Bloggers at Born-to-Track News & Views relayed a story of two D&DH readers who read about the use of dogs -- german Daschunds to be exact -- to track deer. The hunters needed help tracking a deer after they'd exhausted all efforts to recover it and came up short this past weekend. After reading the D&DH story, they did some tracking of their own to locate one of the deer trackers cited in the article. They found Kevin Armstrong and his dog Karma.

What follows is Armstrong's report:

"We found this deer 87 hours after it was hit! The hunter hit the deer last Friday (10-24-08) and gave it up for lost on Saturday. Over the weekend he read about tracking dogs in Deer & Deer Hunting magazine. Through contact information in the magazine he managed to get the call narrowed down to me. Tuesday morning I left at daylight in a hard cold rain with little hope of recovering the deer nearly 4 days after the hit. The hunter was sure he had a body hit and he was willing to tag the deer if we found it. It took 2.5 hours of cold trailing, then area search and wind whiffing. Our adventure included an unplanned dip in the Clyde River but what the heck. Anyone crazy enough to take up a 4 day old trail is crazy enough to ... well. Long story short, we found him. Hunter, human tracker, and K9 tracker are all cold, wet, and tired. None of us could be happier!

Happy trails!

Kevin & Karma "

12-year-old Coryn Simonis, of Rosholt, Wisconsin, took her first deer recently -- a whitetail doe -- during Wisconsin's special antlerless deer hunt.

It's great to see so many young hunters having success and getting excited about deer hunting. Congrats from all of us at Deer & Deer Hunting, Coryn!

Indiana deer hunter Todd Chesnutt is a proud dad who wanted to share a photo of his daughter Madison's first buck. Todd writes that Madison is not only an accomplished deer hunter, but also a D&DH subscriber!

Great work, Madison - Congrats!

Derek Budsberg, 16, of Wisconsin shot this 160-class 11-pointer while
bow-hunting on Oct. 23. Due to a football injury, he was unable to hunt for
most of the early season. In fact, this was only his second time out hunting
this fall, and he had planned to shoot the first buck he saw that afternoon.
Imagine his surprise (and excitement!) when this monster strolled within 30
yards of his tree stand. The buck is a mainframe 5x5 with a split brow tine.
Congratulations on a great buck, Derek!

Emergency crews called to investigate a possible explosion at a business Wednesday arrived only to discover they were dealing with a disaster created by a four-legged creature.

The evidence: a trail of bloody hoofprints.

In the end, a Montgomery County sheriff's deputy had to shoot a charging eight-point buck, authorities said.

A worker next door to Trans Ionic Corp. on Timberloch Place called authorities shortly after 8 a.m. to report what sounded like an explosion, officials said.

A deputy who responded to the call reported that a window was broken and the office area significantly damaged.

The county fire marshal and agents with the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were called as a precaution. The Woodlands Fire Department, its hazardous material team and Conroe's hazmat team also arrived.

Fire marshal investigator Darren Hess said the scene had the initial appearance of a break-in, and as he and ATF officials checked for secondary explosive devices, they saw spatters of blood on the floor.

Once investigators determined there was no explosive device, sheriff's Sgt. Dwayne Finley and the firefighters went inside to look around.

"It was crazy," said Woodlands Deputy Fire Chief Wayne Walker. "We didn't know what was going on."

Walker said he told another firefighter he bet a deer was to blame and that he had noticed hoofprints in the flower beds in front of the building. When they went inside, they saw bloody tracks on the carpet.

"The deer had gone in every one of the offices and was tearing everything up," he said. "Chairs were knocked over and papers were everywhere."

As fire officials searched the building, Finley continued to check the offices in the back. When he entered the last office, the deer jumped up from behind a desk and tried to attack the deputy with his antlers, sheriff's officials said.

"The deer went berserk and tried to go through the window and charged at the sheriff's deputy," Walker said.

Finley shot the deer before the animal could harm him.

Source: Houston Chronicle

Check out an interactive presentation by the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (MN DNR) on the recent results of a lead bullet fragmentation study. One surprising finding was the distance of lead fragments from the entry point that certain types of rifle bullets leave. And how comparably safe shotgun slugs appear to be when compared with some rifle bullets.

http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/fish_wildlife/lead/index.htm

D&DH Contributor Tim Herald’s 8 year-old boy took this 9 pointer at about 50 yards last week in Kentucky. “We filmed his hunt and since the deer came in over an hour before dark, we got a great video hunt. He is on top of the world, and I was pretty excited for the little guy myself.”

Sportsmen Fight another Lawsuit by Antis’ Seeking to Ban Hunting and Trapping

(Columbus, Ohio) – The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation has filed to represent sportsmen in yet another lawsuit brought by animal activists seeking to eliminate hunting, fishing and trapping wherever endangered or threatened species exist. The Maine based case mirrors another case from the state that was settled last October, with the plaintiff groups sharing key personnel with the plaintiff from that case. In both, the plaintiffs attempted to stop trapping altogether in Maine due to the incidental taking of the federally protected Canada lynx.

On October 10, the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation (USSAF) asked a U.S. District Judge for permission to join a federal lawsuit brought by two anti hunting groups, the Wildlife Alliance of Maine and the Animal Welfare Institute against the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife.

This lawsuit comes on the heels of a similar case brought previously by a third anti hunting group, the Animal Protection Institute (API), which also sought to stop trapping.

USSAF’s Legal Defense Fund (U.S. SLDF), Fur Takers of America (FTA), the National Trappers’ Association (NTA), the Maine Trappers’ Association (MTA), Sportsman’s Alliance of Maine, and several individual sportsmen joined together to fight the API suit. As a result of those efforts and that of the State, the case was settled under an agreement that restricts trap sizes in areas where Canada lynx exist rather than close down trapping altogether.

“Unfortunately, these groups are joined at the hip with API. They share key personnel and use the same expert witnesses,” said Rob Sexton, USSAF vice president for government affairs. “You can’t just keep re-filing the same case whenever you’re unhappy with an outcome, especially after you agreed with the decision at the time. Yet that’s what they’re doing. The new case is nothing more than a second bite at the apple for them.”

Both the API case and the new one deal with serious legal issues regarding the possible use of the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to ban all hunting, trapping, and fishing whenever there is a possibility of incidentally taking an animal that falls under federal protection.

As Mr. Sexton indicates, “Once more the antis are striking at trapping, but like the API case, if they win here, the precedent will be set to attack all forms of hunting and fishing."

The USSAF has filed to join the case, along with the MTA, FTA, NTA, and individual sportsmen Dana Johnson, Sr., Donald Dudley, and Carl Guay.

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Legal Defense Fund is the nation’s only litigation force that exclusively represents sportsmen’s interests in the courts. It defends wildlife management and sportsmen’s rights in local, state and federal courts. The U.S. SLDF represents the interests of sportsmen and assists government lawyers who have little or no background in wildlife law.

The U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance Foundation is a national association of sportsmen and sportsmen’s organizations that protects and advances America’s heritage of hunting, fishing and trapping.

When a big buck is killed, it doesn't take long for news to travel around the Internet. While details aren't confirmed, information from the e-mail circulating said:

"This buck was killed somewhere in the MS delta near Rodney, MS on Sat p.m. He is 26" wide, and they are saying he should go around 180" - 190."

What an awesome buck. We will indeed be watching this story as more details unfold. In the meantime, check out these photos:

Frequent D&DH contributor Rev. Ezekiel Pipher bagged this mature 9-point buck while bow-hunting in Nebraska last week.

A Texas man is being tried in Wisconsin for allegedly releasing feral hogs
in Wisconsin as a way of protesting the state's strict nonresident deer
hunting regulations.

Robert Johnson, 55, of San Marcos, Texas, allegedly drove 31 wild hogs from
Texas and released them in Clark County, Wis., in 2002. Wisconsin, which had no feral hogs until then, now has resident populations in more than 30
counties.

A judge is hearing the case. Johnson faces possible fines up to $31,000.

For more on this story, click here.

In September, we showed you the happy results of Forrest Haunschild's first successful deer hunt. Well, the 12-year-old Wisconsin native has done it again. After earning his buck tag with that early season doe, Forrest bagged his first buck this past weekend. He shot the 18-inch wide 8-pointer after watching it walk within mere yards of his tree stand. One shot from his 55-pound BowTech Raptor was all it took. Congratulations once again, Forrest. What an awesome buck!

United States Sportsmen's Alliance along with its coalition partners,
including the California Outdoor Heritage Alliance (COHA), are disappointed
by the recent decision of California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s veto
Assembly Bills 815 and 2132.

AB 815 would have prevented a confusing mishmash of local regulations from
stifling hunters, anglers, and trappers. AB 2132 would have prohibited the
intentional removal of a dog’s collar, thus providing protection for
sportsmen and their hunting dogs.

In a veto message, Gov. Schwarzenegger indicated the bills were not a high
enough priority and was sent to him too late as the result of other
legislative issues.

While it is recognized that many other pieces of legislation were vetoed for
comparable reasons, there had been strong support for AB815 and AB2132.
USSA urges that these bills be introduced in the next legislative session,
passed, and, ultimately signed by the Governor. There is absolutely no
reason not to provide peace of mind to California sportsmen.

Submitted by Matt Harper, Contributing Editor

I went out last weekend to do a little scouting in some stands that I have not been to for a while.  The weekend was fairly warm, but Saturday morning the temperature was cool early at around 45 degrees. I had seen some turkeys, 'coons etc., and a young 6 pointer -- and was just about ready to get out of the stand to make a mock scrape when I heard a large animal coming toward me at a run.  I was surprised to see that it was a big-bodied buck.  I didn’t have much time but I knew he was a big, mature deer with good head gear.  I bleated stopping him at 25 yards quartering away.  He has great brows, a split G2 and a 3 inch kicker on the left main-beam.  He gross scores 153 and weighed approximately 285 lbs. on the hoof.  I took a quick look at the teeth and I think he is about 5-1/2 years old or older.  Definitely the earliest P&Y kill I have ever had.  By the way, really no reason to make a mock scrape considering there where 4 scrapes where I shot the buck within a 20 yard circumference.

Submitted by Tasha VerStrat

This weekend, for the 2008 youth hunt, Tranaya Palma of Jenison, Michigan -- accompanied with guardian James VerStrat -- shot her first deer with a .223 near Vestaberg, Michigan. She shot the deer on Saturday night at last light. The deer is a legal 10-point and is an approximately 150-class buck. Tranaya is 14 years old and attends Jenison Middle School. Now, along with being an excellent student and athlete she is also a proud Michigan youth hunter who is going to beg to go out again in November.  Tranaya's great success is in thanks to guardian James VerStrat, land owner Jon Vice and good friend Tim VanPollen. We are very proud of Tranaya, as now she holds the largest mount in the house.

Dan Schmidt Sr., that is. Dan's dad also lives in an "earn-a-buck" area of
Wisconsin, and he shot this doe with his crossbow on Saturday afternoon. Dan
Sr. took up crossbow hunting after having cancer surgery about eight years
ago. He has been hunting whitetails in Wisconsin each gun season since the
early 1950s.

Photos of what appears to be a tame buck living in the wild and hanging around a family and their dog -- even eating from their hand -- are circling around the Internet. We don't have any details on the deer or who took the photos, but it seems safe to assume either the deer is a pet of the family's, or escaped from a petting zoo or game farm.

D&DH Publisher Brad Rucks shot some very interesting footage of a yearling buck that still has its spots. Writes Rucks:

"Look at the coloration on this guy.  He’s got a white tinted butt and spots.  I saw him from the stand Sunday as well. He isn’t snow white but a dirty white and stands out among the other deer."

Click the file below to view the short video clip.

CDY_0120.AVI (892.43 KB)

Tim Laster of West Virginia must be getting the deer hunting "itch" -- as he dug out and sent us photos of a great buck he took last year. Writes Laster:

"I know I’m sending this late in the season but I shot this 145 pound (dressed out) 9-pointer in Preston County WV on the last day of the bow season (11/24/07) with my Parker bow using hammerhead expandable broadheads.  My guide was Floyd Massey of Massey Outfitters, Preston County WV."

Great deer, Tim!

ACORN PRODUCTION: HIT OR MISS THIS YEAR

Acorns are a critical winter food source for more than 90 forest wildlife species
 
Ohio's fall crop of acorns is variable this year, but will provide a vital food source for more than 90 forest wildlife species. Overall, white oak acorn production is similar to last year but varies by region, while red oak acorn production declined by 57 percent over 2007 figures, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife.
 
"Good white oak acorn production was observed on some wildlife areas in northern and southern Ohio, but white oak acorns were much less abundant across central Ohio." said Mike Reynolds, forest wildlife biologist with the division.  "Red oak acorn production declined statewide this year."
 
The Division of Wildlife is currently participating in a multi-state, on-going research project to estimate regional acorn production throughout the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states. Wildlife biologists hope to use the acorn production information gathered in the study to forecast wildlife harvest and reproductive success rates on both a local and regional basis.
 
Acorn production is cyclical, with some trees producing acorns nearly every year, while others rarely ever produce. This year, Division of Wildlife employees scanned the canopies of selected oak trees on 38 wildlife areas in the state to determine the percentage of trees that produced acorns and the relative size of the acorn crop.  Results varied regionally, but an average of 42 percent of white oak trees and 30 percent of red oak trees bore fruit this year.  Wildlife prefer white oak acorns, because red oak acorns contain a high amount of tannin and are bitter in taste.
 
Mast crop abundance can affect hunting plans as well. Hunters can expect to find deer, wild turkeys and squirrels concentrated near areas with heavy crops of white and chestnut oak acorns this fall.  In areas with poor acorn production, wildlife are more likely to be feeding around agricultural areas and forest edges.

At least one Kansas taxidermist could be extra busy this year. Yesterday, we blogged about Phil McAmis' son Zachary (age 13) taking a big Kansas whitetail on a spot-and-stalk bow-hunt. Today Phil let us know that he followed up that show by also taking a big whitetail. The McAmis double-header shaped up to be quite the season so far for this deer hunting family. Congrats, Phil.