and then had a poor hunt for whatever reason. I would rather suggest that you look up "Iowa Deer Hunting Outfitters" or "Iowa Outfitters" on a web search and then do your own research. There is just so much money involved that I hate to offer any suggestions without firsthand experience. Good luck.
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Joe from PA asks:Mr Winke would you be able to put me in touch someone from Illinois on a reasonable land lease.I would only be able to hunt one week a year, perferably the second week in November.It could be entirely unguided.I was able to hunt on a small lease last year and was so impressed with the areaWinke Responds:Joe, I am not the right guy for that. I don't stay very well connected in the leasing circles. I think a leasing middleman like Base Camp Leasing and Drop Tine leasing (I am sure there are a few more). Also, Whitetail Properties does advertise lease arrangements on their website, so it might be worth checking that out too. Good luck.
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Chris from LA asks:Wow! That DblG4 buck is a stud! Good luck with getting him. You might want to give Larry Zach a call and get some help from him! Ha. I'm a bit embarassed of the buck I posted on your Facebook page. All kidding aside the deer is actually a pretty good one for down here. I killed a pig under a corn feeder last week. I was in my Jeep so I had to go home to get my truck. When I came back there was a decent 8pt and 3 does eating corn 10 yards from the dead pig. I hear how much hunters hate pigs. Just how much do you think pigs bother deer?Winke Responds:Chris, Congrats on your buck. Yes that Double G4 is a whopper. I am not sure that even Larry could come up with a good plan for this buck. We have a pretty good idea from several years of trail cam photos and sightings where and when we might be able to kill this buck. He has tended be nocturnal through the years and that has made it tough. For example, we got photos of him regularly last year but never saw him. I have a few ideas of where to try for him, but we will see what the photos tell us this year. I don't know much about pigs, fortunately. I have hunted them and hunted around them some in TX and other areas in the south. I think farmers, ranchers and hunters hate them more than deer, but they do compete for available food in areas that don't have much and they tear things up - so they have to go. Good luck.
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Jordan from IA asks:Bill, are you planning on sticking with the AM35 again this year or do you have something different? I know you have said you really like the Maxxis. I have also seen a Carbon Element sitting around in some of your shots. Just curious as to what you are shooting. BTW, I was in Albia for work purposes last week and stopped by the Muddy headquarters just for kicks. That is a real cool place and they have great gear to boot. I thought about punching in the address you have on here to check out your place and then realized that your "headquarters" are probably just your home. I wish my office was out my back door. Anyway, hope your season goes well. God bless.Winke Responds:Jordan, I think I will shoot the CRX 35 this year. I also have a Carbon Matrix and I may use that, but the CRX feels good too. Both are awesome bows. We actually have an office in Albia where the guys produce the video. I work out of a home office where I write and shoot photos. I am still very involved in the video business, but increasingly I am letting the full time guys (Drew Yarkosky, Greg Clements, Jared Mills) handle that. We also employ five interns so there is a lot of action in that video office. We produce a lot of stuff there and it seems that everyone is really busy either learning or doing. Good luck this season too.
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Blake from SD asks:Bill, I'd like to add to the discussion on taxable prizes, if I may. I am a CPA in NW Iowa and I see a few taxable prizes a year. Prizes and awards are included in gross income on the Federal 1040. Cash awards are easier to deal with because they have a set value. Hunting trips are trickier because the company offering the trip will send the recipient a 1099 for the "fair market value" of the trip. This number can be outrageous at times concidering what the trip could be purchased for, and this amount must be reported as "gross" winnings. To the point, the winnings are taxable at your ordinary tax rate that applies.Winke Responds:Blake, Good information. We can't even go hunting without paying Obama! So guys and gals, be careful what you wish for, or at least be ready to incur the taxes if you win. Thanks Blake.
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Stephen from NC asks:Put your IRS cap on for me: Do you think that the people that win "fantasy" deer hunts get stuck with a huge tax bill at the end of the year? Most of these hunts are sweepstakes for big companies that would definitely write off the prize value on their taxes. I would hope a little cash is included with the prize to soften the blow...which of course would be taxable as well.Winke Responds:Stephen, I am guessing you are probably right. A prize is considered a windfall and the true value of that might be taxable. My guess is that a tax accountant would have to weigh in on this instead of me. I wonder how many of these giveaways actually get claimed. Also, I bet the true value is much higher on the giver's tax return than on the receiver's if you know what I mean. The true value might be a bit of a slippery eel. I never thought about it, but it is an interesting question.
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Seth from IN asks:Hey Bill, I was just wondering if you ever got that buck called the high eight and if you didn't, how much more has he grown and whats his age now? I'm not sure why but I can't wait to see the buck again.Winke Responds:Seth, I am with you on that. I can't wait to see him again too. We have not seen him since August of 2009. He just disappeared. I am guessing that his summer range was on our farm that year. Actually, a friend hunting in that area in 2008 said he saw a legit 170s eight pointer. I kind of ignored it at the time because bucks like that are very, very rare, but I am guessing that it may have been this year. Unfortunately, I have no idea what happened to him.
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Brian from NH asks:Bill, I just purchased a piece of property on 270th ave in Green bay Iowa. I was told you used to have a piece of property across the road (280th / 270th ave). Can you tell me a bit about the area and my expectations of deer quality? Looking forward to hunting it this fall. Thanks for any info... Brian Brochu Brian's Archery Shop (New Hamp.) 603-332-1041 cell..603-923-3316 www.BriansArchery.comWinke Responds:Brian, I did indeed. I sold it to a guy named Dave Nennig from Wisconsin. I think Dave is (or did) move to Iowa. I had some trail cam photos of a true monster (200 class giant 6 X 5). I didn't even hunt the deer because it was an hour from our home and because I wanted the next owner to know the deer was still there. Dave never saw the buck. Bottom line, there are some nice mature bucks in the area. Dave has bought up some good sized areas and is a devoted manager, so I think things will get even better. It was the best looking piece of whitetail land I ever owned, but I did a tax exchange and bought 400 acres closer to home that we hunt nearly every day of the season so it was a good move all-around. Good luck.
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tom from IA asks:Where can you purchase your videos?Winke Responds:Tom, We don't sell them. You have to watch them online. The shows take place during the season so they tell a story of the season with the main characters being the deer we are hunting. You can follow along as the pro staff tries to kill the bucks they have picked out and watch the strategies they employ. Thanks for your interest.
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mohammad ali from MI asks:HEY BILL, im sure you remember me, im the question man. Remember how i used ask you so many questions well i got another one, did you notice what was behinde you on the summer scouting video at 2:36 . was it buck or a horse or something, well just wanted to tell you. thanksWinke Responds:Mohammad, I remember you well. That is our dog, I was right on the edge of our yard!
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craig from MA asks:Hey Bill, My uncle and I just got a 10 year lease on 100 acres of prime hunting land this past spring. we have been at it hard cutting trails planting food and hanging stands. the property has been posted and we met with the fish and game to let them know who we were and that we did not want any trespassing . the only problem that we are left with is when we were scouting this property we found 14 treestands, now before we leased this nobody had permission to hunt this land so these stands were snuck in somehow. what do you think is the proper thing to do with the stands?Winke Responds:Craig, I would give them to the landowner (if he is nearby) to hold until after this coming season. If someone wants them back badly enough, they will come asking. After the first year, I would say they are yours. Also, if you run into the hunter during the season and he is asking for his stands, it is kind of nice to tell him, "It is at the landowner's home. You will need to go there and ask him for it." I love that. If the landowner is not nearby, I guess you have to pull them and hold them until someone comes looking. I have done that before a time or two and it works fine. They get mad, but when you give their stand back, everything usually smooths out. Again, I guess if you still have the stands after a year, they become yours. 23 stands on 100 acres? Wow, that number just sunk in! That is some serious hunting pressure - I bet at least ten guys. You will have to patrol the ground pretty hard the first year to retrain all those hunters. Good luck, you have your work cut out for you.
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Stephen from NC asks:I am a big fan of the semi-live format and really appreciate the authenticity of your show. In contrast, there seem to be dozens of new hunting shows on TV these days that have people killing a "buck-of-a-lifetime" every other episode. My hunting buddies and I were curious what percentage of these hunts occur within high-fenced properties. Care to venture an educated guess without naming names?Winke Responds:Stephen, I appreciate your support. I know most of the people on the shows and where they hunt. I would say the vast majority do hunt fair-chase but they travel a lot to hit only the very best destinations. I can't fault them for that, I guess. They want to shoot the biggest deer they can. I know of about three or four shows (a couple of them in TX and one that Larry Weishuhn hosts (he always tell it openly that the property is high-fenced)) that are mostly filmed inside fences, but I would say that most are not. I don't like to travel as long as our kids are young. I don't want to miss anything. And I really do enjoy hunting bucks I have so much history with right around home. One of our pro staffers, Joe Knochel said it best, "Without the journey, the trophy has no meaning." In other words it is the journey (the effort) that makes the success so sweet. I think that is what or viewers like - seeing the journey so our trophies then feel sweet even to them.
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david from ME asks:i was wondering how i could send u a picture of my nebraska buck i shot it last year when i was 13 it scored 186 5/8 dried and weighed 280 dressedWinke Responds:David, If you want to e-mail it to info@midwestwhitetail.com we will include it in our photo gallery from the last season. Send along a short recap of the hunt. Thanks and congratulations on a great buck.
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Raymond from NC asks:I was wondering what camera yall used for the deer photos and also what lens and other accesories you use. Im really interested in gettnig into wildlife type photgraphy. I been looking into getting the canon eos 60d and then upgrade lens overtime.Winke Responds:Raymond, I don't shoot a lot of still photos of deer, but I do have all the gear if I ever decide to. I may mess with it more this year when filming on the ground - carry the still camera too. Any good body will work. The real expense is the lens. I have a Nikon 200-400 f4 with vibration reduction that I use for some of my hunter setup photography. That lens is also very good for wildlife. It is actually a 600 f4 when attached to my Nikon body with the DX sensor because that sensor is smaller and produces a 1.5 multiplication factor on any lens. Not ideal for wide-angle work, but great for long range stuff. I would not like to go much below the f4 when you can afford it, because you need a lens that draws in plenty of light to stop a walking deer (without blurring) in low light conditions. The lower the f rating, the faster the lens, meaning you can shoot it with the aperature wider allowing a faster shutter speed to stop the movement. Good luck.
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Steven from IA asks:Dear Bill; I am a long-time enjoyer of your various publications, and I wanted to share a recent event that might constitute an important safety message to your bow hunting readers. My story is I knew to keep my arrows separate from others, and I knew that quick releases will sometimes unintentionally release an arrow. I never fully appreciated the danger of what might happen when the two possibilities occur simultaneously. Last month I was shooting with my son, and I accidentally picked up his arrow. When I pulled back, the arrow tip dropped to rest on my hand, and the quick release let go at the same moment I was realizing my error. It doesn't take much imagination to realize the potential for permanent injury, which I hope to spare any reader by sharing my embarrassing story. Fortunately my accident inflicted only pain and a determination to be safer. If you want to use this safety message, I can forward a digital photo which shows the separate entry and exit wounds.Winke Responds:Steven, You were lucky. It is good information for everyone to file away. Bows are very powerful and you really need to pay close attention to the arrows you load in them. If they are damaged in any way (except the nock, which you can replace), you need to throw them away, don't shoot them. Scott Prucha had an arrow break just in front of the fletching recently. It broke right when he released the string. Effectively this caused the bow to dry fire, but there was a pretty good sized piece of the arrow still attached to the string that did not (fortunately) hit his hand when the string went forward. The virtual dry fire caused some chaos with the bow, but nothing broke. Don't take your arrows for granted. Make sure they are not damaged. Happy to hear you are alright.
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Brian from KY asks:Really love the show, the fact that it is semi-live really gives hunters an idea of what is going on at the momemt. My question is, have you ever personally caught a trespasser on your property? If so, tell us about it.Winke Responds:Brian, I used to be part owner of a large farm on which I lived. That area attracted alot of attention and I did catch a few trespassers there. If they were innocent enough, I would let them off, but some guys pushed my buttons and we pressed charges. After that a few stands came up missing. Another time, we found several drag marks from deer (in the snow) and blood spots in the fields where the offenders came back for retailiation at night. The game warden used to set up roadblocks out on the main road and caught a number of people with uncased, loaded guns, etc. He would jump out of the ditch in front of slow moving vehicles and surprise them. It doesn't take long for those stories to make the rounds. One time he was on stand when I guy came sneaking past carrying a tree stand on his back. Not too smart. I have not had very many problems over the years and none in the past ten since we have lived in our current area. I try to deal with people respectfully and they seem to return the favor. I also try to work well with my neighbors. Confronting trespassers can be very emotionally charged. I remember one time wading into a group of guys with guns and all I had was a big bolt cutter. The only thing that came out it was some threats and one of them kicking my dog, but it could have gotten a lot worse. You have to try to keep a level head in these situations, but this is America. It is my land, I don't have to roll over. You should never be afraid to defend your rights of ownership just because someone is a bully. Again, best strategy is to call for help right away, take down the license plate number (when possible) and then tell the person you called the law before you do anything else. Don't let it become personal. It is your land, they have to leave - it is that simple.
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CARTER from NC asks:Dear Bill, Im am starting a new hunting show(muddy river outdoors) and i am getting a lot of ideas from watching your show, which i find very entertaining and helpful. Now i am needing some sponsors like yours and i am wondering what would be a good way to gain some. Sincerely, Carter ThomasonWinke Responds:Carter, That is a tough one. It can be done, but it is very hard and takes a lot of time. First you have to show some value to potential sponsors. That means you have to get some traffic to your site and people watching the show. I came into this with 20 years of experience in the hunting industry working with a lot of these same marketing departments through my work as a writer. Without that, it would have been much, much harder to get where we are now. It would have been impossible really. It has been hard enough the way it is. My advice is to do this for fun and because you love it. Do it well and then after you have a product and a following you can start to approach a few companies with sponsor requests. In fact, even then, they will likely want to see what you can do first before they ever pay you a dime, that means you will get a few products at best. Over time, as you show some value they may start to pay you a bit. Like I said, you are better off doing it because you love it; potential sponsorship might be icing on the cake some day. If you go into it any other way, you will be very discouraged by the lack of sponsor interest. It takes a lot of time and hard work! Good luck though. I hope I didn't diminish your interest, but there is no point in blowing smoke.
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Lee from KS asks:Hey Bill, just wanted to know if you all were planning to still create the website Midwest Whitetails Properties? Thanks!Winke Responds:Lee, It is actually live now, but we aren't promoting it yet as we have some work to do still. We are close to launching it. Like all things in life, this project has taken longer than we figured it would. It is pretty cool though. Thanks for the interest.
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Nate from MN asks:Hello Bill, In the May 23rd episode "Food plot plant and prep" you reffered to a food plot book when talking about sugar beets. What was the title of the book and where did you get it? I would really appreciate the info. Keep doing what you're doing, you do a great job with Midwest Whitetail! Thanks very much, NateWinke Responds:Nate, It is called Quality Food Plots from the QDMA. It is a great book with details about dozens of different food plot options, how to plant, etc. You can get it from their website: Copy and paste this link: Good luck http://www.theshed-qdma.com/store.php?seller=QDMATheShed&navt1=39796&pd=387660
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Ron from IA asks:I've been shooting video of bucks from my house through a $300 60mm spotting using a small digital pocket camera and a clamp deal. This works fairly well at 200-300 yards but most of the bucks are around 600-800 yards. I wish I could film them as I see them through the scope at 20X but my system requires I zoom in to 30X causing it to be blurry. Any suggestions for getting clear video at longer distances?Winke Responds:Ron, It is hard to do this without specialized equipment. We have some pretty cool devices that we use (made by Nikon) for this and have been able to film stuff as much as a mile away with ease (when there are no heat waves). But you should be able to get something useable by focusing the image even at 30X using the camera's manual focus feature. If it doesn't have one, I would borrow a camera from a buddy and see if it works better. Unless you are pushing the camera into the "Digital zoom" range, it should yield clear video once both the camera and the scope are properly focused. Try manual focus or a different camera and see if that helps. Good luck.
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Sean from IA asks:Ey thar Billy, I was just wonderin if u's know of any wives that like bein calld ol' ladies? Just had a hankerin to know so i's just figurd that i'd ask ya that there question. BTW...If they do i bet those chicks like bein called chicks too! (FYI: I dont ecourage you to post this on the "ax Winke" section)Winke Responds:Sean, Man, you can't Ax me if you don't want it posted! I think if the wife is actually quite old it might be OK to call her your old lady. I don't know if there are any rules of ettiquite on this, but it is likely described in some old english book somewhere. Keep it simple, if she is old you have grounds, go for it. Now the chick thing: this is a bit more complex, because as you know, the chick is the adolescent chicken. Unless these young ladies actually make a peeping or chirping sound, you may have a hard time coming up with a precedent in the annals of ettiquite to call them chicks. I think I would steer clear of that one. I hope I have helped you in this very serious matter!
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Elwin Page from ME asks:Hello My name is Elwin and I just have a question for u. Last night me and the old lady was trying to find something to do in Jan and I said lets got to the ATA Show because I watch alot of vids of it to c everthing new for the new year but I notice that is said not open to public do u know y that is? And do u know of any show that is open to the public? just was thinking that the ATA show was to the public because of all the people there and some of the companys was saying that there produces was on sale at the show. Would really like to have gone.Winke Responds:Elwin, ATA is a trade show - at least that is the way it is supposed to be. In other words, it is supposed to be only for the media, retailers (dealers) and the manufacturers. If they have sales at this show it is only sales for dealers who they encourage to book their orders early so they know how much of a product to build, etc. Anyway, the only way to get into the ATA show is to go with a dealer. Otherwise, the best option might be the Harrisburg show, but that is in Feb, I think. That is a huge consumer show. Also, deer classics are a good choice. The Ohio show is probably the closest big one. We went to that for a couple of years and likely will again in the future. That is in the late winter sometime. The SHOT show is also in Jan, but it too is a trade show and is for the entire hunting and shooting trade, not just the archery industry. Hope that helps.
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Robert from IL asks:I subscribe to Petersen's Bowhunting. I consider myself to be an above average fanatical hunter. At now 54 years old I've lived, hunted and fished in Alaska and in Washington State for many years before moving to Illinois, of which I only bow hunt here. So, again considering myself above average, yet not a know-it-all, I still learn things from you and Randy Ulmer in Petersen's. You and Randy I respect the most out of the other writers in Petersen's and other magazines. So when I bring you up in conversation to my other bow hunting bud's I don't know how to pronounce your last name Winke. Is it as the word wink? Hmmm! Dumb question?Winke Responds:Robert, Thanks. It is pronounced "Winky". Not exactly a manly name, but at least it is fairly unique. People don't forget it! Have a great day and thanks for your support.
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brian from OT asks:me again by post to the uk i ment hats tshirts ect as i dear stalk in the uk and would like one of your camo caps. thanks briWinke Responds:Brian, I guess right now we are not set up to ship overseas. We have shipped to Canada, but not to Europe yet. I don't mind sending hats to the UK, but I am pretty sure it will cost us much more than the order amount to ship it. We just aren't set up. Do you have anyone state-side that is heading your way in the near future we can ship it to? Thanks for the support, regardless.
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Andrew from OT asks:A friend will be recording footage on a Canon XHA1S. I wont have access to the camera to transfer to my computer. Can I use my Canon XL1 to transfer the footage via firewire? Will the XL1 read the info on the tape? Thnaks.Winke Responds:Nope, that won't work. You need another HDV camera. It doesn't have to be a Canon to work, but it does have to be HDV. We use an inexpensive Canon HV30 as our "capture deck" at the office to capture HDV that comes in from the pro staff. Hope that helps.
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brian from OT asks:Do you post to the uk.Winke Responds:Brian, On the web, you can access all the shows from anywhere in the world. We have some viewers from the UK. Best regards.
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William from AL asks:Bill, what is the best strap on camera arm with a fluid head? Would like to keep the price under 150...Winke Responds:William, Not sure you can get it done well for $150. The head I like for small cameras is the HDV 701 from Manfrotto. It costs about $125 by itself. They have lower end heads, but they are kind of sticky and not very smooth and they still cost about $80. The best small camera arm is the Muddy Outfitter, which runs $160. I am sure you can find some low-end arms tht will be less but the quality of the video will suffer (not as stable) and you will always be fighting to get it squared on the tree and locked solidly in place. I hate to tell people to spend more than their budget, but you really are better off waiting and saving up until you can afford this minimum setup. Good luck.
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jason from VA asks:why does my camera take one picture, then stop?Winke Responds:Jason, I am guessing it is just broken. There may be a setting, but likely it is just a defective camera. That is the disappointing aspect of trail cameras - there are a lot of junky ones on the market. That is why I selected TrailCamPro.com as our camera sponsor. They are a retailer, but do a lot of independent testing to determine which cameras are the best. They also report which ones have the lowest return rate, so that is helpful. I would never buy a camera without going to that site to select the best ones for the price. Good luck.
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Sean from IA asks:Hi Bill, Thank you for staying so current on "Ask Winke"...I look almost every single day to learn what you have to say. My question for you is...how did you get to be so awesome yet stay to grounded? :-) Thanks!Winke Responds:Sean, You are very nice. Not to speak in riddles, but you might get a kick out of a few analogies. I believe God gives us each a certain gift (or gifts). It is our responsibility to develop those gifts because by doing so we make the giver look good, but it all started from the gift. It is hard to take credit for something that was given to you. It is hard for the pot to say, "Look at what I have made myself into," when the potter is sitting right there with clay on his hands. Hope that makes sense. I appreciate all your support. Have a great day.
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Evan from IN asks:i was wondering what your maximum range to which you will shoot a deer is. i shoot 50 yrds at the range but will only shoot a deer at 40. do you shoot the same at a deer as you would at the range?Winke Responds:Evan, I am with you on this one. I shoot 60 on the range but only 40 on deer. Even if I felt I could hold the pin steady enough under the excitement to make a 50 yard shot, the deer don't hold still. They are always taking a step, turning, etc. The longer the arrow is in the air, the more likely it is for the deer to move slightly and cause a miss or poor hit. 40 yards is a good maximum for people who practice a lot and have good shooting ability.
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Brandon from MO asks:Bill, Just wanted to know when the Midwest Whitetails Properties website was going to be up and running. Thanks for all the great content you provide. -BrandonWinke Responds:Brandon, Jason Vickerman is actually developing that (one of the local guys on the pro staff) and he is very close to done. We are still waiting on some graphics from the graphic designer, but I would say it will be up soon. Probably within a week or two. Have a great day.
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JOSH from PA asks:Hi Bill, I was writing to tell you I loved the "Dark Side" article, especially where you said that bowhunting was all about the quest and not what a buck scores. No offense, but I hope Midwest Whitetail does not get so big that you quit writing articles. I have a question also. I was blessed with two little girls...one is 3 and one is 4 months old. Do you have any advice for me how to get them interested in the outdoors and hunting in the next few years? i really love to hunt deer and i desperately want to introduce them to the outdoors.Winke Responds:Josh, Thanks for the support. I like writing and don't plan to ever quit. I actually like it better than the video stuff. I introduced our two children to deer hunting by taking them along on blood trails. It is a big adventure for them. Even though they were very young, they still remember their first blood trailing experience. They still love it today, and took to hunting naturally after that. They were a bit squeamish about the field dressing, but we used it as a science project to show them what various parts of the deer's body do. It is very healthy for children to grow up with this kind of understanding. Have a great day.
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Chris from LA asks:Hi Bill. I just got done reading "The Dark Side of Deer Management" myself. You are absolutely right. The exact same phenomenon has happened on our place in Louisiana. We were leasing the farm land to a corn farmer and we got used to having and taking big deer (by Zachary, La. standards)and now that they are few and far between we're holding out for animals that don't even exist! I'm hoping we can change things with protein supplements and American Jointvetch summer plots but for now, it's not very much fun. Great article!Winke Responds:Chris, I have gotten a fair bit of feedback on that article and seems the problem I face is very common. We are fortunate that our good bucks are 160s, but it doesn't change the fact that no matter how big they are, eventually yow want to see bigger. If you focus on antler size to judge your hunting enjoyment, you will eventually start to get discouraged. Focus on age and the history you have with a buck and you will really enjoy hunting him regardless of his antler size. In your area, the food will help some to make them bigger. I hunted a place along the River down there where the owner planted tons of winter peas and brassicas and the bucks did well on them. I almost shot a buck there that I swear was in the 180s net typical. He would have been the LA state record bowkill had I gotten the job done. I had him at 15 yards when I was sneaking up on anoher buck. I was at full draw waiting for the big one to take one more step when he either spotted me or smelled me and turned to run. So with the right food, LA can produce some giants (at least along the River). Good luck.
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gary from WI asks:Just a quick comment. Just read your article in Petersons bowhunting about Dark Side. This is hitting the nail on the head. I'm the guy from Wisconsin with 1000 acre tract that has commented to you in the past about the same difficulties. I have changed this season to make it fun again. We each put 100 dollars in a pot, target 5,6,7, and 8 pointers that have to be 3.5 or older and less than 140". Winner is decided by all of us and may be either the ugliest or oldest deer. I will put 2 older trophy bucks on a hit list but if one of the hunters shoots this deer, they are out of the pot. Hopefully I can preserve some of the middle high end deer and still possibly achieve my goal of a 200 inch deer but take the pressure off everybody who is being expected to hold out for a 170 inch deer or better. We have gotten so good at figuring out this farm that the trophy deer don't have a chance when a camera finds them as the guys hang on that ridge in the funnels and eventually thatWinke Responds:Gary, I agree. Good plan. You have to focus on a realistic way to decide what to shoot. If it is based on antlers, you will have long seasons of frustration with occassional high points. I would rather enjoy every single day and every single deer that God gives me and the only way I can find to make that happen is to focus on age and not antler size. Yes, I will still enjoy shooting a big one, but I am definitely not going to obsess about it. If he comes along, great. If not, that is fine too. I will shoot the good mature bucks that cross my path and enjoy them for what they are - a true test of hunting skill and patience. No need to put a number on that experience. Keep it fun.
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john from AR asks:Hello Bill Thanks for the time you put in. I really enjoy MWW. Im looking at a new field dressing knife. Have had a three bladed gut hook-saw-skiner from browning for the last couple years. Its a great knife just starting to get some wair on it. Any suggestions. Thanks agian johnWinke Responds:John, I have always been a fan of Browning knives. I think they offer great value. I also carry their portable saw as my limb saw. It is very sharp and the best folding limb saw I have found. No reason to change now unless they have stopped making that model. I have also bought several knives from Cabela's. They are good too. As you can tell, I am a knife guy. I have about 30 or 35 in my collection and I rotate through them during the hunting season. I love knives because they symbolize success. You pull them out to gut a deer and that is always a great moment. Good luck.
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Martin from NY asks:Just received my book "Setting up the perfect hunting bow". Thanks! I had no idea you were such an artist! Martin VacinekWinke Responds:Martin, I appreciate the comment and thanks for ordering. I hope it is useful.
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Justin from VT asks:Hi Bill. I was wondering if you've experienced any hearing loss from a lifetime of hunting? I always hear that each gun shot without hearing protection does permanent damage, yet I know people who are in their 70s and have never used hearing protection, but can still hear very well. I know you mainly bow hunt, but I'm just curious about your experiences/thoughts on the subject. Thanks very much.Winke Responds:Justin, I grew up shooting shotguns - I was a a big time bird hunter. I don't think I have any hearing loss, but then I wouldn't know for sure since I have no basis for comparison. When I get my hearing tested, it is fine. I still feel that having hearing protection is important. I would also wear ear muff when operating loud equipment, even when driving a tractor without a cab. I know that continued loud noises can affect your hearing. I am not sure about a few thousand gun shots per year. For sure there are better experts on this. I know several friends who have shot a lot of guns without affect, but I also know people who swear by hearing protection. You will really need to ask someone more knowledgeable than me.
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jacob from AR asks:I was wondering if you could tell me step by step how to do my own european mount on our deer? My sister and dad both got good quality bucks last year and they want me to do them. Hopefully I can learn how to do it so we can start doing that instead. Love the show and watch it every week. Thanks!Winke Responds:Jacob, There are sevearal ways to do it. I will give you the basics and you will have to learn a bit of it by trial and error within this framework. First, of course, get a big pot and burner (turkey fryer systems from Cabela's, etc. work well for this). Next, put the head in and fill it nearly full with water and get it boiling. You will likely have to use a wire to hold the head in the right position. Boil it for awhile, I am thinking about an hour if the head was skinned and longer if not. Pull it out and scrape off all the meat you can with a knife and put it back in to boil again. Maybe 30 minutes this time. Then scrape again and use a wire with a hook at the end to pull the membranes out of the sinus cavity. Be very careful not to rip the thin bone structure here as it is a very important part of the finished product. Use a stiffer wire hook to remove the brain and the membranes in the brain cavity. Wear latex gloves to keep from getting the brain on your hands. It is likely not a big deal, but why mess with it. Boil again for another 30 minutes with fresh water this time and do a final scrape and clean up with the wires. All totaled, it takes about three or four hours of total time from start to finish. Obviously you can do something else while it boiling as long as you check regularly to be sure it is not boiling over. Set the heat so it rolls, but not boils over. Some guys will use a pressure washer to clean out all the membranes but I have never tried that. I hear it works really well though, saving a lot of time. Final step, paint the skull with 40% solution peroxide that you get from a hair salon and set in the sun for a day. Repeat this for one more day and you are done. Good luck.
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Jeremy from MI asks:Hey Bill. Love the show and website. I only have about 8 acres of hardwoods on my property and it is pretty wide open. I want to cut some trees to create more cover. I was wondering if you leave the stumps and tops after you cut the trees? I do not have a lot of equipment other than a chainsaw and a quad. Do I do anything with the forest floor after I clear the areas, or just let mother nature take its course? Thanks JeremyWinke Responds:Jeremy, I just let mother nature take her course, but you could also use some of the cut trees for firewood. I feel like that trees laying there helps to keep the deer from browsing as aggressively in that area (protects new growth) so I like them. However, a word of caution. This is irreversible, just make sure you know what you are doing first. If you have doubts, contact a local forester for advice. Make sure the person understands your goals. Once you cut them down, you can't put them back. Good luck.
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Chris from LA asks:Hi Bill. I've been contemplating trying to set up a hunt or two on the farm I hunt here in Louisiana for terminally ill kids or something of that nature. I've been told that it is really difficult to get all of the legalities of it right. Have you ever dealt with this issue?Winke Responds:Chris, I have not, but I know people who have (and do). I am certain you can do this in an informal manner by simply inviting families (you will want at least one parent there) through local hospice or even through a contact you have at a local hospital. If that doesn't produce the results you are looking for, I would partner with a national organization like Catch A Dream. That is a good group. I have been to a couple of their fundrasiers and it is a first class organization. They are often looking for hosts in various parts of the country so that might work out well. Beyond that, I am not sure how to formalize the effort in legal terms. I think I would leave that to a group like Catch A Dream. Good luck on a great cause.
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Mike from AL asks:Bill What the !!!! Getting tired of having to resubscribe every week because I no longer get the show e-mailed to me . What's going on?Winke Responds:Mike, Your service provider is probably blocking my messages as spam. I have to delete about 60 each time I send out a mailing because they were blocked. If I keep sending to those addresses for some reason, I get blacklisted on various other big services (like yahoo). So there are quite a few that try to subscribe and then can't receive my e-mails. If you have another e-mail address through a different provider, that might work. The only other option, if it is worth your time, is to contact your mail provider and add midwestwhitetail.com to an approved list. Hope that helps. Sorry for the problems.
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cameron from AB asks:Hi Bill I was wondering if you ever do any hunting with a longbow? also would you be interested in having a canadian show? Me and my brother are starting to film our hunts and would like to be on the showWinke Responds:Cameron, I shot a nice buck with a recurve while shooting instinctively back in 1992. It was a good learning experience. I spent three hours per day shooting for 9 monnths. I got decent but not great. That was back before the business took off and before we had kids so I had lots of time. After that season I decided that as much as I enjoyed the bow and style of shooting, I was just not good enough at it to feel like I was doing an ethical job in the field. So I hung the bow up except for fun shooting. I have shot longbows, but have never hunted with them. It takes some very special skills to shoot traditional equipment well. We may add a Canadian show at some point. We are kicking it around with a few people, but at this time we have no plan to add one. Thanks for your support.
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Darren from OK asks:Bill I love the show keep up the good work. Why is it that your season starts in September and in Oklahoma it doesn't start until October 1?Winke Responds:Darren, The only season open here in Sept is the youth season. Our regular season starts Oct 1 too. However, several states open much sooner. In ND, for example, the season opens in early September, mid-September in MO and MN and WI. Etc. I guess it is just the way the laws are written. There is no biological reason for waiting until Oct 1.
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Jordan from IN asks:Bill the last weekend here has been youth turkey season and ive been hitting it hard but i can't even get a gobble even with locator calls. I know the stormy weather might have something to do with it, but as we left we watched two toms payed absolutely no attention to the hens 20 yards away from them. Do you think the mating might not have started? were hunting in central indiana.Winke Responds:Jordan, I still think they would have been gobbling at this time of year. My guess is that it is weather-related. Some mornings they are just quiet. I don't know a lot about turkeys so I may not have enough experience on this one to help you. Good luck.
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Kaleb from MI asks:I was wondering if you guys turn your deer heads you find while shed hunting in to nice European mounts or if you just leave them the way they are. Also what were those cameras Jared and Greg were using that were mounted on their bow. Thanks for the great show.Winke Responds:Kaleb, The bigger ones end up being nice European mounts. The others just go on the shop wall. Anything rotten has be boiled down first so it is presentable either way. They were using a Hero Go Pro camera on the bow. Have a great day.
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Jason from IA asks:Is there any rhyme or reason as to why turkeys will be vocal one day and not make a peep the next? I recently was on a hunt where I saw several birds fly down off the roost so I know they were in the area but never made a sound. I checked with 3 other guys hunting that morning that were 10-20 miles away and none of them heard a gobble either. Just wondered if weather conditions or other factors might be causing this. I know this is an age old question with turkey hunters, but I thought if anybody could shed some light on the subject it would be you Bill. Thanks!Winke Responds:Jason, I have hunted turkeys quite a bit, but I am no student of turkey behavior. I think weather is the main thing - probably stuff we aren't feeling - like barometric pressure, etc. On a more localized level, if they are roosted with hens that might make a difference in how vocal they are too. But I would say what you are seeing is weather related. Good luck and have a good Easter.
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jonah nye from NC asks:Could i have your email? i am writing a research project and would like to interview you on the subject shed hunting i am in 8th grade and my essay/research project is do soon if you answer back i will send you the questions or you if i could call you thatd be nice too but i will also send you a copy of my research project when finished if youd like thanks!(: Jonah nyeWinke Responds:Jonah, Sure, you can get me, at least for now, at info@midwestwhitetail.com. Happy to help.
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Bob from WI asks:Hello Bill, I'm looking into trying purchase recreational property in Iowa. I understand the issues of obtaining preferrence points as of non-resident, and how it can take a few years to draw for an archery tag. I was wondering your thoughts on the late muzzle loader season, if you know other non-residents who chosen this route in obtaining a permit on a more frequent time line. And correct me if I'm wrong, are you able to use archery equipment during that time period? Lastly, is there any talk of the state looking into non-resident landowner tags in the future?Winke Responds:Bob, They look into that every year. I have no idea what the status of the legislation is at this time, but it is an ongoing issue. I have no idea if it will pass or when. The late muzzleloader season can be good hunting - if you have the food. That tag is generally about twice as easy to draw as the bow tag. And you can use your bow during that season. Hope that helps. Good luck.
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Ryan from IL asks:Bill, love the show, I look forward to it each week! You mention that you are trying to control honeysuckle/russion olive on your property. I have over 200 acres of woods choked with honeysuckle. Have you found a good way to kill honeysuckle during the winter months? I have only had good success applying roundup or tordon to freshly cut stumps during the growing season. I have tried cutting the honeysuckle in the winter and applying a foliar application of roundup shortly after resprouting but with much less success. ThanksWinke Responds:Ryan, The best way to kill that stuff is to cut it off if it is over about 6 inches in diameter at the base and spray with Tordon. Read the label for instructions on how to dilute and apply. If it is under about six inches, you can spray the base of the tree - right on the bark. It is called basal bark spraying. Use Garlon, Remedy or Relegate. Again, be sure to label for the best dilution rate. Most of these types of herbicides required dilution with something like crop oil. Foliar application is too messy - too much collateral damage to other plants to suit me. In a solid stand of honeysuckle, you might be able to make that work well. We have never tried that. Good luck.
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Kevin from WI asks:I was wondering if my friend James and I could hunt for a weekend on your farm? If we can't hunt it are you ever thinking of raffling off a hunt? Hope you say yes!! ThanksWinke Responds:Kevin, Maybe we should think about doing something like a raffle. I have always tried to keep my actual hunting separate from the business - it is my escape. I have never tried to make any money on the actual hunting itself. There are many ways that I could. I make money by writing, taking photos and producing video - the actual hunting is free from the taint of business - it is still pure. I kind of like it that way. It may seem like a thin line to some people since all the other parts of the business depend on my hunting, but to me any kind of line is still a line even if thin. After 20 years of doing this as hard as I can every day - I will take a thin line when I can get one. I can get free from the pressure of all these deadlines that hang over my head every day by simply going hunting - with no strings attached. I don't really want to turn the hunting itself into a business. Anyway, I think that sounded like a no didn't it? Again, maybe someday my thoughts will change but for now - I don't want to commercialize my actual hunting.
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Patrick from IL asks:I was just wondering what state you live in now and what state that you grew up back then?Winke Responds:Patrick, I live in southern Iowa and grew up in NE Iowa. I have lived a few places in between. I lived in southern Michigan right out of college and then after my wife and I got married we traveled some and ended up living in southern TN for six months. I lived in NE Iowa again, then southern Iowa and then southern Michigan and now wouthern Iowa again. I could work almost anywhere with my writing job. I'm a bit less portable now with the video business. Pam is from Michigan that is why we ended up back in MI for a few years. We bounced around a lot like many young married couples do. It is unlikely that we will move again in the foreseeable future. I hope you have a great day.
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Patrick from IL asks:The Illinois Deer and Turkey classic is this weekend. Are you going to be there?Winke Responds:Patrick, Unfortunately, we will not be there this year. Probably again next year. Hope you enjoy it.
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Patrick from IL asks:I was just wondering if when people are asking you a question on this sight if they are really asking you the question or do you have other people that work for you answer these questions? There are millions of people in United States and you can't possible answer all of them.Winke Responds:Patrick, I answer them all. Fortunately, there aren't a million people asking!! I do get snowed under in November. That is by far the toughest time. I spend more than an hour per day answering questions at that time. I spend a lot of time during the off-season too. I need to do something different before next fall. It will eventually become unmanagable. I have some ideas. Good honest question though.
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Brad from WI asks:Hi Bill, I was wondering if you have a lot of apple trees on your farm and if so what type. I'm a big fan and never miss a show. Keep up the good work. BradWinke Responds:Brad, I have planted red and yellow delicious. My research suggested that they produce well in my area. We have had some bad springs for apples (late frosts) so the past two years have had almost no apples. I have about 35 trees remaining from 40 that I planted back in 2007. I need to plant about 100 more when we get some more trees available locally. They are a pain to plant because you have to fence around each one of them to keep the deer from hammering the twigs and leaves. Eventually, the trees should be big enough that I can pull the fence and let the deer eat the apples in season. Apples need a certain type of location (less likely to frost) so do your research before planting. Good luck.
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scott from MI asks:Hey bill I was just checking out some tips for filming hunts from the question part of your site. I read that you had a GL-2 you might be interested in selling. I was wondering if you still had it for sale? I am looking for a good used GL-2, and if I could get one from the great Bill winke all the better. (Feel free to offer a price break for that last sentance) seriosly though if you still have it I am very interested. thanksWinke Responds:Scott, Thanks for asking. Though we have switched over to all HD at my office, I have a GL2 here but unfortunately the zoom rocker is broken on the hand grip so I am going to have to keep it. They are too expensive to repair so it is not worth it. I just sent it in for new heads so it is almost like new from that standpoint. We will just use it for odds and ends. We don't use the hand grip on those little cameras so it really doesn't affect us much in the way we film. I would love to sell it to you otherwise. Hope you find something decent out there. I bought some off ebay a while back and that worked out pretty well. Good luck.
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Kim from DE asks:What do you do to prevent the problem of ticks and the attachment they can develope to people? Kim Seaford,DeWinke Responds:Kim, The tick problem isn't real bad where I live now. When I lived for a short time in TN I used to tape my pant legs to my boots with duct tape and then spray permanone (permethrin) on the pants (don't get it on your skin). That kept them off. I am not sure if that stuff is even avaialble any more. A more modern solution is clothing specially designed to keep them from your skin. Cabela's makes BugSkinz (undergarment system) and Game Hide makes ElimiTick. Both work. I would simply tape my pants to my boots and spray the pants with permethrin. You can buy big spray bottles of the stuff fairly reasonably by doing a search on the web. Sawyer Products makes a nice big spray bottle solution. Good luck.
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dennis from PA asks:A friend at my archery league told me you had a recipe for buying and preparing my own minerals instead of buying them prepackeged such as deer cocaine. I'd like to set up some mineral stations and hope you can save me some money while doing it. I'm new to your site but like what i see, thanks, DenWinke Responds:Dennis, Glad to have you here. You can find it in this video blog: http://www.midwestwhitetail.com/publish/posts/701/creating-mineral-sites.html And this written blog: http://www.midwestwhitetail.com/publish/posts/99/guest-blog-mineral-stations-and-deer-cameras.html I don't have links built into the Ask Winke section, so you will have to copy and paste to your browser address bar. Good luck.
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Mike from FL asks:Bill, are you the Bill Winke I knew from Waukon, Iowa?Winke Responds:Yep, that's me. I haven't changed a bit, right? That's why you couldn't recognize me. Now I'm just old.
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Matt from MO asks:Do you have any good deer jerky recipes you want to share or maybe links to ones you have tried and liked before?Winke Responds:We actually ran a blog about that last year. Kurt Schroeder makes some awesome venison Jerky. I have eaten it many times. In fact, I wish I had some right now. Here is his recipe. Please cut and paste the link to your browser: http://www.midwestwhitetail.com/publish/posts/688/how-to-make-great-venison-jerky.html
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JK from DE asks:What steps do you take to minimize the chances of being bitten and infected by disease carrying ticks in your hunting and scouting forays into the wild?Winke Responds:JK, In bad areas, I tape my pant legs to my boots so they can't enter there. But a better solution is to use an actual system designed for tick control. There are several tick guard products on the market. I believe that Game Hide makes a tick repellent clothing system. There are also thin undergarment systems that keep the ticks from your skin. I think you can find those in Cabela's and other mail order catalogs or online. Good luck.
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Justin from KS asks:Bill, love the show and thanks for all you put into it, I have really enjoyed hunting much more this year thanks to you and your staff, and thanks for your answers to my previous questions. here's the next question. How can I clean a deer skull that I found from this last season. It's pretty rotten. I saw your episode about european mounts but didn't know if that would be ok for a rotten old deer. Thanks for all you do.Winke Responds:Justin, It will work on rotten deer too - no problem. Just do a google search under "making a European mount" and you will find lots of good advice. My method works well, but there may be other ways that work as well with less work. Good luck.
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Steve from OH asks:Hi Bill, love the show, first time asking question. My Dad and i are considering using you with that online consulting thing. The only draw back is that my cousin and uncle own and hunt the same farm we do. They hunt in almost the same spots all the time and hunt over feeders. My dad and i are trying to do it right by shooting does and watching wind and so forth. Its very discouraging hunting with them and please give me some pointers on what we should do. They pass up little bucks but we cant get them to agree on watching winds and shooting does. Thanks for your time!!!!!!!!!!!! Ps. My dad and i shot three mature bucks in recent years. I shot a 143 with my bow last year and a 143 with my muzzleloader this year. These bucks were 3/8 inch different and were shot out of same stand. Thanks alotWinke Responds:Steve, Congrats on the success. I am not sure if I can help you or not. No matter how good you do at controling your own impact, if other hunters are doing the wrong things at the wrong times in the same areas, it can be tough. However, if the farm is big enough we might be able to find some spots that they haven't thought of, or we may be able to summarize the plan in such a way that you can show it to the other hunters as a kind of plan to hunt the farm correctly. I am certainly not going to over-sell this. I believe it is a useful service, but likely won't help everyone if they can't get away from other hunters. Managing people is always harder than managing deer and it is even tougher when those people are family. Focus on the positives of getting to share hunting adventures and forget about the friction. In the grand scheme of things - a few more deer on your wall isn't worth any hard feelings within the family. Good luck.
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Larry Brown from OH asks:Dear Mr. Winke, Do you feel hunting deer over bait piles and mineral licks is an ethical way of hunting. I'm a little confused about how a so-called hunter can take pride in harvesting an animal that they have clearly domesticated. What has happened to the true meaning of hunting? I feel the sport of hunting is being lost. Children nowadays are being taught that dumping hundreds of pounds of corn on the ground is preparation for the upcoming season. What happened to scouting natural food sources, rub lines, scrapes, bedding areas, etc.? Hunters used to have to earn their trophys when i began bowhunting. Now, anybody with with enough money to buy a cross-gun aka (crossbow) and hundreds of pounds of bait can spend a few hours on opening day and kill a wall-hanger. I had the misfortune of being in the same room as one of your Pro-Staffers the other day and he actually said "I sure hope there aren't any acorns or apples next year". Don't get me wrong, I love your publication andWinke Responds:Larry, Baiting is a controversial issue. I have hunted in a number of places where it was legal (Kansas and MI for starters, possibly others) and didn't use bait, but I have hunted over bait in Texas. It is not the same experience for sure. I am with you - I don't personally enjoy the experience over bait as much as the experience hunting natural movement patterns. However, baiting is legal and I always take the position that if it is legal I will not condemn it. I may not applaud it, I won't condemn it. I know that most of the Ohio pro staff hunt natural movement most of the time, but I am sure some hunt over bait. Again, it is legal and I can't condemn it. It is part of Ohio deer hunting - love it or hate it. If you hate it, the best strategy is to discuss with the OH DNR and see how entrenched they are in the subject. My guess is that they will someday be looking at making it illegal in the face of the CWD issues that have crept into modern deer management. I appreciate your support and know where you are coming from.
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John from IA asks:Bill, I recently moved to the Ottumwa area and joined the Wapello Chiefs Bowmen Club. It is an archery club and they host 4 shoot a year or so. In the off season I'll love to shoot 3-D. The compition against other shooters and most of all for myself to continue to strive to be a better archer. So my question for you Mr. Winke is: Do you find time to go around to some of the local 3-D shoots in this area? (Albia, Ottumwa, Pella...)Winke Responds:John, I wish I did. I used to love those shoots. My problem now is that I don't have the time to practice as much as I would like during the spring and summer (I start to shoot daily in late August) and for that reason I don't compete as well as I should. I guess I have enough pride that I hate to shoot below my potential (I want to win) and I just don't have the time to practice enough to be at my potential. I hope that changes over the next few years. I would definitely enjoy competing again.
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Luke from WI asks:Bill, I have a problem! I just found out that my brother-in-law is getting married on opening day of gun season... this is my biggest day of the year... bigger than Christmas! The wedding is in Michigan and there is no chance of hunting. Can you think of any reason good enough for me to not have to miss this sacred day (opening day that is)? Bill! This will ruin my year! Thanks, LukeWinke Responds:Luke, Brother in law is not blood. So that is your reason. If he was your brother, you would have to go - it is probably a law somewhere there in WI who has to attend weddings on opening day and who doesn't. Call a local attorney and see what he thinks! I don't see a way out of this one. Your wife will kill you if you don't go. It is not worth the fall-out. Focus on bowhunting this year and get it out of your system early. Good luck.
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Brett from IA asks:Bill, I hunt an area where I was thinking of using a blowup raft to cross a river for easier access. I plan on leaving it and to cover it with some camo netting. Have you ever tried anything like this? Is there a good floatation device you would recommend?Winke Responds:Brett, When I used to duck hunt all the time I owned a one man Army Surplus raft. When the Mississippi River was high, I carried in on my back - rolled up on top of my decoy bag. When I got to the pothole I wanted to hunt, I inflated it and would use it to put out decoys. Some days I would row around for hours in that thing as I went from pothole to pothole during high water times. I don't know where I bought thing, but I recently pulled it out after many years of inactivity and it was dry rotted. That thing was very rugged and never worried about using it for almost any task. Try to find an old army surplus raft. Good luck.
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Owen from IA asks:Bill, It was a pleasure to meet you at the deer classic. The question I have for you is do you have a rough estimate as to what quality buck pictures are worth if say they are used in a magazine? I've got 20 acres high fenced with 15 whitetails ,primarily just because I love deer, but I'm looking to get something back out of them (they're getting expensive to feed). I was thinking about photographing them to be used in magazines or calendars etc....... Any help would be appreciated. Thanks! OwenWinke Responds:Owen, Good to meet you too. It will definitely pay to photographs. The per image rate is not high, but if you have enough of circulating, you will make probably $1,000 month, or so. The main thing is making sure you have good photo equipment and that the deer are in totally natural settings. They can't look tame - that kind of bleery eyed look they sometimes have when they are not in the habit of searchfing for danger all the time. Also, realistic shots of hunters interacting the the deer (such as a shot down from a tree stand of a bowhunter at full draw on a nice buck) are also good sellers. Calendar and book publishing are options too, but outside of my expertise. I would think it would be harder but potentially more profitable. Hope that helps.
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Garry from AL asks:Hey Bill, is there a possibility you could provide a search engine/search bar on your "ask a question" page so we can search through the questions and answers you've gotten or given?Winke Responds:Garry, I talked to my web site developer and he said it can be done fairly easily. I just haven't gotten it done yet. That is a good item for the list of off-season upgrades to the site. Thanks for you support and feedback.
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Andrew from MI asks:Bill, can your son marry my duaghter, so I get an in-laws hunt every year! Ha ha just joking! Love your show, great stuff! congrats on the award, i voted for MW! God bless Midwest whitetail in 2011! pastor andrewWinke Responds:Andrew, I think Drew will be a good catch some day. Maybe we can arrange something. As in Old Testament times, will we have to give you some goats and fine perfumes to seal the deal or shall we just settle on a certain size management buck each year? God Bless you as well.
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Is poaching a problemw where you hunt? What can you suggest to help us fight the problem in my area?mark from NY asks:Thanks to everyone at Midwest Whitetail for the great shows! I noticed that when you find a dead deer while shed hunting the game warden uses a metal detector to check for any bullets. Do you lose deer to poaching in your area? If so, is it a big problem in parts of Iowa? I know that here, poaching has made it especially difficult to get bucks to 4 and 5 years old. We have worked with our local law enforcement to try and cut down this problem. Do you have any other suggestions that might help?Winke Responds:Mark, We don't have a big poaching problem around here. I think there are enough landowners who like deer that the poachers have kind of given up. There have been some big high profile arrests in recent years and the fines are really high, so folks are pretty leery of poaching. We do that stuff with the metal detector mostly to see if the deer was shot (possibly by someone on another farm) and partly just because the law in Iowa states that you need a salvage tag take a head out of the woods. We always call the warden on finding the heads and he usually just says "Bring it to the house and we'll get you a tag." But sometimes he likes to come out and take a look around. Suggestions: lobbying to increase the fine will help. Here the fine is based on antler size. I have heard of a few fines in the $10,000 plus range recently and that will sober up a would-be poacher very fast! Otherwise, organizing your neighbors, or at least talking with them about it, might also help. The more you can do to get public opinion turned against poaching, the more likely people are going to be to rat on someone doing it. That will slow it down quickly too. Good luck.
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Joe from IA asks:Bill, great show. What are your feelings on Iowas proposed feeding ban on all off season feeding and mineral sites,whether its to position them in front of the camera or to get them thru a hard winter?One of my worrys is that leaveing corn and beans standing could be next.What about when the cattle farmers rotate cows from one timber pasture to another without removeing their salt/mineral. Sounds like that would be an illegal baited area at that point.Winke Responds:Joe, Thanks. Personally, I don't like the ban. I understand they are trying to reduce deer concentrations so we don't have an issue of diseases spreading (such as CWD). I can understand that. However, I have not heard how many cases have been found in Iowa (if any). I guess I would like to hear why they are proposing this. The ban would negatively affect me, but not to the point where it would limit my hunting success, it would just make it more difficult for me to get trail cam photos. I think it will be really hard for them to enforce a ban on knocking corn down. What if I have to drive through a food plot to get a deer I shot - now I can't hunt their anymore? There would be a lot of gray area on that one and I hate laws that are gray. I know the officers do too, because then they can get lose in court and they really hate that. You are right, if you are hunting near a mineral lick from the farmer's pasture it would be (and already is) an illegal baited site. That actually isn't anything new.
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Rod from FL asks:Bill, where can I find black hunting gloves for bowhunting out of a blind. Our Spring Turkey opens 3/5. I'm going to try and get one with my bow this year. I have looked everywhere.Winke Responds:Rod, I would just pick up some cheap jersey gloves from Walmart or even a convenience store. That is what I hunt in all fall. I like them because they are cheap and I can wash them easily and always have on a clean pair each time I go out. I want to handle my outerwear only with clean gloves (never my bare hands) so having the jerseys achieves that goal. Good luck.
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Travis from IA asks:What's your story, as in what got you so interested in whitetails, whats steps through the industry got you to where you are, and what led you to southern iowa?Winke Responds:Travis, It is a long story, as most lifelong adventures are. I will have to publish it in a blog sometime. Here is the short version. I grew up in NE Iowa near the Mississippi River. I fished and hunted all the time, mostly trout, ducks, pheasants and grouse. We had few deer then. I graduated from University of Iowa in Mechanical engineering, went to work for an aerospace company in southern MI out of college and then got hooked on deer hunting. After four years there, my wife and I got married and we traveled (spent our entire life savings of $15k) for about 18 months. We did some odd jobs and eventually I met the owner of High Country Archery while traveling out west in ID. He offered me a short-term job that year where I met a magazine editor. When the stint was up we moved back to NE Iowa via southern MI where I worked at a golf course for one summer. One thing led to another and I ended up writing. It was a slow process (making a living at it). In 1995 we bought into a piece of land in Southern Iowa and moved south. In 2003 we sold that and started buying more land privately and that is what brings us to where we are today. God had this job picked out for me before I was even born. That is my best conclusion on how I ended up on this path. There are obviously a lot of things I left out, and a lot of lessons along the way, but that is the basic story. Have a great day and thanks for your support.
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Mike from OH asks:Hey Bill, I'd like to comment on the comment from Mickey from Alabama. First off, I do not feel you are 'misleading' anyone with your writings or shows. Deer hunting is never an exact science, but there is no doubt that certain bucks are primarily nocturnal during certain parts of the year. That is not to say that they won't get up to stretch their legs, or even hit some browse next to their beds. But to hunt them in such a location is risky at best. So yes, they could be considered 'nocturnal' at this time. P.S., I mentioned a 160 class buck in a question for you a while back. I was wrong. It scored 170 6/8! Wish I would have got it on film for you. Take care.Winke Responds:Mike, Mickey isn't actually from Alabama - he just didn't see the field to input his state and left it at the default. He is a biologist from Texas. I get to see the e-mail addresses so I knew who sent it. Mickey Hellickson is a very accomplished biologist, but I think we just had some miscommunication there. I am sure if we had been debating this face to face he would have seen my viewpoint more clearly rather than simply hearing something quick on a webshow. He is a very smart guy. Congratulations on an awesome buck!
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Sam from MI asks:Hey guys, Love the show! I feel it represents the realization of hunting pressured deer in the state of Michigan. I want to know if you guys will be at the hunting expo in Grand Rapids this winter. ThanksWinke Responds:Sam, I am sure you know by now that we were not at that show. We will likely try to make it again next year. Thanks for your support. Best regards.
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Sam from MI asks:I know Michigan is one of the most pressured hunting states in the nation. I also know that our deer hunting laws are no where near as strict as our neighboring states as well as others in the Midwest. We need to change laws to promote a better sex ratio. I like the one buck limit. What can be done for my voice to be heard?Winke Responds:Sam, You will have to get organized and have a political voice. A single voice is almost always ignored, but a few hudred voices have to be heard. Also a petition would be a good idea. Send the petition to the local elected representatives and ask them to meet with the DNR to go over your concerns. Then call them to see if they actually did. Send a copy of the petition to the DNR (probably wildlife bureau chief). That will get things started. I have had success in this way in the past. You have to exercise political strength to get anything done these days. Good luck.
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Curtis from IA asks:Hey Bill, not sure if I'm alone here but I had my best hunting during late season muzzle loader this year. My bow season was much like the rest. My question is I had a 156" buck step out Dec. 27th and I shot him and thought I put a pretty good hit on him. 2 mins. later I put my scope back where he was to see if I could see a good blood trail and a big 170" buck stepped out. I didn't know what the moral or legal thing to do was so I didn't shoot. Was I wrong? I did get end up getting the first buck so I'm happy but I don't get many chances at a 170" class buckWinke Responds:Curtis, Of course, you did the right thing. You have to figure the tag is filled until you make a thorough attempt at recovering the first deer. You may never get rewarded in the field for always doing the right thing, but right is still right and whether you get rewarded for it or not, you always have to do what is right. It is how you can look at yourself in the mirror at the end a long season and feel good about what you see, that is reward enough. Congrats on finally getting him, by the way. Still an awesome buck.
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jerry from PA asks:Bill, A friend of mine loaned me his autographed copy of Hunting Hard for Whitetails. This is a great piece. I really enjoyed reading it. One problem though, I had to give it back. I cant find any out there in cyber space to buy. I was wondering if you have any books lying around that you may would want to sell? If you do please let me know. Thanks, JerryWinke Responds:Jerry, I have them for sale right here on the website. Just go to the MW Gear section of the site (you can find a link at the bottom of every page) and leave a not how you would like me to personalize it and I'll get one right out to you. Thanks for your support.
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Will from MO asks:I'm just curious if you had any thoughts or opinions on the recent kills of 104 lbs "coyotes" and cougars here in Missouri? Are there many/any stories like these up in Iowa?Winke Responds:Will, We do have mountain lions that show up from time to time, but not very often. I have not heard of the big coyotes (presumably wolves) yet. Best regards.
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Raymond Tucker from AK asks:Bill Winke, I was a "fingers","instinctive" shooter for over 40 years. Now I shoot a modern Parker compound. For the last 2 years I've been trying to use a release, a peep, and a sight. I must have some kind of target panic. When I draw my bow and assume a stance at "complete rest", the pin is rock solid but it's 6 inches below the target. No matter how hard I try I can't raise my arm. It's a mental thing! Please help!!! Thanks! Raymond Tucker AnchorageWinke Responds:Raymond, That is one form of target panic. The only way to really beat it (you can trick it for a while with mental games) is to learn to execute a surprise release. If make any attempt to issue a "now" command, you are going to fight target panic to some degree all your career. I wrote an article in the Articles section of this website called "How to Beat Target Panic" in the "Archery Tech" area of the articles library. Take a look at that and you will have a good idea what you need to do. Even if you don't feel like it, if you will make a comittment to doing what I have written there (it is tested, proven advice) you will beat target panic. If you stop short of this measure, you will struggle with it. That is as plainly as I can say it. Good luck.
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Martin from NY asks:Bill will you be at the Eastern Outdoor Show in Harrisburg PA in February 5-13?Winke Responds:Martin, Not this year. I know it is something I should do, but I always end up with a lot of photography and writing at that time of the year and it is just such a long show. I am sure I will do it some day. Thanks for asking.
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Will from MS asks:Love the shows! I got my first buck this year, but can't afford to have him mounted. I did keep the antlers and plan to do an antler mount on my own. Have you ever used a kit that you would recommend for this? Thanks!Winke Responds:Will, I have never used a specific kit, but I have seen them in Cabela's. Also, there are some kits that permit you to put the skull plate onto a skull for a European mount look. I think the company making those is called Iron Mike, or something along those lines. You should be able to search it on the web. Good luck.
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Duane Martin from WI asks:Hey! Bill It's Dewey I have been Watching you on TV. Good Show. Just wondering if you would want to write an article about me sometime I have over 100 enteries for my shed antlers entered into the The North American Shed Hunters Club. Also do some Taxidermy work Deweyseuropeanmounts.com See you around you old Track Star.Winke Responds:Dewey, Man, long time no see. I don't write much about shed antlers, but I will definitely keep your e-mail address handy if the opportunity comes up. I can post this so people might see your web address for the European mounts. They look awesome. I love them anyway because they look good, take up very little space on the wall and are less expensive. I have only done European mounts for the past four or five years. Good to hear from you!
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John from TN asks:Hey Bill! Love the show! Have you ever kicked the idea around of having a giveaway hunt for the fans and tape it and use it on your show? Just a thought. Thanks!Winke Responds:John, I have thought about it. The Iowa draw makes it hard to schedule anything. They win the drawing and then it is three or maybe even four years before we hunt. It is a thought though. I may work it in somehow. Have a great day.
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Dylan from MO asks:i know this doesnt have to do with deer but im new to turkey hunting and i want to know what i should be looking for this spring in my scouting....i got a 3 acre cut CRP field where i have seen turkey but i dont know if it is a normal route thanks for your input and keep up the good workWinke Responds:Dylan, I am no turkey hunting expert. I just go to the same places every year and sit and call the birds come in. Starting from scratch, I guess you need to find the places where the birds feed. That is where they will end up. Scratchings will help reveal this. Also, look for open ridge tops. Toms like to strut on open ridges (even on trails on ridge tops). These are just a couple of places to consider. Good luck.
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Chris from GA asks:Starting out Filming first time this season.What camera would you sugest me looking at purchasing.going to look at taking videography at a local college during the off season.Any suggestions.Winke Responds:Chris, A good starter camdera that will hold its value pretty well is the Canon GL2. Buy it used off e-bay (probably around $700 to $800) and then when you upgrade you can sell it for roughly what you bought it for - maybe a bit less. Though only an SD camera, it has all the manual controls and manual focus ring you need to learn the art of filming and does a nice job of producing good clean footage. To get into something comparable (not a small handy-cam) on the HD side will cost you much more. If you want to start there, I would suggest a used Canon XHA1 or XHA1s. These will cost about $2000 for one in good condition. I would skip the small cameras for now and learn on the more traditional semi-professional models. You need manual controls in order to fully understand the art. Good luck.
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Jordan from IA asks:Bill, I have a camera question for ya. On the recovery of your buck from the Jan. 3 show obviously you had your cameraman with you. But you also had a third party that was filming you AND your cameraman. What camera was being used by that third party? It gave some great footage.Winke Responds:Jordan, That was Greg Clements with his DSLR camera. "Digital Single Lens Reflex" camera (a still camera that also shoots video). Many of these are available now. Greg's was a Canon but the new Nikon D7000 and even the Nikon D3100 (less manual control) are additional examples. They give you the ability to shoot with a shallower depth of field (less of the background is in focus). That is the main thing that sets them apart.
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Kent from IA asks:Bill, I call coyotes if you would like for me to come to your farm to help eliminate a few 'yotes let me know. I am 46 years old and am a self-employed painter. I have been calling for a few years with mixed success. My e-mail address is kjjfetty@iowatelecom.netWinke Responds:Kent, We are going to give it a try here too. I think calling and shooting is sport, but if you really want to be rid of them you need to trap them. I am either going to have to learn to do it or find someone locally who enjoys it. I doubt we can do a good job thinning them out using just a gun.
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justin from IA asks:how many buck tags can i fill in the iowa bow season. i see you have killed more than oneWinke Responds:Justin, If you own land you can kill an extra buck using the landowner tag. I think you have to have at least ten acres, and of course, you need to hunt your own land with that tag. Also in Iowa, you can use your Late Muzzleloader tag as a bow tag and fill that tag with a bow. So I max out on bow opportunities and try to fill all three with a bow. I still have one left. So you can shoot two with a bow if you shoot one of them on the late muzzleloader tag. Good luck.
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Karl from TN asks:Bill, I am a high school math and science teacher with a love for the outdoors. When I can't be in the field, I love reading anything I can get my hands on related to hunting and fishing. This lead me to begin writing. I am testing the waters and would gladly welcome any feedback you could offer. I have started a blog. I would greatly appreciate it if you would spend a little time checking it out and tell me what you think. http://www.anoutdooreducation.blogspot.com/ Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Thanks, KarlWinke Responds:Karl, I will definitely do that. Good luck in this venture. Happy New Year to you too.
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Chris from LA asks:Hi Bill...I hunt some private property in central La. We have roughly 250 acres of open pasture land. It was once a cattle farm and after that it was leased to a corn farmer. Our hunting was phenomenal while the corn was there. It pulled in deer for miles and some very nice ones for down here. The problem was that there were so many deer that they ate a large portion of the farmers crop. He no longer farms it because of this. We need some kind of income off of the property to help offset the property taxes so for now the property is enlisted on CRP. It has been for the last 8yrs and we've kept it mowed twice a year so it is still tillable ground. We have 2 more years remaining on CRP. I am thinking about going to talk to a couple of local farmers and try to get them to farm it again. How would you go about balancing the herd in order to still reap the benefits of having the corn and also keep the farmer around. The last one tried electric fences and that didn't work at all. MyWinke Responds:Chris, We have fought that on some farms I have been involved with over the years. There are a couple of strategies. First, you can obviously shoot a ton of does. That is the best solution. You will end up having to shoot many of your neighbor's deer too and that takes a lot of work. The other option is to keep it in CRP, pull out some acres to farm for food plots and then fence those. Much easier to fence 25 acres than 250! I have seen that work, but you have to do it right and maintain it. The third option is to focus on crops that the deer won't decimate. Generally, they will not decimate soybeans as long as the bean gets a nice head start before the deer get on it. It has to be planted early for that to happen. I like the no-till approach so the young bean is coming up through the weeds (hiding in them) until a certain stage when you spray with roundup and release the fields. You just have to be sure to spray before the bean plant gets stressed. Obviously you will need to rotate out of beans every third year at least and that means another planting. However, if you aren't planting corn on corn you can usually get corn past them for a year before they change their patterns and tastes to eat it during the summer. Another option is alfalfa if the soil type and climate permit. I am not sure in your area. Deer will definitely take tonnage off the alfalfa fields, but the farmer at least gets a crop. Finally, consider having it custom farmed. That is when the rubber really meets the road. You have all the risk, all the input costs and own the crop. Now how excited are you about all those deer? Exactly. That is the only truly fair way to farm it. You pay the price directly for all those deer. I have done all these options and they all work to varying degrees. good luck.
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Scott from PA asks:Bill, Great show and website! My dream is to retire to a southern Iowa farm in the next 10-12 years. I get night sweats over the vision of 500 acres or so of great habitat with a log home on it. Log homes require a bit of maintenance and the extremes in Iowa weather would certainly be a challenge in this regard. Should a guy run with the dream or get real with low maintenance exterior? Also, what would be your number 1 choice of county for great QDM along with decent access to a larger town and airport? Thanks! ScottWinke Responds:Scott, We have a home with cedar siding. It still has the rustic feel, but is lower maintenance. I know a few guys who have gone with the synthetic cedar look siding and they have almost no maintenance. I power washed and stained the house back in 2005 and it still looks fine. I took it right down to the wood with the powerwasher (at close range) and then let it dry before applying four coats (yep, four) of the alkyd oil based stain. It took forever (the entire summer) and cost a small fortune but it is still holding up well. Those are my thoughts. There are also some other good manufactured log options that are much less maintenance heavy than true log structures. You may want to look into all the options. You have plenty of time. I don't think I would give up the dream of the rustic home overlooking a big long valley filled with food plots and big rutting bucks. Oops sorry, I drifted off into my dream!
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TIM from KY asks:HOW DOES SOMECOME BY A IOWA NON-RESIDENT DEER TAG. FOR NEXT YEAR. I KNOW YOU PROBABLY HAVE TO BE CHOSEN BUT I WOULD LIKE TO TRY FOR IT. THANKS AND GOD BLESS TIMWinke Responds:Tim, You have to put in for the drawing. At first you may not have a chance depending on weapon and season selected, but you will get a preference point and that moves you up the list of priority applicants the next year. If you do a search under Iowa DNR you will find the website and you can see license application instructions there. The normal app period for non-res is around May, if I remember right. Your odds of drawing the tag are better with a gun than with a bow. Also, certain parts of the state have less applicants so the odds go up in those areas too. You can find that out by calling in to the DNR I am certain. Good luck.
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josh from PA asks:Hi Bill, I love the articles you have written for Petersons Bowhunting. I try to save all of the magazines to refer back to articles you and Eddie Claypool have written for any kind of reference during the rut etc. Have you ever thought about putting the articles you have written together into a book. I think a lot of people would buy it.Winke Responds:Josh, It is a good idea. I think I will start to summarize the key points and post them here on the site in the articles section. Books do sell OK around Christmas, but they are not what they used to be ten years ago. Now people seem to want to learn by watching, so I will look for ways to combine video with the short versions of the articles. We attempted a few of these during the late summer last year, but will do more of it this year during the off-season. Thanks for your support.
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Donald from MS asks:Do you believe that hunting deer with dogs should be done away with in Mississippi? I see more and better deer during the bow and still hunting season.Winke Responds:Donald, No, it has a strong tradition. I don't like to see any kind of hunting done away with as long as the pursuit is ethical and fair. Just because it is legal doesn't mean people need to do it if they don't agree with it. I have never hunted deer over dogs but have hunted bears over dogs and it was an exciting hunt. It is not for everyone. The skill is in the training and handling of the dogs not so much in the strategy of the hunt. I guess it is really a question for others in MS. I have never done it, but I honestly think I would enjoy it. However, if it were legal here I likely wouldn't do it on our land because I don't want to disturb the deer and run them around too much. It is similar to the baiting argument. I fall on both sides of that one too. I used to hunt MI and KS a lot and both allow baiting. I never hunted over bait but I was never in favor of banning it. If it were legal here, I doubt I would hunt over bait here either. But on the flip-side, I have hunted over bait in TX and enjoyed it. As long as things are done ethically and in a fair-chase manner, I never come out against any form of hunting. I just love to hunt. If it is not for me I just don't do it, but I am very slow to come out against any form of hunting. However, that said, I am not a fan of party hunting (where you can use someone else's tag in your party to tag your deer). That is one practice that I don't care for. It gets abused way too much and allows for an artificially heavy buck harvest because basically everyone in the group is buck hunting until the last buck tag is filled.
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Jeremy from IA asks:Hi Bill, First of all, I want to say thanks for putting on such a great TV show. Very informative, full of great tips & information. My question - Will we ever get to see you at the Iowa Deer Classic? I've got some questions & I need my lucky hat signed!! Thanks & Keep up the great work! Happy Holidays!Winke Responds:Jeremy, Thanks much for your support. I am not sure if Midwest Whitetail is going to be there this year or not. I have not officially canceled my booth, but I think we are dropping out of all the other deer classics this year to give it a rest. In the past Muddy Outdoors took our booth around to all the shows. This year they aren't going to any so I don't have a ride for my booth. I can't afford the time to go to all of them myself so we are probably not doing any of them. Final decision has not been made yet. If you send me your hat with self-addresse, stamped return postage, I would be happy to sign it. Otherwise we will have to cross paths somewhere along the way. Happy Holidays to you too.
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Brian from PA asks:My boss is thinking of purchasing land in SE Iowa. He wants to be able to bring people out with him to hunt. How hard would it be for non residents to draw a tag for the different season? (Archery,Muzzleloader,Shotgun etc.) Would he qualify for resident tags?Winke Responds:Brian, He would currently not qualify for the landowner tag. Who knows if/when that will change so don't make decisions based on what might happen, only what has already happened. It is harder to draw the bow tag, probably every three to four years. Gun tags maybe every other year at this time. That can also change depending on the demand. SE Iowa is really good, but I would probably be looking at other areas too (IL, northern MO, Kansas are three good areas if you can find the right neighborhood.) Good luck.
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Jeremy from GA asks:Bill, Do you know of anywhere that I can puchase a set of anlers for rattling? Sheds are very hard to find in Georgia due to the thick cover, and many of the ones we find have rodent and or weathering damage. I broke my "horns" this year and would like to get a replacement, but don't want to cut up any of my racks. Thanks in advance.Winke Responds:Jeremy, I bet you can find some good antlers on e-bay. Not all the antlers that sell there are trophy class deer. Good luck.
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Darren from MO asks:Oregon or Auburn in the BCS championship game?Winke Responds:I want to see Oregon win. I love the way they fly around the field. Very impressive bunch of athletes.
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chris from NC asks:I know this may seem like a stupid question but i have been watching your show for two years now and was wondering if there was any way that i might come hunt with you guys sometime. i live in the mountains of western north carolina and made the pilgrimage to adams county ohio this year. i smoked a thirteen point buck on public land but am interested in hunting other places like Iowa, Kansas, Illinois,ect. im a die hard bowhunter and would leap at the opportunity to come and hunt with other hunters like you who have the same addiction i do.Winke Responds:Chris, At some point I may have a drawing for a hunt here, but I get a lot of "invites" from folks to come out and hunt with me here. The standard answer is, as you might expect, "no". I appreciate the interest, but it is probably not in the cards. Keep doing your research, there are many good areas in those three states to hunt for out-of-staters (public and private land). Good luck and have a Merry Christmas.
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Jeff from IN asks:Bill, Just wanted to compliment you on the show overall and also on your ability to field some of these questions... graciously. I was also impressed with your ability to interpret a recent question where the man asked if you were "feeling his swag". Wow. I wouldn't have known where to start on that one... Good luck with the show and with the website Bill. God Bless! Also, thanks for taking a stand for Pastor Paul's prayer episode and for Christ.Winke Responds:Jeff, It my pleasure. I love the stuff that Pastor Paul is doing and if you want to see more of it, he has his own website going too: www.withoutexcuseministries.com. Thanks for the support. Have a great day.
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Vince from MN asks:In your clip on shooting "Jamie" you mention a lab for sending in teeth to determine the age of a deer. What is the contact info for this lab? How accurate is this method vs. the traditional method of evaluating the amount of wear on the molars? Congrats on a nice deer. Thank youWinke Responds:Vince, I am not sure exactly how accurate it is, but I do know it is the most accurate method to age deer presently available. The lab actually cuts off a thin section of the tooth and then studies it under a microscrope to determine growth and wear characteristics that they compare to similar sections from deer of known age. I plan to use Wildlife Analytical Labs in TX. Their website is: www.deerage.com. Thanks for your support and good luck.
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Matt Greer from IL asks:Bill, My Dad and I hunt in Central illinois, North West of Springfield. I read your blog last week and congrats on the nice buck, sounds like you worked hard for him. I also hunted very hard this year and I only saw three bucks over 140 inches, one of these I was fortunate enough to harvest on November 14th. Like you stated in your blog, we have also seen a decrease in deer populations in our area. While our deer densities are not at a dangerous level, many places in our state have been faced with a serious decline and in pockets a nearly decimated herd. I have listened to lots of possible explanations for this, coyotes, over harvesting of does, harsh winters, wet years and I am sure you have heard these among others. I would like to add another suspect to the list--one that I have heard nothing of anywhere. GMO crops! Illinois farmers grow mostly GMO crops now and many produce nothing else. In our little area there is not a non-gmo field for miles and it has been this way fWinke Responds:Matt, You are the first to bring that up. It is possible. Some research has shown that GMO (Genetically Modified Organism) crops cause some organ damage in livestock within three months that feed on it. Primarily liver and kidney damage. It is not enough to cause quick death, but who knows how long it takes to cause more serious issues. Also the test didn't address wildlife. I would not be surprised to find that there is some cross-over affect. The research is preliminary, but it is definitely something we need to watch very closely. We have not found a lot of dead deer in the past so it is not like they are dying off like flies. Some of our neighbors had a good-sized die-off last winter, but we found few dead on my farm. I think the issues are a combination of several factors and one of them could possibly be GMO. It is too soon to say for sure on that. I wouldn't panic but keep an eye on it.
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Mike from IN asks:Hi Bill, I have been only hunting whitetail seriously for 2 years and have been really lucky to harvest a 140 class deer last season and this season. The evening after I shot mine this year I located a 160 class and put my friend on him. I didn't let him take the shot because he was not calm enough and he was 175 yards out. He got another chance at him on Nov. 26th and got it done. Is there a way to share photos with you guys? Do you think you might make it to the Expo in Indiana this coming year? It would be great to meet you. Maybe you can come do ao workshop. Stan Potts and Chuck Adams did one at the last one. I met some of your Indiana Pro-staffers. Another question I have is how should I get started filming? I have great hunts and really need to be documenting them. I am going to be filming myself next year and journaling every hunt. I guess that is a start. If it was not for Midwest Whitetails Prostaff and the Drury Brothers, I would have not been able to pull it off so quickly.Winke Responds:Mike, Congrats on two great seasons. That is a very fast learning curve! I am not planning to do any deer classics this year. I enjoy meeting the people, but they take a lot of time and I have some big projects coming up that I need to stay focused on. You can share your photos on the site by sending them to info@midwestwhitetail.com and we'll get them up. To get started, start small and work up. It is a lot of work so buy small gear (a small brown Muddy Arm, a small Canon HD camera) and that should get you started. After that you can still use the HD camcorder for other things around home if you wish to upgrade to higher quality camera. You can carry it all in backpack easily. Good luck.
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frank from WI asks:hay bill i was just wondering how to get some midwest whitetail stickers love the show great job on shooting jamie what a trophy please let me when u get a chance thanksWinke Responds:Frank, Thanks and I will get some up on the website soon. I have been lax in getting that done. Have a great day.
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Mike from IA asks:I deer hunt southeast Iowa with bow and gun. I have been thinking since Iowa has added multiple deer (primarily November and January anterless) seasons that the mature buck sightings are becoming more limited. I believe there are more hunters spread out across the state from October through January that the mature bucks are becoming more nocturnal and sightings are becoming scarce. Do you think with the added length of our deer seasons here in Iowa that we are changing deer behavior? We started planting purple top turnips 3 years ago and the first year our deer didn't know what to do with the turnips. Those yearlings 3 years ago are now mature deer and we are seeing a steady increase this year in feeding on our turnip plot therefore changing the deer behavior on our farm over time.Winke Responds:Mike, I guess it is possible, but I don't think so. Run some trail cameras to see if there are lots of mature bucks in that area. My guess is that there aren't. The ones that made it long enough to be mature are the ones with personalities that cause them to move less or to be nocturnal. So, I think the careless ones are simply dead before they grow old. I think the mature bucks themselves are getting scarcer. The ones that make it aren't necessarily smarter or educated. They just happen to be those with nocturnal personalities. The result is the same - shoot the dumb 3 year olds and you will have a hard time killing the ones that remain to grow a year older. There are many reasons the number of mature bucks might be dropping. More buck hunters and less deer are among the most likely reasons. Another reason may be local sex ratios in your area - if the bucks don't have to compete for does, they won't cruise as much. If you are seeing less mature bucks, my best guess is that there are simply fewer of them there. I have heard others say the same about turnips. I agree, you can change the behavior of mature bucks over time. I think more likely, we are simply killing the daytime roamers before they get old. Good luck.
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Ryan from WI asks:Hey Bill congrats on the buck! I was wondering if you could give me some tips on photographing deer after you shoot them. I dont have a great camera like you use but i have a digital camera that does the job! Thanks for your help.Winke Responds:Ryan, The main thing is the camera angle. I always shoot at rack level with the deer. If you stand too tall you make the antlers look to small. I go to the wide angle side of the zoom range and then get close enough that the deer and hunter fill about 80% of the image, maybe just a bit less. I see too many people stay back to far. Also, focus the camera on the antlers and not the hunter. Position the deer so that the closest thing to the camera is a deer's antlers. That makes a huge difference in how the photo turns out. Select a location where the background is well away from the subject to keep from interfering with the rack. Use a flash on some of the shots, you will be surprised by how much better that makes the daylight shots look. Of course, clean the deer up first. That should help you get good shots. Good luck.
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Richard from KY asks:I was watching your show a couple of weeks ago, and you were rattling a little. I want to know what kind it was? It looked like you were twisting and pulling this thing. I have never saw one like that before. It sounded great, I would like to purchase one.Winke Responds:Richard, That was a prototype that a friend of mine made. It is not on the market and I think he gave up marketing it because of the cost of making the molds to produce. The one I have is made of wood, but that is not a cost-effective way to make them for sale.
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Scott from KS asks:Bill, Congrats on shooting Jamie! Good looking buck! I am in the market to purchase some hunting land. Living in Kansas City, I'd like it to be within 1 to 1.5 hours of home for the shorter day trips. Do you have any suggestions as to what kind of land to buy? Heavy timber? Combo of timbered draws and crop land? CRP land? Can't afford too much. Would like an 80 acre tract, but would you consider a 40 for starters? What qualities do you want in your hunting land? My main focus would be bow hunting. Thanks and Happy Holidays!Winke Responds:Scott, I appreciate it. I would look in KS first. Within one hour you have some pretty decent choices in almost every direction. I think 40 is too small. You will burn it out too fast. Look for 80, but really I think 120 is a better minimum. Find something decent and you can always sell it and do a 1031 tax exchange into something bigger when the time comes. I like something that is 80% cover for hunting. It may not produce much income, but it will offer the maximum number of stand locations and sanctuary areas while still permitting some food plot acres. I hope that helps. Good luck.
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scott from CT asks:Bill! Awesome buck! Congrats! Patience and Persistence always pays off! Like your season, the only time I saw a mature buck was when he was following a hot doe. I did see several youg bucks alone. Thanks for all the great advice!Winke Responds:Scott, Thanks I appreciate it. That is pretty much what we experienced here: very slow except those few times we had a hot doe nearby. Good luck in the future.
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Chuck from MO asks:Bill, I agree this season has been a let down to many people. The season has brought many questions to many of my friends around that are avid hunters from Iowas to Kansas. What do you think has been the biggest impact on the quality of deer hunting across the midwest this year? Do you think there is still a chance that big bucks will be visible before seasons close and if not where are they? Appreciate your time, love your website.Winke Responds:Chuck, It seems to be two things: lower overall numbers of deer and bucks and the fact that the bucks were more or less nocturnal this year. I had several really good bucks on the farm this year that we got on camera (all after dark) and though I hunted in the areas where these deer live all season (30 straight days), I never saw even one of them. Seems other are having the same results. So, whatever causes them to be nocturnal (something with weather patterns or moon phases - not sure) that seems to be the key. It is possible that they will break with this movement pattern during the late season when they need to get back on food. That is my only hope for seeing one of them since the rut completely passed me by. Good luck.
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Richard from KY asks:Sir, You may have already answered this question before, but I could not find it. I was watching one of your shows a couple of weeks ago, and you were rattling. I want to know what kind of rattle devise you use? I have never saw one that was made like that before. And where did you get it? I would like to purchase one. By the way, your shows and web site are awsome!!!Thanks for your time. RichardWinke Responds:Richard, That device is not on the market. A friend of mine considered making them for sale but never got past the point of cost required to build the molds to make it out of plastic. It is way to expensive to make from wood and sell. I have one of just a handful of these in existence. Sorry, but that product is not on the market. Good luck.
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Joseph from GA asks:Well, this isn't so much a question as it is a comment. You said you needed some inspiration so I wanted to write in to give you some. I shot the biggest buck of my life in Northern Missouri on 11/13 (opening day of firearms season) of this year--a big 12 point typical that will definitely score Boone & Crockett should I ever choose to get him officially measured. Truly a deer of a lifetime. My point is to remind you (as we all need reminding from time to time) that your luck can change in the blink of an eye. Just when you think you're doing something wrong, things can turn 180 degrees. Stubbornness has put alot of big bucks on the ground. Just keep after 'em, Bill. You're doing all a hunter can do to give yourself an opportunity at the kind of buck you're after. I realize trying to film a hunt increases the difficulty that much more, plus bowhunting vs. gun hunting. Just don't give up...that's the key. Your luck will turn. Good luck out there and I look forward to hittWinke Responds:Joseph, You are so right and it is very valuable insight. Luck can change in the blink of an eye. Sometimes I forget that! Congrats on a great buck! I would love to see photos if you have them: info@midwestwhitetail.com Best regards and thanks for the encouraging words.
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Scott from NY asks:Dear Mr. Winke, My church is starting a sportsmen ministry and we just started an Outreach Dinner for Jan 2011. My question is do you go around the country and speak at events like this? If everything goes well at the event we would like to invite you to possible be a guest speaker at our next event in 2012. We are not a big church(250 members) but we want to spread the Gospel to fellow hunters in our area. It is great to have an individual such as yourself represent the Lord in the manner you do. Thank you and God Bless.Winke Responds:Scott, Right now, I do not travel much to speak. That may change as the kids get older and leave home, but for now, my preference is to stay home as much as possible. I do appreciate you thinking of me, however. Thanks and good luck with the event.
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corey from WI asks:i know you dont believe in the moon phases,i am from wisconsin and gun season has been going on since saturday the 20th so i cant disprove the moon theory in my own head ,but you can, the most intense part of the rut (chasing)with the temps this weds,thurs ,fri exceptionally cold and the full moon on monday the 21st it should be like a zoo in the woods these next few days(according to the moon calendar),i was wondering if you could tell me if your seeing this predicted rut chasing or not. the reason i am asking you is because your gun season has not started yet. thanks for your helpWinke Responds:Corey, I personally did not see thast activity. I did see some subdued rutting activity, but mostly I saw about what I saw during other phases of the rut, some cruising and movement from young bucks, a few does going to food and nothing at all from the older bucks that live on the farm. We have enough four and five year deer that we should be seeing some of them if the rut is very strong and active. I did not see any daylight activity from that age class of bucks. Saturday evening, I did see one 4 1/2 year old (or older) buck acting a bit rutty, which was good to see, but I also saw other bucks that were feeding on the corn nearby and not showing any signs of cruising. I think that is the typical behavior I have seein the past during the tail of the rut - some rut activity, but mostly in association with feeding. I have not seen enough to say that this year was any different or better than any past year - maybe it is even a bit slower. But I am just one person. Others may have a totally different take. All that's required is a single late estrous doe to make it seem like the rut is going crazy, so it is always hard to get to the real behavior. My take: no difference from prior years.
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bob from MI asks:Guy at sporting good store swears that he pees in scrapes and buck tear them up after .BS or true ?Winke Responds:Bob, True. They may not react any more to that urine than a deer's urine, but they do treat it as if urine is urine and aren't afraid of it. I have also seen research on the subject by a deer biologist. Actual test data! Good luck.
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Matt from AL asks:Is there a chance of creating a link that would have a compilation of recipes on it (ie. deer stew, steaks, jerky, etc.)? Or...since I have read in some of your previous posts about you possibly creating a blog in the future, is there any chance of starting a blog that could share recipes on what you can do with the deer meat?Winke Responds:Matt, I am getting a number of requests for this so I believe we may just have to put together a few venison cooking shows during the off-season. I think it would be fun, plus I would of course have to sample each at the end of the show (I like large samples). Thanks for the suggestion. I think it is a very good one. Have a great day!
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JASON from IA asks:HELLO MR WINKE, I HAVE AN ODD QUESTION FOR YOU THAT I THINK YOU MIGHT ANSWER FOR ME. I SHOT A BUCK RIGHT AT DARK DIDNT KNOW FOR SURE WHERE I HIT HIM BUT HEARD THE SMACK. I CAME BACK THE NEXT MORNING AROUND 11 AFTER MOST DEER MOVEMENT SLOWED DOWN, BUT TO THE POINT I FOUND THE BUCK OR WHAT I THINK IS MY DEER NOT 50YARDS FROM WHERE I SHOT HIM. THE PROBLEM I HAVE IS I SHOT HIM IN CRP SO COULDNT FIND THE ARROW AND THE COYOTES GOT TO HIM BEFORE I DID BUT HE LOOKED LIKE HE HAD BEEN DEAD FOR AWHILE AND SOME OF HIS HAIR COULD BE PULLED OUT FAIRLY EASY AROUND WHERE THE COYOTES HAD BEEN, BUT THE MEAT SMELLED FRESH IN AREAS THEY HADANT BEEN.ALSO THERE WAS BLOOD WHERE I SAW MY DEER COME OUT OF THE CRP SO I KNOW I HIT HIM GOOD. DO YOU THINK THAT IS MY DEER ALSO THE COYOTES WENT FOR THE GUT AREA SO OF COURSE IT WAS STINKY.THANK YOU FOR ANY ADVISE YOU MAY HAVE AND OF COURSE LOVE THE SITE LOOK AT IT EVERYDAY. KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK AND IM WAITING TO SEE YOU TAKE A BIG ONE.Winke Responds:Jason, I would say that is your deer. It is unlikely for that many coincidences to stack up in one place. The hair can pull off in areas like you indicate in just a few hours. So I would not use that as an indicator of how long the buck has been dead. Have a great day.
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Conrad from OH asks:Bill, Thanks for the great show. Best and most informative out there in my opinion. I hunt in Ohio and we have seen the same slow rut that you are describing, even though I did shoot my best buck to date on Nov. 6th. He was out cruising by himself. 140 class. My question is, why do you not buy into the moon phase having anything to do with the rut? I'm not sure I do either, but I am not well enough informed to back up my feeling. I was just curious what your thinking is behind that. ThanksWinke Responds:Conrad, Fetus testing of does (aging the unborn fawns in hunter shot late season does) reveals that the conception dates during the three year study was the same each year (November 15 was the average conception date). That was regardless of moon phase or temperature. Experts say that estrous is dictated by the length of daylight in each day (called photoperiod). That doesn't change from year to year. The moon may affect the amount of daylight rut activity we see (not sure but it may) and I know that temperature does, but those factors should not affect the actual dates when the does come into estrous. Good luck.
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george from PA asks:Me and a friend would like to hunt in ohio on pulic land do you know of a place to go that holds a lot of deer and big bucksWinke Responds:George, I sure don't know of any firsthand. I have done some research that suggests the Wayne Forest is good, but not sure about the deer numbers. It is big enough to keep hunting pressure to an acceptable level and provide good opportunities. I understand it produces mature bucks, but I am just not sure how many deer it has. There are likely little honey holes in other spots, but I don't know where they are nor would it be fair to the guys hunting them if I published it across the web. So I would just dive in, do the research and burn some boot leather figuring it out. You will find better spots this way than if you took advice from people like me! Good luck.
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Mike from KS asks:Bill, Just wanted to say thank you for putting out great hunts and informative articles. In a time were hunting is becoming mainstreamed, it's nice to still have a hunter that sticks to his roots. And answers questions from the average joe. That being said, I have the privelage of hunting thousands of private farm ground in Kansas. For years I have worked on herd management. Letting walk young deer and trying to take mature whitetail. Sadly I have learned that the landowner that surrounds most of my family ground is in the process of starting an outfitting business. Already this year he has taken 2 deer that I have watched for years grow into their prime. And continues to brag about his big deer I've been holding out on. My question as it seems I have taken the long road to get here. Is what would you do when your hardwork is getting shot for a paycheck? Also would you change your strategies focusing on early season? I know this is a problem happening around the country, still doesnWinke Responds:Mike, I would probably focus on holding what you can toward the middle of the farm using food plots, shooting lots of does and reducing the overall deer numbers. Do most of your hunting around the fringes (the border) and leave the center as a sanctuary. He is only going to have his clients there hunting if they are seeing deer. If the numbers are down, or you are hunting nearby, he will eventually drift off, That is about the only thing that will work unless you can find a buddy to try to outbid him for the lease. It is not a good situation and I feel for you. Hunt the fringes, keep the center as a sanctuary. Good luck.
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Jerod from TX asks:What is that long thin bladed green grass in the midwest? On the latest Missouri show(Opening Day) the buck walks through a patch of it before they miss it.Winke Responds:Jerod, I am not sure, if it was in a food plot, it may have been winter wheat, rye or oats maybe. If it was truly a grassfield then I am not the guy to ask as I don't know all the grasses. The most common thinleaf grasses here are brohm and maybe timothy. Good luck.
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John from WI asks:Do you wacth any tv? What is your favorite show? Any hunting shows that you enjoy?Winke Responds:John, I do watch some TV, sports mostly. I love the documentaries about former great NFL players. That is some really cool stuff. I watch some of outdoor shows on Sportsman, Pursuit and Outdoor Channel. I am kind of old school in that regard. I like the hunting shows where the actual hunt is the main character. I get bored fast with the shows that are dominated by personalities. Just show me the hunting, I don't care that much about what goes on in camp unless it directly impacts the hunting. So just list off the shows that have lots of quality hunts and those are the shows I watch.
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Kari from OH asks:I shot a big mature triple main beam buck last week, and I am wondering what percentage of whitetail bucks grow a third main beam. I have tried to find statistics on this, but have been unsuccessful. If you cannot answer this, I am hoping you might be able to direct me on where to find this information.Winke Responds:Kari, I would say it is very low. I have seen three of them in my life (mature ones). I have seen literally thousands of bucks so just off the top of my head (based on my experiences) it is at best one in a thousand, probably less than that. I am just guessing, local genetics would make a big difference. Some areas may produce more of these than others. I have no idea where to find the information. Pope and Young or Boone and Crockett would be the only place having antler records, but they don't document the third beam. It is just a non-typical point so you couldn't search their records to find the answer there either. I don't think such records exist. Good luck and congrats on the great buck!
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Dave from CO asks:Bill, I've been hunting with some friends in OH the past 10 years with fairly good success but we're looking to mix it up for 2011 and try Iowa. There are five of us and all have 2 preference points in the bank. Do we have enough points to draw a good area? If so, could you recommend a couple quality outfitters either fully guided or a semi guided. We all have 29+ years bow hunting experience and wouldn't mind a do it yourself type hunt with a little help on knowledge of the farm, since we would all be coming from out of state. Hope your having a great season and thanks for any help you can provide.Winke Responds:Dave, I always hate to recommend an outfitter because then someone spends hard earned money on my suggestion and they may not have a great hunt. I am not going to do that. Some of them do a great job most of the time, but then one of their guides quits or they over hunt a farm and bingo, a bad hunt for someone who trusted me. In other words, I can't control the outcome so I don't want to make a big money suggestion. Instead, I would suggest selecting an area with decent amounts of public land and then knocking on doors in that county until you find a few good places to hunt. If all else fails you can fall back on the public land. I have had a number of friends do very well that way. You spend far less money and have more control of the outcome. This is still possible in Iowa. All of southern Iowa has decent access (not great, but where is it great?). Because it is the farthest from cities, I would look at SW Iowa, bottom two tiers of counties. Good luck.
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Caiden from MO asks:Bill, how about some sort of forum or something of that nature for venison recipes? I know, I know you will add it to your never ending list of things to do right? LOL Take Care & God Bless you and your family!Winke Responds:Caiden, I think it is a great idea. I will add it to my never-ending list of things to do! Have a great day and God Bless you and yours, as well.
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John from TN asks:Ever consider adding a show in Tennessee? I have a few friends that would jump at the opportunity to do such a show, including me! Love the show!Winke Responds:John, I will definitely keep that in mind. Right now I don't have TN on my radar, but that can change. I appreciate the interest. I'll keep your e-mail address handy. Have a great day.
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Jamal from AL asks:Bill, ay me and my homies have been wantin to give this huntin bizz a try mane. we just be probably huntin with heavy weapons if ya feel my swag. where ya all b gettin dem bows at mane? Get at me JamalWinke Responds:Jamal, I b feelin your swag mane. We be gettin dem bows at de archin shop. Hoyt dealer mane! Good luck - I fear you are gonna need it.
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Tye from GA asks:Hey Bill.I Love Watching Your Show.I Cant Wait to get home from school on monday and thursday to see the new ones. I am a big Bow Hunter. I was Wondering How many BIg bucks have you seen or drawn on this yearWinke Responds:Tye, It has been a slow year. I have seen about ten total mature bucks of which two were big. I ended shooting a nice, old ten pointer Wed. morning. So it was not an action-packed year for me this year. I spent a lot of time in the tree to get those sightings. I hope you have a great season and thanks for your support.
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Tyler from GA asks:With the sudden burst in new camera technology, do you believe that the new Canon xf300 and xf100 are going to revolutionize the filming market and are worth the price? I am personally looking into these xf300 and xf100, just the idea of not having to have mini DV tapes is a huge plus.Winke Responds:Tyler, I went with the Sony NX5U this year for that reason. It seems to be a better value than the Canon. The video format (AVCHD) may not be as good as the MXF or whatever it is that Canon has on that camera, but overall, for the price it is an excellent value. I love having the 128 GB hard drive attached to back up everything we shoot. Good luck.
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mark from IA asks:Good Morning again Bill, I should have included this with my previous question but... In regards to Missouri, with my camp (Unionville Iowa) being about 20 miles from the border do you have any insight on property just over the Missouri border. I am looking for something strictly for bow hunting and didn't know if there were any public grounds around that offer just that, Archery. Also not sure if you have any connections in the leasing of property but would also entertain the thought of leasing some ground close to the border. Something close by in which I could still utilize my camp in Iowa. Any info regarding Missouri property would be great!! Again thanks for your time!!! MarkWinke Responds:Mark, None that I know of for archery only, but you will find that the quality of the bucks in MO is good on some farms that are not hunted too hard but not so good overall as on the less pressured grounds of Iowa. In general, the public in MO is not any more pressured than the public in southern Iowa, from my discussions with guys that hunt both. Also, both areas are not impossible to access regarding private land. I would work hard to line up some private land to hunt too - again, it is possible.
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Mark from IA asks:Good Morning Bill, Recently purchased a cabin with a little property in Appanoose county(Unionville) near a few sections of the Stephens State Forest. Any thoughts on this area in regards to quality animals taken in recent years? and if your familiar with the area...is this an area that gets a lot of hunting pressure. I was there a few weeks back for a few days and didn't see much for hunters but wondering if that was due to the windy warm weather? Any info you might have for for this area would be greatly appreciated! Best of luck for the rest of the season! Thank for your time... MarkWinke Responds:Mark, Definitely a good area. There is lots of deer management in that area so some of those bigger deer spill over into the public land at times. It gets good amounts of pressure, but what do you expect - it is public land. However, I think your chances for seeing and maybe taking a buck in the 140s or better is pretty decent there. You will see most of the hunters during early November and then very few after that. Good luck.
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Brandon from KS asks:Where are some good places to hunt around the Wichita, Ks area?Winke Responds:Brandon, I can't help you there as I have not hunted that area. Seems like if you get at least one county away from the city you will find areas that aren't pressured hard. Good luck.
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Jason from OH asks:Bill, my 7 year old son and I watch your episodes every week and love it. Last week he killed his first deer. It was a small 8-point. Words cannot describe what a great experience this was for both of us. Is there any way I could send you a copy of the picture of my son with his buck and have you autograph it. He would totally love something like that. I would be willing to pay for it. Thanks & God Bless, JasonWinke Responds:Jason, Congratulations to both of you. That is a very memorable moment in my life. I will never forget the first deer our kids shot. Very cool stuff. I sent you a message via your private e-mail about where to send the photo.
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jlo from IA asks:I have family that live down by cedar rapids iowa. it is in benton county. my problem is that over the years they have lost some of the better hunting ground and i really enjoy going down there and hunting. i was wondering how to go about finding a new group of people or ground in that area to hunt.also do u know of any public ground in that area that would be good to try and what would be some of your suggestions on setting up on a piece of public that i would not be very familiar with. i have recently purchases three antlerless tags and my second season gun tag. thanks for any info.Winke Responds:JLO, I am not familiar with that area, but since CR is the most populated city in Iowa, my guess is that it will be very hard to find good quality hunting there with just a knock on the door or hitting public land. I would suggest going east a county or two and you should run into better opportunities as you get closer to the Mississippi. It may be a bit of a drive, but should offer better chances for finding permission and untapped public lands. Good luck.
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curt from MN asks:have you ever seen a blue like liquid in the snow, when shed hunting in late winter or early spring? it looks the same color as windshield washer fluid. I've noticed this many times when following trails looking for sheds. What would they eat, or what would cause them to leave this blue liquid?Winke Responds:Curt, I have not seen that. I have no idea what it is. I will ask around to see if I can figure it out. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
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Justin from MN asks:Hey Bill great show, I would love to see pictures or a short video of your trophy room. thnx againWinke Responds:Justin, I don't really have a trophy room, per se. My heads are spread out all over the place. Friends have some, parents others, some in the house, some in the office here, some at my sister's and some in the office in town. It would not be too impressive to show you any one of these locations! I have taken to doing European mounts recently so reduce wall space needed. Thanks for your support, it is something we may work in later.
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Luke from WI asks:Hey Bill! First of all let me say that I have been watching the shows for two years now and I love them! I have told many friends about the site and shows and they are all addicted now too! My question is about getting my wife more involved and enjoying the sport of deer hunting. She does come out with me a few times each fall and seems to enjoy it but recently she has been asking more and more about when the season will be over. I do not get to hunt that much (usually one week night and then weekends) but she feels I am hunting a lot. I have never seen your wife in pictures or on any shows and was wondering if you had dealt with this or had any tips, ideas or suggestions about how I could get my wife to enjoy my passion with me or at least be a little more understanding of it. Thanks and looking forward to your next show! Luke P.S. I really appreciate the clean, moral videos! Very well done!Winke Responds:Luke, That is a tough one. It is easier for me because indirectly hunting is what I do to support our family (not actually, but without the field experiences I wouldn't have much to write or talk about). Also, I only hunt around home now, so I am home every evening and often at midday if she has something she needs me to do. Pam does hunt a bit (one day this year) and I'll try to get her on the show at some point. I think every situation is different, but maybe a bit of bribery with a new chair, or wallhanging or something like that might be in order. Getting her involved is good but when it gets cold, it is tough to keep them involved unless you hunt in a blind. I hope that helps. Good luck.
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Brandon from KS asks:Bill, Love the site and the shows ! I have learned so much. I really enjoy the ask Winke Pages. Always interesting. I read where you you dont worry about Mountian Lions, But do you ever worry about running into Bigfoot in the woods ? I keep extra beef jerky in my back pack just in case. Thanks again for the site and information you share, Brandon.Winke Responds:Brandon, I have actually hunted in stand one time and when it got light I discovered that bigfoot was in a tree just 30 yards away. Needless to say, I waited for him to get down first and didn't make a peep. He was hunting with one of those new Hoyt Carbon Matrix bows! I couldn't tell for sure what arrows he was using. Good luck and Happy Thanksgiving?
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Ian from NC asks:Mr Winke, After reading your latest blog regarding the slow activity through out the country, which we are currently seeing here in NC and also in NW NJ, both of which I hunt regularly. Do you think that Charles Alsheimer and Wayne Laroche may be accurate with their Rut/Rutting moon predictions? Alsheimer's is calling for the peak around the 20-22nd of November in the October DDH. Like you, I was skeptical of the correlation of the moon phases with rutting activity but am beginning to wonder. As we progress through this season do you think that your opinion on this topic may change? Thank you, IanWinke Responds:Ian, I guess I have the perspective of time now, since it is November 25 as I answer this (Happy Thanksgiving by the way). The rut is not peaking now. We have seen breeding all through the month of November. I am still seeing some rut related activity, but it is mostly around the food sources as the bucks head there both to look for does and to feed. I would say the rut took place at night this year. I think the activity was good around November 12-15, but that could have been weather induced. Also, if you have a hot doe come past, you will think it is the best rut ever. So having been out there every single day of November, I will still say that it was a very slow rut, mostly nocturnal activity. There was some rutting activity in the 20 - 22 timeframe, but I seriously doubt that was the peak of breeding. I have a lot of respect for those guys, but it is really, really hard to move the peak of breeding five to seven days in a single year just because the moon shone more brightly. I may be wrong. I have been wrong before, so I will keep an open mind. Good luck.
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Frederick from NY asks:I just read the blog "Slow Times" and from what I've been hearing recently here in the Finger Lakes region of NY things are pretty slow as well. There has been some action, most of it occuring right around Halloween but it has been spotty at best. I live near Eric Hanson from the NE team and am familiar with the area where he harvested his buck this year, but his hunt seems to be the exception, not the norm. The lingo that I keep hearing that explains why the rut has been so off is "trickle rut". The "Harvest Moon" and the Fall Equinox occured almost on the same date so the hunters around here are saying that "Hunters Moon" will actually take place in November, not October. An old friend of mine is convinced that the timeframe around the 15th of November will be productive. I have taken into consideration the phase of the moon during deer hunting in the past and it has worked well for the most part. We'll have to wait and see. I hope that thingsWinke Responds:Frederick, I never gave the moon an ounce of attention, but this year's rut has me scratching my head looking for answers. I may have to revisit the moon theories to see if it makes sense to me. Most years, I don't see one bit of difference in rut dates and the type of action we see, but this year has been a noteable exception. Thanks for weighing in on the conditions there. Good luck.
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Steve from MO asks:Hey Bill. Sorry to hear about the slow rut up in southern Iowa. I am hearing alot of guys talk about the same situation here in Missouri along with some of your Missouri pro staff. No shooters and no chasing going on. I will try not to make this too drawn out but I wanted to send you my info in central Missouri and see what you think about my theory on the slow action. First off, I had extreme rut action between October 27th and November 2nd this year where I hunt in central Missouri. I am one of the few that has experienced that and ended up shooting a good buck. I shot a nice 8 point Nov 2nd at 5pm and he was chasing a doe with 3 other bucks that were all shooters as well. I have never seen that before. Its usually one shooter fighting off several younger deer. These were all mature. Here is how my rut went. On October 26th, I saw a huge Booner that I had asked you about a while back that I was hunting near his bedding area. Its the 4th time I have seen him this year now and he isWinke Responds:Steve, I am sorry, but the length of your comment/question caused it to be cut off by the limit set by the website. I would love to hear more as I am a dedicated student of anything that can help me to understand deer better and make better hunting decisions. Please resend, but shorten it down and hit the highlights. Thanks.
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Brent from IL asks:Hey there, first of all I just wanted to say that I really enjoy your hunting show. I think it is the best show on TV because not only do you take big bucks but you also do a very good job of informing everyone on your setups and other very usefull hunting strategy information. Now for my question. I recently shot a large 6 point buck near my home in Marshall, IL. I rough scored the 6 point rack at 130" f+/- P&Y. Do you know what the largest 6 point whitetail on record scored? I know this one is nowhere close to the record but it is definetly the largest 6 pt. I have ever seen. Thanks, BrentWinke Responds:Brent, Thanks for your support. I don't know for sure the size of the biggest 6 pointer, but I do remember reading about one in North American Whitetail about 20 years ago that scored in the upper 140s and I think it was one of the biggest at that time. I am not sure what has been shot since and I have not seen any photos of anything bigger, but that doesn't mean there haven't been others. It is a giant, giant deer. I would love to shoot a true six pointer (not an eight with his brows broken off) that scores that high. A super trophy. Congratulations!
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Sean from FL asks:Hi Bill. As usual your tactics work. I was fortunate enough to connect on a nice buck by hunting a travel corridor. I'm leaving for Kansas on Monday. Weather looks to be lows in 30's and highs in 60's. All crops are gone except corn and beans we will b hunting. Any advice and deer activity predictions? Thanks.Winke Responds:Sean, I suspect I am a bit late to offer anything at this point. I got swamped with questions this year so I have had a hard time staying up on them. I hope you had a good trip and congrats on the buck you mentioned.
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Larry from AL asks:Bill, Have you heard anything about the rut in NE Colorado. I have trail cam photos from the past week of 3 bruisers, all taken between 11pm and 3am. The rifle season was the Oct. 23 -Nov. 2. Hunted yesterday and only saw two does on the same trail where the big bucks are showing up. Wondering if you think it has to do with the recently completed rifle season, or just not in the rut yet. Seeing scrapes and rubs, so it must be getting close. Glad t osee you are on TV. Thanks in advance for any comments or thoughts. LarryWinke Responds:Larry, I have hunted that general area for several years. I mostly hunted mule deer, but I actually shot my biggest ever whitetail out there with a bow on Dec 22, 2000. That buck scored over 190 and would have been the CO state record typical if his right side would have matched his left. So, obviously I like the late season hunting out there! Seriously, I am not sure how the rut has been in that area. Generally, if an area gets gun hunted hard it takes a while (at least a week at this time of the season) for the bucks to start coming out during daylight again. If it wasn't hunted hard, I would assume you are just experiencing bad luck and the bucks should start to show for you soon. Best timing is the same there as the Midwest (Nov. 3 - 10 and Nov. 20 - 26). Good luck.
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Greg from MO asks:Hi bill,love the show just wondering when you harvest a deer how do you and your family go about cutting it up for the table.Winke Responds:Greg, I take them to locker plant now because I don't have the time with all this stuff going on to do it myself. However, when I used to process my own, I boned it out, cleaned off all the tendons and muscle sheath material, made steaks from the larger muscle groups and threw the rest into a plastic bag that I took to the locker to be ground up with some pork fat. They will charge by the pound to grind the meat - very affordable. Then you know you are getting your own back again. Good luck.
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Russ from MO asks:Not a question but a few simple statements. I like yourself was really moved by the footage of Damon Detling's taking of that magnificant Ohio Booner. If you call yourself a true bow hunter but wasn't touched by this segment you might want to, as Zig Ziggler would say "get a check up from the neck up." What an awesome experiance for everyone involved. I could see within him the true passion, excitement, gratitude and the humbling that this whole experiance brought. I think that Damon represents many bow hunters with his love for family, friends, a love for the outdoors and a believe in a higher power that makes it possible for the pursuit of the whitetail deer. Damon is the man!! I guarantee you that if people watched not only does Damon have a whole new group of fans and followers but also MidwestWhitetail.com for bring to the public one of, if not the best deer hunting segments to be viewed in a long time. Thank you! God bless and safe hunting!Winke Responds:Russ, I agree with everything you said here. It made an impact on me.
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Bob from WI asks:Bill, If you are looking for an experienced and excellent dog/tracker trainer for any advice I have seen one I would not hesitate using. You can contact him at Tall Tine Outfitters with Joe Gizdic out of Roodhouse Ill. John Engelken's dogs are truly amazing. They have found deer I would not have dreamed they would and get called for by many of the best outfitters. Number is 217-299-0332.Winke Responds:Bob, I have heard of his dogs and their ability. I appreciate the phone number. Good luck.
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Tyrone from MI asks:I see lots of guys going back the next morning to retrieve a deer they shot the previous evening. The local deer processor told me that unless the deer is gutted and the meat allowed to cool from the inside out within 4 hours or so, the meat begins to spoil and should not be consumed at all-- even if the temperature is below freezing. Do you agree? I'm an avid fan and would like to see this topic discussed on one of your episodes if possible.Winke Responds:Tyrone, I did some research on this and the answer I came up with was 40 degrees and less is fine for a few hours. If the deer is dead more than a few hours, the meat will start to spoil slightly. However, the biggest source of "rotten" odor is typically the blood which spoils very quickly (much more quickly than the meat). I agree, when the shot is likely to produce a liver hit (three hour kill) the hunter should go after it that evening. If gut shot, wait to the morning, however. Good luck.
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Ryan from IA asks:Hey Bill, Quick question here, my co-host blasted a nice 3 yr old 11 point and wants to get him chest mounted. How much now a days are we talking about for pricing? It's been probably 8 years since i've checked into it but at that time I think it was like $250-$350 depending on the vendor. I've got a 16 point on trail cam and saw a glimspe of what I think was him last week, so I may be needing this pricing myself soon. Thanks Bill and good luck!!Winke Responds:Ryan, Probably expect to pay about $400 or a bit more for top quality work. It is getting very expensive. I love shoulder mounts, but I also love European mounts to save money and they look really good on the wall. Good luck.
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Mike from MI asks:Bill, I really want to purchase some land do hunt. I have been jumping form piece to piece the last several years and that makes it difficult to figure our the buck patterns. I really want to find some soon, but I have a limited budget. Do you know of any ways to purchase land like land contracts to help afford the cost? How much land would you consider the minimum to manage and hunt for one guy? Enjoy your show, MikeWinke Responds:Mike, There are many ways to purchase land. I have done it a number of different ways. Just be creative. In other words, if there is a will, there is a way. Only be sure that fully understand what you are getting into. Hire a good attorney to represent you so that you don't box yourself into a corner. There are some sharks in the land game and you want to make sure you have a solid contract. I think you should look for at least 120 acres with at least 75% cover. Less than that and you have a hard time hunting it for more than a couple days at a time. Good luck.
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Justin from VT asks:Hi Bill, just had a question about the structure of deer seasons and how they are determined. I'm sure you don't know the inner workings of Vermont's wildlife department, but wanted your opinion on our deer season structure. Our archery season ends on the second to last weekend in October. From then until the second weekend in November (with the exception of a youth rifle weekend on the first weekend in November) there is no deer hunting allowed. Deer hunting for the year ends the second weekend in December with muzzleloader. I was wondering if you knew some possible reasons for the huge three week gap from October to November which is obviously a peak time to hunt, maybe some factors that the people who structure the seasons look at while determining the dates for each season. Thanks and good luck this season.Winke Responds:Justin, My guess is that it is simply tradition. The only possible other reason I can see is that they may be permitting the deer to breed without the pressure of open hunting. Not sure there is any research or hard science to back that up as beneficial to the herd. I have seen some research that shows that bucks breed does during the rut even in states with intense hunting pressure during the rut, they merely do it at night. I can't help you on this one, but my guess is that has always been that way so they are just doing what they have always done.
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Ed Campbell from OH asks:Thank you for your great article (Reading Buck Personalities in Quality Whitetails.)You are spot on with this article. I started using your methods after seeing a huge 11 pt late last yr. And with many siteings and trail camera pictures starting early August (velvet) OCT.5,2010 I harvested the big buck which is my best to date. South East Ohio 12pt typical 169 1/2 green gross score. QDM property, great article that we all can learn from. Thank you, Ed Campbell green gross score 169 1/2. Great ArticleWinke Responds:Ed, Thanks for your support and congrats on the great buck. Glad I could help you out. Best regards.
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Ed Campbell from OH asks:Thank you for your great article (Reading Buck Personalities in Quality Whitetails.)You are spot on with this article. I started using your methods after seeing a huge 11 pt late last yr. And with many siteings and trail camera pictures starting early August (velvet) I harvested the big buck which is my best to date. South East Ohio 12pt typical 169 1/2 green gross score. QDM property, great article that we all can learn from. Thank you, Ed Campbell green gross score 169 1/2. Great ArticleWinke Responds:Ed, Thanks for your support and congratulations on the great buck! I am proud to play a small part in your success. Best regards.
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chris from SC asks:Any signs of the great eight this year bill?Winke Responds:Chris, I just learned that my neighbor found him dead this spring. He felt that the buck died during the winter before shedding (due to his body condition) and that he likely just died from the hard winter and his old age not likely from the flesh wound I gave him. I will go get some video of him at some point. He was an old warrior, that is for sure. They just don't live forever and he was a very old buck.
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Mike from ON asks:Hey Bill. Last year when Mike Sawyer shot "Stickers" you said you couldn't wait to get his jaw out to see how old he was. What did you find?Winke Responds:Mike, I sent the jawbone in to be aged and the lab had a fire and they burned up! What are the odds of that? I would say he was probably at least 6 years old. Who knows how old he may have been.
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Jerry from IL asks:When you stay in the field all day what do you recomend for food?Winke Responds:Jerry, I like foods high in carbohydrates to stay warm. Fats also help. For example, Granola bars, trail mix, a cold meat sandwich, nuts are good, a couple of chunks of venison summer sausage are good. This is making me hungry. Water is the best choice for a drink. Good luck.
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Kyle from WI asks:Hi Bill, I have followed you and your articles for years. I really enjoy and learn a lot from your articles and now Midwest Whitetail. I would bet that you have forgotten more about hunting/killing big mature bucks than the remaining 99% of us who chase these elusive critters. My brother and I were talking about you the other night and we were both wondering this question. How many bucks over 150" have you killed with a bow? If you don't want to talk about score, than how many bucks 4.5 years or older have you killed with a bow? I realize you are a humble guy (I respect you for that)and may not want to share this kind of infomation, but I am just curious. Take care. KyleWinke Responds:Kyle, I am not sure. I don't even have all the racks anymore as I gave some to family and friends over the years. I know I have shot quite a bunch of them. I used to travel to hunt alot and I would really pile them up some years. It is probably something like 20 to 25, maybe. Somewhere in that range I am guessing. But man, I have missed some giants too. I wish I had the trophy room of the ones that got away. It would be more impressive than my trophy room of the bucks I have shot. Good luck to you this season.
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Blake from SD asks:Bill, I tried so hard to get a buck this early season, unsuccessfully I might add. The weather was hot and humid and, with the amounts of rain we sustained in my area, the mosquitos were terrible. My brother carries a thermocell with him while deer hunting. They work very well but I'm not sure if the deer can smell it. What do you think?Winke Responds:Blake, I am not sure either. If I had to guess I would say they can smell it, but I have not tried one so that is just speculation based on how well deer can smell anything new. Heat rises, so they may not get a heavy dose and they may not react to it if they do. Thermacell makes deer scents for those things, but I think I would rather rely on the wind to keep the scent away from deer than to assume the deer scents coming from the Thermacell will hide your scent or attract deer.
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charles from NY asks:I would like to know why no one ever shows about hunting in New York,the southern tiers like dutchess county,putnum county,orange county,sullivan county.there are many hunters that hunt these countys.including me and my sons and friends.we never get any kind of reports from these areas.is there a particular reason that these areas are not even spoken about. thank you in advance for any information you can give on this topic. a loyal hunter with no information on the areas i hunt,just guess work. charles t.Winke Responds:Charles, No reason that I know of. On our end, we are still developing our pro staff from each of the regions we represent (including the Northeastern US). We will keep our eyes open for potential pro staffers from that area that can help people in that region to better know the status of the bucks. Good luck.
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Tyler Trosen from MN asks:Bill Winke I noticed your Indian Hills Community College Sweatshirt, on the last episode while you were cutting out the ditch. I used to live in the Oskaloosa area and did some hunting there and still have access to property there. I do say as a MN hunter, Iowa has some incredible property!! Do you hunt in that southern area alot?? A friend shot a 180 class buck a few years ago-- just incredible. Good Luck and thanks for the amazing show, i would love to be part of and do something like this some time in my life. Great job on portraying Godly character and a very family oriented show. Thanks again Tyler Trosen Verndale, MNWinke Responds:Tyler, Thanks for the support. We do live in Southern Iowa and that is where I hunt. My wife actually worked at Indian Hills for a few years before we started to have children. I hope you have a great season.
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jon from IA asks:Do you ever get nervous while walking to your stands in the morning of encountering a mountain lion? Its hard not to think about this while walking through the dark.Winke Responds:Jon, I guess they have found a few in my part of Iowa, but I never worry about it. I didn't even worry about it when I used to hunt deer in parts of Idaho where the cats are common. I figure when it is my time it is my time. I am not going through life afraid of things. Good luck.
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jacob from MO asks:IS there any way you can hook me up with the missouri team? i have 400 acres in SW missouri i would allow a couple memembers to hunt on i would also film for them i am very experienced in this and find it a blast. im already tagged out on my buck tag and already killed a couple does so i want to change it up! thanks!Winke Responds:Jacob, I have done it. I sent your contact information to the MO team. Thanks for your generous offer.
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marc from MI asks:Bill, Just finished reading your "2010 Rut Calendar" article in Peterson's Bowhunting. I'm getting pretty worked up right now as I have Oct 29-Nov 10 off of work. Nov. 4 has always been my magical day. Over the last several days its been warm in the 60's and raining. Didn't think this would bode well for your prediction of the 25th to be the day the bucks would start getting a little squirrely. This morning the 24th, woke to a downpour. My plan was to hunt out of a stand that I would then relocate to another spot. Wasn't exactly crazy about the downpour so I grabbed the rain gear and pruning saw instead of the bow. Had my stand down before daylight and headed off to the place I had in mind, all the while I'm thinking if its season and I have a tag, I should be hunting. But I'm also thinking its 62 degrees, what buck in his right mind is gonna be running does. So as I'm placing my stick climber up against the tree, I see a flash of brown fast approaching my new spot. Mouth wWinke Responds:Marc, Your message got cut off, but I think I know where you are going with this. I never go out in the woods during the season without a bow and a release strapped to my wrist. Good luck with the rest of the season.
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We play football at Simpson College and would love to send you footage of our hunts; can we do that?Paul from IA asks:Hey Bill my buddy and I are huge fans. We never miss an episode and we are always following you guys. We play college football at Simpson in Indianola, and when we find free time between school and football we are hunting. We have just started to film each others hunts. We have trail cam pics of some monsters on the land we are hunting. If we get footage of one of us shooting a big one could we send the footage to you to look at?Winke Responds:Paul, We would be happy to look at it. We don't typically show any footage from people who aren't on the pro staff, but we might be able to add you guys from next year if the footage is good and you portray hunting the way we want to portray it. Also, Drew Yarkosky is on the baseball team up there so you might look him up. He is one of our proders and interned here for two years. Good luck this fall.
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Rob from IN asks:Hey Bill. First off, I wanted to say how much I appreciate what you and your team is doing at Midwest Whitetail. My question is this... my oldest daughter is planning on going hunting with me this next year. We have been practicing with our bows from the treestand. She asked me this afternoon (for the first time)- what she was going to do when she had to go #1 while in the stand. I guess I have never really thought about it from a womans perspective. Do you know what the female hunters do in this instance? Its not like they can just let it fly so to speak. THanks for any help you might be able to give. I appreciate it, and keep up the awesome work! RobWinke Responds:Rob, I have a daughter that hunts with me. I just try to make sure she goes before we leave home. That is usually sufficient to get us through a stand session. However, there is a funnel-like device that I have seen in camping catalogs that allows women to go to the bathroom standing up. I would guess that and a ziploc of hand wipes would do the job just fine. I did a quick search of Campmor.com (a good source of camping gear) and found these two items: Lady J: http://www.campmor.com/lady-j.shtml and Sani Fresh Freshette: http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___80980 Good luck.
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Billy from MO asks:Bill You have a great show, I really enjoy watching it through out the season. My question is about thermals. I have been bow hunting for about 10 years, and in the past three I have tried to take it up a notch, and do things right. I have increased my number of stands to limit hunting pressure on certain areas, built food plots, and I think it has been paying off. I am not sure what thermals are though. I am wondering what exactly they are? How or why deer use them? And how do I locate them on my property? Thanks, BillyWinke Responds:Billy, I just answered this question for another fellow. Please go back a few questions (lower on the page) to find the answer. Thanks for your support. I really appreciate it.
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Brandon from KS asks:Bill, was wondering how a fella could get a cd of some of the music that goes along with the shows. Would love to be able to listen to it in the truck on the way hunting. Would be more than happy to pay for something like this.Winke Responds:Brandon, Most of what we play on the Main Show was written by Jim Ryser just for us to use on the shows. He is a very talented musician and loves to hunt. Much of the music used on the other shows came from a website called "Shockwave Sound". You can download it there but it isn't cheap since their licenses are for commercial use of the music, not just listening.
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Joe from IN asks:I am proud of my hunting rights and don 't mind displaying it even in the smallest ways. I have had acts of vandalism on my vehicle when I add something to show I am a hunter and have begun to think this may be some kind of anti-hunters attempts to get back at me. Should I continue to display my beliefs or keep them to myself?Winke Responds:Joe, Keep showing it. I am guessing it was an isolated event. Put a big bumper sticker on there that says "Loaded Gun on Board". Maybe that will help. Good luck.
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Brett from OK asks:Bill, I love the show and greatly appreciate everything u have tought me about hunting. Thirty minutes ago I drilled a cyote and he is still laying under my stand in the alfalfa. It's only 530 and i decided to shoot in effort to preserve tonights hunt, and primarily because I hate cyots. My question is should I go pick him up and through him in the woods. Or should I just leave him there until my hunt is over? Thanks again, BrettWinke Responds:Brett, I apologize for not being quite that "real time" to answer your question when you asked it and when it would have done you some good. I would have left it, myself. Deer aren't deathly afraid of coyotes and having one lying there dead is not a game-changer. It will spook a few deer, but it is not worth getting down at that time of the day to move it.
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Nathan from IN asks:I doubt you remember me, but I met you in August of this year. I was Mike Oreilly's intern in Illinois with Timber Creek Land Co. I've been up at school and unable to spend as much time in the woods as I would like and I was wondering what kind of rutting activity you may have been seeing, if any, and just activity in general. I've only been able to hunt 1 weekend so far and didn't see anything. Im just trying to figure out the cause, was it scent control, the warm temperatures, location... Im just trying to see what the deer are doing in your neck of the woods. I am also wondering if you remember me and if so, how is the season going for you? By the way the site looks great, I really enjoy the shows and it sure is a lot better than watching the outdoor channel with all those commercials. Well I hope everything is going good over in Iowa, and good hunting. Shoot a big one, Nathan ApplegateWinke Responds:Nathan, Of course I remember you. I hope you are well. I have not been hunting much yet, getting some things done in the office so I can concentrate on hunting. I will start tomorrow morning and stay after it hard from then on. I would say in general, it was a slow October for most people around here. Not many good bucks seen. Trail cameras still showing nocturnal activity for the most part. I think that will change in the next few days. If you can get out Halloween weekend, that is usually a good time (as well as the first ten days of November). Not much to report yet, but that will change soon. Good luck.
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Chris from NC asks:Bill- Love the show and expanding the hunting regions! Any chance of ever adding a south east show for the southern guys? Thanks, keep up the good work! ChrisWinke Responds:Chris, That may happen some day. I have gotten a few requests for this. It is a lot of work opening up a new series and I am getting worn thin, but that is a likely event at some point. Thanks for your support. Have a great day.
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Ryan from OH asks:Hey Bill, Congrats on your success. So after Iowa's disapointing loss to Arizona and watching Ohio State get beat by Wisconsin do you think college football should adopt a playoff system?Winke Responds:Ryan, That is the first "Ask Winke" question I have fielded about football. Good job. My simple answer is yes, for the top 8 teams only. Too many post-season games is not good for college football in my opinion.
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Justin from VT asks:Bill, Do you have a "how to" video on field dressing your deer? If not, is that something you can put together and offer on your website? Thanks, JustinWinke Responds:Justin, No we don't but that is a good idea. I'll keep tht one in mind for next year. With all the does I have shot over the years, I can certainly tell you the quickest and cleanest ways to dress them. Have a great day and good luck.
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DaKota from OH asks:Dear Bill, In order for someone to be on the pro staff, do they have to shoot Hoyt bows?Winke Responds:DaKota, Yep, Hoyt is our sponsor so we promote their bows. They are great bows so that is not hard to do.
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cody from OK asks:I was wandering if you or any of your staff has ever hunted in south eastern OK we have some extrodinary deer down here and we have a hard time getting any recognition for it.I was wandering if you could tell me why Thanks for your time and attention and good luck to you and your staff this year.Winke Responds:Cody, I don't think any of the guys hunts that area. No good reason that it is not discovered yet. I know some folks that own land in that area and they produce some great bucks. I think this quality level have been growing over the past few years. I have been hearing more about OK every year. My guess is that it won't be a sleeper forever. Good luck to you this fall too.
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Chris from IL asks:Mr. Winke, I am looking into getting into the hunting industry. I live and hunt in central Illinois. I was wondering if you take filmed hunts from other hunters that aren't on your pro staff? I film a lot of my own hunts and some of my friends. Do you recommend using a specific kind of equipment to do this? Would a HD camera be the best equipment to use? I would also like to extend an invitation for you to join me on a bow hunt. Thanks for your input. I look forward to hearing from you. Chris LearnedWinke Responds:Chris, We don't take filmed hunts from other than our pro staff, but we do have a way to incorporate inexperienced filmers into the fold with our Developmental Pro Staff. It gives us a way to keep tabs on promising potential staffers and help them to improve their skills. That is where many of our most recent entries to the pro staff are starting. However, when we run into those with proven experience, we aren't afraid to bring them along faster. We prefer HD but don't require it. HD video is just so much cleaner and nicer looking even when we compress it for the web, it still looks better than SD footage. I appreciate the invite. I will keep your e-mail address for the future. I used to travel a ton, but during the past five years or so I have been hunting mostly around home to maximize family time. Good luck this season.
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Dalton from KS asks:I am hunting a different farm so i don't over-hunt that bedding area. I went out yesterday and i saw 18 different coyotes! This morning it was the same story. I saw 15 different coyotes. They come from the same direction to feed at a water hole. How many should i eliminate and do you know if i have to have a certain license or anything to bring the population down in Kansas. I have already shot two this year. ThanksWinke Responds:You may need a furbearer's license in KS to shoot them. You had better check. Some states are that way. I don't think you can effectively reduce them with anything short of finding a good trapper to move in there. It is hard to shoot them out as they get wary very quickly. A good trapper can wear them out, however. That is the way to go, if possible.
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Mike from MI asks:why does Michigan deer hunting s u c k compared to everywhere else MDNReWinke Responds:Mike, It is related to hunting pressure. There are a lot of deer hunters in MI and the tradition in MI has always been to shoot the first legal buck that came past. That is fine for many of the state's hunters, but not everone wants that kind of experience. There are some neighborhoods cropping up where the landowners are working together to manage the bucks and the deer in general more for quality than just quantity. That is future in MI, those who are interested will eventually band together and make local changes. It may never be as good some other states, but it will continue to improve - just a slow change, unfortunately.
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DaKota from OH asks:What would be the easiest way for me and two other teenage friends to start an internet hunting show?Winke Responds:Dakota, Easiest way: get a vimeo account, learn to use their service and then eventually build a simple website and embed the vimeo videos on your site. You will need a simple video camera and some editing software. You can do it all for next to nothing. That is the easiest way. From there, you can see if it gains any traction and you can always scale up and do things in a bigger way later. My advice: keep it very simple and very inexpensive. This can be a very, expensive and complicated project if you aren't careful. Good luck.
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Woody from VA asks:Bill, I wanted to see if you had a suggestion on what to do with the safety harness that comes with a new tree stand? Since we all seem to be wearing the easier and more comfortable ones that are on the market. I have a pretty big collection of these now and trying to find a way to make good use of them. Thanks and Happy Hunting.Winke Responds:Woody, I guess the garbage man will have plenty of them to wear after visiting your house. I can't find a good use for them. I am sure there must be some use, but like you, I am wearing the Muddy harness and have a pile of the standard issue harnesses in my garage. Good luck.
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Chris from IA asks:This is more of information then a question. To the gentleman that can't play the videos on his Blackberry. The videos need a flash player to play, Blackberry (or other Smartphones for that matter) don't have the capabilities to play flash as of yet. The technology is there from Adobe, but it has not yet been released to the market. Suppose to be available by the end of the year. Hope this helpsWinke Responds:Chris, Thanks. I know we have tried to get a Flash player for the Ipod and that has been a challenge too. I hope all this gets worked out soon so the show is accessible by all the devices. Until then, I will keep researching the best strategy and appreciate your input. Have a great day.
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Lee from TN asks:Mr. Winke, I wanted to start by saying I really enjoy your site and especially the newer devotional portion. I was wondering if you had ever thought of taking this farther into another hunting field such as turkey hunting? Some friends and I are getting into video taping our hunts, and actually thrive on Longbeards here in Tennessee. Please feel free to view the website we have set up (www.strutntom.com) and let us know if you have any feedback. My name is Lee Tadlock and I'm the cameraman/editor of the group. Also, you may see that this is mainly a guiding service -- it is not anymore. We just kept the name and website. We still guide, but now for fun instead of profit. Thanks again for your time and have blessed remainder of your season.Winke Responds:Lee, Thanks for your support. We have considered taking this into turkey hunting and may do that soon. It has been challenging getting this all organized and once we get all our ducks in a row (if ever) we may take a look at a turkey website. It is a good idea and I appreciate your feedback. I took a look at your website, it is a good looking site. Putting this stuff together is a lot of work but it looks good. Please have a blessed and safe season yourself.
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Sean from IA asks:Hey Bill...i was just wondering if next time you could forward me questions like "brads from IA" to me and i will answer them in the manner they should be? I could reply something like "get your facts straight and stop hating you jerk!" HAHA...i know that would not work but i do have commend you for the great job you do at yielding those types of questions!Winke Responds:Sean, I appreciate your support and willingness to step in and defend what we do. I am not offended by sometimes unflattering questions. I don't have anything to hide. But that doesn't mean they are fun. Have a great day and a great season.
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Matt from IL asks:Is it possible that Larry Zach's buck could be up there with the top archery typical whitetails of all time? I cruched some quick numbers real quick and thought he might gross in the 220's or 230's as a typical. That is an amazing buck. What are your thoughts.Winke Responds:Matt, That buck looks bigger than what he would score. I think that may be part of the reason Larry is not scoring him. It would reduce that one-of-a-kind buck and the adventure of hunting him, to a number. I am guessing that the gross score would be well under 200 inches. Either way, it doesn't matter. It was an exciting hunt that Larry shared with his wife and with us. That is the best part. If he chooses to someday score the buck, we'll bring it to you.
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Kevin from NY asks:Bill, I am looking for some information on preserving antlers. What would be the best preservative to coat old racks with? I was thinking maybe mineral oil? Any information on this topic would be helpful. Thank you for your time, Kevin P.S. I read your articles all the time and they are always very informative.Winke Responds:Kevin, You shouldn't have to preserve them unless you are displaying them outside. Antlers will last indefiniteliy without any preservative on them if they are displayed indoors. If the antlers have already weathered outdoors for several years, you might be able to find some way to make them look a bit more like fresh antlers again. I am not sure on mineral oil. I have never tried that. I guess if you give it a try, please report back as others might find that search interesting. Thanks and good luck.
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Jarred from OH asks:Mr. Winke, Thakns for the great tips on photographing our trophies. Yesterday evening I stalked to within 40 yards of a great deer. He ended up getting uncomfortable and trotted back into the timber. He never raised his tail or snorted and he began to walk several yards before reaching cover. Do you think he will become spooky of this area? The area he was in is perfect for the prevailing wind with a deep ditch for fast and easy access to and from the stand.Winke Responds:Jarred, No, I suspect he will still use the area. When they realize it is a person in their living room, that is when they get really uncomfortable and stop using an area for a while. Good luck.
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Bryan from MN asks:I can not open the video's on my blackberry. Is there another link I should contact to for access of video's on my mobile, or is it me? Thank you. On another note, this is the best website!! I am addicted! Love the videos, the features,a dn of course - the Ask Winke!Winke Responds:Bryan, Thanks for your support. I will look into it. I need to become more proficient at the "device friendly" aspects of modern video formats and players. I will have something figured out soon.
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Kaj from GA asks:Bill, I've enjoyed watching your shows. However, I would like to ask you to request that all your hunters wear safety harness when in a tree stand. In your recent Iowa Youth Hunt episode around 6:00 minutes, the Yarkovsky brothers, both of them, were up in the tree stand without harness. As you have a lot of younger viewers, it would serve as good role model to have all hunters strapped in. I am sure you'll agree. Thanks for reading my e-mail and keep up the good work!Winke Responds:Kaj, Thanks for the support. I saw that too and it made me cringe. I will pass along the word. Most of the time the guys are really good about it, but I think because they were just doing a quick "hit list" segment they didn't take the harness with. I will definitely spread the word to put safety first. This is a very dangerous sport, don't let anyone kid you about that.
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scott from VA asks:Hey Bill not really a question. I just wanted to let you know that I have read lots of great articles you have written and you and all the guys on the show are awesome.Keep up the good work and keep hunting hard. ScottWinke Responds:Scott, Thanks for your support. I really appreciate the fact that you are watching the shows. Please tell all your friends. We can use all the help we can get. Good luck this fall.
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Justin from KS asks:Bill, love the show it's one of a kind. Trying to dispell a rumor here. Is there a way to tell the difference in buck droppings and those from a doe? Thanks again for all you do.Winke Responds:Justin, Possibly by size. The diameter of the turd equals the diameter of the ..... Well you get the idea. The bigger the turd, the bigger the deer. That can sometimes help. It only works when the turds are clumped (when deer are eating food that has the right qualities to clump up). I have seen big buck turds many times. When you see them, you know it. Technically, you can't necessarily tell a buck from a doe, but you can tell a big deer from a smaller deer. Usually, the really big deer are bucks.
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Robert from MT asks:Great stuff Bill, big fan and have followed you for years. Quick question, any chance you guys would look at other sattelite shows like the "plains". I know you have been to our part of the world here in Montana and could validate the type of bucks we have throughout the state. Anyway, just curious, and again, great work, great show! Looking forward to this years program. Best of luck with the hit list.Winke Responds:Robert, Thanks. I appreciate the support. Yes, we are always considering what the next move should be. I feel we need to add shows for Kentucky and the Virginias at some point. I love those areas and they are so rich in deer hunting tradition. A "Rocky Mountain" series would also be very fun to follow. It is such different hunting that it would contrast the pure Midwest experience nicely. It is a good suggestion. I appreciate you taking the time to contact me with it. Good luck this fall to you too.
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Todd from IN asks:Bill love the show and looking forward to watching another season unfold. I was curious if there is gonna be like a midwestwhitetail.com "allstar" dvd where some of the top hunts from the different state shows being put on a dvd? Just curious.Winke Responds:Todd, My first reaction is that I doubt it, but maybe. I have never had the manpower to pull that off in the past, but I do have a couple of guys here now. We may give it a try this year or the next.
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Jim from MI asks:Mr. Winke, Just curious to see if you know anything about the Wayne Nat'l Forest in southern OH, and if you think this is worth my time to venture there for a DIY gun hunt? I know nothing about it, besides I have been by it on the road and I know that the area is known for decent bucks. I don't know if it's overhunted or even produces any decent bucks. I've been searching for a place to buy maps online without any luck. Thought maybe you could help. Thanks for your time. Jim (MI)Winke Responds:Jim, All I know about it is what I gathered when researching an article about public land hunting a number of years ago. At that time, I was impressed with the opportunities here, but that was probably ten years ago. At that time it was producing a nice percentage of bucks 3 1/2 and older. A lot could have changed since then. I believe it is a good option as public land hunts go. I buy my maps from Mytopo.com. You may want to contact the National Forest Service through their website and inquire about access maps. I would rely on the topos and aerials from Mytopo to help you decide where to hunt. At the least, it would be a good adventure. Look for ways to get in deep, away from the crowds and you will have the best chance for success.
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Charlie from MI asks:Hi im charlie im 12 years old and i love hunting i am actually going to my first hunt for the youth hunt in michigan this weekend on private property we also have a doe permit i am really looking forward to shooting my first deer. you and your staff and the show have gotten me into hunting my dad hunts already on public land thanks for geting me into huntingWinke Responds:Charlie, I sure hope that you had a successful weekend and we are very happy to have played a role in getting you excited about deer hunting. It is a great activity and something you can enjoy for a lifetime. All the best.
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Josh from IA asks:Great site with a continuous flow of knowledge. This is kind of a question and maybe a fun suggestion if at all possible. If you had to guess what is the average number of deer you see from your stand each time you are in the deer woods. Also a poll about this from all the Midwest Whitetail pro staff and those who follow might be interesting to see how many deer the average hunter sees on stand. Thanks and keep up the awesome work.Winke Responds:Josh, I will put the word out. I am going to guess that I average seeing 12 to 15 deer per day throughout most of the season. When I am sitting on big food sources that number may climb to around 30+, especially during the late season when the deer are flocking in from neighboring farms to hit my food plots. I usually see about 8 bucks per day, on average. I am sure that I see some of the same deer over and over on different days. I appreciate your support. Have a great day.
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Rick from PA asks:Bill I was wondering what some of the better internet weather sites there are to watch the weather.What are some of the sites that you use.ThanksWinke Responds:Rick, I use Wunderground.com but I bet most of them use the same data base for wind direction and daily forecasts. Give that one a try. Good luck this year.
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jacob from MO asks:Bill, I asked you a question about how to hunt a buck that had been hanging around my stand all day. well i got him the second day of season. he had some ground shrinkage from the trail camera pics but still went 151 gross. not bad for my first buck with a bow. can i email you the pic?Winke Responds:Jacob, I know the meaning of "ground shrink" only too well. I once shot a small bodied buck in KS. When I went to recover him, I didn't even recognize him! I thought it was a different deer - that's how bad I messed that one up. But there is nothing wrong with a gross 151. That is a great deer. We would be happy to post it. Please send a photo to info@midwestwhitetail.com and we will get it posted to the site. Congratulations!
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John from TN asks:Any defense against seed ticks in the early season?Winke Responds:John, Actually, I just spoke with a fellow at Gamehide about it last week. They make a clothing product called "ElimiTick" that will reportedly keep them off you. Start by going to their website and then contact them directly to find the name of a dealer or to place a web order. (www.gamehide.com) I am talking with them about sponsoring the show, so if you tell them you heard it from me, that will probably help my cause some. There are also other products such as sprays (I think Scent Blocker makes one of these) that also will reportedly keep the ticks off. Good luck.
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Matt from MO asks:I am looking for a decent pair of binoculars for in the timber. A pair that is somewhat affordable, lets in a good amount of light and is of the right power. I already have a pair of 16x42 which are great for when I am looking over a field. But I have noticed that within timber they can almost be too powerful. What power do you recommend? Any brand in particular?Winke Responds:Matt, I would think the 8X would offer a good steady view. That is the downside with the 16X models, the magnification exagerates all the movements you make when holding them. Of course, I love the Nikon binos. They are one of our sponsors, but I have been a big fan of Nikon glass since I started in this business and bought my first SLR camera back in the early 90s. They make some good binos in the Monarch line that would be ideal for what you seek.
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Levi from IL asks:Bill, i am getting ready to buy a new pair of range finders and i probley going to go with nikon acher choice i was wonder what is the differnce beteewn the acher choice and the acher choice max thank you for your timeWinke Responds:Levi, The Max has a lighted reticle (the readout inside is lighted so you can see it in the low light). That is a great feature. Otherwise, they are pretty much the same. I would go with the Max because having the lighted reticle is a big deal.
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Jack from MN asks:Great site, it would be better if you could submit photo's from trail cams and have the staff "score" and age bucks. The QDM magazine does something like it, and it is nice to get others take on what guys are seeing in the field, it is also nice to see what others are seeing in the woods. I have 100's of bucks on film if you need some to start.Winke Responds:Jack, I think that is a good idea. It is something I will consider putting into place for next fall. It is too late to get that built into the site in time for this year as we are already quite busy producing the shows. Thanks for the good idea. Have a great day.
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Eric from MI asks:Bill, I have a question about your photography. When do you take pictures? Do you take days off from hunting or do you bring your camera with you in the stand? Also what kind of equipment do you use? What size lens would you recommend for taking pictures of wildlife (mainly whitetail and turkey)? How/where do you setup to take your pictures? Good luck this fall.Winke Responds:Eric, I take days off from hunting and take them mostly in mid-October. I will shoot every morning and evening for three straight weeks some years. I shoot all Nikon equipment: D2x bodies and the best lenses they make. That is how my love affair with Nikon optics began - with their photo equipment. I have several lenses but they can be quite expensive for casual work. I do it professionally so paying for a really good 400 mm lens is just part of the business. That is what I would use if I were photographing deer and wildlife. I have the 200-400 f/4 lens and it is very good with the high end Nikon camera bodies. It will take shockingly good photos. I shoot mostly hunters in the field, not much wildlife, but that is a very good lens for wildlife, just expensive. There are probably cheaper lenses with similar magnification, but I have not tried them so I dare not recommend anything. Reviews on line are a better source for info on those lenses. Good luck.
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Brian from MO asks:Bill, I was doing some more scouting yesterday, trying to focus on entry and exit routes like you have suggested, and have come up with a question. When you find "that tree" where you want to hang a stand, and it has a considerable amount of poison ivy on it, what do you do? is there something you can spray on it to kill it, or do you pick a different tree? The problem is, on this farm, all of the trees that are good stand sites have poison ivy on them. Thanks for your time!Winke Responds:Brian, I am very sensitive to poison ivy and poison oak too. I always wear a long sleeved shirt and gloves and pull the plants off the tree carefully so that it doesn't contact my face or clothing much. I then shower as soon after clmbing the tree as possible. The plant has an oil on it that reacts with your skin and that is what causes the problems. If you can wash it off quickly, even in a stream, it will not be as severe and sometimes you can eliminate all traces of the oil before it can do any damage. Bottom line, I dress for it and then get cleaned up as quickly as possible. Remember to throw the clothing in the laundry when you get back to camp too. Good luck.
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jim from PA asks:In an article of Petersons Bowhunting (Sept 2010 issue) you reference a online extra video of mental training. I searched the www.bowhuntingmag.com site and was unable to locate the video. Please help me locate this video. Thank you JimWinke Responds:Jim, It is there, you have to scroll down to the player and then click "View All" and it will give you a playlist that contains that video. Thanks for your support.
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Larry from MO asks:Sir, I've been a avid bow hunter for 20 years plus, hunted all over being in the military. I retired 5 years ago and im currently writing you from Baghdad Iraq. My question is i am headed back to missouri in 5 weeks, just in time for season, just ordered two new bows for me and my 10 year old daughter and a new Camera package from Campbell outdoors. I am leaning towards starting a website and hunting club called WHAC'MM which stands for Whitetail Hunters Archery Club Mid Missouri. I have filmed some hunts before but wanted a better camera. I written two different types of hunting shows and sent them to Marc Biard who like them, but he also said too many of todays celebriaties were to busy with their own shows to start another but said it would work. I am currently started a DVD on scouting, i ahve the first few chapters done on Map Reading and GPS corialation, will go through everything to include on ground scouting to stand set up and hunt. I would liketo know is this a good way foWinke Responds:Larry, First off, thanks very much for your service to our country. We all appreciate it. I did not receive your entire message. There is a character limit built the fields of these Ask Winke sections. I think got enough to know gist of what you are talking about though. My advice is to go the internet way. If the show is popular on the web, it will likely lead to more opportunities. Either way, it will produce much needed experience and you can use that to build on before trying to decided if there is a next step. I would keep the budget small and focus on using Vimeo or YouTube to host your videos. You can make a website to that for very little expense - a bit of time (but even the time factor is reduced because there are so many user-friendly website development programs offered by large internet hosting companies). Good luck.
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Mike from IL asks:First off I would like to thank all the people form MW for all you do! This is a great place and the time and effort you put into your show is greatly appreciated. Just a quick question for you pertaining to background music and sound effects when video editing, I am looking for a good software program or CD to use without breaking any copyrights. I have Corel Video Pro X3 and I am looking to add more sound effects and instrumental music for background usage during my prep work and hunts. Any advise is appreciated! Thanks, MikeWinke Responds:Mike, We have used Shockwave Sound for a lot of our music. Their albums are affordable and are pretty good. There are other sites that also have the "Royalty Free" music. The name is misleading as the music is not truly free, you simply pay for all the intended use up front and then you don't have to pay recurring fees later. That is the approach I would take. Look up Royalty Free Music in Google and you will have enough to keep you busy for a long time. Recently, we have begun lining up more exclusive music and finding common ground with guys that love hunting and love producing music. That way we don't end up hearing one of our "trademark" tracks used somewhere else. Thanks for your support. I really appreciate it.
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Dustin from IN asks:With only one month away from the Indiana Bow season I realized that my Bow and all archery equipment was stolen out of the truck of my car. I reported it to the police and keep checking the pawn shops. I was sondering if you have ever had a now stolen, and what steps you may have taken to get it back. Of course I am praying. Thanks!Winke Responds:Dustin, Man, that sucks! I have never had my bow stolen. A bow is hard to replace in a short time. I would talk to your insurance company (homeowner's) if you have it. They usually cover personal property from theft. I have no idea how one would go about getting it back. The local Pawn shops or archery shops are likely the places to look, but the theif may have taken it to another town to avoid getting caught too. Good luck. That is really tough luck at this point in the season.
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Josh from IA asks:With this recent talk of buying land in a few questions I had one of my own. Say a person owns a 500-700 acre farm. What costs would they have per year(payments and taxes.) Do you have any idea? Really wondering how a person with not a bunch of money to throw around right away could buy land sooner instead of waiting fifteen years down the road. Thanks and keep up the good work with the awesome website. Best of luck this season, JoshWinke Responds:Josh, Yes, I know only too well what it costs to keep the place going. Assuming Iowa. I would say the taxes in Iowa would be about $2,500 to $3,500 if there are no dwellings and it is roughly 60+% timber that you get into the forest reserve program (no taxes on that). It will cost, on average about $100 per acre for food plots - more for corn and less for beans and clover. That assumes you have the equipment and the time. Figure the annual land payment will be roughly 10% of what you owe (paying interest and principal). There is occassional maintenance such as rebuilding crossings and clearing out ponds, etc. That all adds up to about $1000 per year on average. Let me put it this way, when you add it all up, it is expensive. However, there is also great satisfaction that comes with it. I love the management stuff and being able to sit on stand and think about what changes you want to make to the farm in the coming year is very relaxing and gives the hunt an added element of satisfaction.
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Jeremy from MI asks:Hi Bill. Love the sight and all your articles!!!! I starting hunting with only one stand last year(lone wolf alpha). I hunt small parcels and public ground and my stands kept getting stolen. I am able to hunt hunt 30 different spots by just packing in my lone wolf. Anyhow, I love the portability of my alpha, but the seat is very uncomfortable. Do you put a different seat on your lonewolfs? Is there a way to make them more comfortable?Winke Responds:Jeremy, You are asking the wrong guy about that. I stand most of the time so I actually take the padding off my stand seats to reduce the amount of scent they hold and disperse when I am hunting. You could consider a pad from a company like "Hunt Comfort" but then you have something else to carry in. They work well for what you need. Good luck this season.
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Brianv from PA asks:Hey Bill, love the website, lots of great hunting information and of course big Iowa bucks. I was curious, how many acres do you own on your home farm, do you ever hunt other farms? Also, did you live in Iowa prior to purchasing your farm, what factors went into your decision when purchasing your farm? Thanks, BrianWinke Responds:Brian, I grew up in NE Iowa (Allamakee County) and have lived in Iowa most of my adult life. I lived in MI two different times for a total of 7 years. That is where I met my wife. We were fortunate enough to start buying land back when apparently no one wanted it, because it was much cheaper then. We have 1,000 acres now. I love hunting and managing our farm so even if I know of a bigger deer somewhere else that I can hunt, I still hunt here instead. Prior to buying the land (I started buying in 1995) I hunted exclusively on permission. It is tougher now, to be sure, but there are still opportunities for people to hunt Iowa on permission. It takes a while to find a good spot, but nothing worthwhile is ever easy - at least it hasn't been for me. There were a lot of factors that went into the buying decision - we live here with our children so that all weighed in heavily too. If you are just buying hunting land without the intent of living on it, look for the best neighborhoods where everyone is on the same page from a management standpoint. Those farms will cost more, but in the long run they will be well worth it.
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Chase from MO asks:Me and some friends are wanting to start our own archery club and we will be launching a small website and we were wondering what software would you recommend for photo editing and shirt designing. Any other helpful hints for the website would be greatly appreciated. Thank you very much. You got a great website. Team HoytWinke Responds:Chase, That is a complex question. I'll answer your questions with a few simple suggestions, but once you get into it, you will realize it is a big topic. I use a designer to lay out my shirts, but I think Corel Draw is a common package for shirt design. It isn't too expensive, I don't think. The cheapeast way to get a website is to go to full-service hosting company like www.startlogic.com and put a simple site together. It has enough tools to get you a decent site for very little money. The perfect starter program. I hope that helps. Good luck with the project.
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Jared from IA asks:Hey Bill again i would like to say that i love the show and i think you are doing a wonderful job running it. I was just wondering how many does were taken of your farm in the last season?Winke Responds:Jared, Thanks for your support. Each year is a bit different and I can't remember the final number. We need to shoot more this year, but I think it was probably 15 to 18 last year when considering all the people who shot does on the place.
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Adam Hill from MO asks:If you lived in NW MO, would you bow hunt public land in MO or KS. When you could not draw a Iowa tag per say.Winke Responds:Adam, My guess is that the KS public land, though there is not much of it, would likely see less hunting pressure. However, I am not sure 100% on that. I have scouted some public areas in KS and they looked good with plenty of deer sign. I would still spend some time scouting the MO areas too. Also, since you live in MO, you likely can find a few people there who will let you hunt good private ground if you consider everyone you know and who they may know. Good luck.
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mohammad ali from MI asks:hey Bill,after you kill your deer what do you do with it's fur?Winke Responds:Mohammad, I just take the entire deer to the processing plant. When I was doing all my own processing, I used to throw it away. You can tan it and use it like leather for gloves, etc. but that is beyond my expertise. I have even seen them tanned with the hair attached and used like throws over the back of a sofa, etc. The best use is for leather gloves - deer hide gloves are very comfortable.
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Kevin from WV asks:Mr. Winke I am looking to lease a farm to hunt on in the farm country of southern West Virginia and can not seam to find anything that tells me a reasonable amount to pay per acre. What do you think is a reasonable price per acre for a long term lease that allows hunting, clearing, and planting food plots, ect.? I thank you for the great work you are doing on this web site, it has helped me start seeing and taking bigger bigger buck in only 2 years. Thanks for you answerWinke Responds:Kevin, It is totally regional. I am not sure of the going rate there. I would find out what the outfitters are paying (if there are any in the area) and then maybe figure on about 80% of that rate since there will be much less traffic overall if it is just you and a buddy hunting (or just you) rather than an outfitter with clients. I think that is a reasonable approach. If there are no outfitters and the farm is a good one, it certainly has to be worth $5 to $10 per acre as a minimum. Again, I would really focus on finding out what the outfitters are paying. Good luck.
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mark from MN asks:bill would you like to see some trail cam pics from viewers and if so how do we send them to youWinke Responds:Mark, I love to see deer, but if I say yes, I will get a zillion trail camera photos. So I had better just say that you are welcome to send them to info@midwestwhitetail.com and I will likely see them, but I may not be able to comment on every submission. I appreciate the willingness to share your photos. It is sure exciting when you get a good buck on camera! Thanks for your support.
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craig from IN asks:During the early spring time and i put salt blocks out for the deer to lick on them in the summer. Does it in the end of the summer help the bucks on antler growth. And what percent do you think it helps the bucks.Winke Responds:Craig, Salt doesn't really do much to help antler growth. If you use minerals you can gain some advantage in areas with limited soil fertility. In areas with fertile soils and lots of minerals in the soil, the plants will pull it up and the deer will get their mineral from the plants. That is not to say that mineral supplements won't help, they just aren't as critical in the better soils. I can't put a percentage on it. I am not sure that anyone has that kind of test data available.
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Ron H. Jr. from WI asks:Bill, how's it going bud? You answered a question for me last week about new neighbors(Amish) moving in and being a lot more active than the last. Good news though. Still seeing tons of tracks and my buddy seen a dandy on his way in to check stands and shooting lanes. He said he slipped out without being detected. I think we are still in the game. Anyways i never step foot into the woods without the camera rolling. If we get a big buck on film this year and make it happen, can i send it your way? Would love to know what you think. Thanks again Bill for your time, and keep up the good work bud!! ~Ron~Winke Responds:Ron, Glad things are working out there. We would be more than happy to look at it, but we typically restrict the hunts on our shows to just the pro staff because we think the story of the season is just as intersting as the kill. Good luck shooting that buck.
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cameron from AB asks:Hi Bill I was wondering what power of binoculars would you recomend for a bowhunter? Im looking at the nikon monarch but I dont know if I should get the 8.5 or 10 powerWinke Responds:Cameron, For whitetail hunting, the 8.5 are fine. For more open hunting, like western game hunting, I like the 10 power. However, that being said, I always carry 10X for whitetail hunting too. I really like binoculars. They make the hunt much more enjoyable and having a good set of 10X binos is sure nice when trying to decide if the buck I see across the field is in fact the big one I have been hunting all season!
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ian from WI asks:hey bill Ian again Got a tough one for yah. recently a pack of three coyotes have moved into my area and have been eating at an apple tree(from first light until 10am everyday) that was holding several shooter bucks. my deer sightings have plummeted and all I'm getting on cam is coyotes and the occasional smaller buck. Does and fawn GONE! should I get out there now and try to kill a few from my stand 20 yards away nearby or wait it out until deer season I'm really unsure what to do this was looking to be a great opening night spot apple tree pond with a crp staging area on the way to a large soybean field. DAMN the coyotes running my deer off!Winke Responds:Ian, I hate coyotes too. I had a small group of them cost me a shot at a 170 inch eight pointer last season. He was coming in when they spooked him off. It is on one of our late season shows. The best bet is to trap them. It will be more efficient than trying to shoot them. If you don't know anyone who specializes in trapping coyotes, then I wouuld definitely sit up there and try to kill them. Use the gun - no heroics. This isn't sport, it is business. Good luck.
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gary from WI asks:How do you control the hunters and their decisions on your property? I have contacted you before about my Wisconsin farm. I do 90 percent of the work on my farm, pay the mortage and taxes and really only get to hunt 12-18 times per year due to my occupation. Unfortunately, 2 of my friends hunt many days on the farm and usually end up shooting the very best of the bucks generally a deer in that 160 plus inch range. I'm frustrated by the fact that I've spent 1 million dollars on this place over the last 6 years, plant 60 acres of food plots with all the expenses and get to hunt the least due to being a doctor and having a difficult time getting away during the season. I have asked these guys to limit their time to 10-14 days of hunting a piece and asked them to only shoot the big 8 and 9 pointers, great deer in that 140-150 range but please leave all those bigger deer alone. It hasn't been well recieved. I feel I should get the priority here as the manager and owner. GaryWinke Responds:Gary, That is a good question. I agree with you, they should be limited. Maybe they aren't really friends after all! I hate to say that, but it makes a guy wonder. I used to hunt an awesome giant property (thousands of acres) where the wealthy owner really put on a spread for his friends each season. I only hunted there a couple of times as a guest of one of his buddies. It was totally first class. "Friends" came out of the woodwork. When the economy turned and this fellow was not able to afford the lavish hunting parties many of these "friends" disappeared. I am fortunate in that my friends that hunt here will do whatever I ask them to - within their abilities. But they knew that coming in - right up front I made sure they knew that I was not going to just turn them loose. I have some fellows here that can only shoot management bucks while a very few (onoy one) can shoot anything. Some friends are almost like family so the rules change for them. Everyone has to shoot does or they can't come back. Even those of us with no restrictions often end up shooting management bucks too because there are just so few true giants. I would just make the rules that will eliminate your frustration and if it also eliminates your "friends" then so be it. At least they will reveal their true colord. A few true friends are much more valuable than many false friends.
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Kaleb from MN asks:Hi Bill, A friend of mine got sparked my interest in your website last fall and I have to say I love it. Especially the week by week shows. I love the boys from my home state of coarse. Thanks for posting your insight for us. It would take me years to learn if I couldn't just look it up here. I just got done reading your article Invasion of Ugly Bullies and I was wondering how that project was going? It has been 2 years since you posted that article. Were you able to cull those bullies and if so did were they replaced by better deer? Nobody except a handful of people here want to manage deer so it's hard for me. I figure if I pass on a young buck you never know if the only reason he makes it is because of me. Thanks again for posting your insight.Winke Responds:Kaleb, It is definitely tough to make a real impact if you are the only one passing up bucks, but the movement has to start somewhere, may as well be with you. I would say the project has not been successful because those bucks are hard to kill. I shot some and I tried to get my cameramen to shoot some (they did get a few, but also missed a few and failed to get off shots at others). Killing them is tough. Some of those old cagey buggers are mostly nocturnal and hard to kill. They are fully mature bucks and very cautious. I would rate our success so far as a 3 or 4 on a scale to ten. So being we killed so few of them, I can't really give any true perspective into whether it is working. We'll try to get after them a bit harder this year. We shot maybe three or four of them last year. I would love to get six or eight of them this year.
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Michael DeRyder from MI asks:Bill, the photo of you in the long tee stone design photo in the store makes me think you should have a big 'S' on your chest... er'... maybe a W!?! Hope all is well brother. God Bless! MikeWinke Responds:Mike, I hear ya brother. I had to push my chest forward to give the impression there is muscle behind the shirt. Best to you.
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Stephen from SC asks:What is the best way to enhance a natural deer lick. I hunt in the south and have a lick location that always has lots of tracks every year. It is full of clay and in the open, but deer seem to like something on the ground. I assume this is some sort of natural salt lick, but I was curious if I could enhance this spot with salt or other types of commercial attractants...thanks and happy hunting!Winke Responds:Stephen, Make sure it is still legal there, but the easiest way is to add actual mineral. We have recent blog on the site describing the mixture that works well for deer mineral. Just go to the Winke's Blog archive and you should see it there. It is a video blog by Scott Prucha.
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steve from IA asks:taking trailcam pictures of buck during the summer, when will the bucks antlers stop growing? pictures now, how many more inches of growth can i expect?Winke Responds:Steve, Typically, by about now (early August) they are showing most of their final size. They may grow a few more inches of antler, but most of the tines and beams are pretty close to their final size. I would say they are 90% done growing - possibly even more than that.
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Travis from IN asks:Mr. Winke, There is no question involved in this. I just wanted to say thanks for the great site and to keep up the good work. I am also a huge fan of your articles and have learned a lot through the years by reading them. I am a whitetail junkie too and to be able to learn from someone elses experiences, as I have from yours, is invaluable. Again thanks for the entertainment and all the info, you guys are doing a fantastic job.Winke Responds:Travis, I appreciate the support and the fact that you are watching the shows. Please tell your friends. MW is still small enough that I need all the word of mouth advertising I can get. Thanks for the note. Have a great day.
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Rick from PA asks:Hey bill love the site,My question is last fall I had sent you a question about a nice buck had messed up on and you gave me some great advise and told me to get back in there and hunt him and I did and I harvested the buck and I had asked if you wanted me to send you some pics and you said go ahead that you were gonna post them on the site some where I was just wondering if you ever did I can't find it anywhere.Thanks Rick again great site...Winke Responds:Rick, Sorry about that. It can be a blur around here some times and some stuff falls through the cracks. I'll go back through my e-mails and see if I can find that photo. Thanks for your support. I appreciate it.
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Derek Fisher from KY asks:Hey Bill, I have been a fan of your shows and articles for a while now but recently spoke with Paul W. at the whitetail expo in Louisville and found out you are a believer. What a blessing to hear of others in the hunting industry who love the Lord. I have been emailing back and forth with Paul about possibly being involved with his withoutexcuse ministry. Anyway, keep up the good work and I hope to meet you some time. Maybe our paths will cross at a show? Lord's blessings, Derek FisherWinke Responds:Derek, I appreciate your support and for promoting a Christian message and for helping Paul out. I think he does a great job for us on the "Pastor Paul" segments on the site. Wish I could have met you at the QDMA Show, but I wasn't in the booth a whole lot. Have a great day.
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John from NC asks:Just wondered what your thoughts were on deer hunting around cows, or in cow pastures?Winke Responds:John, I have had some really good hunts in cattle pastures. However, if given a choice I would prefer to hunt where the cattle can't roam. The deer and the cows don't mix. When the cattle move through, the deer move aside. So you never know when a roaming cow will mess you up. I think the deer do avoid pastures to a small degree, but not enough to not hunt them.
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Adam from PA asks:Mr. Winke I wanted to say thank you for the blessing your children wrote and you read at the QDMA convention. It really blessed me... Good to know that there are other believers that aren't afraid of showing Jesus some glory.Winke Responds:Adam, Thanks. They are awesome kids. They really did write that. I appreciate your note. Have a great day.
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Josh from OK asks:Bill, I am sure you get asked this all the time but, how would someone get a chance to hunt with you or any other pro hunter? I know there are different things you can enter to win like hunt of a life time and things like that. I was wondering if there is any other way to hunt with you and learn from the best. I know it is something that everyone wants to do and you cant hunt with everyone. I just thought I would ask since it is something I have always wanted to do. Thanks for the show and keep up the good work.Winke Responds:Josh, I have tried not to commercialize my hunting time too much. I love to hunt. I don't hunt for a living - I hunt because I love it. I do the other stuff for a living. Therefore, I am always reluctant to sell hunts or in other ways to detract from my enjoyment of the fall. However, if I would get enough interest, I may put together a small training session on my farm where we talk about management, but mostly where we talk about how to go about patterning and killing mature bucks. I think I could do that fairly inexpensively for everyone and present lots of good information that would forever change the way people hunt. I will give it some more thought. It might be a good idea.
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Sabin from MN asks:Hey Bill. I was wondering if you could/would be able to put some computer background pictures from some of the pictures you guys take. Thanks SabinWinke Responds:Sabin, I can do that. I will send you a couple of them via e-mail until I get something set up. Talk to ya later. Bill
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John from PA asks:I'm am looking at getting a new safety harness and had a worry- on my old harness I can't shoot to the right without my arm catching on the tree attachment strap. So, i was wondering if you knew of any harnesses that wont catch my shooting arm when I draw back, allowing me to shoot in all directions?Winke Responds:John, I understand the problem well. The only way to avoid that is to contact the manufacturer and see if there is some manner for putting an extender on the strap (that is what I do) or otherwise getting it out of the way.
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BEN from MO asks:Bill, First off love the show keep up the good work. I just had a buck show up today on my trail cam and was wondering if you could maybe tell me what he might grow into come Sept. I knnow it's early and thats part of the reason I'm asking (I've never gotten a pic of a mature buck this early before and thought you would have before) Right now he appears to have 5-6" of brows, 5-6" of G-2, 3" of G-3, and about 4-5" of beam past the G-3, with good mass throughout (no indication of a G-4 yet though). I have no clue how wide (it was a broadside pic) the deer appears to be 4-5 years old and in good health. Like I said before I have never gotten a pic of a deer of decent size this early before and was just looking for your thoughts on what he might become. thank you and look forward to hearing from you.Winke Responds:Ben, It is really hard to tell at this stage. I have a buck coming out near the house some evenings that is the buck we filmed last year for the show the broken right beam. He was just 3 1/2 last year and scored 150ish. For sure he would have to be much bigger than that this year but as I see him grow there is no indication beyond what I can see to give hope to what he might become. In other words, he doesn't have big bulbs on the end of his points or beams to indicate a lot of growth, yet he continues to grow. Some bucks look like they will get big when in velvet and others don't but get big anyway. Every buck is different. My gues would be that he will be a shooter either way, that is about all I would wager to guess at this point of antler development. In three weeks it will be another story. You will know pretty well by mid-July what they are going to turn into. Good luck hunting him!
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Craig from AL asks:I was wondering about antler growth? Do they grow for a specific number of days or does the amount of daylight or lack of stop growth? Last winter was hard on the deer and a lot of them shed early. Did this start the new growth earlier? I have seen a lot of bucks on the cameras, but one is a lot farther along. Will he continue to grow until normal velvet shedding time or will he shed early because of his early start. Any more info about antler growth would be helpfull. Thanks, love your site.Winke Responds:Craig, It has to be related to the amount of daylight in the day. You will see them all shed their velvet within just a few days of each other. That has to be related to daylight. Some bucks get off to a faster start on growing their antlers than others, but they all start growing at roughly the same time. It is just that some have a faster rate of growth than others. I have seen bucks with nearly fully formed racks in late July and others that still have plenty of growing to do in early August. Yet they both shed their velvet at roughly the same time. A good resource on antler growth is the book by Bob Zaiglin and David Samuels called "Whitetail Racks". It is probably on Amazon by now or you can find it at the publisher's website: www.krausebooks.com.
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Steve Colby from MN asks:Bill or Scott Prucha- I went back and read Scott's mineral station blog and it sounds very doable. I hunt 180 acres in northern Minnesota, big woods country. How many mineral stations do you think I need to setup and any terrrain features that I should focus on? Obviously along trails, but we have swampy lowlands, popple, pines and acorn ridges on the property. Thanks for your thoughts. SteveWinke Responds:Steve, I don't think the terrain is as important as making sure it is in locations that deer regularly pass. I would go with 4 or 5 stations spread out pretty well around the property. Deer have fairly compressed patterns at the times of the year when they use minerals (spring and summer) and having them spread out in many locations will help utilization.
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cameron from AB asks:Hi Bill, I was wondering what the biggest whitetail buck you have ever shot with a bow is? Did you get it on video?Winke Responds:Cameron, I shot a 191 gross 6 X 5 in eastern Colorado of all places. It was back in 2000. I was mule deer hunting when this buck showed up. The hunt changed course and a couple of days later I got him. It was a great hunt, end of December, lots of twists and turns. I went into a spot to place a stand and spotted him chasing a doe. I pulled out, went to the other end of the U-shaped bend of the creek and set up there. The outfitter did a soft push of the creek bend and in the meantime the buck feed out onto my side. He was eating grass. When he came it was on the run. He was almost straight under the tree, I was just 12 feet up and he was still running. He spotted my hat on the ground where I had dropped it two hours earlier when I put up the stand. He paused for just a split second when he changed directions and I shot. It was one of those rare moments when time stands still. I literally saw the hair part on his back as the broadhead went in - amazing. It was a killing hit, but I was not sure what all I had caught so I decided to wait. The outfitter and I stayed up all night in -10 degrees listening for coyotes before tracking him. The coyotes started in around midnight and we had to run them off to claim the buck. I will never forget that hunt.
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Drew from MO asks:hi bill, im from Missouri and i was wondering do mineral blocks work well here? if so is there a specific kind that you like? also i was thinking about getting the 30-06 mineral from whitetail institute, any good? thanks!Winke Responds:Drew, Yes, mineral works everywhere. Basically, it fills in the gaps in the mineral requirements of deer that the plants they eat aren't extracting from the soil. In fertile soils it is not as important as in poor soils, but it is still a good idea everywhere. 30-06 is a fine mineral, I am sure. However, you can also create your own blends. Scott Prucha wrote a piece last summer for me about trail cameras and minerals that details a blend you can make yourself. Look it up by going into the Winke's Blog archives and looking for one on trail cameras and minerals. Good luck.
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Jesse from WI asks:I'm from Wisconsin and I plan on moving to the Des Moines Area to go back to school. So what im asking is, will i be able to get an archery license in Iowa? As much as I dont want to I would be willing to pay the non resident fee. This will be the deciding factor if i move to Iowa or not. Thanks Bill!! JesseWinke Responds:Yes, you can. Students apply for resident status. I looked it up last year because one of the pro staff was a student in Iowa, also from WI, and I wanted to make sure everything was on the up and up. Good luck.
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Mike from IN asks:Bill: Thanks for answering my question about baiting for cameras. Do you have a recommendation on a mineral lick to use or a process you have seen successful in the past. I'm just wanting to attract and get pictures of bucks this next later summer/early fall. I'm hunting bordering a 3000 acre tract of sanctuary that no one can hunt, so I want to see if I can what type of bucks are in there and possibly keep them over on my side longer. Any info would be appreciated.Winke Responds:Mike, Grant Woods like Trophy Rock. He says it is an ideal mix of minerals. My friend Scott Prucha found a good recipe for making your own minerals from substances you should be able to find at the local grain elevator. You can see that in a guest blog that he wrote last summer about trail cameras and baiting. Look through the archives to the Winke's blog for one on this subject. It will have all the details. Good luck.
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Chris from OK asks:Bill,What's happened to southeast Colorado? It seems several years ago you saw alot of TV shows hunting there and numerous magazine articals but it seems to have dried up.Just curious. Thanks ChrisWinke Responds:Chris, I think the resource got hammered pretty hard. Not that there aren't still bucks there (both whitetail and mule deer) but the average age of the bucks has dropped and you just don't see the monsters coming fromm that area as often any more. It is still good hunting, but the mega trophies are fewer due to the greater hunting pressure. I hunted there from 1995 through about 2007 (on and off). During one four year stretch in the late 90s and early 2000s, I shot three mule deer and one whitetail with an average gross score of 190 inches! That was with a bow. Some of those hunts took place early and some of them late in the season. Some from tree stands, some spot and stalk. It was really fun hunting. I am sure I will go back again some day when the kids get old enough to go with.
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Jonathan from MN asks:Have you ever had any problems or experience with buck thorn? Our property here in MN has a growing buck thorn problem we are looking for good ways to control it. Just curious if you have had any issues or experience with the nasty stuff. Thank You JonathanWinke Responds:Jonathan, I have not had the problem here. We have multifloral rose and honeysuckle bush to contend with though. The best resource is the local forester. Those guys usually have a good playbook for fighting anything that intrudes in the timber. The solution will be tough and time consuming, that you can be sure, but there is often government cost share available for that sort of thing. Check with the local NRCS (soil conservation) office to see about applying. Good luck.
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Ryan from IA asks:Hey Bill, It is time for IMMEDIATE action on this from all of our brothers and sisters in arms!! I figured this forum would get the word out faster... State and Local lawenforcement are looking for local suspects envolved in the shootings of 4 Bald Eagles, a redtailed hawk and over 12 deer near the Davis County towns of Moulton and Mark. This article was in Des Moines Register Metro section this morning... What can we do to help stop these criminals? It's people like these who ruin it for the rest of us who protect, preserve and promote the "Outdoors." The military in me says it is time to arm up and storm this county until these individuals are found and brought to justice... I guess it's true what one said..." You can't fix stupid!" your thoughts Bill? ThanksWinke Responds:Ryan, You are right. Let's find them and turn them in. There is acceptable reason for ever ignoring poaching. It is a crime just as surely as stealing from your refrigerator or your parked car is a crime. If anyone knows anything about it, call the anonymous TIP line (800)532-2020. Thanks for bringing this to our attention.
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jordan from MO asks:Hey Bill I may have found a place to hunt in Iowa this year and I was looking up non resident tags and it was extremely confusing. I would prefer to bow hunt but I wouldnt have a probably if I ended up getting a gun tag. Could you help clarify what i need to do to get a tag and how it all worksWinke Responds:Jordan, Basically you have to pick the unit based on where you have access. Then you must decide if gun or bow. The bow licenses are restricted to 35% of the total so most years it is harder to draw a bow tag than a gun tag. In some units you may wait three years for a bow tag and you may get the gun tag the first year. That is because people like to come to Iowa to bowhunt. That is pretty much all there is to it. Good luck.
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Chad from VA asks:Dr Winke, I normally don't turkey hunt but since getting a video camera I've started going again. I took my 11 year old nephew and had an Adrenaline Rush I'll never forget! My question, Can a Adrenaline Rush be dangerous? After my nephew finally pulled the trigger on a big Tom I was so high for about 5 minutes I felt dizzy and like I was going to get sick after words. This lasted about 2-3 hours. Felt almost like stomach virus coming on. All I could think about, was that energy drank commercial where the guy crashes later on. I felt like I needed to crash after that Rush! Hope Y'all get some Long Beards!Winke Responds:Chad, Don't believe it is dangerous. I think you can maybe loose your lunch over it, but not your life! Congrats. I find it more intense filming our kids hunts than actually hunting myself. I still love to hunt - it is what God put me on this earth to do - but I sure love being out there with young hunters. Congrats again and keep up the good work.
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Brian from TX asks:Bill. Your website and shows are a great resource. I have hunted in Northeast Missouri a few times, and in Kansas a few times. I have a nice lease in West Texas, but prefer to bowhunt the Midwest. I am planning to lease some land for the 2010 season. Should I concentrate on Kansas, Missouri, or IL? Also, how difficult is the draw for IL? Thanks!Winke Responds:Brian, I believe the draw for IL has gotten considerably easier since the economy turned. I was able to buy one in December last season (there were still leftover tags from the under-subscribed draw). However, that is no guarantee that it will remain this easy. I do think fewer deer hunters are traveling than there used to be for a variety of reasons. That may change, so go into that one with just a bit of caution. If I had to pick between those three states - they can all be good - but I think I would try to stay as close to home as possible. Find a really good stretch of river bottom in southern or SW Kansas that is closer to your home than the other options. River bottom hunting can be pretty easy if the bucks are not alarmed. In fact, it can some some of the easiest hunting you will find for big deer. Again, it has to be a ranch that is not hunted hard or at all and the bucks will be sticking to the timber. If it gets pressure, the bucks will move out into the CRP and small cover making it harder to hunt.
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Jason from WV asks:I am 25 years old and have always had to rake and scrape for places to hunt. I know you have access to several large tracts of land and probably own several of them as well. What advice would you give on buying your own land without "breaking the bank" so to speak. I make a comfortable living but at the same time I don't have loads of money to go spend on land. I'm just looking for a small piece to start off with and then add to it later. So I was wondering if there is some kind of secret to buying land that I don't know about like grants or special government loans or does it just take the old fashioned savings account?Winke Responds:Jason, There are three ways to do it. 1. Good old fashioned savings account until you have the downpayment. 2. Pool your resources with friends and buy a larger piece than any one of you could buy alone. Better chance for making a management impact, but more problems with other partners. 3. Buy something you can afford, fix it up, sell it and roll the money into a larger piece. Keep doing that until you finally are able to afford your dream piece. Not matter what you do, there are tradeoffs. If you have partners you can move quicker, but then you have partners and that usually isn't good. Saving money takes time, but it is definitely worth it. You are young enough. I didn't start to buy land until I was in my early 30s. Good luck.
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Steve from MO asks:Bill, I have the opportunity to buy 80 acres in NWMO that is the only quality cover available for several miles. A classic old style farm with lots of brushy ditches and old fence rows with some woodlots, switchgrass CRP, and old pastures. It is bordered by huge wide open crop fields which I have permission to cross to access the 80 acres. The problem, of course, is that many times deer often are in the crop fields feeding as I either enter or leave from hunting the 80. My question is whether this should prevent me from purchasing the 80, which is loaded with deer and from which we've harvested several big bucks? I would basically hunt the edges of the 80 and enhance the quality habitat on it while adding food plots to try to keep the deer in the interior of the 80 verses feeding in the neighbors fields. Make sense to you? I appreciate your wisdom. Thanks, SteveWinke Responds:I would still purchase it, but you may not be able to hunt it under every situation. If you are bumping deer, you need to find a different entry/exit route. I have often gone in one way and out another way depending on where the deer are. I do this by leaving a second vehicle or four-wheeler parked at the exit point. You may be able to lease a couple of acres on the edge of the crop land and plant tall forage sorghum or something there that you can sneak through. I have done that successfully before. Sounds like a great farm, you just need to be a bit more creative in how you access/exit. That is the fun part about deer hunting, no matter how much you think you know, there is always a fun challenge to solve and it almost always involves thinking creatively outside the box relative to your entry and exit routes. Good luck.
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Mike from MI asks:Bill, I just came across your website and was wondering how you you made the transition from shooting small bucks in Pickford, MI to shooting the monsters that you have on your web site? My brother Pat and I have been debating for a few years if the Bill Winke we have seen in magazines, etc. is the same one we hunted with many years ago at our farm in Pickford. Glad to see that you have found a way to make a living at your passion. Mike BrownWinke Responds:Mike, Good to hear from you. I still remember those hunts. It was a lot of fun. The grouse hunting and the deer hunting. It is a long story, as one might expect given the nearly 25 years since that time. It always comes down to who you know (or in my case, who you meet). Life and business always seems to come back to relationships. I grew up in Iowa, so it was no stretch to go back home after the deer hunting fire got lit. I started to hunt bigger deer here, of course. Then, as my wife and I traveled, we met people, some doors opened and others closed and next thing I knew God had placed this profession squarely in my path. If I could have designed a job when I was a boy growing up with a gun in my hand, I would have come up with this one, but I never actually pursued it. It pursued me! Funny how that works. It was in my path, other doors closed but this one stayed open so as we started to run out of grocery money I had to get out of my comfort zone and start peddling articles to hunting magazines. One thing led to another and soon I was writing full time and then doing other work in the hunting industry. Many people helped me along the way. Good to hear from you after all these years. I still have a picture of that buck! I hope you are doing well. Please let me know how you are doing via the info@midwestwhitetail.com e-mail address.
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ken from NC asks:what time is the best time to set your feeder to feed so as not to spook morning or evening feeding deerWinke Responds:Ken, They get conditioned to the sound pretty fast and soon don't see it as danger. I would not feed at a time when the deer aren't active as the critters will get too much of it before the deer get to it. Set it to go off an hour before sunset and a bit before sunrise - that would be my thoughts.
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Elwin from ME asks:Hi Bill, I was just reading down through the questions and read the one about spotlighting.. I was layed off from work for the summer months (not a bad time) and my buddy and I did nothing but scout and hang tree stands all summer and at night we would go for a lil ride about half hour before dark till hour after dark and look for deer and man the deer we had them down pretty good this one really nice buck was there in this one field ever night. Knock on wood it never made them move but also were I hunt it is heavy with people so they may be use to it. O and the big buck I talked about my buddy missed him. But any ways love the show cant wait for 2010 season and about the northeast show do u know if they need anyone one else and if so what is the quals and is maine to far away for them?Winke Responds:Elwin, Thanks for the input and good luck getting back on those big ones. We would certainly consider a team or two from Maine for the Northeast show. Done right, I think that would be really interesting. Please contact Scott Prucha at scott@midwestwhitetail.com to ask him for information to apply for the pro staff. Thanks for the interest.
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Tyler from IL asks:I just read your "Invasion of the Big Uglies" article and was wondering if you used your proposed strategy this year and how well it worked for you.Winke Responds:Tyler, I try to do it, but those old bucks are hard to kill. All the camera guys for myself and Mike Sawyer carried guns or bows and they were supposed to be killing those big old bucks. We killed two of them. Chad killed on at the end of the season and John Reynolds, a friend of Mike Sawyer's, killed one on October 30. Once I realized I wasn't likely to shoot another trophy, I tried to find one with my bow, but didn't have any luck. We had several of them on the hit list and they have proven just as hard to kill as the ones with the big antlers. Don't let anyone ever tell you that somehow bucks with big antlers are smarter. Age makes them smart (reclusive) not antler size. We will keep trying.
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michael from MI asks:i wanted to ask you a question, if i want to hunt in ohio and i live in michigan and have a michigan drivers license, do i need to get an ohio drivers license or it really doesnt matter.Winke Responds:Michael, Generally, you will need to get a non-resident hunting license in the state that is not your residence. They can be expensive. If you move to that state, special rules apply so you will need to call the local game warden in that case. If you buy a non-resident license, you certainly don't have to change your driver's license.
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Eric from NC asks:Mr. Winke, Eric here again. Just a suggestion and request. Would it be possible to put a "search" on your Q and A so we can look up questions already answered about certain topics? That way I won't feel like I'm asking questions that might have already been asked. Thanks! Just a suggestion.Winke Responds:Eric, It is a great idea that would save me quite a bit of time. Thanks for suggesting it. I'll implement that sometime this off-season. Have a great day.
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Bobby from IL asks:Bill, I was looking at the video picture from the Last Season Video, and couldn't help but wonder why you choose the hat you choose to wear in all of your hunts. It can't be the warmest or the most scentproof...and they have definetly created some more "fashionable" hunting hats. (no offense at all) Do you aparently believe in lucky hats as much as I do?Winke Responds:Bobby, Yes, everyone likes to disrespect the hat. It is a dang frumpy thing, but I have killed a lot of nice bucks while wearing it! I know that it makes no difference what hat you wear. I am sure I need to get rid of it, but I hate doing something just to look good for the camera. I should, but I am just old and ornery enough not to care! I'll find something cooler for next year. You are not the first to tell me how ugly it is. Heck, even I think it is ugly.
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Paul from MN asks:Bill, Your shows were great this year and I really enjoy your open and honest perspective on so many topics. It appears that you keep yourself in good shape. Just curious if you run, lift weights, watch your diet or have any other secrets? Thanks againWinke Responds:Paul, Thanks for the support. I am not heavy but I am not strong either - nor durable. I used to excercise a lot but now I am getting by on the strength of a high metabolism. If that slows down, I will be in trouble. It has been tough finding consistent time to exercise, but I am going to make it a priorty. We have a Bowflex and I have decent mountain bike. I just need to use them!
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harry from NJ asks:hi bill, 1st i'd like to say your articles have been quite informative and helpful in my bowhunting success. my questions is as follows: do u feel that the hunting media represents all nationalities and races that partake in the sport of hunting? i can tell you that i watch and read as many hunting programs and articles as i possibly can and see only a couple of hunters that are of color. i am of latino origin and can say it would be quite welcoming to see people of my similar heritage on the screen or on paper. just a thought and would love to hear your opinion. harryWinke Responds:Harry, I have to admit that I only know a couple of colored hunters and they aren't anywhere near my home where I could use them as photo models or include them in our shows. I don't think we have had any colored hunters or many other minority races submit photos for the website. I think the problem is that they is such a small number of "non-white" hunters that they don't show up much in the media. Not that they are censored, but rather because there simply aren't very many of them. I think if the industry made a point of showing more participation from minorities, that others within those races would possibly become more active. I am not sure. I am just a simple deer hunter. But I am quite sure that there is no active effort to censor minorities taking place in the hunting media. It is an interesting question. One I will need to ponder. Submit a couple of photos of deer you have shot and we'll get them on the website. Send to info@midwestwhitetail.com.
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jordan from MO asks:Hey Bill, I just read an article in the Journal of Wildlife Management about CWD. I dont believe CWD is in my area but what is the best thing to do with deer carcasses and guts?Winke Responds:Jordan, Ask your local DNR agent, but locally here, there are no guidelines for disposal. The problem exists in the brain of the animal, not the guts or flesh. When there is fear of CWD spreading, it is the movement of brain matter that causes the most concern. Officials don't like you to transport uncleaned heads or skull caps out of CWD areas. It is my understanding that even fire won't completely destroy the prions that cause the disease. So, again, just consult with your local DNR agent but to my knowledge there is no sure-fire way to deal with an infected deer.
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Ron H Jr. from WI asks:One more question for ya today Bill. I was wondering if you get any e-mails from fans wondering about other hunters out there that might be interested in getting together with one another to help each other out as far as food plots, stand locations, setting up stands, scouting, and all other aspects of getting ready for the fall. Kinda like "ill help you if you help me" for a better fall of hunting. Or maybe just offering help for hunting right too. If you know any websites that might have a place where people can chat with one another about this, please let me know. Thanks Bill.Winke Responds:Ron, I think it is a great idea. I am not set up to create a clearing house, so to speak, for folks. I am not even sure if such a site exists. I suppose traditional forums might offer that, but as of now, I am not set up to facilitate this kind of information sharing and work exchange. Thanks. It is a good idea though.
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Jim from MI asks:Bill, my question is; do you have any control over who is on the pro staffs from the various states? The reason I ask is I went to the Huntin' Time Expo in Grand Rapids, MI this past weekend and went to the Midwest Whitetail booth. A young man greeted me and we chatted a few minutes and I ended up buying a Michigan Season cd. He then tried to sell me something else (I don't remember what it was) and as he did, his language became "colorful". He wasn't rude to me, but he dropped an "F" bomb, used the "sh" word a couple times along with the "damn" word a couple times. I should have said something to him but I didn't. Bill, I am a Christian just like you and was put off by this language. I politely thanked him and went on my way. I thought maybe you could get the word out to all your pro-staff to be careful how they talk when greeting people at these shows. Maybe most people wouldn't be bothered by it but I was. I didn't catch his name. Anyway, thanWinke Responds:Jim, I have taken care of it. Very sorry for the problem. It won't happen again. Thanks for the note.
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Mike from AL asks:Are you going to do an ATA show from this year like you did last year?Winke Responds:Mike, There is one up on the site right now. It focuses on just our sponsors as it would take too long to cover lots of additional booths.
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Bill from WI asks:Hi, its bill from wi again, sorry to hear about that buck you found dead, i also found a nice 10 point dead, it sucks to find them, especially since its the second i found this year, i also found a nice 8 dead before gun season, i'm looking forward to the offseason episodes, i love the showWinke Responds:Bill, It is a bummer. I bet we find a few more this winter too. I hope not. We usually find four or five, last year close to a dozen. We'll show them all to you. Thanks for the support.
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Tom from VA asks:I just recently been introduced to this great website. Unfortunally I am stuck living in the Mid Atlantic and am only able to hunt the Mid West at most a week a season. I have come across this website and picture of this deer from Maine. I was wondering if you opinion is it fact or fiction. Every year there seems to be atleast one monster deer killed somewhere in the US that raises peoples eyebrows. http://www.louisianasportsman.com/forum.php?sec=forum&act=full&repID=70870 I look forward to your response and look forward to what is to come on your site. TomWinke Responds:Tom, Sure could be real. I guess it is possible for a buck to weigh 400 pounds on the hoof and if is one is going to weigh that much, the one in the picture would certainly qualify! I wish I would someday shoot a buck that looks like that one. What a monster in every sense of the word.
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Curt from OH asks:Are you or someone from the Ohio show going to be at the Ohio Deer & Turkey Expo?Winke Responds:Yes, we have a booth there and several of the guys (and gals) from the pro staff plan to attend. Hope to see you there.
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kyle from MI asks:bill,thanks for the insight on where to go for public land in illinois. im definetly thinking of going to siloam springs forsure. i just want to know how i can get a tag, do i need to apply to get access onto siloam springs or can i just buy one over the counter once iget there. thanks for the advice. -kyleWinke Responds:Kyle, You will need to contact the IL DNR well in advance as I believe that is a limited access area. So you had better find out in advance. Also consider Site M if you are looking for good limited access public land in IL. Good luck.
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mike from NY asks:Umm....What am I supposed to do now that deer season is over? I can't remember.....I'm not sure if I still have a job....any suggestions?Winke Responds:Mike, Jobs are over-rated. Look at me. I've made it the last 19 years without a real job!
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Ryan from MO asks:Bill, Clifford Neames is a good friend of mine and I spend a lot of time with im at The Quail Shed in Illinois. I was there this past week and he mentioned yor name. I am curious if you have any family in Texas or any family from there. My parent lived outside of Austin for several years in th late 70's and he had a good friend named Bill Winke. I just thought it was such a concidence. Anyways, hope all is well and look forward to hearing back from you. Ryan Jacques ssoutdoor2@yahoo.comWinke Responds:Ryan, There are very few Winkes in this country. In fact, if you do a google search under Bill Winke, I am the only one you will find. So I am not sure on that one. I am pretty sure we have no Winke relatives in TX. I have a lot of friends and relatives in Texas, but not with the same last name. Thanks for asking. I wish I could help you. Have a great day.
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Jeremy from MI asks:Not a question just wanted to share a nice buck taken in SE Michigan near where my brother hunts. Not really known for huge bucks. http://www.woods-n-waternews.com/Articles-i-2010-01-01-202949.112113_200_class_Lenawee_Co_17Point.htmlWinke Responds:Jeremy, Thanks. That is quite a deer.
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Aaron from GA asks:Really enjoyed following your season. Great show!!! So another season has come and gone in most parts of the country. I am already looking forward to next season. What types of things are you guys doing this time of year to get ready for next season? ThanksWinke Responds:Aaron, Thanks. Appreciate it. The main thing is lining up where you will be hunting. If you already know, it is a good time to scout, but many people are always on the lookout for new spots. I would first focus on trying to find better hunting areas and then focus on getting out figuring out exactly how you will enter and exit your stands. That is such an important part of every day of hunting. I may also move a couple of stands a short distance to locations that my experiences this season suggest are better. I also spend a lot of time trying to connect the dots on sightings of particular deer I am going to hunt next year. I try to pull all the pieces together in my head and then get out on the ground to find the best ambush that takes all those sightings into account. Post-season is the time to regroup, rethink all the strategy and then make the adjustments before it greens up and it becomes harder to determine the best stand sites and routes.
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Adam from MI asks:Bill, great show! Could you explain your skull bleaching process for your european mounts? Thanks!Winke Responds:Adam, I am a big fan of European mounts. I think they look awesome, don't take up too much room and are obviously cheaper. I am probably not the world's greatest at this, but my approach is to skin the skull, flesh it out and then boil the skull for about an hour before I then whittle off as much meat and tissue as possible. The hardest part is the membranes in the sinus passage. I have used a wire hook to remove it, but I understand that a pressure washer actually works better to blow out this tissue and actually works well to scale the meat, etc off the boiled skull. You have to fish the brain out through the neck hole. After that, the next step is to get some fresh water and boil it again for a short while, clean it up one more time and then set it out to dry. Once dry, I paint a peroxide solution onto the skull. You can buy it at a hair salon. I paint it on thick, hang the skull in the sun for a day, paint it on again and hang it in the sun again. That is all I do. It is ready to display and I think they look great. If someone has a better way to do it, please let me know.
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Matt from IA asks:I was wondering how Rob Link was hunting late muzzleloader season with Brock Halstead. On the Iowa DNR webpage he was denied a nonresident tag this year??Winke Responds:Matt, Jason messed that up on the video which caused me to mess it up on the show description. It is not Rob Link, it is Rob Linck. If you go back and look you will see that he did in fact have a tag. Thanks for keeping us on our toes though. Caused a moment of panic when I called Jason for the straight scoop. Have a great week.
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Ben Pospisil from AL asks:I've been out all of the days of this bitter 2010 January just like you and the other guys. I know my wife and friend's wife think we are "S" for hunting in -10 degree weather. I keep telling her I am just "trying to provide meat for my family." The reality is, I am a freak about bowhunting. I am emailing you because a year and some back I was talking to my friend, Mike Sawyer, about meeting you some day. I just started bowhunting (hunting period) about 4 years ago and have been lucky enough to have a few nice bucks on the wall. However, I have to date been completely self taught on all aspects of hunting. Maybe some time this spring I could arrange a time to just tag along with you on an outdoor experience. I practice dentistry as a day job, but would like to get myself on track to be a professional hunter sooner rather than later. I film hunts with a roscoby riser cam (check out youtube- Iowa Buck Ben Pospisil.) Hope to meet you some day. Ben Pospisil Mount VernWinke Responds:Ben, Thanks for your support. I appreciate that. I would love to meet you. As for an outdoor experience with Bill Winke, that is tougher to arrange. I get so busy with photography and writing in the spring I barely have time to take a leak. Actually, send me a photo of yourself. I am always looking for models for the photography and that might be a way to pull it off. I need guys that have "the look". Not everyone has it, no offense to them. You can send it to info@midwestwhitetail.com. Thanks again for your support. However, be forewarned: I am not sure there are actually "professional hunters" out there. There are just a bunch of people who love to hunt and either film it or write about it. A small number find a way to make a business out of it, but few (almost none) actually get paid to hunt. You should see the work I do behind the scenes in order for people to think I get paid to hunt. I actually get paid for all the other stuff you don't see and the hunting is just the outward, public aspect of that work. Anyway, it is worth a try.
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jason from AL asks:Bill, With all things being equal, what is the minimum number of acres you would purchase for deer hunting? Keep up the excellent work!Winke Responds:Jason, Of course every piece of land is unique and has unique challenges and opportunities, but if it is mostly habitat (80% is ideal, with 20% tillable for food plots), I would like to have at least 120 acres. You can hunt less acres in the right setting but you run the distinct risk of burning the place out too soon if you hunt it much. In 2003 and 2004 I was hunting a particular buck and spent the better part of both seasons hunting 120 acres. It had a lot of food on it and I hunted it very carefully but it was actually surprisingly productive.
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Bucky from IL asks:What do you think about using alfalfa bales to hunt behind in this extreme cold , I believe it is legal as long as the bales are not undone and scattered..Our set up is several bales on the northwest side of our popup blind to block the bitter wind, so far it has worked getting the deer to come close but not close enough LOL THANKSWinke Responds:Bucky, I think it is a great idea. I used to move round bales into fields that I planned to hunt with a blind back when I hunted from blinds regularly. The bales make the blind less conspicuous and that allows the deer to get used to the blind faster. I also saw a blind produced by Double Bull (not sure if they still produce it) that actually simulated a round bale. I even know a guy that hollowed out a round bale and sat inside it and shot a 160 inch buck in SD several years back. I love all that creative stuff. Makes the hunting more fun. I like your idea.
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Scott from MN asks:I’m almost embarrassed to ask but I have a buddy who insist that a flu flu arrow can be an effective killing arrow for big game( he saw a video on Youtube). I’m telling him that the typical flu flu arrow is not, generally because it is lighter in weight but I can’t find anything to substantiate that. Stupid is convinced that this will work for a short range kill. Are they lighter in weight and what are some points for me that I can talk him out of this mindset I figure he’ll listen to Bill WinkeWinke Responds:Scott, The main thing with flu-flus is not the weight, but the fletching. The enormous feather fletchings cause the arrows to slow down fast beyond a certain range because of the wind resistance. I have never tried it, but I would have to say a flu-flu arrrow (assuming it was spined and the correct weight for the bow) would kill big game at very close range. I have no doubt I could kill a deer with my bow and a flu-flu out to maybe 10 to 15 yards - but then why would I want to? Sorry we can't make Stupid look bad this time. Let's keep trying!
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Michael from ON asks:Bill, earlier in the season I asked about a show that could go back in time and take a look at how some of the bucks taken last season may have been mounted, either european style or full shoulder etc. Is that still something that could be a possibility? Would love to see how those stories came to an end. Really liked Chad's big 8, Colton's bruiser, and all of your/Mike Sawyer's hunts that ended up on Monster Bucks last season. Thanks, MichaelWinke Responds:Michael, Thanks for the interest. I have been doing all European mounts lately. Mike just picked his bucks up at the taxidermist from last season so he filmed that and we'll be sure to put that on one of our wrap-up shows. We may try to produce a show that summarizes what happened to all our hit list bucks from before the season and we'll likely try to add that segment to it.
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Bob Martin from WI asks:In a recent article you wrote for American Hunter you mention one of the hunters killed a 130 class 9pt in the body of the article but the picture included for the same date shows a much bigger buck. Am I imagining things or did he shoot 2 bucks that day?Winke Responds:Bob, They just messed the photos up at the magazine. It happens occassionally. I send in captions for all my photos but sometimes that gets lost in translation and they end up with the wrong photo with the wrong caption. Have a great day.
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Ryan from WI asks:How is it that your 9 year old son Andrew has shot 11 deer already at this age?Winke Responds:Ryan, There is no minimum age in Iowa. He started when he was seven and has shot a number of does, along with bucks. He is a good shot. I think he has only missed once. He is miles ahead of me. At his age, I was trying to figure out how to kill a few barn pigeons with my 410. Best regards.
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Jack from MN asks:Hey Bill, huge fan of what you have done. I was stunned to read that you also have an engineering degree. Just curious, what kind of music and artists do you listen to? Ha. Have a good one.Winke Responds:Jack, Thanks for your support. I am not a big music guy. I do listen to contemporary Christian music when traveling in the vehicle, otherwise the music of the kids playing is all I want to hear - or the music of the wind blowing through the dry oak leaves! Have a great day and a great New Year.
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Kurt from PA asks:Bill, You recently had an interesting dilemma. Your son had shot a buck and you tracked him in the dark and found him alive. You did not kill the buck because you stated that it was illegal after dark. The ethical action would have been to put the animal out of his suffering. The legal action was to let him die of his wound (or kill him upon legal shooting light the next day). Did you struggle with this decision? That was a difficult situation.Winke Responds:Kurt, The only option that would have fought off the legal issues would have been to go in there and finish him off with a knife - I think. Of course, that is what my son wanted me to do! I had visions of me coming out of there looking worse than the buck! Of course, we could have called the game warden and asked him what to do. Asked him to come and put the buck down. But I was pretty sure what he would say - leave him lay. Plus I hate bugging them or dragging them out in the middle of the night on trivial matters. Also, I knew the buck would be dead very soon from that hit - which I am sure he was. It all worked out, but it does highlight a dilemma as you say.
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cameron from AB asks:Hi Bill, im enjoying your late season hunts! I wish we had a late season here in Alberta! My question for you is do you think a mature doe is as hard to kill as a mature buck? and would they behave the same as an old bick, like moving only after dark?Winke Responds:Cameron, No, I think the does are easier for two reasons. First, they do move during the day. Second, they ask questions - try to figure out what that strange form is up in that tree, etc.. That often gets them killed. I have shot a lot of old does that came sneaking in right at daybreak trying to figure out where I went after they spotted me in the pre-dawn. Or they may come in trying to figure out what they heard, etc. Mature bucks just melt away when anything out of the ordinary happens - they never ask any questions. They just leave.
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Brian from IA asks:I purchased a new farm this fall near Lovilia and was wondering if you were available to evaluate it for next year's hunting. It is around 80% timber with the balance in ridge CRP/food plots. By the way, MW is very entertaining. Keep the content coming.Winke Responds:Brian, It may be possible. Contact me closer to the spring melt and we'll see what is on the schedule. Thanks for your support.
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chuck from PA asks:Bill, Love the show. how many acres is your farm? How much of it is wooded compared to crop and CRP ground? Do you exclusively hunt there or other farms also? Do all of your surronding neighbors practice QDM also? Sorry about all the questions!Winke Responds:Chuck, We have 1,000 acres, about 75% timber. Not much CRP, maybe 40 acres. I only hunt our land right now. I may branch out a little in the future to find some real monsters to hunt, but I love hunting out the back door so I stay home. About 1/4 of my neighbors are deer managers. The others are just hunters. It is not the best neighborhood, for sure, but it is home and we like it here. The land is pretty, the buck hunting pressure around me is too high to permit a lot of genetically superior deer to reach maturity. I look at some of the bucks other guys in Iowa are hunting and shooting and just shake my head. We don't even have those caliber of bucks here. A 160 is a realistic trophy if you hunt hard all season, but in some areas the guys are not shooting bucks under 170 - ever. And they have no problem getting 200 inch deer on their cameras. We have not gotten one 200 inch deer on camera - ever. It comes down to pressure (buck pressure). In areas where the hunting pressure is minimal or the landowners show extraordinary restraint in passing high scoring young deer, you will have those giants, but where I live people will shoot a 160 or 170 inch 3 year old (we don't, but most neighbors will). When you shoot all of those genetically superior bucks as youngsters, you will never see the true monsters. We have only two 3 1/2 year old bucks on the entire farm right now (as far as I know) that have the potential to hit 200 in the next couple of years, if they make it and stick around. They are both 170 class bucks right now. I hope to see at least one of them next year. So much for today's lesson on trophy buck management.
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Brian from MO asks:Hey Bill, Brian from Mo again. Just wondering if you farm your own ground? I like guys who hunt their own deer like you, Don Kiskey, and Lee Lakosky. I want to look into buying a farm to hunt. I think Don farms his, but I suspect alot just lease out ground to farmers. In your opinion can this be cost effective? ThanksWinke Responds:Brian, I have the commercial acres custom farmed. That means I own the crop, I just pay someone to put it in and take it out. I would love to do that part too, but it conflicts with hunting (especially the harvest time). Not sure how Don does it since he farms a ton of land and helps his dad farm a ton more. It can be cost effective lease out the farming acres, but most good hunting land has marginal, hilly soils that don't rent for a lot. $125 to $150 per acre is max on this king of ground. On great ground it can reach $300 per acre (sometime more). By comparison, hunting land doesn't cost a lot either. You can get some decent mixed farm/hunting land in MO for $1200 to $1500 per acre, especially on auction.
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Chuck from MO asks:Bill, I'm set to finish up my ME degree in May this coming fall, and have been offered a job in the Kansas City area. As so, I will be moving to Kansas. Completely unfamiliar with the area and no known contacts in the region, what tactics would you take to determine which areas provide the best opportunity at mature deer? Obviously B&C records area a start, but can be misleading. Aside from plats, and topos, are there any other good starting points? Thanks alot and I wish you all the success with the show.Winke Responds:Chuck, Congratulations. The problem with working in a city like that is that the landowners within an easy drive of the city get hit pretty hard with requests to hunt. All that area around KC on the Kansas side is all good, but again, you will have to work harder to gain access. The southcentral part of the state is probably the least pressured and has good potential. I used to hunt in the north central part. It was OK, had some giant deer, but I never saw any of them. I hunted it pretty hard for several years and a 150 class was about the best I was able to shoot. NE KS also has good habitat and I have always liked that when I drove through that area. SE looks really good but the folks that live there say it is inhabited iwth "Ozarks" bucks. I am not sure about that, but it seems worth checking out. I have hunted out west and don't have much to offer about that area. I think almost all of Kansas can be good. Like most Midwest states, it comes down to hunting pressure in that immediate neighborhood. If it is light, you will see big bucks. If it was me, I would probably focus on finding at least one good spot within a short drive and then spend some time exploring down in Woodson, Allen, Elk and Greenwood counties. Second priority would be NE. Good luck.
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Bob from MI asks:Hey Bill, I have had my best season yet. A nice 8 pt a smaller buck and 2 does with my bow and 2 does with the gun. My question is what do u do with all the deer you shoot on your farm? Thanks for all the help and Merry Christmas.Winke Responds:Bob, We have a hunters for the hungry program here in Iowa where I donate quite a bit of it. We eat two deer each year, as well. I also have neighbors that will take many deer. I used to shoot a high number of does and could keep the whole neighborhood fed, but the deer numbers have definitely dropped so I didn't end up shooting as many does this year (at least not yet). I have one area that is a problem where we need to take out at least ten so I may still have a bit of arrow slinging to do. Merry Chistmas to you too.
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curtis from OH asks:Bill, I just wrote to you the other day asking you if I should continue hunting this year or hang it up. I took your advice and hunted a food source, where I shot my biggest buck ever! The only problem is, I can't find him. I need your advise on this one. I shot the buck at about 150 yards with a shotgun, and at the seen of the hit there was blood sprayed out pretty good. but after 20 yards or so, it started to become spotted. I followed this deer for about 2 hundred yards where he jumped a fence into another field. In that field the blood had almost no space between it for about 2 hundred yards. needless to say I followed it for probably a mile or so, found about 5 beds but no deer. Do you think this deer will live or die!Winke Responds:Curtis, Usually if they go that far, they are very likely carrying a flesh wound. That would be my guess. If you had hit the body cavity anywhere, he very likely would not have gone past 300 yards. If I had to guess, it is likely he will survive. Secondary infection can claim them, but at this time of the year with snow and all, it is less likely. I would make at least one more effort to search for the carcass but if you don't turn anything up, it is pretty safe to say he will pull through.
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Ron H. Jr. from WI asks:Hey Bill. That was a really nice 8 pointer that Tim Herald shot with his TC out at your place there in WinkeVille. lol Wish I had some land like that. I was just wondering if he was filming himself on that hunt. I've been doing a lot of self filming and its not as easy as you guys make it look. And one more question for you. What are the chances of you letting a non-sponcered hunter, like myself, hunt with you? Would we have to enter in a drawing?, come up with some money?, or marry into the family? lol - (that was a joke), but anyways just wondering if it was possible. Thanks for the show Bill, you guys rock, keep up the good work bud!!Winke Responds:Ron, Tim had a professional cameraman with him on the hunt. We got to use the footage for our show. It is very, very hard to film a good looking hunt when you are self-filming. You never get all the little pieces that make up the story and you rarely get the buck coming in without a lot of glitches, etc. I tolerated a few self-filmed hunts on the state shows this year, but that will have to go away for next year. It just leaves out too much of the story. So if you aren't getting great footage when you are self-filming, don't feel alone. Almost no one is good at that. The money might help! Just joking. Not surprisingly, I get a lot of offers from people to come hunt here, but I try to keep it to family and a few old friends, as much as possible. I want the hunting to stay as relaxed and enjoyable as possible. Mix too much business into the hunt itself and it takes a lot of the fun out of it.
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Noah from WI asks:Hey Bill! Love the show. I just got turned on to it this season and my hunting buddies and I look foward to watching the new episodes each week. I was curious to know what part of Iowa you hunt. Do you own a lot of land with food plots? It just seems like all of your hunting spots are straight out of the pages of Deer and Deer Hunting( picture perfect)? Also, I was thinking of doing some public land hunting in Iowa and I was thinking of Allamakee county. One, it is closest to me, living in WI, and two it has very high harvest numbers. Do have any suggestions for someone like me who wants to try a non-resident hunt there, but does not have the coin to spend on an outfitter? Thanks for the time.Winke Responds:Noah, I hunt and live in southern Iowa. I grew up in NE Iowa, Allamakee County (where you plan to hunt). I would focus on bowhunting for sure. Shotgun season is a free-for-all and by late muzzleloader season the bucks have been pushed pretty hard except on tightly controlled private land where you likely won't be able to gain access anyway. The public land bowhunting in NE Iowa is good. Keep the Upper Mississippi River Wildlife Refuge (the Mississippi River bottoms) in mind. I grew up hunting ducks down there and it has a lot of untapped deer hunting - especially bowhunting. I think it is 200,000 acres between Iowa and Wisconsin alone. You will need a boat to hunt it well. Good luck.
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Jim from NC asks:Dear Bill, I currently reside in NC and have recently been fortunate enough to travel to both Ohio and Illinois to bowhunt whitetails. I only hunt public land, which increases the challenge a bit. In NC, we have rolling terrain much like the two mentioned states with ridges and ravines that slope into creek drainages. Sometimes there will be a place where two or more ridges from opposite directions empty into a creek floodplain/flat area. Usually, those places have a ton of deer sign and look like a "hub" for bucks to transition from one ridge to the other. Here in NC, those areas have NEVER worked for me due to problems with wind, thermals, etc., so I have steered clear of those types of areas in the Midwest so far. I am planning a late-season hunt to Illinois and feel like I've pin-pointed a perfect bed-to-food evening route for the bucks, which passes from the top of one ridge covered in grown up old fields (Suspected bedding area) several hundred yards downWinke Responds:Jim, The question got cut off, so I am going to assume the rest of the question. How do you hunt the situation where they bed high and feed low? It is the age-old question of how do you hunt food plots effectively. I don't like to hunt bottoms unless the wind is blowing parallel to the bottom to prevent swirling and then I only do it when there is something to the downwind side that keeps deer from getting into that area - kind of a buffer. I like to hunt narrow food plots or fields where I can shoot most of the way across. Then I set up on the opposite side from where I expect the deer to come from and let them feed into range. It greatly simplifies the problems of wind direction. Also, a ground blind is a good option but it needs to be in place for a week or two before you consider hunting it. There is no bullet-proof solution to the situation you discuss. Probably you have to hunt it on a crosswind (parallel with the bottom) and take your lumps if something gets downwind.
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kent from IA asks:Bill, How do you layer (specifically what products) to stay warm during your hunts. It looks like you don't have that much on in your shows. I want to buy a mid-layer in fleece or wool, but am not sure what is best. Thanks, KentWinke Responds:Kent, I wear something like Under Armour or a good Duofold under layer. On top of that I wear Ulfrotte wool underwear. It is the best I have found. They make it in varying thicknesses and I have both mid-weight and heavyweight depending on the temp. I then wear a thin fleece vest (that thing makes a big difference. Finally, I wear the old Cabela's scent suit I designed for them back in 2004. It is windproof and that is really important to help stay warm. In fact, cutting the wind is huge. Another important feature is a good facemask. You lose a lot of heat out your head if you don't wear a facemask. Finally, a good warm hat. I also carry a handmuff and hand warmers for really cold days. I wear a set of old Rocky boots that were rated for low temperatures and carry a set of Arctic Sheild or Boot Blankets for the feet. You can make that system work for about 3 hours down to negative temperatures (wind chill). Good luck.
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Brandon from WI asks:Bill, great show. I enjoy watching it every week. My question for you is this: We have harvested 4 nice bucks in the last three years that would have definately been hung on the wall except for one thing. These bucks were all broken off on the left side about half way back on the main beam. At first we just thought it was from these bucks fighting but it is consistently on the same side. Do you thing there may be something in the genetics that causes this left side to be weaker or something? Thanks, BrandonWinke Responds:Brandon, I would guess it is just coincidence. I think it can be genetic that the antlers are weaker, but that would have to affect both sides. We find a lot of sheds and some antlers just weigh noticably more than others of the same size. Some are more dense and being more dense, my engineering background suggests that it would also have to be stronger. If anything you may have a mineral deficiency, but I am only guessing at that. It wouldn't hurt to run a few mineral sites in the spring and summer next year.
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Josh from IA asks:Not really a question just passing along some information in regards to another question I saw on here. I read an article a few months back I want to say in deer and deer hunting or online I can't really remember. Anyway they had a problem with this old mature doe pin pointing them in the stand time and time again so they decided to use a decoy in the stand(mannequin) after they saw the route she would take after spotting them each time. They then set up along the way she was going in order to get a crack at her. Little extreme perhaps, but something neat and informative if it was one of your favorite areas you didn't want to get busted in.Winke Responds:Josh, That is a good idea. I like shooting those old smart does and setting up just to shoot one is nearly as fun to me as shooting a nice buck. I have gotten "loose knees" just as often on does as I have on bucks.
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brian from MO asks:Bill, I just read the question someone had about a buck's antlers having a hole in them. A good friend of mine shot a nice buck this year and it had a small hole in one of its antlers. She brought the rack to work to show me so we could score it and one of the guys that works with us, who is a very experienced bow hunter and has taken several pope and young deer with his bow, told us that is caused by ticks. He claims that when the buck is still in velvet the tick will attach itself to suck the blood going to the antler and when the antler hardens it will create a void where the tick was. I have a degree in wildlife biology and I had never heard that, but to me it made a lot of sense. Keep up the great work on the show. Don't sell yourself short on the presentation of your shows, you do a great job!Winke Responds:Brian, Thanks for that insight. I had heard of that either, but it does make sense. There is no reason why a tick wouldn't suck blood from velvet covered antlers. I appreciate the support.
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Connor Ferral from WI asks:Is it weird to poop in bottles to block the smell?Winke Responds:Connor, Yes, that is weird. I would not worry about blocking the smell. There is no human scent in your "droppings" just as there is no human scent (at least not the kind they are used to avoiding) in human urine. I have done a 20 year test of this and have never had a single deer flee from places I have peed. Nice subject.
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Steve from MO asks:Bill, Over Thanksgiving my nephews were showing their dinosaur uncle their new IPod, which included an application for something I believe was called a "dog whistle". This app allows one to test their hearing frequency over an extensive range and could be heard throughout the house, presuining your ears could hear that frequency. My question is whether this app could somehow be utilized to send out a high or low frequency sound to help move away nearby deer that have trapped me in my stand at the end of an evening hunt? If so, do you know what frequency might work best? Thanks, SteveWinke Responds:Steve, I have no idea on that one. You might need to play with it. One thing about deer, they are very good at pinpointing the source of sound. That is why I never coyote howl or anything like that from my stand. You may as well just clang on the stand as coyote howl. Both will scare them off, but both will also allow the deer to pinpoint the source of the sound. I am not sure if that would occur with a high frequency tone or not. It is very interesting. My guess is that it won't work, but if you learn otherwise, please let me know. I will buy one too! Good luck.
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Allen Katerberg from ON asks:Hi Bill; Do you know if a single do can have four fawns at the same time. I keep seeing this family group together, but it seems a little weird. I hunt Wellington County in Southern Ontario which has alot of similar terrain and weather as Michigan,New York, Ohio, Penns.,...Winke Responds:Allen, I doubt that. Sounds more like a litter! It is probably a doe with the fawns from another doe along with her own. Antlerless deer (and even small bucks to a lesser extent) tend to move in family groups. If one of the does from the group got shot, her fawns will naturally stay in the same family group. I would bet their mother was killed.
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Nathan from AL asks:Hey Bill, I was just wondering why some antlers have small holes in them, typically on the main beam and usually at the bases of the tines. These look like small worm holes, I have wondered about this for some time now. Do you know what causes that?Winke Responds:Nathan, I think it is the way they grow sometimes. I think a small void develops there and maybe bugs or something gets in there. I have seen some that have really big holes, even with branches broken off in them, but most are just small holes that I think are related to how the bone grows. I will ask a few experts on this and let you know once I know more.
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Andy R. from MO asks:Bill. I have had extra hunting pressure around me this year during bow and rifle season. Shockingly this year I had a rifle hunter walk up right beside my 20 foot tower stand I was sitting in. I hear a lot of talk about "calling the game warden" etc. I have called them in the past about head hacked deer, ripped down posted signs, etc. I mostly am told there is not much they can do for me. My brother in law recently got ticketed in Illinois for not having his release around his bow cables on his bow as he put it back in his golf cart after hunting his own property, and heading home. I think it's pathetic that the wildlife officials have to issue most of their citations on technicalities, as opposed to some real troublesome violators. My question is this.>>>>>>>>> How do I hold the violator on my property until the warden gets there. What are my options when they don't want to give me their name. They may have a gun, do I provoke them by folWinke Responds:Andy, It is an unfortunate thing. I wish people were more respectful of other's property. Some game wardens are ticket writers while others take a big picture approach and really understand what we are paying them to do, find the bad guys. Fortunately, the ones in my area are the kind that look for bad guys not technicalities. If you are really serious about pressing charges on a trespasser, you have to produce some kind of proof that is not arguable. For example, if you carry a video camera and film them on your property either from the tree or from the ground, it is pretty hard to lose that one in court. Also, you may then have to follow them to get their license plate number if they simply won't tell you their name. In many states they are required by law to produce their hunting license if on private land. Sure, you can't make them do it, but you can follow them to their vehicle and take down that number. It is probably the best solution. Just don't escalate the conflict in any way. Simply get the information you need to identify and the proof you need to make the charges stick and you can leave the rest to the authorities. If the game warden won't respond, the county Sheriff may be a better choice. Good luck.
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james from IL asks:hey i was wondering if non residents need to put in for tags if someone that owns land in that state is willing to give you farmer tags to fill?Winke Responds:James, Every state is different. You will need to check the state regs carefully on that one. In most cases what you seek to do is not legal. So I would be pretty cautious on that one.
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jesse gojng from WI asks:Hi. i have no legs or arms how do you suggest keeping me warm. thank youWinke Responds:Jesse, I appreciate your determination to be outdoors and applaud your drive. I would sure think that a sleeping bag would be hard to beat for keeping you warm. I have used the Heater Body Suit and the Warm Bag (hunting products) but a simple sleeping bag would likely work just as well. Good luck.
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tristan from IA asks:If i shot and miss and the deer just wanders away. Will he stay in the area. And also have you ever fogot to put the chip in the trail camera becuase Ive done it a few times.My son would like to know how got you started in hunting. was your first deer a buck or a doe? when I started deer hunting most tags were buck only.Winke Responds:Tristan, He will definitely stay in the area if it is part of his normal core area. If he was just passing through as a result of looking for does, you may not see him again. I have never forgotten the chip yet, but I'm sure I will. My first deer was a small buck, shot him up in the UP of Michigan with my dad's .270. My first bowkill was also a buck, a gross P & Y deer, I couldn't believe it when he fell over. It was a morning that will live in my memory forever.
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Wesley from AL asks:Do you hunt with outfitters? If so, what are your top 3 whitetail outfitters?Winke Responds:Wesley, I don't hunt with outfitters for whitetails. I generally just hunt around home or when I travel to hunt whitetails I hunt with friends. I just like doing my own thing. Not that I think know more about it than a good outfitter, but it is just the way I like to hunt. It is the experience that I am after, often more than the kill itself. I will do some research and try to come up with a list of outfitters at some point, but it is really hard for me recommend anyone as a personal reference.
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John from MO asks:Is it true that Travis Trueblood got a citation for wasting a whole deer that he shot and then caped and dumped?Winke Responds:John, I called Travis to find out and he said that the game warden did come by and look at the deer. Travis deemed the deer unfit to eat so he dumped it. I understand that a citation was written. I am no expert on MO law, so don't quote me, but in MO you have to consume the meat if it is fit to eat. Travis talked to the prosecuting attorney and told me the charges have been dropped. Possibly there was poor judgment on Travis's part - not processing the deer quickly enough - I don't know. I wasn't there. He is a young hunter without a ton of experience. He assured me that the charges were dropped. I will leave it at that unless I find out otherwise. Obviously, we don't condone nor tolerate any kind of illegal activity and the pro staff has to sign off on that disclaimer before we will admit them.
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Keith from IL asks:I know that I have asked questions on here a few times, so I'm sorry if I am abusing it... however I feel like this question may apply to a number of people. I had a senario in which a yearling bedded 15 yds from my stand. It wasn't quite dark yet, but I HAD to leave due to prior plans! I didn't want the deer to see me getting out of my stand, so when it looked the other way I shot an arrow right beside it to scare it away. Was this the right thing to do or should I take a few rocks with me to throw at a deer in a situation like this? What would you do? Thanks!Winke Responds:Keith, I once had a stand on a farm with a lot of deer. It was a morning stand near a bedding area. I could always count on a few deer bedding down near the stand during the morning sit. Whenever I went there, I carried a few rocks and a small slingshot. I zapped the nearest deer when it was time to climb down. That deer never knew what happened but it would jump up and run off, taking the others with it. The next day they would all come right back and I would do it again. They never figured out I was there. It works pretty well, really zips the rocks with minimal movement. Give it a try when hunting stands where you think deer will be bedded nearby.
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Jason from MI asks:What did Travis Trueblood do with all that meat? That was a great buck.Winke Responds:Jason, I am sure they are going to eat that thing. It is a great buck. Thanks for your support.
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Ben from MO asks:Bill, This is Ben from southern MO, with an update more than a question. I don't think the lack of acorns hurt us as much as the hot weather and the full moon being up all night. Because, over the first weekend of gun season our group shot 2 3.5 year old bucks, one narely 5.5 year old bruiser, and I rattled in a 3.5 year old 8pt. that I probably should have shot. I'll send some pics when the seasons over. Thanks for the advice and great show. Also, we have trail cam pics of a main frame 10 with drop tine that will push 170'. That's why I passed the 8pt.Winke Responds:Ben, Thanks for the update. I appreciate it. Congrats on a great season. Good luck with that big 10. I want to see pictures!
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rich from WI asks:who is the closest P@Y official scorer to viroqua, wis 54665Winke Responds:The best way to find that out is to go to P & Y's website: www.pope-young.org. Good luck.
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Brandon from KS asks:Bill, once again love the shows and web site. Was wondering what is your procedure for getting ready for a days Hunt, lets say you will be driving 45 minutes to get to your parking spot. What steps do you take from bed to field to be as efficient as you can be. Do you wash all clothing that you wear in your vehicle in scent free detergent? Thanks to you and your staff for all your hard work.Winke Responds:Brandon, I get up early enough to take a shower and make a pot of coffee, load a couple of shows on the website, answer a few e-mails, then dress in my longies and jump in the truck. I keep a pair of pants in the truck just in case I need to get out and talk with someone - hate to be running around in longies all day! I wash my longies in scent-free detergent too. I keep my outerwear in a canoe bag to keep it scent proof and keep my boots in a Tupperware tub. I put them on after parking and then walk to my stand. I usually arrive just a bit before the start of legal shooting time. I am not sure if that hurts me or helps me, I am just always running low on sleep so I don't get up any earlier than I need to in order to be ready when the clock strikes "legal".
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derek from NV asks:bill, first of all just want to say thanks for the great show and hard work u guys put in. very informative and exciting to watch. i live in south central missouri and passd up a 3.5 yr old seven point(missing left eye guard) october 18. deer looked healthy was sparring w other bucks and bumped a few does n the tunip plot. two weeks ago a got a pic of him n a alfalfa plot with his right horn gone. i assumed he broke it off fighting with another buck. i checked my camera this weekend and noticed that on nov 8th he was missing his other side and that he had bloody scabs on his pedicles. i actually found his left side in the plot, definately shed. the buck is eating in the plot most every night and appears healthy although not much swelling of the neck and little tarsal stains. i know stress can cause this but he doesnt appear stressed. any guesses? sorry im so long winded just never seen this before. thanks and keep up the great work derekWinke Responds:Derek, Not sure on that one. It could just be genetics or he could be sick. I know we have seen some deer shed in mid-December every year, but I have not seen them shedding in mid-November before. I will have to ask an expert on that and get back to you. I just don't have enough experience with that subject.
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Tim from MN asks:Can deer see the red light on my headlamp?Winke Responds:Tim, I don't know. I have heard that they are less sensitive to some colors, but I have never tried it to know for sure. I suspect it is less intense and therefore less noticeable. I bet they can see it though, but it may not register as anything intrusive or dangerous.
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Ron H. Jr. from WI asks:Bill, I love your website here. Especially this part where people like me and a lot of others can ask questions and read other peoples questions. It has helped me and my buddies a lot. I just want to say thanks!! I just read a question that a guy asked about using his wife's urine and laughed pretty hard about it. It was great. but it does bring up a question that i've been hearing for a few years, but I don't want you to make fun of me for asking. I just figure it would be a good time to ask after reading that one. lol!! Anyways I heard of guys using their wife's used tampons to lure bucks in. What do you think buddy? lol I don't know what to think anymore!Winke Responds:Ron, I have heard of that one too. I suppose it works. I know they urge women who are menstrating to avoid sleeping in tents in bear country so I guess it must be similar for whitetails. I won't pretend to be an expert on this one. In fact, I don't even feel like asking someone who would actually know. So for now, I'll let this one slide. It is a good question though and I believe you are correct.
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Ron H. Jr. from WI asks:I was wondering if you guys use tracking dogs to help find some of the deer you shoot. I have a buddy that shot two deer a little high with his bow this year (both nice bucks sadly). With not much penetration, there was little blood to follow, but he is pretty sure he at least hit a lung or two. Even with 5 guys we couldn't find them. What would you do when something like this happens?Winke Responds:Ron, All you can do is stick with the blood for as long as possible and then fan out and cover the area in the direction the deer was heading. They sometimes do unexpected things so be sure to check everywhere. Spend several hours at it. If that turns up nothing you have no other options really. I do think the blood trailing dog is a great idea. We don't use them, but I have been in camps where they are used and the good ones are very impressive. That is an option too, if you truly feel the hit was good enough to take a lung.
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cole from AL asks:Bill, what if you were seeking advice for some reason, I realize you are a true expert in the industry, but who else do you consider a whitetail wizard and who would you look to for advice, just wondering?Winke Responds:Cole, When it comes to deer science and behavior, I call Dr. Grant Woods. We are going to try to collaborate on some stuff in the future where he provides me with behavior video segments while I provide him with deer hunting segments. Among hunters, I have the most respect for the guys that hunt their own deer. I guess, I don't ask many questions of the professionals that only hunt with guides. I would ask the guides instead. I have always liked Don Kisky. I think Don really knows what to look for when setting up ambushes. I think Mark Drury is one of the best deer hunters in the country too. Also, Lee Lakosky is very good at it. However, I suspect there is some guy in MI or PA that can hunt circles around all of us, but we have just never heard of that person. Also, I have a few friends that no one knows that are very good deer hunters who I seek when I have questions.
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Ryan from WI asks:Hey Bill, I really enjoy the website and the shows. I don't know if I am missing it but it seems you don't describe your stand locations in as much detail as you did last year (that was one of my favorite parts of the shows). Personally, I think the more detail the better. As a matter of fact, one of my favorite articles I have ever read was written by you that appeared in Bowhunting Magazine in 2006. The title of the article was "View to a Kill". Believe it or not, I actually have made a copy of the article and refer back to the article very frequently. The best part about the article was the amount of detail and examples you used. I liked the fact that you used both topos and aerials when explaining each possible stand location. So, I guess I have a request. Would you go over your stand locations a little more in future shows and include as much detail as possible (ie. topos, aerials, wind direction, and entry and exit routes)? Thanks and good luck hunting.Winke Responds:Ryan, It is a balance between keeping the show fast paced and interesting to most people and educating and supplying information. I think we have the perfect tool with the interactive player that Jason Vickerman (producer of the Iowa show) developed for us. That allows us to go into more detail without bogging down the show. I will try to do more of that in the future. Remember though, these shows are rarely as good as they could be if we had more time to work on them. When we are doing two per week, that is an enormous amount of work to go along with hunting and family, so sometimes things we really know we need to add, just get left out because we simply don't have the time. However, I will make every effort to spend time on these segments. Thanks for your support.
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Heath from KS asks:Bill, just wanted to say thank you for the sight, and let you know how it helped me bag my buck. This morning finally had cooler temps and a north wind here in central Kansas. I was so amped up last night I couldn't sleep, I just knew something was going to happen. Well, at 8 AM a two year old 7 point walks into my tree row, but he was on a trail I didn't have a shooting lane for. I let him walk past hoping he would turn, but he didn't. He was then down wind so I thought game over. I used a grunt, nothing. I turned my can call, nothing. I did the mouth snort/wheeze that you did last year, and mike did this year. He turned on a dime and started tearing stuff up all the way back to me. He kept using the same trail I didn't have a shooting lane to. I called him back three times with the snort/wheeze. The last time, he walked clear by my stand, and I got him at 10 yards. Thanks for all the info.Winke Responds:Heath, Congratulations. I am so glad that we were able to help you bag this buck. It sure is exciting to call them in isn't it? Best regards.
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Lucas from MN asks:Hey Bill, I live in southeast Minnesota. If I were to look at a property to buy and manage it for whitetail what websites should I use? I am interested in something somewhat close to home...I don't want to go further than Wisconsin or Iowa so something within these 3 states.Winke Responds:Lucas, I would look at Whitetail Properties for one, then start looking at the websites of all the realtors in the areas you are interested in. Most of them have their properties listed on the web. When I was buying properties, my partner and I monitored probably 20 websites daily to see what was out there. We talked to folks on the phone who know about the neighborhoods and we generally had a pretty good idea what we thought of the place before we ever showed up to look. Study those realtor's websites and you will find some good deals. Auctions are also very good places to buy right now as it is a buyer's market. Not many buyers out there and when someone has to sell fast, the auction is the only way and the prices tend to be low. Good luck.
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Richard from IA asks:Bill.... I am really enjoying your website and keeping us on top of what is happening with whitetails here in Iowa. I retired as a high school principal in Alaska to move back to my home state of Iowa. I just missed the whitetail bowhunting too much. Keeo up the great work on your website! If you ever want to trade an Alaska fishing trip for a weeks bow hunt in Nov. let me know. We still have our lodge in S.E. Alaska and fish Salmon/halibut during the summer months. Check us out on the web at www.petersburgsportfishing.com. I have a king salmon/halibut trip that should be excellent around June 24th. Richard Montgomery 641-919-4144Winke Responds:Richard, I appreciate it and will definitely consider your generous offer. I appreciate your support can understand your desire to be back here bowhunting. Have a great season.
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Rick from PA asks:Bill just wanted to say thanks for the advise you gave me.I recently wrote you,I missed a really nice 8 pt but it had no idea what happened and you said to get back in there and hunt him well I did and on tuesday the 3rd I finally connected on him not no monster by midwest standards but my biggest bow kill to date and I was wondering if I could also send you a photo of him.Thank You again for giving me the confidence to go back in after him.Winke Responds:Rick, Awesome. Congratulations! Please send a photo to info@midwestwhitetail.com. I will get it posted.
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Jordan from IA asks:Bill, What would your "ideal" property be. What would you have for bedding areas, food, and size of farm. Owning my own hunting property is a dream of mine and I was just curious as to how you would answer these couple questions. God bless and good hunting.Winke Responds:Jordan, I have always said that if I could have the perfect property it would be one with a 75 to 80% mix of timber to open ground. Enough diversity that I can have plenty of food but also plant a few areas to grasses, etc. I am a big fan of thick cover for a number of reasons, so I would do an aggressive timber stand improvement program to thin the canopy and let light to the forest floor. I would prefer for nearly all of my cover to be fairly thick. Others might argue for some open timber, but I like it thick. Also, it would be ideal if you have a limited number of neighbors. Neighbors are great until they start placing stands on the line and the more neighbors you have the bigger that problem is going to get when you start planting food plots, etc. Good luck.
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Lance from IA asks:Bill, I sent you an email at the beginning of the season asking you to help me pinpoint an area on my farm where I would have a good chance at a mature buck. Like I said in that email, I've been hunting this farm for the past 4 years, but I hadn't been able to connect on solid buck. I knew they were there, I just couldn't put the pieces all together. Well, that all changed on the morning of the 4th. I finally closed the deal on a great buck. I'd like to send you pictures if you are willing to post them up on your site. Thanks again for all your advice.Winke Responds:Lance, I would be proud to post them and am happy I could help in some small way. Please send them to info@midwestwhitetail.com. Thanks.
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Jonathan from MN asks:Hi, Bill just wanted to let you know you are not the only one having fits with an old 8 point. In 2007 I had a shot at a nice 3.5 or 4.5 old 8 on a windy day only to shave the hair off of its back during the rifle season. Than in 2008 in late sept. the same deer gave me a nice 40 yard bow shot only to duck the string. Now this year I had a shot at the now 5.5 or 6.5 old 8 at 38 yards quartering away slightly. My arrow hit a little high and stuck into the shoulder blade stopping my arrow, I don't believe I penetrated the chest cavity with my 70# bow. Since the hit I have had at least a 12 trail came photos of the buck running around fine with a large arrow hole from my Rage, if my shot would of been 1" further back I would of had a good high lung hit. I feel your PAIN it hurts, if you are interested I would love to send you trail photos of the deer to see what you think of the shot placement. Good luck I hope we can both end our quests for our "Lucky 8's".Winke Responds:Jonathan, I would love to see those. Send those when you are able. No rush. They will eventually get to me at the info@midwestwhitetail.com address. I hope we are both happy in the end too. I am going to run some cameras on that ridge to see if I can get him back on the cameras. Good luck.
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Colby from AR asks:Bill, Have been doing a lot of research on deer management, food plots, etc. I am curious if you know of any creative ways to purchase land. Would you get a group of guys together and buy? Is there a demand from farmers to lease land and relieve some of the costs of a mortgage? Any tips would be greatly appreciated.Winke Responds:Colby, Where there is a will there is a way. If you make it a priority and commit to it, you will find a way to get it done. And, yes, there are always farmers looking to lease. Purchasing is better if you can pull it off because leasing is never a permanent deal. This would be a good time to buy as there aren't a lot of buyers in the market right now and the prices have been dropping. Good luck.
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Josh from IA asks:You know where I can reach mother nature to tell her to turn on the air conditioner for Iowa this weekend? What do you think of this warm weather scheduled for the weekend? I'm sure several out there across the state are saying...Yep...I knew it was coming following this cool October, but I do you think mornings or afternoons are going to be more active this weekend with temps pushing into the mid sixties?Winke Responds:Josh, I definitely think the mornings will be better because they follow an entire night of falling temperatures while the afternoon hunts follow a hot day.
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Jacob from MO asks:Hi Bill: This weekends forecast shows lows in the 40's and highs in the 70's!!! Is it even going to be worth getting out there this weekend with such hot temperatures?Winke Responds:Jacob, Yes, you need to be out there this weekend regardless. It is November 7 and 8, the two best days of the season. The buck movement will definitely be suppressed, but there will be some movement in the mornings especially.
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Scott from KS asks:Hi Bill, I just watched your hunt on the great eight buck. Sorry to see the bad luck you had. I have heard that bucks can have deformed or non-typical antlers in the following years after being hit by vehicles or even being shot high and close to the spinal cord. Is their any truth to this? I just also would like to say how awesome the show is! Your humble attitude toward your hunting approach is great. I appreciate that you can say that you don't have all the answers. Good luck on getting that great eight buck! Scott B. Emporia, Kansas.Winke Responds:Scott, Thanks. I would love to get another shot at him. I'll start running a trail camera in that area again soon to see if I can find him back. I am not sure if a high hit causes antler damage the following year. I don't think there is enough trauma with such an arrow wound. I think it has more to do with broken legs and massive trauma. That is typically not what an arrow delivers.
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Sean from AL asks:How is next weeks (Nov 8 thru Nov 14) weather gonna effect the hunting? Lows of mid 30s and highs in the mid 50's with a good chance of rain. Thanks.Winke Responds:Sean, Usually, if the highs stay in the 50s you will be alright. Bucks move best at temps under 50 degrees this time of year. A nice cold front coming through would be good.
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terry from IL asks:how do you feel about what illinois doin raising license fees an permit fees feel they r hitting the residents an not out of staters like they should while residents have tohunt public land cause outfitters can shrugg these fees when there fees should be raised well i feel they r damaging the real tradition as many will change their pratices do to these fees i will strictly bow hunt more time an less money what r ur thoughts on this an ur illinois pro staff should touch this subject as it is important check out prairiestateoutdoors.com great sight for illinois hunters even seen ur site mentioned on their an on the great eight me an my hunting buddy say its not a season till u miss one thanksWinke Responds:Terry, Anytime the DNR tries to raise in state license fees they get hammered. I am not sure what the budget is like in IL, but it is getting hammered here in Iowa. I know the DNR is considering not replacing game wardens to save money because their budget is low. They need that money to fund the programs that keep hunting the way we love it. I agree, you can pass some of that along to the out of staters. It is always a big political mess. As long as they aren't wasting my money, I don't mind modest increases from time to time. I want to make sure we have game wardens and that the important programs continue. It is a tough subject. You made me laugh with your comment about missing the deer.
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scott from OH asks:Do you know of a weather web site that forcasts wind direction? scottWinke Responds:Scott, I use www.wunderground.com. It does a pretty good job of forecasting for a two to three day period. I use the hourly forecasts to fine-tune the general forecast when looking out just one day. Good luck.
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Brennan from IA asks:Over the last few years I have developed a friendship with a guy that introduced to me bowhunting. I had hunted with my father and brother since I can remember but never with a bow. I worked with the man (Jim) at Cunningham Hardware and Rental in Waukon for 3 years. Since then his influence with everything from tactics to supply of hunting gear has turned my hunting hobby into a lifestyle. He sets up my Hoyt and helps me if something is out of tune. With him getting me started in bow hunting our time in the woods has greatly improved our deer quality and hunting skill, along with alot if patience. I was wondering how I could ever repay him for what he has introduced and given me.Winke Responds:Brennan, I know who you are talking about. Take him and Mom out for dinner. He just loves doing it and doesn't expect anything in return. Thanks for asking though. Good luck this season.
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SPIRO from QC asks:Hi Bill, I must say that I truly enjoy your website and shows.... it is just getting better every year with all the new teams...my question to you is the following: Do you feel that you can find it your heart give a "PASS" to any deer that has survived the odds and lived for 8years or more? If you reflect on this and decide to, I would be thrilled if you captured it on video and expessed it to all the viewers....it would be a LARGE statement coming from a benchmark sportsman like you and your team. Regards from Quebec, Canada....Spiro A. Stergiotis God Bless...Winke Responds:Spiro, I appreciate the support. I have thought about it. I definitely want to get that old monster on video, in hard horn, in all his thick-necked, bull-shouldered rutting glory, but I am not sure yet if I would pass him up. He is old and has lived a long life on our farm - eluding us each season. Odds are he will do it again, but if I do have him in my sights it will have to be a decision I make at that moment. Either way, that buck deserves tremendous respect for beating the odds this long. I just look at those trail cam photos and think, "This buck epitomizes why I love deer hunting, the chance to go after a big, old, smart buck." I just love the fact that he is out there to challenge me. It will be fun hunting him, that is for sure.
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Rick from PA asks:I was wondering if I need to install something to watch the video's.I try to watch them I get about 3 minutes into them and they freeze up.And I was wondering if you gave anymore thought on the show about reading aerial photos and maps.Thanks and great site.Winke Responds:Rick, You may need to clear out your temporary internet files. Go into your browser and click "Tools" then Internte Options (or something like that) and then clear files or similar. Once you clear them, you can get a fresh download and it shouldn't keep stopping at that point. If your internet cuts in and out, it can cause the videos to only partially download before they close out and that is where the problems start.
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DAVID from OH asks:Bill I'm having trouble veiwing past episodes of divine moments. Is it on my end or yours?Winke Responds:David, You are the only one I have heard this from. They are working fine here. I would try updating your version of Adobe Flash by going to Adobe's website or searching under Adobe Flash. That will often fix viewing issues.
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Troy from IN asks:I use AccuWeather.com for my weather station. Who do you use and why? They don't seem to be accurate anymore. I live about an hour from my hunting spot and I need a more accurate weather station. Thank you for your time and good luck this season!!!! Troy WaltonWinke Responds:Troy, I use www.wunderground.com, but I am not sure it is any different from any other NOAA weather reporting site. I think they all get the same data. You might want to take a look at a weather radio. You will never get more current conditions than you will get from the weather radio and you can literally carry it in your car or even in your backpack, for that matter. If you do a web search you will find several stores selling them for anywhere from $50 to $500. They constantly update the weather report for the nearest weather checkpoint, usually the nearest town with a popular airport.
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Jimmy from NC asks:Bill, we havent seen you in a while down at Rifle Point. The river is rising but the deer are plentifull again. We slowed down the doe shoot and the numbers rebounded nicely. The ratio appears to still be in check. Great article in American Hunter, the stalk gets the adrenaline going doesnt it! If you get a break come down south where the deer are big and the stories are bigger! BTW I did harvest a nice 146 inch deer in Missouri in Sept for the first buck of the season. Good luck during the Rut. JRWinke Responds:Jimmy, Good to hear from you and congrats on the big MO buck. That is a good early season kill! You should e-mail me a pic and I'll put it up in our gallery. You can use the info@midwestwhitetail.com address for now. I used to always hunt there with Darrell but I haven't heard much from Darrell since he left Mossy Oak. I sure did enjoy coming down there though. It was my favorite trip of the year. Stalking is the best. I think that is why I like mule deer hunting so much, you can stalk them more easily than whitetails. Good luck the rest of the season.
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Ben from MO asks:Bill, Here in South-Central MO we don't have very many acorns this year so the deer have been using our hay fields and food plots heavily. We had the same situation 2 years ago, and we've observed that the amount of buck sign has been condierably less, and later both of these years. Do you know of any reason this is happening? Also, we have trail cam pics and live sightings of several different 3.5 and older bucks, we know they are there. Also, a lot of our best rut stands are 300+ yards from the fields back in the timber, should we still hunt these stands or stick with our rut stands that are within 100 yards of the fields. Thanks, BenWinke Responds:Ben, I am not sure on the first part of your question, but on the second part, I would likely hunt the stands deeper in the timber in the mornings and the ones closer to the fields in the evenings. A simple strategy for the rut is to stay close to doe bedding areas in the mornings and close to doe feeding areas in the evenings.
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Curtis from OH asks:Bill, I'd like to start off by saying thank you for the awesome vids. I enjoyed Andrews hunt very much, and I'm glad you don't care to have some fun. I have written a few times,hope you don't mind. I read on your blog where you talked about Mark and Terry Drury. As a viewer, and a lover of whitetail hunting, I like alot of different producers Like you guy's,realtree, Drurys ect. I was just wandering do you all get along well or is there a tension there? Ive just always wandered about that. Thanks for everything!Winke Responds:Curtis, The guys who are head to head competitors may not be the best of friends especially when they start vying for the same time slot or the same sponsors, etc. But I get along pretty well with most of the people in the industry. I think one of the reasons is that I have been doing it for a long time now and my niche is pretty well developed so the other long-timers don't feel like I am invading their turf. They sort of feel like maybe I have paid my dues by now. I think we all respect people who have paid their dues and rarely begrudge them any success they may achieve. Usually, the people who aren't well accepted are the newcomers who are trying very aggressively to move into the market and turn the spotlight on them. That sometimes creates some animosity. Overall, I think it is a good industry filled with a very good people (on the whole).
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Woody from VA asks:I was watching episode 8 Ohio. Chad said the buck must have been bedding close by because he was still chewing his cud. I never heard of that before but have seen it. Can you talk about chewing cud, I found it interesting. If you had to pick one of the Main show episodes to send out to help promote the show what episode would it be? I like them all the shows but last years episode 22 is my favorite.Winke Responds:Woody, I don't much about chewing the cud, but what Chad says makes a lot of sense. It is obvious he was chewing something - looked like a big mouthful of bubble gum! He is also right in stating that deer usually only chew their cud in their beds. So it makes a lot of sense. The episode you refer to is a good one. I also like 19 and 33 - Mike's big kills. I filmed 19 myself so I am partial that one. Thanks for your support.
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Travis from AL asks:Planning on doing some hunting this year up in Minnesota in a remote location on private land. It'll be a drive in drive out at the end of the day scenario with no access to facilities. What are my best options for urinating. gatorade/water bottles? Never had this be an issue as Ive always had access to a bathroom, but i cant imagine urinating below my stand will help my chances. Thanks for the help and the years of good infoWinke Responds:Travis, I have done a lot of research on this, believe it or not. I had stopped using a bottle back in about 1991. I had never seen any problems, but I decided to call several biologists about it. They all said the same thing: that deer can't tell whether the urine came from a human. They may be able to tell it came from a carnivore, but they are not sure on that either. Also, fresh urine breaks down fast, so it is not a factor either way for more than a couple of hours. I have had thousands of deer walk past my stands since then, some at very short range. I have only seen a few that smelled the places where I lit it rip. In those cases, they actually showed curiosty, not caution. Knowing what I know now, I would never, ever carry one of those things.
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John from CT asks:Bill,I love your shows and this web site. Keep up the good work. I have to tell you though, I am a little disappointed in the shot angle you allowed your son to take. It looked to me that the deer was going to continue walking and present a broad side or 1/4 away shot. That shot angle is the definition of a "dumb shot" in most archers books. I'm sure you have all the resources to track and find wounded deer, but that is no excuse. Please don't get caught up in taking high risk shots for the sake of the camera. To many of the knuckle heads on TV seem to think having a camera over their shoulder gives them the right to take poor shots. I actually saw one show where the archer gut shot a big buck,(he recovered it the next day)turned to the camera and said, "I had to take that shot because I knew if he took one more step he'd be off camera". Staged hunts and poorly executed shots makes most hunters tune out hunting programs and gives anti's fuel. Had to get that off myWinke Responds:John, I hear you. There was a lot going on during those few seconds. I am not sure that either Andrew or I were actually in control of that situation. I don't know if you can see it or not, but a few feet in front of the buck were some branches and then he would be gone. I actually thought he was broadside when I grunted. Like I said, there was a lot going on. I am just glad he made a good shot and it all worked out well.
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Adam U from PA asks:Bill this is not so much a question but a comment. I was reading over all of the Non-Resident questions/complants. I'm from Pa and I started hunting Iowa when I was 14, I am 25 now and have had the luck of hunting 6 years of those 11. Iowa residents need to defend this, and Non-Residents that don't understand need to do some research. Iowa is special because it has big deer and is not over run with hunting pressure. The dnr has put alot of thought into tag numbers. Every Iowa hunter, even residents should read the 2009 January deer update, that was published by the Iowa dnr and is avaiable online in PDF form. Its long, but its alot of good data and information. Good luck this rut, I wish I was out there but I'll be in Iowa 2011.Winke Responds:Adam, Thanks for the input. Actually, the legislators are the ones holding the non-res numbers down. The resident deer hunters have pushed for this. The DNR actually would allow more non-res permits if the legislators would let them. Good to hear from you.
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George from OH asks:Bill I have been reading your articles for years. (I do enjoy your writing) I'd just like to know why no one on this show or other shows try harvesting mature whitetails with traditional archery equipment? I am a recurve hunter and have been doing so for more then thirteen years. I know it is hard enough to successfully harvest a mature buck by any means. I just think that if a person could pursue and harvest mature whitetails on video with a recurve or longbow, well, put someone behind the camera cause thats the kind of video myself and others would kill to see. Thank you for your time and best of luck this year on all of your hunting adventures. And remember hunt safe.... George. H.Winke Responds:George, Not sure. We didn't try to select only compound shooters. Hoyt makes a good recurve and we made that an option to the pro staff, but they all just happened to be compound shooters. I am not very good with a recurve or I would do it. I would enjoy seeing a good recurve shooter on the show too. Maybe next year. I know that Fred Eichler on Easton Bowhunting uses a recurve a lot. That show is on the Outdoor Channel.
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keith from MN asks:well i was hopeing i could find a comment page, but i didn't. so, i wanted to give my congrats to drew. GREAT JOB kiddo, you showed us all that we dont need all that power with bigger bows. and my hats off to you. keep up the good work.Winke Responds:Keith, Thanks. It was sure an exciting hunt. I'll pass your comments along to him.
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mike from AL asks:where is Brandon Roberts on the site?Winke Responds:Mike, We are working on Brandon's right now. Thanks.
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Todd from MO asks:I just wanted to thank you for all that you do for our great sport of deer hunting. Your shows are a great lesson to those who want to manage their property correctly. Keep them coming. Lots of thanks from a Deer hunting fanatic Cop in Missouri.Winke Responds:Todd, Thanks. I appreciate your support and hope we can keep you interested all season.
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jim from IN asks:bill i got permision on a pease of gound about 140 aces and the guy on the other shift wear i work at came to the door the other day and basicly didnt want me to hunt that gound ,but i got permision from the landowner, why am i the bad guy on this. i dont oh him any thing . what do you thank about that. the guy he works with told me the other day that he will probly try to get me run off.he just want it to him self. you got any thing on this for me thank you jim.Winke Responds:Jim, I used to hunt on permission all the time. I was hunting in the area where I grew up and I never dreamed of trying to get anyone run off, but when people are hunting in areas where they don't have that many ties, or they simply aren't thinking of the Golden Rule, this kind of stuff happens. I would talk to the landowner and tell him/her what happened and see where they stand on it. If they side with the other guy, you will know it right then rather than have it fester and blow up later. If they confirm your permission, I would just hunt it and not worry about the other guy. Try to keep your distance from his stands, but really he has no more right to it than you if you both have permission. Good luck. I hope it works out smoothly.
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mike bagwell from NY asks:how can I hunt with you? I promise I won't miss if a big buck gets too close to me. thanks Mike Honeoye Falls, NYWinke Responds:Mike, That has become a popular question. There is no doubt it is fun hunting. I know of several areas with bigger bucks than we have right around here, but we have enough mature bucks that there is always something fun to hunt even we don't have any absolute monsters. The average buck we shoot is probably 155 to 165 inches. Not too bad. We killed a couple of really good ones last year (actually Mike Sawyer killed them) but that is not the norm. 155 to 165, that is about where we usually end up. Good luck this season.
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Cal from MO asks:Do you know/know where i can find any good deer jerky recipes?Winke Responds:Cal, I have a friend, Kurt Schroeder, that makes a pretty mean deer jerky. I'll see if I can get Kurt to write me a quick blog on that subject. Thanks.
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AJ from NY asks:I'm taking a early season trip to Ohio. I was wondering how to contact one of the Ohio pro staffers. I'm just looking for some advice for the time of year I'm going down there.Winke Responds:AJ, I am reluctant to give out personal contact information but please just ask the question here and I'll relay it to a couple of them for answers.
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Matt from CA asks:First of all I cant thank you enough for who you are standing firm in the grace you have been given. Also thank you for pastor Paul and his insights.Sometimes I get so discouraged on practice and almost give up hunting because of where God has me now in my life seemingly never able to hunt. Has this ever happened to you with the strains of trying to provide for your family and such. What did you do to keep on keeping on? God bless you Bill! MattWinke Responds:Matt, Thanks for your support. It is tough finding time to hunt. I got into this business because I love hunting and I find that I get so busy with family and work that I don't go as much as guys in other businesses. Well, I shouldn't actually say that. I do take off a lot of time in November, but I don't have the time to travel like I used to. Once the kids get old enough to handle the gun by themselves, I plan to take them on some of the adventures. I guess there is not much I can say to help your situation. Simply enjoy every moment to the fullest. Every minute spent deer hunting - heck every minute spent on this earth - is precious so just enjoy those times to the fullest. Even a half hour in the morning before heading off to work gives you a mini-adventure that is definitely worth getting up a little earlier. Good luck.
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Jim from IA asks:Bill,I was born with the unique ability to convey my thoughts telepathically to both animate and inanimate objects. Is it considered baiting if I see an approaching deer and then transfer an image of a big corn pile to the deer ? Is it legal to enter a buck in P&Y that was taken using this method? Love the show....by-the-way you'll get the Big 8 on Nov.6 at 9:38am .........JimWinke Responds:Jim, Finally, a question that challenges me. I recognize your e-mail address so I know that the brainpower you talk about is truly real and that you do actually possess this ability to will a whitetail into submission. I think in your case, you should turn in your hunting license as you violate the anti-mind control provision of the regulations. I may have to report you to the appropriate authorities. Now I bet you wish you had never posed this question? But, I do like the notion of me shooting that buck on November 6 at 9:38. If I get him then, I'll give you some of the credit. Now get back to work and stop spamming innocent people on company time!
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Randy from MO asks:First off I have enjoyed reading your articles over the past decade or so,I consider myself a fan of your writing style.I was disheartened with your Chris Wood,September 2009 North American Whitetail tale.I am intimatley familiar with the deer my hunting partners and I call stickers and the properties he lived on.The Chris Wood party did not have permission to cross the Tobin property and never had it in the past either as you stated(apparently with his permission)on page 34.Hunting,driving deer is not allowed on it,PERIOD and that is what happened.Your article made it sound like it was a simple slip up,the group broke the law(TRESPASSING) while taking this deer and somehow seem to be congratulated by you for their lawlessness because it is a large deer..The DNR did a terrible job of investigating the episode.The neighboring landowner is sure the deer was shot as it was exiting a draw heading east to cross the road.Call the landowner. in Taylor Cty. yourself and get his side of it.Winke Responds:Randy, I knew it was tough one when I took it on. I wasn't there with Chris so I can only go by what he told me. I called the DNR twice over a three month period to determine if they were pursuing a case against Chris or anyone in the party and I intentionally waited for several months for all the dust to settle before writing it. If the DNR said it was legal to the best of their ability to judge, then I must assume it is legal. I am not saying you are wrong. I wasn't there. I don't know exactly what happened. I asked Chris to give me the absolute truth. I don't know if he sugar-coated it or not. I didn't get the impression that he did. Anytime there is a giant deer involved the rumors run crazy. If I took every rumor seriously I would get a whiplash from the many directions my head would spin. I wrote most of the stuff on the Lovstuen Buck back in 2003/2004. There were some wild emotions and even wilder stories attached to that buck. There was an amazing amount of emotion tied to that event, actually. I have all but stopped writing those kinds of stories because of this very reason. All the stories, rumors and half truths take all the fun out of it. If I was not in the tree with a guy when he shot a monster - how can I judge whose story is correct? If the DNR says it is legal, that is what I have to go by. I don't know what happened. I was sitting in a blind with our kids at the time - 150 miles away.
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Tim from IL asks:With all your research ,what have you found out about the best misquito repellent on the market and how does it affect the deer?Winke Responds:I have heard a lot of good things about the Thermacell and it is supposed to be scent free. I have never tried it. Scent Blocker makes a repellent called "No Stinkin' Bugs" or at least they used to. I have tried it and it doesn't have much odor and seems to work fine. Unless you are really, really serious about scent control, they are going to smell you anyway so I wouldn't worry a ton about odor. And if you are really, really serious, I would recommend a thin net mask, thin gloves and no repellent.
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Josh from IA asks:Bill Im getting ready to go to college I was wondering, how did you get started in the hunting idustry? Because one day I want to try to be in the hunting industry, it would just be a perfect job for something I love so much. I have been filming my hunts for a couple of years now and want to take it to the next level. I would like to be sales rep. for a hunting company or maybe film hunts for them. So Im basically asking what should I so Im on the right track to one day be in the hunting industry?Winke Responds:Josh, I actually wrote a blog about this exact subject on May 14. I wish I could place a link in this publishing module, but I can't. Please go into the Winke's Blog archives and look for that one. It is titled: "Living the Dream" and I think it will offer most of my opinion on this subject. Good luck. It can definitely be done.
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Rufus from VA asks:Property Lines and Sportsmanship Bill, I recently got a new farm to hunt and the best place for a tree stand is right on the property line. Neighbor also hunts this line. It's a major funnel I want to be a true sportsman, what is a respectable distance from the line to hang a stand? Really Enjoy your shows. ThanksWinke Responds:Rufus, I like to keep stands my maximum range from the fence, then there is never any question about intent. For example, if you can shoot 30 yards with your bow, set up 30 yards from the fence. Your neighbor will appreciate it. Nothing makes a landowner see red like a stand right on the line where the obvious intent of the hunter is to shoot across. Man, that fries my grits! Fortunately, I have great neighbors. Thanks for your support. I appreciate it.
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Marcus from GA asks:Bill, several years back I think I remember reading an article by you about how you have no desire to put any of your deer into the record buck. Was that a dream? or reality? If it's real, do you have any way of linking me to that article? thanks!Winke Responds:Marcus, I have written on that subject a couple of times. I can only remember one for sure though. It was called "The Rush" and was in Deer and Deer Hunting. I also wrote something like that for Boone & Crockett once too, believe it or not. I'm not anti-score. My point in those articles was not to reduce the experience to a number. In other words, soak it up, enjoy it and then someday get it scored. Don't be tempted to grab the tape measure as soon as it hits the ground and reduce your experience to a number. That was my point in all that. Thanks and have a great day.
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Chad from VA asks:Searching on Ask Winke. Thanks for making my Internet experience more enjoyable. Is there a way search for information on your site? Lots of great questions you have answered, just didn't want to repeat the same question if I didn't have too. Hope this isn't one of them :) ThanksWinke Responds:Chad, I agree with you. I will need to look into that before next year. This section has become popular and it is starting to fill up. It would be good to have something like that. Thanks for suggesting it.
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BRIAN from PA asks:Bill, I am an aspiring outdoor writer and wanted to know how to go about getting some of my work out there for editors to see. I really have no contacts in the outdoor industry and am eager to learn what ways I can get my work noticed. Any tips you have would be greatly appreciated. Thank You, Brian from PAWinke Responds:Brian, When you are just getting started, the main thing is to get a few accomplishments under your belt. Don't go for a P&Y buck in your first season. Get a few does under your belt and maybe a small buck. You need to look for small local markets where you can get your stuff published even if it doesn't much, or anything. Get experience. Get your name out there a little. The best practice for writing is writing. After you have sold a few articles to the local magazines, try some of the larger national or regional magazines. Also, you will probably need to become a pretty good photographer as most magazines expect the writer to supply at least some (often all) of the photos that go with the article. The best strategy is to simply finish the article and send a hardcopy to the editor. Notify him or her by e-mail or phone first that it is coming so they will know what it is. You need thick skin. Just because someone doesn't fall in love with your work doesn't mean you are a bad guy. It takes time to learn to write effectively and until you get the experience you will have more failures than successes. It is part of life. Keep getting up and you will succeed.
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Sam from WI asks:Bill, I just wanted to thank you for all the work you have done so far. I really like the devine moment part you just added that was a very good idea. Going along with that I wanted to know if you think it is a good idea to read my Bible in my tree stand? Thanks again, SamWinke Responds:Sam, Thanks for the compliments and for your support. I think it is a good idea to read your Bible anywhere! But I know what you are really asking, does it affect your hunting? I have a buddy that reads Louis LaAmour westerns on stand. He'll run through a book a day. Dan would wait til he heard leaves crunching to close his book. I always made fun of Dan. My fear is that I will miss seeing something in the distance that might lead me to move a stand or possibly even call in a buck. Also, I always want to see them as soon as possible so I can get into position for the shot well before the deer get close. I guess as long as you look up often to scan your surroundings, you will be fine. Good luck reading the Good Book!
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chris from OH asks:Hey Bill,I have been hunting in Ohio 10 years.This year the ohio DNR has stated that you will not have to check your deer at a check staion,but by phone or the internet.My question is,what will keep hunters from using a high power rifle or gun in bow season,then calling in a bow kill?I have always played by the rules and poachers make me nuts...I was born and raised in Fairfield Iowa,I love the outdoors,and your show is awesome...thanks,Chris in ohioWinke Responds:Chris, It is a good question. I would suspect it will certainly make it easier to poach. In Iowa, we have never had to check deer. I am not sure how much different things would be if we did check them. We call the kill in or check it via internet, just as you mention. I suppose if someone wants to poach, they are going to poach no matter what the laws are, but it would sure seem that a lack of check stations would make it much easier to make a poached deer look like a legal deer. I assume it a cost saving measure. Many of the state DNRs are struggling with budgets right now. When it comes to that, all we can do is police ourselves by reporting suspicious activity. Thanks for your support and for watching the show.
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Joey from MO asks:I was just curious, im real interested in hunting and filming, what career would you suggest someone to take? and about how much does someone in land management, Deer Program Coordinator and video production, land management consultant make a year ?? ??? ? ???Winke Responds:Joey, I would say that once you get established in that field you would make from $30,000 to $75,000 per year depending where you are willing to live, your experience level and how hard you are willing to work. Good luck. Bill
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Dean from NY asks:Hello Winke, Well this is just a simple question. How do I become a pro-staff for Hoyt. I've shot Hoyt since I was 5 years old. I'm now 25 and would like to become a pro-staff. What does a pro-staff do?Winke Responds:Dean, Your best bet is to contact your local Hoyt dealer to see if Hoyt has any kind of associate pro staff program where they work with dealers to get pro staff into various parts of the country. Some companies do this, but I don't think Hoyt does. It doesn't hurt to ask. Otherwise, you will have to prove yourself either as a hunter or as a target shooter. It takes a lot to get on one of those pro staffs. If you think you might qualify, I encourage you to send them a resume with your qualifications. Good luck.
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Paul from TX asks:Bill, how many hours do I have to find my deer until the meat is spoiled assuming that I shot it at night and needed to give the deer two hours before tracking? I hunt in Texas and the October night temperatures are around 70-80 degrees. Thanks, PaulWinke Responds:Paul, I asked a meat processor who processes hundreds of deer each year about this. He said that the night has to be under 40 degrees before you can wait until morning without spoiling the meat. The blood in the deer's cavity will spoil and smell rank, but the meat itself should be fine. However, at the temperatures you are talking about, I would hate to let it lay dead for more than a couple of hours, maybe three at the most, before spoilage will begin. When it is warm like that, you have to pursue at night. You can't wait til morning. I never wait two hours to follow up on a deer unless I know it was a marginal hit. When the arrow or bullet hits the goodies, I climb down and recover them immediately. If you think it is a good hit, 30 minutes is plenty of time. Like I said, I often don't wait even five. Liver or paunch hits are different story (three hours and 9 hours respectively) but with a good hit go after them soon.
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daniel wilson from MS asks:Interested in any prostaff in mississippi, not known for monster bucks in most part of the state due to excessive seasons and limits and hunter pressure, but does is another subject. I love a good doe hunt especially if different game plans and methods are used. Such as fawn bleating, and more ground attacks.Winke Responds:Daniel, We may expand a bit next year, but not sure if we get clear down to Mississippi. I have hunted there a fair bit and it is a lot of fun. Different from what we do up here, but still a lot of fun. MS has a rich outdoor tradition. I also love doe hunts. I sure shoot a ton of them! Good luck this season.
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anonamous from DE asks:this is not really a question but you should hunt with a recurve this year i think that would be cool to see even if you just busted a nice doe and its alot of fun shooting im not saying give up the compound but just give the recurve a tryWinke Responds:I think that is a good idea. I have a Hoyt Gamemaster here that is a good bow. I'm not a great shot with a recurve, but if they are close enough, I think I could make an ethical hit. I'll have to bring my compound along too because about that time old Mossyhorns will walk past at 40 yards!
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Sabin Adams from MN asks:Bill i recently read your article "Evolution of a Deer Hunter." and i would have to honestly say it was one of the best articles i have ever read. How you felt in college is how i feel now. Most articles have extreme details and specific examples that are so extensive that i, either can't follow them or i have no place that gives me the capability to do such things. Your article made sense and it had things that a college student on public land can do. So thanks and keep um coming. So my question is do you know where i can find more information like this so i can build my whitetail knowledge instead of just jumbling up a bunch of useless ideas? Thanks Sabin AdamsWinke Responds:Sabin, Thanks for your support and for the kind words. For those who didn't see it, that article ran recently in Petersen's Bowhunting. I will try to keep posting more articles on this site. I have thousands of them that I have written. I just need to get on a regular schedule of posting new ones. Please keep an eye here. I promise I will start getting more of them on here. Thanks. Bill
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Tom from IL asks:hey bill this is a similar question to the coon up a tree. in many permanent stands, or even regular stands, they are attached to a tree. Now in the morning as you said in the last answer the odds are extremely unlikely but what would you do if you have a coon up there waiting for you or even worse a bobcat?(which have recently been sited more around here in Illinois) Thanks TomWinke Responds:Tom, I have never seen anything like that in probably 4,000 trips to a tree stand in my life. So I really don't know. I would probably just climb up there and chase it off. They aren't aggressive, usually and certainly would rather run than face an angry deer hunter with a broadhead!
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John from IA asks:Do you ever have a problem with racoons crawling up the tree while your hunting? If so, what do you do about it. I have heard of this happening to guys before and I cant say as I would know what to do if I had one crawl up my tree.Winke Responds:John, I have spent many hundreds (thousands?) of hours in a tree and haven't had a raccoon climb up the tree. I guess I would probably just wait til it got within reach of my boot and send him flying! I have heard of owls swooping in for guys' hats before. Never had that happen either. I've had a few very curious squirrels, but they know to keep their distance. Not much can get you up in a tree - except gravity! Good luck. Bill
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Trevor from MO asks:Hello Bill, less of a question and more of a plea. I very recently posted a question concerning a number of things and included the city I live in. It is no secret that XXXXX is known for its deer but I had included that information more for your own knowledge than that of the world that seems to be extremely interested in the show and site at this time. You must be doing something right! Anyways, for what it is worth, if you are able to remove the name of the city from my question if you choose to post it for some reason that would be great but otherwise I don't imagine 10001 vs 1100 will make that much of a difference on the chunks of public land. Here it is not about sheer numbers but knowing how to locate the areas where the big bucks feel a little less uneasy and then putting in the work to get back into those areas. Thanks again, and can find out from my friend if he would like to send a picture of his 130+ from this last season. (European Mount Prepped...sorry)Winke Responds:Trevor, I removed the town from your question. Sure, please send the photos. I'll post them to the photo gallery. I quick summary of the hunt is also important.
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Trevor from MO asks:Hello Bill, This may be a rather loaded question set, but I was wondering: What do you for ticks during the pre and early season (protection vs tolerance...)? What do you think of the FOBS system(see starrflight.com) compared to blazer vanes etc? Very portable & budget minded climbing sticks(no screws in MO)? I realize that it says, Ask Winke a question, not Questions per say, but my friend and I are medical students and between classes, tests, etc. we still managed to get out and harvest a great tasting doe, a great mature 130+ class buck as well as putting a good shot on a 170+ perfect typical hero that still managed to vanish into thin air. I'm originally from Idaho and grew up archery hunting. Hunting record book elk in the riverbottoms of SE Idaho 5 minutes walk from my house is incredible but whitetail hunting in the Midwest is pretty amazing also. Any help is appreciated where time is always limited but opportunity is amazing. Thanks TrevorWinke Responds:Trevor, I am sure there are many solutions. I don't like spraying permanone so I generally will simply use duct tape to tape the bottom of my pants to my boots so that a tick can't get through there. Then I wear a belt and also tape the top of the pants to my shirt (which is tucked in). That usually keeps them off. I guess a little Permanone sprayed on the lower pants legs would also be good prevention. On the FOBS, I have heard good things about them, but have never tried them. I watched their demo videos. It all makes good sense. The only question I didn't immediately get answered is which rests it will work with. Portable and budget minded climbing sticks: well Muddy Outdoors (link on bottom of home page) is one of our sponsors and they do make some good sticks. Very portable and fast to climb with. I haven't priced sticks lately, but I'm sure they aren't cheap. However, if they are fast and convenient, that is definitely worth a few dollars more. You will use them for years. Congrats on your deer hunting success and good luck with your schooling.
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Jonathan from IL asks:How do you get to the answers to the questions asked to you or do you answer them only to the individuals that are asking? I would like to see some of the answers to the question that are posted in this section.Winke Responds:Jonathan, The answers should be right there. Just click the question and the answer should drop right down. You can then search other categories for questions that we have already filed away. The most recent ones (usually a couple days old) will be in the "Most Recent" folder. After a few days, we move them to one of the new folders based on category. Bill
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joey from MN asks:how did you get your start in the hunting industry? Did you start writing and then go from there or what?Winke Responds:Joey, That is right. I started out writing and then added photography and recently video. I tell everyone to stick with their strengths, go to college, take any good job out of college and then as they gain experience to look for ways to use those abilities in the hunting industry. I was a mechanical engineer for four years after college before I landed in this work. Good luck.
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Scott from OH asks:Hi Bill. Is that by any chance your friend Mike Sawyer on the cover of the Cabelas archery catalog? Kind'a looks like him. Awsome site. I check it every day. ScottWinke Responds:Scott, Thanks for your support. I doubt it. Brad Herndon, one of my photography partners, shot that cover. I am sure that Mike is not one of his models. Brad does a great job. Talk to ya soon. Bill
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Ben from IA asks:Hi I live around central Iowa and I was wondering who you use for a taxidermist or who you would recommend, and what archery shop you use.Winke Responds:Ben, I use Rick Whitaker (www.whitakerswildlife.com) north of Knoxville. He does a great job. I do all my own bow work and get my gear straight from the manufacturers, so I don't use a bow shop. A lot of my friends go to Buck Hollow (www.buckhollowsports.com) in the Pella area owned by Boyd Mathes. Boyd is a very nice guy that gives great service. Good luck. Bill
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Zach from ME asks:I was just wondering, if you could shoot a deer of your preference what would it be, besides the obvious fact of mature and old, but would you rather shoot a huge massy typical or just an absolute freak of a non typical or what would be the perfect characteristics of your dream deer. Thanks.Winke Responds:Zach, I think my dream buck would be a buck with a giant typical frame (5 X 5 probably) that has two big drop tines, one on each side, and several stickers and forks - maybe a couple of long tines pointing backwards from the G2s as long as I am at it. It would be about 23 to 24 inches wide. It would have the beauty of a symmettrical typical and the character of a gnarly non-typical all wrapped up in one giant deer. Now you've got me fired up. I'm going to be dreaming about that deer tonight when I go to sleep. Good luck.
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john from IA asks:Hi thanks for answering my last question, I know you are a very accomplished whitetail hunter, I guess I have always just wondered how many bucks do you have to your credit? sheds? Biggest buck? and what a trophy room of someone like you looks like. Pictures would be nice, if thats not possible I understand, Thanks and love the websiteWinke Responds:John, My deer are spread out in the shop, in the office, in the house, in Mom and Dad's house, in my sister's house. I gave some away to friends. So I don't really have a true trophy room. I have started to do European mounts of my bucks and those are pretty nice. I would say that I have about 30-some bucks mounted. Probably high 30s. The biggest one was the buck I shot in Colorado back in 2000 that I wrote about in my Favorite Hunts blog. That 6X5 grossed 191. I have encountered a few bigger, but that is the biggest I was able bring home. Thanks for asking. Have a great weekend.
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John Melchi from IL asks:Bill, I shot two nice P&Y Illinois bucks last October if you are looking for pics for the photo section of your website. Great blogging btw!Winke Responds:John, You can forward them to info@midwestwhitetail.com and provide a short segment on the hunt so the visitors can see how you got him. Thanks for your support. I appreciate it. Bill
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jacob from KY asks:i have been turkey hunting every saturday since the season has started and i have been calling with my mouth call, and my slate call... i was wondering why turkeys call only once sometimes?Winke Responds:Man, you are asking the wrong guy about turkeys. I have been spoiled. I rarely hunt turkeys, I just kind of go out and shoot them. I have probably shot 15 to 20 in my life, but if it gets hard I go home and come back later. Actually, Jacob, I really don't know. The only thing I can think of is to hunt later in the day if that is legal where you are. I have found that if I can get one fired up in the afternoon, I can almost always kill him. Sorry I don't know more about turkeys. Good luck.
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Kevin from NY asks:Bill, I love the website, to bad I found it only recently. I was reading your article on the old bucks keeping out the younger ones with potential and if you really need someone to shoot those old ones you don't want, I would be glad to come out there. Here in NY where I am at, those would be dear of a lifetime. Love the website can't wait till next season.Winke Responds:Kevin, Yes, you and a bunch of others who read that one! Actually, I have been letting my camera guys shoot them. It works great. They carry a bow or gun (depending on the season) to the tree and I carry my weapon. If a buck comes out that I want, they film me shooting it. If one comes out that it is mature but is not particularly big antlered, I let them shoot it if they want to. Those old bucks are great sport and great trophies and the guys really enjoy hunting them. The camera guys get about three opportunities to every one of mine because there are more cull bucks than high scoring ones. Needless to say, I have several guys that are excited about filming me! I would shoot those bucks too, but it is fun to see those guys enjoy the opportunity and we get a good segment for the show. We are spoiled here. There is no question. It has little to do with hunting skill and everything to dow with having lower hunting pressure giving these bucks a chance to get old.
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Keith from PA asks:Bill,I just want to say the website is great.I enjoy watching the hunts and tips you give.I hope someday to make out to Iowa or Illinios on a archery hunt.I also wanted to know if there will be any more knocked and loaded dvds? Thakns for your time.Winke Responds:Keith, I appreciate the support. Actually Realtree put out that DVD and I have not heard if there is going to be another one. We should have three hunts (two of my friend Mike Sawyer's hunts (Episode 19 and Episode 33 from Midwest Whitetail) from this past year and one from me (Episode 22). Those are supposed to be on the regular Monster Bucks videos. I would guess those will come out some time soon. Thanks again for your support. Best regards. Bill
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Austin from MI asks:Bill, Love the website and have really enjoyed all the episodes! Curious if you hunt other game such as turkey, upland birds,etc? If so would these ever be featured on the site?Winke Responds:Austin, Thanks for your support. Our focus is likely always going to be whitetails but some of the guys on the team want to film their turkey hunts so we will likely post a few of those this spring. Otherwise, nearly all our content will be about deer.
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Tyler from IA asks:Bill I was curious if you knew if you would need an intern for the summer yet. I know that you will need interns for the fall but unfortunately I will have to return back to school then. I live in Oskaloosa so traveling would not be much of an issue. I would be able to accommodate to when you would need me. If you are at all interested in accepting an intern for this summer please let me know so I can send you my resume. Thank you for your time Tyler Winkleman "Wink"Winke Responds:Tyler, I don't necessarily need a summer intern, but I do need at least one fall intern. In fact, we need interns for all the states in which we have will have shows this fall. Anyone out there interested in being an intern for Midwest Whitetail, please contact me through the site. Thanks for asking. Summer is just not all that busy, fall is crazy. Best regards.
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Sabin Adams from MN asks:Bill i recently purchased your book "Quest For The World Record" (you signed it which made my week so thank you very much) I finished it today. I really enjoyed it but i had a few questions. With Steve, Doug and Mark hunting Albia only and just trying to keep him alive they were passing on the other bucks and making them more mature. Plus they planted the food plot and had dozens of trail cameras. Also as of course you know Southern Iowa is a very good place to grow big whitetails. So my question is,during the hunt for the Lovstuen buck did they ever hunt any other bucks, and afterwards did they continue to have success with deer. My last question is, next year will midwestwhitetail still be going and when will it start the regular schedule again. Thank you for reading my letter even if it doesn't make it to the question section. Sabin AdamsWinke Responds:Sabin, They didn't hunt other bucks during the time they hunted this big deer. It was really their number one focus. During 2002 when the buck had the bad rack I think they did hunt other deer and may even have shot others, but their number one priority was to keep the buck from being shot by others so they stayed out of his core area. They are still deer hunters, but have not shot any truly big deer since the world record. Midwest Whitetail will still be showing next season. I think we will start in late August/early September in order to set the tone with a couple preparation shows with velvet footage and scouting, etc. We learned a lot last season so hopefully we can hit the ground running this season. Thanks for your interest.
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Shawn from PA asks:I am the organizer for our Wild Game Dinner every year for our church and community. This year will be our 4th sportsman's banquet and we have changed locations due to growth in attendance over the last couple of years. PA is a great state for this kind of event and we have tried to take advantage of this opportunity to give out the Gospel! I have never charged an admission fee, and we do our best to give out great door prizes and provide for a great meal as well. My question is in regards to sponsorship and donations. We seem to do well but most of our donations are "too normal" (treestands, firearms, etc.) I would really like to offer a hunt or fishing trip on a yearly basis. What information can you give me to see this vision become a reality? Also, if you know of any helpful tools that give great advice on Sportman's banquets I would grealty appreciate it! Thank you for your time and consideration. P.S. Love the Midwest Whitetail series! keep itWinke Responds:Shawn, Sounds like a great cause. All of the sportsman's banquets I have been to were done much like you are doing yours, by trial and error. I am not aware of a group that helps in this capacity, but I bet there are some that would be glad to share what they have learned. I will give some thought to this and see if I can think of one of them that is doing it particularly well. I spoke at one last spring in Eastern Iowa that was well organized and drew a big crowd. They didn't seem to be doing anything special other than using all the local channels to promote the event (radio, TV and newspaper). I would think that an outfitter would be the best place to find a donated hunting or fishing trip. They are already set up for that kind of thing and can utilize the positive PR that comes from sponsoring such a gift. I would think that you could find a good one at the upcoming Harrisburg show. Think of ways you can help them to promote their business in association with your event and I bet you can find a good match. Good luck. Bill
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Adam from PA asks:Bill, This isn’t so much a question, but I didn’t know how to contact you. First I love the show, and I think it’s a great opportunity and really revolutionary. I realize the show has exploded in popularity; I myself have got a bunch of people addicted to it, so congratulations. I love the personal spin you put on the show, and it’s very real feel, this is how hunting really is, “good, bad, and ugly”. It gives someone like me from PA a window into the current deer condition in the mid-west. I have read most of the forum, and see that many people want in on your show; I don’t need that, but wish to share a few things with you and hopefully contact you occasionally. First if you ever travel to the Eastern Sports and Outdoor show, my door is always open, I live 10 mins from its location (Harrisburg, Pa). Secondly, I just wanted to send my sympathy to the huge deer that got away from you this year. Here is why I got chills when I got home from Iowa this year and watched the show a wWinke Responds:Adam, Thanks. I really appreciate your support. We are planning to do a show just for PA this fall. Midwest Whitetail-PA. That is still in the forming stages, but it looks like it will happen. Obviously, we will be hunting a different age class of deer, but it should still be a lot of fun. Same format. I appreciate the invite. I may be heading there. I am trying to decide about this year. I know I should go, but this is also a busy time with writing and photography. I will have to decide soon. I have two booth invites so I have places to stand if I choose to do it. Also, my shed antler hunters (these guys hunt here every year) are showing up today (Friday). There first order of business is to see if they can find that buck dead. I sure hope they can't. I hope they find his sheds, but not his carcass. I'll keep everyone informed on what we find. Thanks for your support. Bill
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Jim from MI asks:Hi Bill. My name is Jim Shear and I met you at the Grand Rapids, MI Huntin' Time Expo. How refreshing to meet someone so down to earth even with all your success. You are very easy to talk to treated me like a friend instead of just another guy walking up to your booth. I appreciate that!! Anyway, I don't really have a question but just wanted you to know that I am retired and have a lot of time on my hands. So if you need any help with anything, let me know and I'll see what I can do. I love hunting whitetails and I know you have the passion I have. Good luck with this big project you have undertaken. I am really enjoying it.Winke Responds:Jim, Thanks for the comments and I am glad we got to meet at the GR show. I like guys with lots of time on their hands. I will figure out some way to take a little of that time off your hands. Actually, since we are coming out with a MI-only show this late summer/fall I can all the promotion I can get. As soon as the show is up and we get the bugs worked out, I want to find ways to spread the word. If you have any ideas, I'm all ears. Thanks again. Bill
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Mitch from MO asks:Hi Bill, I am a high school senior and am planning on pursuing a degree in wildlife biology in college. Do you know of any scholarships that are specifically for my area of interest?Winke Responds:No, I don't, unfortunately, but now you have given me something to think about. When Midwest Whitetail starts making some money, that would be a great thing for us to do. Good luck. Sorry I couldn't be of more help. Bill
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Greg from FL asks:Bill, Thanks so much for the show. I have watched it all season long and always anticipated the next show. I really appreciate that fact that you involve you children in your show. I am a youth pastor here in Florida and its so imporatant to me that Dads involve their children in their lives and do things such as hunting with them. Thank you also for sharing your faith with the world at Christmas time. I make a trip back to my home state of Ny each year to go deer hunting with my Dad, and it's because he took the time to introduce me to the woods when I was a kid. Ok here is my question. What is your proudest moment as a father, and your greatest experience in the woods. Thanks again look forward to next year.Winke Responds:Greg, Thanks for your support. Wow, proudest moment. I guess there have been quite a few. I was really impressed when Andrew shot the buck he killed during the youth season this year. He is only 8 and I was busy running the camera so he had to handle the gun all by himself. He handled it like a pro. I remember when our daughter shot a buck a couple of years ago. I was shaking so bad I thought I would fall out of the tree. Way worse buck fever than anything I have ever encountered with a bow or gun in my own hands. As a hunter, those moments stand out because like many of you, I see hunting as a step toward adulthood, maturity and responsibility. They are milestones. My own greatest experience was probably something simple. I love every day and every minute of it. Some people burn out from hunting every day, I burn in. I can't get enough of it. I soak up everything about it. God created this wonderfully complex world and I can't help but marvel at it every time I sit in a tree. I suppose that is a cop out. Greatest experience: I have shot some great bucks, but I still think sharing those moments with the kids was better.
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terry from IL asks:what kinds of cameras u suggest for stil wildlife photography starting now the seasons over to hunt with cameras i got a maxon fifty with a hundred meter lens but not close enough zoom u familiar with this an what doe u use an any tips on getting great still shots in the wild i would also send u some to maybe post on the site great season cant wait til the deer classic see u thereWinke Responds:Terry, I use a 200-400 mm lens for wildlife stuff, but a 300mm would also work if you can get in a ground blind fairly close to the game. Ground blinds are really the only way to do it effectively. Good luck. Bill
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jacob from KY asks:in episode 17 you said that was the 2nd biggest buck ever to come into bow range under your stand. My question is what was the biggest buck to ever come into bow range under you? And did you kill it?Winke Responds:Jacob, Actually it was the third biggest. I shot a giant 6 X 5 in eastern Colorado of all places that scores about 191 gross. I hit a buck high in 2004 that was a 225 buck. I saw him alive five days later and he looked fine, but the neighbors found him dead in early December. I am still not sure how he died. It is possible that I caused an infection, but I really have a hard time believing that because the arrow went through above his spine. That buck was just 4 1/2 years old and I had seen him 11 times during the previous two seasons. That was big time bummer. Bill
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Scott from MA asks:Bill, This is not a question. Just wanted to say the show is great and I'm sure time consuming. I appreciate someone sharing what they have with us less fortunate here in the Northeast w/low deer densities. It's amazing that you have a chance to see a 180" deer every time out or see 25 bucks in one field. I may see 5 bucks all year and get 1 or 2 opportunities depending on time spent in the wood. I've laid my eyes on a 180" once and that's an accomplishment in itself. Hopefully I get a crack at him or find a shed before he dies of old age. Hopefully time allows you to continue with the show. You put in your time and deserve the opportunities created. Any new of the one you stuck and didn't find? Did anyone else see him after you shot him? It happens to all of us at some point and always the big ones. That deer was phenomenal, hopefully you find a shed and give us an update. I would also like to see dressed body weights of the bucks you guysWinke Responds:Scott, Thanks for your support. There is no doubt that we have great deer hunting, but we don't show all the empty days either since there is really nothing to show. I had several days of hunting toward the end here where I have seen no deer or only a couple of them. You get to see the highlights when all the conditions are perfect and occassionally the lowlights when we screw up. But usually not all the boring days in between. However, I will never complain about the bad days because we do have awesome hunting. It evens out. One of my neighbors had encountered that giant buck before I shot him, but no one has seen him, for sure, since. I'm with you, I would love to find a shed off him. I'll keep everyone up to date on what we find. Thanks. Best regards. Bill
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Terry from NC asks:Just wanted to let you know i love the show and web site. Been a big fan of your writing for a long time. Also love bow hunting in Iowa when i get a tag. My question: Have you ever published a book on bow hunting? If so how can i get a copy? Thanks and keep up the good work.Winke Responds:Thanks. I appreciate the support. I have published a book, a long time ago, about deer hunting. My tactics have changed since I wrote that book. I guess the advice is still solid, but like anything else, when you gain more experience you realize how much you don't know. I thought I had it figured out back then. It is a useful book, nonetheless. Eventually, I'll have the shopping cart working on the site and I will sell a few there, but until then you can order it directly from me. It is called "Hunting Hard for Whitetail" and is a small format, leather bound book. If interested send $20 to Midwest Whitetail, 7042 219th Trail, Albia, IA 52531. I also wrote a book about the world record buck that shot not too far from our house. It is also $20 if interested. It is a decent read. Thanks for your interest. Hope you have a good new year. Bill
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Dennis from NC asks:Winke, A friend and myself are in the process of buying a business that produces products for the hunting industry.It is a great American made product that is of the highest quality. I will share more as the deal is completed. I would like some info on advertising with Midwest Whitetails and obtaining endorsements. This company has served the hunting industry for over 30 years and has done well with very little advertising. We hope to take it to the next level. Any advise would be appreciated, Dennis HartsellWinke Responds:Dennis, E-mail me at info@midwestwhitetail.com and I will be happy to answer any questions you may have. Thanks for your interest. Merry Christmas. Bill
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James from IA asks:Bill, In regard to the Roger Jarvis buck that according to the Boone & Crockett site that this buck has been delisted because it was a purchased buck from a breeder and shot in a high fence situation. Have you heard this? If so that's too bad...Winke Responds:James, I had not heard that and should have checked the web a bit more closely before adding the buck to the gallery. If B&C says that on their site, it is very likely true because they have much to lose if they start making false accusations. Bummer. Thanks for the update. Bill
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Joe from IL asks:Hey Bill, Good stuff, the web site really gets my blood flowing. The episodes get me jacked to get in a tree stand. I own 300 acres in west central il. my hit list consists of 1 maybe 2 shooters. How many acres are you hunting to have a list of 10 to 12? And how many farms? I assume more than 1. Could you give me an idea so I can set my expectations correctly? Thanks, I really enjoy your work. Merry Christmas to you and your familyWinke Responds:Joe, Thanks for your support. I hunt 1200 acres here. It is fairly spread out. The deer are coming from all parts of it. I would say that they tend to summer here, but not as many live here during the fall so it is easy to film a bunch of big deer in July and Aug, but harder to find them in Oct and Nov. Good luck. Bill
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Tyler from IA asks:Bill does Midwest Whitetail offer any internships for college students during the summer? Would Midwest Whitetail be interested in offering an internship for next summer?Winke Responds:I may be needing a few interns next fall, but it would be during the first semester. As you can imagine, producing a show twice a week semi-live is tough and having a few young, energetic guys around here running camera and working on the shows would definitely be a huge asset. I had one college student this year that interned, but he didn't cut any other classes so he was not here full-time. Please stay in touch with me in the spring and I'll have an official answer for you. Thanks for your interest. Bill
