Guide to Hunting White-tailed Deer



If you’re new to deer hunting then the “Guide to Successful Deer Hunting” is the publication you need. The Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) recently announced the publication of its newest book, QDMA’s Guide to Successful Deer Hunting, available as an e-book for purchase or as a free graduation gift to all who complete their hunting safety course online at Hunter-Ed.com, providers of Internet hunting safety courses for more than 45 states.

“Many of Hunter-Ed.com’s students were asking for more information on how to hunt deer, and we were asked to contribute materials that could help them,” said QDMA Director of Communications Lindsay Thomas Jr. “Our staff responded by producing an entirely new and complete guide to deer hunting that will be provided free to all Hunter-Ed.com graduates across the country. They’re certified safe hunters now, and our e-book is designed to help get them into the woods and on a path toward a lifetime of successful deer hunting.”

Guide to Deer Hunting

Safety First, then Successful Deer Hunting

“When it comes to the ‘what’s next’ beyond basic hunter education, Kalkomey relies heavily on partners such as QDMA,” said Mitch Strobl, Vice President of Business Development for Kalkomey, the parent company of Hunter-Ed.com. “We want our students to have access to the best resources out there, and this new e-book is a prime example of just that. Through strategic partnerships, we’re able to help our students along from initial interest to total participation, thus helping achieve our recruitment, retention and reactivation (R3) goals.”

QDMA’s Guide to Successful Deer Hunting is 267 pages long and includes 15 chapters written by eight different contributors, all QDMA staff members. Major subjects are expanded upon in 18 embedded videos produced exclusively for the project by Primos Hunting. Dozens of full color photos also help illustrate the chapters, and links to external resources and articles allow readers to explore every topic in greater depth as desired.


Deer Hunting Videos Increase Success

“Will Primos and his team produced a fantastic series of supporting videos for the e-book,” said Hank Forester, QDMA’s Hunting Heritage Programs Manager. “The videos cover some of the more complex subjects, like choosing a rifle, using deer calls, rattling for deer and they really round out the usefulness and interactivity of the project.

For those readers who don’t have someone to teach them how to hunt or take them to the woods, our e-book will be a terrific help.” Whether new to deer hunting or just looking for some new ideas, this looks to be a great book!


Texas Quail Hunting Outlook Great in Rolling Plains, South Texas

Bobwhite quail: You either got ’em or you don’t. It’s that simple. Fortunately, the Rolling Plains and South Texas Plains of Texas have them this year!

Quail hunting in Texas comes and goes with bird populations. Although having areas where suitable habitat exist is paramount, precipitation plays a key role in the annual boom-bust cycle when it comes to annual quail production, especially in semi-arid regions such as the Rolling Plains and South Texas.

Quail Population Sets Record in Rolling Plains

Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) biologists conduct quail surveys in Texas each year in late summer. The census has been done since 1978, but it was this year that produced the highest average in the Rolling Plains of Texas, 50.2 birds per survey line.

Texas Rolling Plains Quail Population

TPWD personnel count birds by driving 20 mile routes in early morning, when bobwhite quail are most visible. The long term average for the Rolling Plains Region is 20.16, and the previous record was 49.25, in 1987. So it’s been a while, but good news for quail and quail hunters.

But it always wasn’t so rosy. During an extended drought, the Rolling Plains quail survey counted a record low of 2.91 birds per census line in 2013. That’s just a few years ago! Fast-forward to today, after two growing seasons that provided excellent rainfall, and quail numbers in the Rolling Plains have gone from worst to first. Quail are a boom-bust species, so the boom is on.

South Texas Quail Hunting Still Good

Most of South Texas had great quail hunting last season with good outings reported right up to the end of the season. Spring-summer nesting was reported across the region but field observations of broods were mixed this year. Weather conditions were variable along with nesting and brooding activity in the later summer months.

Despite differences in production, the sheer number of quail surviving from last year coupled with even minimal reproduction will likely make for an another good quail year. The average number of bobwhites observed per route was 14 compared to 21 last year. This suggests a slightly below average hunting season for South Texas as a whole, but I wouldn’t sit at home.

The Chaparral and the Daughtrey Wildlife Management Areas provide public quail hunting opportunities. Staff surveys on the Chaparral WMA recorded above average numbers of bobwhite on the area again this year. Buy an APH permit and go!

Texas Quail: Hunting for Birds Elsewhere


TPWD surveys indicate that bobwhite numbers have fallen below average in the Gulf Prairies where only 3.8 bobwhites were observed per route in 2016 compared to 14.9 last year. Although there was good carryover of adult birds along the coast, bobwhite nesting was likely adversely affected by too much rainfall in this region.

Despite a lower estimated population in this region, field reports suggest there are huntable populations of quail on well-drained sites. Hunters should focus on the central and lower coast in native prairie habitats.

The High Plains and Edwards Plateau of Texas reported a general, continued increase quail numbers. Although there are certainly areas within each region of Texas where some quail hunting opportunity remains, this survey is not designed to detect changes in localized populations, especially in fragmented landscapes.

Buy QDMA’s Guide to Successful Deer Hunting

The Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) has release a book that helps teach new hunters how to hunt white-tailed deer. The QDMA’s book, Guide to Successful Deer Hunting, is available for purchase on Amazon, and you can download and read it on any device using the free Kindle app.

Deer Hunting Book Contributors

Contributors to QDMA’s Guide to Successful Deer Hunting include staff members Kip Adams, Director of Education & Outreach; Hank Forester, Hunting Heritage Programs Manager; Ryan Furrer, Senior Regional Director and Field Supervisor; Brian Grossman, Communications Manager; Joe Hamilton, Founder and Senior Advisor; Matt Ross, Certification Programs Manager; Lindsay Thomas Jr., Director of Communications; and Brian Towe, Wildlife Cooperative Coordinator.


QDMA’s Guide to Successful Deer Hunting is the first e-book in QDMA’s library. Previously, QDMA published Deer Cameras: The Science of Scouting and also Quality Food Plots, the highest selling book on wildlife food plots ever published, in addition to other educational booklets, maps and posters. Visit QDMA’s online store for more information on these other titles.

Gifting the e-book Guide to Successful Deer Hunting to new or aspiring hunters is easy through Amazon. All you need is the e-mail address of the gift recipient.

About Quality Deer Management Association

QDMA is dedicated to ensuring the future of white-tailed deer, wildlife habitat and our hunting heritage. Founded in 1988, QDMA is a national nonprofit wildlife conservation organization with more than 60,000 members in all 50 states and Canada. To learn more about QDMA and why it is the future of deer hunting, call 800-209-3337 or visit the QDMA web site. QDMA can also be found on Facebook and Twitter.

Mississippi Deer Hunting: Archery Season Opens Soon!

Bowhunters that have been awaiting the start of a deer hunting season in Mississippi do not have to wait much longer. The opening of deer archery season is October 1 for the Hill and Delta Zones and October 15 for the Southeast Zone. Longbows, recurves, compound bows, and crossbows are all still considered legal archery equipment and can be used during all hunting seasons for deer.

In addition, there is no minimum or maximum draw weight for bows and crossbows, no minimum arrow length, and fixed or mechanical broadheads may be used during the archery deer hunting season. The development of improved hunting equipment over the years has opening the door to fewer and fewer equipment restrictions; archery equipment is better than ever.

Whitetail Deer Hunting

White-tailed deer populations look healthy across Mississippi according to state wildlife officials, but deer hunting could be tough during the early season with the abundance of food out there right now. Biologists are reporting healthy mast crops, so putting a tag on a buck will likely mean finding where he’s feeding and setting up in the area.

“The acorn and persimmon crops look good on all the trees I’ve observed, now we just need some cooler temperatures to get deer on their feet,” says William McKinley, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks (MDWFP) Biologist. “The relatively mild, wet summer has produced some great antlers and a prolific fawn crop. Bowhunters should have a great season, and a good time to pattern a pre-rut, mature buck is the first week of archery season.”

It’s important to remember that all Wildlife Management Area (WMA) hunters in Mississippi are required to wear a full-body harness (fall-arrest system) while climbing a tree, installing a tree stand that uses climbing aids, or while hunting from a tree stand on a WMA.

While required on Mississippi WMAs, it’s a good idea for all hunters to wear and know how to properly use a full-body harness while hunting from an elevated position. Take time before your hunt to be sure you have all the proper safety equipment, and remember that the most important part of the hunt is making it home.

National Hunting and Fishing Day in Texas

Today is National Hunting and Fishing Day in Texas! In recognition of the 45th annual observance of the conservation successes of hunters and anglers, Gov. Greg Abbott has proclaimed Saturday, Sept. 24, as National Hunting and Fishing Day in Texas.

“Hunting and fishing are family traditions in Texas that have been passed down through generations. I am proud that, just last year, we forever enshrined the right to hunt and fish in the Texas Constitution,” said Gov. Abbott. “As we celebrate Hunting and Fishing Day, I encourage all Texans to learn more about ways we can continue to conserve our natural resources so that future generations can protect our connection with the land.”

National Hunting and Fishing Day in Texas

National Hunting and Fishing Day in Texas

It has been more than a century since America’s first environmentalists — hunters and anglers — established the conservation tradition in our nation. These early environmentalists warned that the population growth and industrial development that offered prosperity for our nation also created serious threats to the future of our wildlife resources.

Hunters and anglers fought for the laws and regulations that created a new system of wildlife management that would rescue many species of wildlife from near extinction and would set aside millions of acres of important habitat to help ensure future wildlife abundance.

In Texas, efforts by anglers helped create protection of red drum and other aquatic resources from commercial over-harvest, as well as conservation of aquatic habitat such as seagrasses and the control of invasive exotic aquatic vegetation.

National Hunting and Fishing Day, formalized by Congress in 1971, was created by the National Shooting Sports Foundation to celebrate conservation successes of hunters and anglers. From shopping center exhibits to statewide expos, millions of citizens learned to appreciate America’s sportsman-based system of conservation funding. That system now generates more than $1.7 billion per year, benefiting all who appreciate wildlife and wild places.

Review: Dominant Buck Bomb Blows it Up!

Looking for that “secret weapon” when it comes to white-tailed deer hunting? There is no silver bullet for tagging a big, mature buck each every year. The best thing any hunter can do is implement good deer management practices on larger acreage. Not always possible… I know.

We are often faced with limited hunting space and either young or well-educated bucks. Your best bet at tagging a big ole whitetail is to shake things up. Throw a Dominant Buck Bomb in his back door and wait for this territorial beast to head your direction!

Dominant Buck Bomb Attracts Bucks

Nothing raises the ire of a prime whitetail buck throughout the pre-rut period like the smell of another mature buck. He’s worked hard rubbing and scraping out his territory and has lofty plans to breed every doe in the neighborhood. Antlered intruders are not welcome.

His body chemistry has changed dramatically over the past few weeks, as has his gregarious outlook toward other males. The idea of another mature buck challenging claim to his domain has become intolerable, so he patrols his rubs and scrapes, looking for clues like a psychopathic ex-boyfriend on steroids.

Knowledgeable hunters understand that they can capitalize on a dominant buck’s aggression throughout the pre-rut and rutting periods, and deploy a variety of tactics intended to bring that big boy running. Rattling and grunting can infuriate him by sound. Buck decoys do it by sight. Dominant buck lures do it by smell.

Dominant Buck Bomb Scent a Winner

Wildgame Innovations’ NEW Dominant Buck Bomb is a versatile aerosol spray product containing 6.5 ounces of fresh, 100% mature buck urine that can be sprayed in bursts as a highly-effective mock scrape creator, scrape enhancer, or a crafty aromatic addition to a buck decoy. The Dominant Buck Bomb can also be set to deploy completely and fog an entire area, creating a downwind scent trail that leads big bucks right back to a waiting hunter’s shooting lane. And speaking of downwind, Wildgame Innovations’ Dominant Buck Bomb excels as an intriguing natural cover scent to protect hunters from keen noses that show up in that worst possible location.

But this is only part of the story. Wildgame Innovations’ new Dominant Buck Bomb is UV-enhanced with Glo-Cote. Instead of solely appealing to a deer’s nose, the Dominant Buck Bomb provides a visual queue he can see, too.

The science of deer attraction changed dramatically in 2014 when Wildgame Innovations introduced Glo-Cote, an ultraviolet additive emitting a 360-degree visual queue that deer can see day and night.

Exhaustive field testing has shown that food plots, bait stations, mineral licks and other attractant sites are 180 times more likely to be discovered by animals when treated with Glo-Cote. Additionally, these treated sites are typically discovered and frequented within 24 hours of application and receive significantly greater traffic and usage – both day and night – when compared to untreated sites and products.

Dominant Buck Bomb Specs

  • Patented fog nozzle allows for burst or continuous spray
  • 6.5 oz. size means multi-hunt capable
  • Buck Urine is perfect for pre & post rut action
  • Glo-Cote UV enhancement creates visual attraction
  • Perfectly suited for attraction, cover scent, scrape enhancer or scrape creation
  • Entices dominant bucks in the area
  • MSRP: $9.99

Drop the Bomb

Throughout most of the deer hunting season, nothing gets a boss buck’s attention faster or holds it longer than evidence of another mature buck in his territory. Catch the attention of both his nose and his eyes. The all-new Dominant Buck Bomb is 100% mature buck urine enhanced with Wildgame Innovations’ proprietary Glo-Cote technology, formulated to attract dominant whitetail bucks to your hunting location with twice the appeal.

Synthetic Buck Bomb Doe-in-Estrus P-Review

The very new Synthetic Doe-in-Estrus scent bomb from The Buck Bomb can entice even the most skittish whitetail buck to come in for a closer look. As a matter of fact, this product could be just how you attract more bucks, and may close the distance on the buck you ultimately tag this hunting season!

Doe-in-Estrus Synthetic

The new Doe-in-Estrus synthetic scent is specially formulated to maintain authentic estrus doe smell while complying with current regulations in some states banning natural scents and urines.

Buck Bomb Doe in Estrus Reviewed

Doe-in-Estrus works great as both an attractant and cover scent. When sprayed, the scent particles drift downwind, attaching to leaves, trees, brush and other vegetation for a long lasting scent trail and a natural scent barrier between hunters and deer.

Review the Doe-in-Estrus Buck Bomb Specs

The Buck Bomb Synthetic Doe-in-Estrus comes in a 6.65-oz. can that can be sprayed intermittently, or locked down to fog the entire area. This is for those times when you are going blind and hope to bring that big boy in from far down range.

The Buck Bomb Synthetic Doe-in-Estrus lure sells for a suggested retail price of $9.99. They are not exactly giving it away, but if it can bring a buck to within range for a harvest shot, then it sounds mighty inexpensive. To learn more about other great deer hunting products from the Buck Bomb, visit your local retailer or The Buck Bomb website.

McFaddin NWR Acreage, Duck Hunting Increases

McFaddin National Wildife Refuge (NWR) and other public lands are getting additional acreage as a result of money from duck stamp purchases. The Migratory Bird Conservation Commission has approved $33.2 million in funding for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and its partners to purchase, lease or otherwise conserve more than 81,000 acres of wetland and associated upland habitats for waterfowl, shorebirds and other birds across the United States.

“The first Migratory Bird Treaty was signed 100 years ago as part of our commitment to protect and conserve North America’s treasured migratory bird species,” said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Dan Ashe. “The funding approved by the Migratory Bird Conservation Commission is evidence that this commitment endures today as strongly as ever.”

Of the total funds approved by the commission, $21.5 million will be provided through North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) grants to conserve more than 68,000 acres of wetlands and adjoining areas in 19 states. NAWCA is the only federal grant program dedicated to the conservation of wetland habitats for migratory birds. For a complete list of projects funded, go here.

To date, NAWCA funds have advanced conservation of 33.5 million acres of wetland habitats and their wildlife in all 50 states and Canada, engaging more than 5,600 partners in more than 2,600 projects. NAWCA grants are funded through federal appropriations as well as fines, penalties and forfeitures collected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act; from federal fuel excise taxes on small gasoline engines, as directed by the Federal Aid in Sport Fish Restoration Act; and from interest accrued on Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration Act funds. Grants made through this program require matching investments. The projects approved today will leverage an additional $51.7 million in matching funds.

The commission also approved expenditure of $11.7 million from the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund to conserve more than 13,000 additional acres at four national wildlife refuges – McFaddin in Texas, Felsenthal in Arkansas, Lower Hatchie in Tennessee and Turnbull in Washington. The funds were raised largely through the sale of Federal Migratory Bird Hunting and Conservation Stamps (Duck Stamps), which help provide habitat for wildlife and increased opportunities for refuge visitors who hunt, bird-watch, photograph and view wildlife.

“The sale of Duck Stamps continues to play a pivotal role in conserving our nation’s wildlife,” said Ashe. “Although required by those goose and duck hunting as an annual license, these stamps are also voluntarily purchased by birders, outdoor enthusiasts and fans of the National Wildlife Refuge System who understand the value of preserving some of the most diverse and important wildlife habitats in our nation. The money generated through Duck Stamp sales has been essential in helping maintain and grow this irreplaceable network that also provides all Americans with opportunities to get outside and experience nature.

For every dollar spent on federal Duck Stamps, 98 cents goes toward the acquisition or lease of habitat for the National Wildlife Refuge System. Since 1934, the Federal Duck Stamp Program and Migratory Bird Conservation Fund have provided more than $800 million to acquire more than 5.7 million acres for the National Wildlife Refuge System. Good news for Texas duck hunters and especially McFaddin NWR.

CWD in Texas Panhandle Mule Deer: Meetings Scheduled

Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) was found in a hunter-harvested mule deer last year in the Texas Panhandle. The next step is monitoring to determine the spread within the region. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), in partnership with Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) and Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, has set two informational meetings to help educate landowners, hunters and the public in the Texas Panhandle about CWD management.

Meetings on CWD Regulations

CWD meetings are open to the public and will be held in:

  • Dalhart – Wednesday, Sept. 28, 7 p.m., Dallam County Courthouse, District Courtroom, 501 Denver Ave.
  • Amarillo – Thursday, Sept. 29, 7 p.m., Amarillo Public Library (Downtown Branch), 413 E 4th Ave.

During the meetings, aspects of new CWD regulations will be thoroughly explained including the establishment of CWD zones, mandatory sampling of hunter-harvested deer in the CWD zones and restriction of permitted deer movements to and from the CWD zones.

CWD Rules in Texas Panhandle

New rules banning importation of certain deer and elk carcass parts from states where the disease has been detected, as well as the movement of the same carcass parts from CWD zones within Texas, will also be covered.

The new rules developed by TPWD and TAHC are part of the state’s comprehensive CWD management plan to determine the prevalence and geographic extent of the disease and to contain the disease to the areas where it is known to exist.

For more information about CWD, CWD management and new CWD regulations.

Texas Public Hunt Drawings: Deer Deadlines Soon

If you are interested in the Texas public hunting drawings for white-tailed deer do not waste any time. The application deadlines for deer hunts on public lands will be here soon. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department’s (TPWD) Drawn Hunts for deer categories have until midnight Tuesday, September 20, to apply.

Texas Public Deer Hunting Costs

The Drawn Hunts program offers economical deer hunting opportunities across Texas, including several Youth-Only hunt categories. Application fees for public deer permits are $3 or $10 depending on the hunt category. Selected adults hunters may also need to pay a Special Permit fee of $80 for regular hunts and $130 for extended deer hunts.

Some categories, such as the Youth-Only deer hunts, require no application fees or permit fees, so these are good ways to get your kids a big outdoor experience for a only a little money.

Texas Deer Hunting

Application Deadlines for Public Hunts

It’s mid-September so there is no time to waste! Among the popular drawn hunt categories closing September 20 include: E-Postcard-Youth Deer Antlerless/Spike; Gun Deer — Antlerless/Spike; Gun Deer — Either Sex; Gun Deer – Management; Youth Only Gun Deer — Either Sex; and Youth Only Gun Deer – Management.

Hunters can apply up to 11:59 p.m. Central Time on the application deadline and after the application is submitted, and they can check their drawing status online at any time.

How to Apply for Draw Hunts in Texas

All hunt opportunities can be viewed by category or by hunting land/area using an interactive map. The entire process is handled online — from browsing opportunities, to permit applications, fee payments and deer permit issuance. To participate, applicants will of course need internet access, an email address and a credit or debit card.

It also helps to have a current hunting license. The Customer ID number from the applicant’s hunting or fishing license is one of the easy ways to access the system, but you do not need a current hunting license to apply.

For more information about Texas public hunt drawings and to get started in the application process visit the TPWD web site. They have all of the deer hunts broken out by hunt type, method of take and by site/area.