Episode 238 - 2024 Buck Forecast - MORE GIANTS SHOT THIS YEAR

Chasing Giants with Don Higgins

In this episode, Don Higgins discusses his buck forecast for the year based on his trail camera observations across three different states. He notes that the antler growth this year has been fantastic, likely due to the mild winter and early spring. He predicts that there will be some giants killed, with bucks over 200 inches and even over 220 inches being harvested. However, he also highlights the issue of herd management and the lack of older age class bucks in the population. Don emphasizes the importance of being good stewards of the resource and managing the deer population to prevent crop damage and maintain good relationships with neighbors. In this conversation, Don and Terry discuss various topics related to deer hunting. They talk about the mindset of hunters who consistently shoot young bucks instead of waiting for a mature buck. They also discuss the use of cell cameras and how changing the upload frequency can affect deer behavior. The conversation touches on the positive changes that can occur when following a consulting plan for deer management. They also discuss the challenges of planting food plots and the importance of timing and weather conditions. The conversation concludes with a discussion on using deer decoys and how often to hunt a mature buck from the same stand.