Coming soon to deeranddeerhunting.com:

• Deer and Deer Hunting 2006 Collection CD
• Booners 2004-2007 Collection CD

Available soon at deeranddeerhunting.com

Someone sent us this video this morning.
Check it out!
Bambi_Scruffy.wmv (4 MB)

 

We received this email this morning from a long chain of emails. We haven't been able to confirm the location, but bhis buck is rumored to have been bow-killed in Louisiana and allegedly scores net 215-7/8 nontypical.

Dan's report for the week of 10/9:

The hunt:
The cold front finally made it to our neck of the woods on Monday. It went from blasted hot (80s) this past weekend to a much more deer hunting friendly low 40s this morning. Many reports from other staffers that deer are up and on their feet, but I wouldn't have known it. Have only seen a handful of deer during my short morning vigils. Bucks are starting to be more active, however, as rubs and scrapes are showing up in much more frequency. I just have a hunch that this year's rut is going to be one of those classic "throw the lightswitch on" type deals.

Big Bucks:
If you've been following the 2007 Big Buck Honor Roll link on the home page, you will notice that several more whoppers have hit the ground. I will be adding one shortly of a mystery buck that someone emailed to me in a long chain this morning. No details on the hunt or location, but check it out ...it is a very unique 32-pointer. I suspect it was shot here in Wisconsin, but I'm not positive quite yet. I do know that it was taken last week with bow and arrow.

Special Offers:
On the magazine front, we just put the finishing touches on a special 30th anniversary issue of D&DH. This will mail in about 3 weeks. It will also be available on newsstands. Some more exciting news is that we will be offering a limited edition print for the anniversary. And we are also unveiling a program where you can buy an entire year's worth of magazine on compact disc. this allows you to keep a library of D&DH articles on PDF form on your computer. Very handy for referencing all of your favorite articles. These items and more (including copies of the TV show) can be ordered already on our "Stuff Store." Check out the link at the top of the home page.

We have been receiving more and more reports of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) showing up in whitetails this past week in southern Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

Some reports out of Illinois have some farmers finding dead deer by the dozens. For example, one D&DH reader reported finding 30 dead deer on one 400-acre farm in southern Illinois. The disease has also hammered captive deer herds, with some operations losing 90 percent of their herds in a matter of days.

EHD, also known as "blue tongue," is contracted by biting midges, or gnats. The tiny flies transmit the virus from infected to uninfected animals as the deer eat or drink water at concentrated sources. Droughts compound the problem, because deer congregate at streams and ponds. In these cases, one sick deer can mean a death sentence for all the others, because the gnats will feed on the sick deer and then bite and infect the nearby healthy deer.

EHD is not a threat to humans, and the disease disappears at the first killing frost of the season, which wipes out the insect hosts.

10/3:
Many of you loyal D&DH-TV viewers have inquired about how to obtain Seasons 1 & 2 on DVD. The discs are now available for purchase on the F+W Publications Back Issue store. To order the discs (which can be ordered singly or together), log on to http://www.fwmagazines.com/.

More field reports on the way, keep checking back on this site.

10/1:
Warm weather has really shut us down here in northeast WI. Highs this week will be in the 70s, with lows in the 50s. Not good for seeing big deer on their feet. That being said, however, I saw my first bonafide "shooter" of the year on Saturday. He was in a bachelor group with two yearling bucks, which was quite odd. I only saw him for a minute at about 80 yards out. If I had to guess I'd say he was a 3-1/2 year old 10 pointer, but that was through brush and thicker cover. Still enough to get me excited. About 20 minutes later, I spied a "first" for me here in this part of WI ... a black bear. Actually had to do a double-take on that, because I have never seen a bear while bow-hunting. The bear was about the size of a black Lab, which my buddy says indicates it was probably a yearling. It was merely walking through the woods eating acorns, from what I can only assume. A trophy sighting in my book, no doubt!   

No big buck photos to share this morning, although we have heard of a 160-class buck being taken this weekend not far from Iola. Will post the pic as soon as I get it.  --Dan Schmidt

Welcome Cyber Stump Sitters! Our new "Rub Line" blog will keep you up to date on all the news, notes and hunt reports we run across on a daily basis here at Deer & Deer Hunting. Check back daily, and be sure to email this link to your hunting buddies!

Let the hunt begin!

Dan Schmidt
Editor, D&DH