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Posts by TR Michels

May Deer Management

May Deer Management

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 […]

April Deer Management

April Deer Management

April Deer Management by TR Michels article copyright The deer should be on their spring home ranges, looking for new green growth to gain back the fat they lost during the winter. This is when bucks begin growing their antlers, so if there is not enough forage for the deer to eat, you may want […]

February Deer Management

February Deer Management

February Deer Management by TR Michels article copyright White-tailed deer in the northern and mid-latitude states should be on their winter home ranges, looking for remaining/preferred food sources. In some areas there may still be some fawns getting bred. In the south they may still be on fall ranges, and still breeding. Coping with Communicable […]

Scouting for Elk

Scouting for Elk

Scouting for Elk by TR Michels article copyright Scouting is important for hunting any animal. Unfortunately most non-residents, and many residents, do not have the luxury or time to scout an area for elk. For those who cannot scout there are some ways to increase their success rates. The most obvious way is to use […]

Call Like A Duck

Call Like A Duck

Call Like A Duck by TR Michels article copyright As a guide, researcher, speaker and writer, I have always been interested in learning about the animals I hunt: how they react to the weather, which calls they use and why, and when and how they mate; so that I could use the information to become […]

Understanding Turkeys

Understanding Turkeys

Understanding Turkeys by TR Michels article copyright Turkey habits vary greatly by region and even local areas. Some Eastern and Merriam’s turkeys become accustomed to human activity and inhabit cities and towns, while a few miles away the mere sight of a car will send birds into cover. In some western areas birds may frequent […]

Pre-Late Breeding, Late Breeding and ...

Pre-Late Breeding, Late Breeding and Post Rut Phases

Pre-Late Breeding, Late Breeding and Post Rut Phases by TR Michels article copyright From early to late December the does that did not conceive earlier may come into a late estrus. Older unhealthy does and does fawns may come into estrus at this time. Both the dominant and subdominant bucks may start cruising, scraping and […]

Habitat Management and Fire

Habitat Management and Fire

Habitat Management and Fire by TR Michels article copyright Fire Suppression Fires, whether from natural causes such as lighting, or caused by humans (intentionally or unintentionally) on prairies and meadows, and in brushy areas and forests, have been part of the natural process of plant regeneration for centuries. Even naturally caused wildfires can be beneficial […]

Corn Country Bucks

Corn Country Bucks

Corn Country Bucks by TR Michels article copyright In much of North America white-tailed deer can be found in and near cornfields. In the Midwestern Corn Belt a majority of the whitetail’s habitat may be corn. With the large size of these fields, and with the lack of wooded areas whitetail deer, including trophy bucks, […]

Cashing In On Metro Bucks

Cashing In On Metro Bucks

Cashing In On Metro Bucks by TR Michels article copyright Whitetail hunters are learning that the place to hunt for trophies may not be wilderness areas or farms, but in and around major metropolitan areas. Many of the freeways surrounding these areas throughout the United States cut through old farm lots, agricultural fields, swamps ravines, […]