Understanding Elk by TR Michels
article copyright
Understanding what type of habitat elk prefer; where they like to bed, what they like to eat, and what they use for escape cover, can help you locate productive areas to see, and hunt, more elk.
Habitat
Elk are grazing animals; therefore they are primarily a species of plains, open [...]

June Deer Management by TR Michels
article copyright
Whitetail bucks and does should be on their summer home ranges by June, and the does should be done fawning this month. It’s time to start working on habitat improvement: fertilizing, mowing, spraying, and clearing trails and paths.
Antler Growth
If you want to see more big-racked [...]

Spring Turkey Calling by TR Michels
article copyright
When I hear the first sounds of the turkeys in the spring, just before daylight, I tree yelp softly to get their attention. If there are hens roosted nearby they may respond with their own tree yelps, toms often gobble. If you aren’t fully awake yet the sound of [...]

Tracking And Stalking Deer by TR Michels
article copyright
I first picked up the deer tracks on the south side of a 120 acre wood lot. I was fairly sure the tracks were made by a buck because they were on a rub route, not on the more heavily traveled trail the does used. The rub route [...]

Duck Hunters by TR Michels
article copyright
Each fall as the cold descends upon the northern lands many species of waterfowl begin their migration south to warmer climates. Duck hunters also begin their yearly migration. They leave their everyday lives as farmers, laborers, clerks, doctors, lawyers, businessmen and the thousands of other jobs that occupy their lives [...]

Stand Placement for Whitetails by TR Michels
article copyright
A deer stand is where you choose to hunt, and can be any location where you wait for the animals. It could be near a tree, rock, or hilltop; or it could be a treestand, tripod or ground blind. The main purpose of a stand is to allow [...]

Whitetail Security Factors by TR Michels
article copyright
During my study of white-tailed deer I discovered that deer are affected by several meteorological conditions that I call Comfort Factors. Many of these same factors also affect the health of the deer and can be considered as Security Factors. Deer rely on their sense of smell, their hearing [...]

May Deer Management by TR Michels
article copyright
During May both bucks and does may begin to move to summer home ranges. Doe’s will begin looking for fawning locations.
Herd Health and Social Structure
More and more hunters are interested in hunting for trophy animals. But, because State game managers are often interested in providing a large, [...]