Chasing Giants with Don Higgins

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Chasing Giants with Don Higgins Podcast

Chronicling the constant pursuit of World Class Whitetails. Follow an experienced land manager, consultant, writer, and hunting industry expert throughout the year as he finds, targets, and hunts world class whitetail bucks. Hunting tips and tricks that can be used no matter your skill set, property, or goals this hunting season.

  1. 2 DAYS AGO

    Episode #240 - If Don Was DNR, How He Would Make Illinois Better Than Iowa

    In this episode of the Chasing Giants podcast, hosts Terry and Don discuss the upcoming deer hunting season, expressing concerns about EHD (Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease) affecting deer health. They share insights on food plot management, innovations in feeding equipment, and the launch of their new show, Chasing Giants TV, which aims to showcase diverse hunting styles and perspectives. Personal stories about family values and community support are highlighted, along with listener questions addressing deer management strategies and state DNR regulations. The episode concludes with reflections on the importance of age structure in deer populations and the challenges faced by DNR agencies.

    59 min

  2. 16 SEPT

    Episode #239 - EHD Is Closing in on Don's Farm!

    Summary In this episode of the Chasing Giants podcast, hosts Terry and Don discuss various topics related to hunting, including the launch of their new series, the impact of EHD on deer populations, the use of cell cameras, and the importance of community engagement in hunting. They also address neighbor relations, food plot management, and the concept of rut funnels. The episode concludes with a discussion on pawpaw trees and their potential as a food source for deer.

    1h 16m

  3. 8 SEPT

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

    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.

    1h 0m

  4. 1 SEPT

    Episode 237 - Cell Camera Spooking Mature Deer? Don Thinks Maybe So....

    In this episode, Terry and Don discuss the weather and the condition of their food plots. They address concerns about seed germination in dry conditions and offer advice on when to replant. They also discuss the possibility of deer detecting cell cameras and share their observations on the topic. The conversation then transitions to the topic of moving trail cameras and the importance of dictating deer movement on your property. They also answer questions about using Deadly Dozen as a cover crop in a garden and determining summer and fall ranges for deer. In this conversation, Don and Terry discuss various topics related to deer hunting. They talk about the role of food in late season hunting and how deer gravitate towards bedding cover and prime food sources. They also discuss the use of mock scrapes and the best time to switch trail cameras to mock scrapes. They touch on the idea of patterning bucks and the challenges of hunting in areas with steep terrain. They also mention the use of mulch as a pathway to a tree stand and the concept of venting or pulling air out of a blind. The conversation concludes with a discussion on when it's too late to scout for the right tree to kill a target buck.

    1h 15m

  5. 25 AUG

    Episode #236 - Antler Genetics Follow Mother or Father?

    In this episode, Don and Terry discuss the early shedding of antlers and the potential impact on the rut and hunting seasons. They also talk about the effects of an early fall on bow hunting and gun hunting in Illinois. The conversation touches on topics such as weather, deer movement, crop harvest, and hunting strategies. In this conversation, Don and Terry discuss various topics related to deer hunting. They talk about the early season behavior of bucks, the movement of mature bucks during late summer, the influence of genetics on antler growth, and the importance of finding hunting properties with minimal human intrusion. They also mention the upcoming Shipshewana event and the auction of Don's books to support Lester's Feet. early shedding, antlers, rut, hunting seasons, early fall, bow hunting, gun hunting, Illinois, weather, deer movement, crop harvest, hunting strategies, deer hunting, bucks, scraping, velvet shedding, fall range, camera history, mature bucks, summer range, genetics, antler growth, permission farms, human intrusion, Shipshewana event, auction, Lester's Feet

    1h 14m

  6. 18 AUG

    Episode #235 - Is EHD Back in 2024? Bucks Dead in Indiana!

    In this episode, Don and Terry discuss Don's birthday, recent rain in the forecast, planting food plots, the early fall season, EHD concerns, and customer service experiences. They also answer questions about terminating and replanting a clover plot and reviving a drought-affected clover and chicory plot. In this part of the conversation, the hosts address some technical difficulties with the Sunday night prayer time segment and announce that it will be included at the end of each episode. They also discuss the importance of balancing obsession with hunting and other priorities in life. Don shares his experience of gaining knowledge and improving his hunting skills by prioritizing family and other aspects of life. They also discuss the challenges of gaining access to properties and the importance of understanding a buck's rut range. The hosts conclude by discussing the upcoming weather forecast and their plans for the week. keywords #birthday, #rain #forecast, #foodplot, early fall, #EHD, customer service, terminating plot, replanting, #clover, drought, Sunday night #prayer time, technical difficulties, #obsession, #hunting, priorities, knowledge, access to properties, #rut range, weather forecast, plans

    1h 24m

  7. 12 AUG

    Episode #234 - Don Walks Away from Chasing His Biggest Buck Ever!

    In this episode, Don discusses his busy week and the challenges he faced while hunting for a giant buck in Ohio. He also talks about the new web show he's working on and the meetings he had with companies related to farming for nutrients. Don shares his decision to not pursue the buck in Ohio due to low odds of success and the presence of other hunters on the property. He also mentions spending time with his family and the launch of a new deer feeder by a friend. Don and Terry discuss the status of their fall plots and answer listener questions about buck travel patterns and the impact of their practices on doe genetics. In this part of the conversation, Don and Terry answer questions from listeners about influencing buck genetics, advice for hunting mature bucks on permission properties, and the relationship between doe body weight and buck antler size. They also discuss the impact of an early antler growing season on when bucks shed their velvet, and the strategy of culling bucks based on their rack size. Don emphasizes the importance of hunting bucks where they spend their daylight hours, focusing on bedding cover rather than food plots. keywords: busy week, hunting, giant buck, Ohio, web show, farming for nutrients, meetings, low odds, family time, deer feeder, fall plots, buck travel patterns, doe genetics, buck genetics, hunting advice, doe body weight, antler size, culling bucks, bedding cover, food plots

    1h 17m

  8. 4 AUG

    Episode #233 - 2024 Anter Growth Continues to Impress Don

    Summary: In this episode, Don and Terry discuss observations of antler growth based on camera footage and weather conditions. They highlight the impact of weather on antler growth and the importance of considering the current season's growth when deciding whether to target a buck. They also discuss the challenges and considerations of fall food plots, including the timing of planting and the impact of weather conditions. The conversation touches on the genetics of deer populations and the potential for genetic improvement on small properties. They also address the question of transplanting trees and provide tips for successful transplantation. In this part of the conversation, Don and Terry discuss the importance of timing when it comes to tree cutting and suburban hunting. They also address a question about fall food plot planning and the impact of pre-emergent herbicides. Lastly, they talk about a study on food plot size and buck visitation, and the implications for different regions. Keywords: antler growth, weather conditions, buck observation, fall food plots, genetics, small properties, tree transplantation, tree cutting, suburban hunting, fall food plot planning, pre-emergent herbicides, food plot size, buck visitation Takeaways: Weather conditions, such as a light winter and early greenery, can have a significant impact on antler growth in deer. Consider the current season's antler growth when deciding whether to target a buck, as the next season's growth may not be as favorable. When planning fall food plots, it is important to consider the timing of planting and the impact of weather conditions, such as rainfall. Genetic improvement of deer populations on small properties is challenging, but letting bucks with better genetics live and pass on their genes can have some impact. Transplanting trees is best done when they are dormant, but if transplantation is necessary during the growing season, it is important to get as much of the root system as possible and provide ample watering. Timing is crucial when it comes to tree cutting, and it's best to wait until the tree is dormant for better success. Patience is important in both hunting and projects like suburban hunting. Pre-emergent herbicides can limit the types of crops that can be planted in a food plot, but the recommended plant back periods are often longer than necessary. The location of a food plot is likely more critical than its size, and the volume of food supplied can be important in certain situations. The study on food plot size and buck visitation may have different implications depending on the region and the layout of the property.

    1h 34m
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About

Chronicling the constant pursuit of World Class Whitetails. Follow an experienced land manager, consultant, writer, and hunting industry expert throughout the year as he finds, targets, and hunts world class whitetail bucks. Hunting tips and tricks that can be used no matter your skill set, property, or goals this hunting season.

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