In the fall of 2020, a 230-inch whitetail was taken at Illinois Connection Outfitters that was likely one of the largest if not the largest buck taken in the state of Illinois during the 2020 deer season. Doug Benefield, the owner of Illinois Connection, said they had...

Cable TV and then satellite TV changed everything in the 1990's and then exploded in the 2000's. Now it's run its course and YouTube has taken over the hunting video scene. If you have been living under a rock, you maybe don't realize that there are a LOT of people...

By Bernie Barringer I found my first shed antler--a six-point right side--in 1979 while setting raccoon traps on a public hunting area in Northern Iowa. I was fascinated by what I found, partly because I had never seen a giant buck like that in person, and partly...

Harsh weather of the late season can cause hunters to stay at home. That’s a shame because late season weather fronts can be golden for the hunter who is willing to brave the conditions. By Bernie Barringer When I was young I was fortunate to have a neighbor who was a...

These ten destinations offer great public land hunting and a chance to bring home something to make your taxidermist happy. By Bernie Barringer Everyone who travels to hunt whitetails seems to have a favorite place to go. I’ve bowhunted whitetails in more than a dozen...

Shooting at a moving deer with a bow can be a big mistake, but taking the risk of trying to stop him can be just as risky. Here are some tips to bring him to a halt without alarm. By Bernie Barringer If you watch outdoor TV, you have seen it a hundred times. The show...

Editor's Note: This came from Dennis Dunn, who is most probably the most accomplished barebow archery hunter ever to walk this earth. He was the first to bag all 29 North American big game species with a bare bow (no sights or aiming devices.) He is now in his 80's...

By Bernie Barringer My first bowhunting road trip was a complete bust. In my defense, it took place more than 20 years ago, so I didn’t have the advantage of Google Earth, a scouting camera or looking at the weather on my smartphone. I basically went in blind, and my...

There's a big difference between good taxidermy and great taxidermy. there's also a category of taxidermy that's not so good, and then there's a level that makes you say, "Why would anyone do that with their deer!" The following photos are dedicated to that category....