Nice Article on Great Book....
 

Guys,

I came across this article today as I was researching the latest news and trends in regards to the elusive whitetail. i hope you find it helpful. It is a short article about a book this guy from Ill. wrote for we "real deer hunters." Not the hunters who pay thousands to pursue trophy deer in high fences. But for those of us who chase that wiley rascal about his family's farm. The one among you who hunts his neighbors land with permission and feeds your own family with venison. That's respect. Hope you enjoy the article.

http://www.sj-r.com/sections/outdoors/stories/93737.asp

RE: Nice Article on Great Book....
 

Some very nice thoughts from the author in that article... Thanks for the report, TDWW. Sounds like a book I may need to add to my collection.

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This sounds good. Thanks for the heads up.

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Sounds good. Wonder what outlets carry it?

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FYI: Quick search inthe internet - Don Higgins's website is: http://www.higginsoutdoors.com/

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I think I will add that to my collection also. Thanks for the heads up TDWW.

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Am I speaking to soon? Geeezuz - Have yo been born again?
Well - Well TOPDAWG - 1st Good Ole Informative Hunting info I've seen from you without the respect and yankee jumbo - Good Post and I love the link!

RE: Nice Article on Great Book....
 

Sounds like my kind of hunting--real and no gimmicks and or short cuts!!

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Nice to hear some constructive material come from you DAWG.:D This book does sound like a must have.Good looking out!;)

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Quote:

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Tim Walmsley of Fowler is the author of "Trophy Whitetails of Illinois," and he has measured and scored many of the state's biggest bucks. He says Higgins' book is "a heck of a refresher course" even for the most die-hard trophy hunter.

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Interesting!:)

RE: Nice Article on Great Book....
 

Dang guys! I am the author of the book. NO KIDDING!!!!! I was just browsing the internet lookin for some good deer huntin info when I came across this thread. I really appreciate all the kind comments and would be happy to answer anyones questions. I also have an article in the current issue of Petersens Bowhunting with a few more to come out in North American Whitetail and Petersens in the next few months. I have been writing magazine articles for about 8 years now and always tried to stay down to earth and stay in tune with the average everyday hunter. God didnt make me any better than he made you or anyone else. I was always disgusted with the big names that act like they are better than the rest of us and vowed to never get that way. I have told my friends that if I ever start acting like I have a big head to come up and kick me in the a$$! So far it hasnt happened. If you ever see me at a hunting show or something, dont be afraid to approach me. I am just like you except that I write about what happens to me in the woods. Don Higgins

RE: Nice Article on Great Book....
 

Hey Don,

Welcome to our little corner of the internet! Thanks for taking the time to post, and we'd like it if you stuck around some and contributed here...

Forgive me for asking; it's been a while since I read the beginning of this thread (I just clicked straight to the end to catch any updates...) Are you a bowhunter?

Again... welcome.

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That a boy TopDawg............. way to give props to us Yankees!![8D];)

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Hi Greg. I am now strictly a bowhunter and have been for around 15 years. Every buck on the cover of the book was taken by bow. Don

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Awesome, Don...

You may be interested in visting this forum as well ... http://www.huntingnet.com/forum/tt.aspx?forumid=19

Though we've got our share of pot-stirrers and troublemakers we're dealing with right now... ;)

99.999% of the time, it's a great group of guys! :D

RE: Nice Article on Great Book....
 

Forgot to ask... Where may we order the book from? I guess I could do a search in Barnes and Noble or Amazon...

RE: Nice Article on Great Book....
 

You can order the book from my website - www.higginsoutdoors.com It is set up to take credit cards online or my address is on there for those wishing to mail a check.


I have participated in a number of message boards but have become more of a looker than a poster. It seems there are too many hard headed hunters that will debate and argue til the end of time ..... of course sometimes I am one of them. I will stick around here though and see what happens. Don

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I've been on many, many boards since I took up bowhunting almost two decades ago now... and I can honestly say that the Bowhunting Forum here at HNI is the best I've ever come across... I'm just now starting to hang out more in here as I've been asked to keep an eye on this place as a moderator, and there's some great guys here, too.

Occasionally, atlasman gets bored and stirs the pot, but it's usually thought-provoking if nothing else. Once these WHA bandwaggoners get bored of being on there, it'll be back to being the best bowhunting forum I've ever come across; people actually treat others with respect, and I know you realize how rare that is.

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hmmm....

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This gentleman is the real deal! Don your input and participation is welcomed by me.I have read many of your articles and have benefited from them. Glad to be made aware of your book,I will be purchasing it shortly.

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I was just about to post the link to his website when I noticed Don's post.

Welcome to the forums!:D

I will be ordering a book soon. Gives me something to read in the stand on those slow days.:)

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Cubin--that's interesting, and a little bit weird to me.Seems as if he was trying to anonymously self promote his book. Oh well, probably a good book none the less.

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Hey Monster bucks. I'm a brain picker and have no pride. Mind if I post a scenario? I'm very close to a mature buck. We've gone around for four years. Took a shot at him 4 years ago. 2 years ago I watched him for a morning but had to call it quits to take the family to the holiday parade. He knew he was busted again. Heard him breath on meone year in the darkness.

I've had a stand set since end of hunting season last year. (I also believe that's the best). Viewed it twice since. Plenty going on. Perfect set up. Thick woods that opens to a small area where corn was planted. The area next to the woods didn't grow so there's a clearing. There's also some rotting wheat staw for a cover scent and getting in without being seen. He tore the place up last year. I took a contest winning doe there last year,hey there was cash on the line:D. I mean he tore upmany trees in a 20' square some large. I got a feeling this years the year. What time of day do you think is my best chance of catching him. The area is a small wood lot surrounded by crops, no pressure. It has a ditch that runs through it. He takes it. I have run into him once in the afternoon and twice in the early morning.I know you don't put stock ina tore up place. If not there what should I look for? I have other stands set in the area.Getting busted is easy but I've gotten pretty good at slipping in and out. Access to more of his area is slim although I did get permission to a possible area close by he might use. Talked the owner into letting me bow hunt to get the deer that are tearing up his trees.:D

I realize it's difficult to see what I'm saying. Give it a shot. I'm not all caught up in this just something I like to accomplish. To tell the truth I'd hate to end our relationship. I like thinking he's out there.

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tj cubin - great detective work man!!! When I first got the books from the printer I was so anxious to sell a few that I tried my hand at self promotion. Guess what??? It didnt work worth a crap! I should have just waited for you guys to sniff it out on your own


nodog - one of the key things I have learned about big bucks is that when you see them do something once, they will likely do it again. You just gotta be there and be ready when it happens. You have seen the buck in a certain area before. Now think about all the details of those sightings- time of day, time of year (early season, rut, late season?), wind direction, etc etc etc. Now take all that you know from those sightings and the next time the same conditions exist, get in there and be ready. One more thing, dont burn out the spot BEFORE it is time and for sure dont be shootin does from that spot!!! If you have already seen him 3 times from that spot, he WILL be back. Good luck and let me know how it turns out.

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Thanks! It hasn't been from the same stand, come to think of it it's never been from that one. Once I put the creep on him and got a shot only to bury it in the edge of a small tree.

I did set a another stand last spring in an area he used to bed. The conditions are the same this year as they were then, but I haven't seen a lot of activity there. Still I set it there because I saw him there. Pretty much how I scout and hunt, go with what I know and move accordingly.

Here's another if you don't mind. What time would be a good time to get in a stand in a bedding area? Went at 3 am once.

RE: Nice Article on Great Book....
 

My favorite time to hunt bedding areas is in the early season in the evenings. With the leaves on the trees and thick foilage, it is a lot easier to slip in real close to where they bed down. I also like to do it on fairly windy days. This helps cover any noise that I make and often the wind will die down right before dark and that is when the bucks get on their feet.

I have had limited success hunting bedding areas in the mornings. It really doesnt matter how early you get to your stand, a big buck will nearly always scent check his bedding area from downwind before coming in to bed down. I have seen how they do this by back-tracking bedded bucks in the snow after jumping them from their beds. Most of the time it would have been next to impossible to set up on him and not be detected given the wind direction on that particular day.

Here is something else to consider regarding bedding areas. We all know that a buck will not bed in the same place every day. I believe however that a buck will have a prefered exact location within a larger bedding area. For example lets say a buck is bedding in a large weedy CRP field. He will not just walk out there and plop down anywhere. Instead he will have an exact location that he beds within that field with certain wind conditions and time of year. If you jump a big buck from his bed note the time of year and the wind conditions and everything else that you can. The next time that those conditions are the same, you have a good idea where to look for him. I often do this the following season. For example, if I saw a buck do something while undisturbed last season in Mid-October, I will get set up and be ready for him to do it again this season in mid-October. I just have to wait for the wind to be the same as it was the previous season when I saw it. Good luck

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Thanks a lot Monster. Feel like like I hit the lottery or something a kin to it. Illumination is it, is what I'm after, my desire. I've just benefited greatly. Look forward to reading your stuff. :DGreat stuff on keeping track of details. Need to do more of that.

I've noticed the evening thing. Have been successful going in less than an hour before sunset. Seems they are moving around getting ready to moosie out instead of sitting and watching. Other critters are getting up as well. Got to be well planed out though.

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Don, nice to hear from you. I have grown tired and weary of many hunting shows and some magazines and find that past individual hunting experiences compiled and remembered works best for me. I've been bowhunting since 1977 and still find I make mistakes, just cutting down on those mistakes is what I try to do each season.[8D] I think I will be purchasing a copy of your book and hope to apply the information into what I have learned over the years. One question...........does your book contain any information that can help hunters gain and keep good hunting ground? Thanks,

Greg

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Hey Monster just ordered the book and look forward to reading it. Use a good pen!:D

Anything funny about the book like a strange typo or pic that has an unusual story like the camera guy got attacked or something while filming. Anything behind the scenes, an exclusive, "you heard it hear first folks" kind of thing.:D

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Hi Greg,I took the same approach with the book that I have taken with my articles; I try to NOT come across like the ultimate deer hunting authority. I stick to the truth and what has actually worked for me and stay away from unproven theories. I also try to always stay in touch with the general hunting public. I am just an ordinary guy that really loves big whitetails. God didnt make me any better than he did the next person and try to always be mindful of that. I hope that the "honesty" and "down-to-earth" approach is evident in my writings. As for aquiring and keeping good hunting lands, I do touch on that breifly. The property that you hunt is one key to taking big bucks but there are several others as well. I see that you are from Illinois, what town are you near?

nodog - the funniest thing about the book is probably the pictures that contain my face!!!! As for "exclusive" info .... well the story about my 214" buck from 2004 has never been published before and I had 2 seperate attorneys read it to make sure I couldn't be sued. I have had several people buy the book just because of thatchapter. For those who would like a little more insight into what I am talking about, I briefly touch on it on the home page of my website - http:/www.higginsoutdoors.com

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Don, I'm buying your book, too... Will I have to wait to find out, or did you get to keep your trophy? I saw where it was confiscated at one time...

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Greg, I got the buck back. They had it for 34 days after what 2 attorneys called an "illegal seizure". In fact once my attorney filed a motion to go in front of a judge on a petition alleging illegal seizure, they were ready to hand it back. I dont want to ruin the book by telling you all the details but I would like to hear what you think after reading this chapter. Don

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Just paid for my copy of the book - can't wait to dig in to it!

Don lives just down the road from here - thought that was an interesting coincidence.
Who woulda thought they had good whitetail in Illinois? lol

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AWESOME BOOK!!! Don opened my eyes to a new way of thinking about hunting trophy bucks.
I highly recommend this book!

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welcome aboard Don, hope to here more from you.
Dan

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Thanks TDWW!

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thanks,

will be some good reading for my son and i..

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I just finished the book. Has some good info and worth the read. Can't say it's a real eye opener though. Some things I agree with and some I don't. Advice onbuilding and hunting funnels as well as stand placement timing and location are how I think it should be done. The definition of "Real World" though I do not. One of us isn't. I'll let the others who read the book chime in and decide the issue before I say more on that score.Don't care for all the personal info or the section on ethics, not that I agree or disagree, just didn't buy the book for that reason. It is useful though if you care to file it away in the "Life Lessons" folder. Don't care to know why others are wrong either, just want to know what a writer thinks is right. It's not a large book but could have been condensed. Some things are said over and over.

It does have some good information and any hunter would be better off knowing it. :)

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Thanks guys. I really appreciate the comments from all of you. I have said it before but I dont consider myself anything other than a good ole country boy that tells it like it is ... or at least how I see it. I dont mind taking a stand on an issue and I believe that too many of the "celebrity" hunters today shy away from anything which might affect their ability to make $$$ from hunting. They are too "politically correct" in my opinion. Anyway, thanks again for the comments.



nodog- I dont want to start a big debate with you and do appreciate that you took the time to read and comment on my book. You did make a couple of comments though that I am not sure I understand-

"The definition of "Real World" though I do not. One of us isn't."

"Don't care to know why others are wrong either"

Could you maybe explain these a little so I understand what you mean? I appreciate all the readers of my book and magazine articles whether they are patting me on the back or disagreeing with me. Your opinion counts and I would like to better understand it. Thank you

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Don, I'm only a few chapters into it... but so far, I'm really enjoying your book -- probably because everything I've read so far I agree with 100% ;). I never try to pattern a particular buck, but pattern mature bucks' behaviours on my land in general...

Here's an example from a couple years ago. While I had seen this ol' boy several times before I was able to arrow him, I was still keeping to my tactic of hunting mature buck patterns...



I also never hunt mornings in early October -- at least when going after mature bucks. I will however fill the freezer with does by hunting mornings during that time period. It's when I feel the safest to harvest some does and not worry that I'll be messing up future opportunities...

Anyway, thanks for a great read so far.
Greg