BUSTING Whitetail Myths with Dr. Bronson Strickland

On today's episode of The Exodus Podcast, we are back in the studio talking with renowned whitetail biologist and host of the Deer University Podcast Dr. Bronson Strickland. Bronson has devoted years to studying whitetails and has helped the hunting industry as a whole expand what they knew or thought they knew about whitetails.
We discuss:
• Mature bucks are not always nocturnal
• Bucks are active and on their feet before sunset, but are most frequently observed on food plots around an hour after sunset
• Bucks daylight behavior depends on their food source's proximity
• Mature bucks may cover less ground during the rut
• Beating a deer's nose entirely is nearly impossible
• Understanding the complexity of buck movement and the role of wind direction
• Whitetails are adaptable and conditioned to respond to stimuli for survival
• Mature bucks may exhibit individual behavior based on their upbringing and experiences
• Two-thirds of bucks have a sedentary personality, while one-third are mobile
• Mobile bucks can be further classified as shifters or bouncers
• The October lull is not applicable in the South, where it is more accurate to consider the period before the rut
• Understanding the relationship between cover corridors and prevailing winds
• Data analysis reveals that there is no clear pattern for how bucks use wind direction
• The extent and position of the moon's influence on deer movements still remain uncertain
And so much more!
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[@Newbbbie]

Bronson is a huge wealth of knowledge! Great episode!

[@Leif1963]

I have never hunted on a "food plot", never ever from a box blind. I still-hunt, ground stand and very seldom an elevated stand and NEVER over 10'. I have killed what to me is a lot of deer in 44 years. I consistently take deer, over a half dozen from their beds while still hunting. I am not talking about just bucks. I 100% agree that bushwhacking by setting up an interception on travel routes is THE BEST and most rewarding way to hunt along with still-hunting and stalking. You don't get a hunting experience sitting in an elevated blind- shooting and hunting are two distinctly different things.

[@JustShootYourBow]

I harvested 3 young deer this season - I appreciate the advice you guys provide on this channel.

[@Jefestephens]

Lmao, can’t kill big ones if you won’t stop killing young deer. I’m in Arkansas too.

[@JustShootYourBow]

@@Jefestephens I’m not from Arkansas & I don’t hunt in Arkansas.

[@JustShootYourBow]

@@jeffjames9568 yes. I am sure that it is tough to hunt in Arkansas. I hunt in NJ - the majority of the hunters (I'll go out on a limb and say 99% of hunters) don't hunt for big bucks with huge antlers. NJ hunters mostly hunt for meat.

[@kyle32680]

@@Jefestephensyeah im Arkansas. Passed a young one last weekend heard him go down 10 min later. Unless you have own land you just have to hunt what makes you happy. Unless laws are passed passing a young one doesn’t mean he’ll be there next year

[@chomp4111]

Bronson is the real deal! I think most hunter's should really consider the actual science and research he has to tell us. I could listen to Bronson all day 🦌

[@shawnschoppert8540]

I have noticed during full moons more midday activity when most hunters aren’t in the woods, which also goes back to the less disturbance in the woods at those times

[@woodsdog7849]

Love MSU's stuff. Great questions Jake. You're a master interviewer. I thought I was the one asking him the questions. Thanks for your zeal for everything whitetails.

[@danielkrause8154]

Great podcast! Any time Dr. Bronson is on its a treat. I learn so much from him. Very knowledgeable in whitetail deer . So much useful information. Thanks for the great information.

[@Shift1dwn5up]

I enjoyed this. You've touched on some great topics. Cleared a lot of things up for me. Thankyou

[@LameWolff]

I'm with the Doc 100% on what he was saying about sent and moon phase. And pretty much everything else. Whitetail hunting is so over commercialized anymore with camo, sent, sent control, calls, food attractants and whatever else I can't think of right now.

[@cj2171]

“Food and breeding opportunities “ big mood.

[@WILDEATS]

Thanks for sharing the knowledge! This helps me understand a little better the (why's and why nots") of this animal.

[@Retired_Deer_Hunter]

That was an excellent conversation with a huge amount of scientific evidence to provide to expel alot of the myths in the Whitetail world. I've hunted Whitetail for over 40 years and never went a season without filling at least one tag to fill the freezer. As far as the scent conversation. He is exactly right. You'll never beat them. But at the same time. These guys using scent lock and some of the other products on the market are having great success at confusing a deers nose. Being a seasoned hunter and having witnessed it. It's amazing. As far as moon fazes go. I never used them in my hunting determinations. Like as far as how to hunt. Or when. But I am a Whitetail fanatic who used to observe them year around until I became disabled. And in my years of observation of them, I do see about a 25% change in their behavior when it comes to night time feeding habits when there is either a new moon or a full moon. Actually I never thought I implemented that into my hunting but maybe I did without intent. Because I would always make it a point to do all day sits in the timber during those times. In my observations. Whitetails are alot like raccoons. Where they have a tendency to feed in the open fields for longer durations on nights when it's either really bright or really dark. This is only because of the # of light receptors in the back of their eyes. Remember when I was talking about the guys confusing the deers nose. Well I've figured out that I can do that same thing with their eyes when the light is changing in the evening. It's one of those things that have to be seen to be believed. Anyway. Enough with my rambling. Thank you for a great interview! It was wonderful!😊

[@joehorton01]

Thanks for the content exodus crew. I think i already listened to this while i was dove hunting this late summer but i watched the video anyway.

[@dmouse522]

Just when the hostas start looking good they love 'em!

[@TommyTheCat799]

Wish the doc would move to a university in the midwest. Studying deer in Mississippi is like studying bass in Colorado

[@michaelgangadeen8013]

Very intelligent questions resulting in a worthwhile discussion

[@RushOutdoors]

Jake on your full moon question you said basically late Oct early Nov is what most of the guys you talk to with the moon theory, and added they leave the areas they hunt mostly un pressured. This is my argument with the moon guys that is great and the right thing to do but where do think the bigger deer will be at this time in the most hunted time span in the season? Lol !! The unpressured lands where the first does are starting to come in to estrus or close in the midwest! The percentages are simply higher not because the moon is some phase. But Mike I am documenting just to see. Over the last 2 yrs have seen no advantage to the moon so far, but it's only been two years. But Mike and myself are still watching for future use and of course discussion on our podcast! Great video and questions Jake excellent show. Great job! PS. It was great having you guys at the house a year or two back for Whitetail Cribs!

[@brob-zy8zi]

I agree. There is a spot I hunt on public. It is a small, 30 acre corner surrounded on two sides by a large tract of private land. It's across the road from a 350 or so acre piece of public. It is an overlooked spot and has a doe bedding area within. It also has good acorns and a doe bedding area a couple hundred yards away on the private.... during archery it remains unpressured. Last year I hunted it one time, November 8th, and killed a buck following a hot doe. This year, in 3 short partial day sits, I saw 10 bucks and killed one that wasn't even the biggest I saw.... Also on November 8th. It also is a travel corridor for rutting bucks coming in from two different hollows and the backside of this ridge is extremely steep so travel is funneled to one side. I see more bucks in this spot than any other place I hunt. They funnel in from all over. And I think it has everything to do with knowing when it works best and leaving it alone until that time.

[@Retired_Deer_Hunter]

I could be totally off my rocker. But in 40 years of Whitetail hunting without ever going a year not filling the freezer. And literally hundreds of deer by both gun and bow. Without ever leaving my home state. Never having gone on any guided hunt in any way shape or form. When the rut starts. That's all the bucks care about. The rut and of course survival. Except with the latter being less important. Lol! What I'm getting at is. During the rut. Nothing matters in a Bucks eyes, but what that hot doe in front of him is doing. Period! That's all he cares about!

[@RushOutdoors]

@@Retired_Deer_Hunter So true!

[@robinworkman3621]

​@@Retired_Deer_Huntervery true! I have seen bucks on a doe.they may get nervous but they will not leave that doe. It's like they know they should and they want to leave,they just can't.

[@corybraswell510]

I got a chicory clover plot 1 1/2 acres i can see off my back deck. I only shoot really mature bucks out of it and nothing else! Great advice from Dr Strickland that i live by daily

[@robinworkman3621]

Shouldn't you take a doe now and again? I'm not expert but have heard for every so many bucks takes a doe should be harvested as well.i can't remember the exact numbers.

[@Jackofalmasterofnon]

The full moon allow deer to feed easier at night and skip after noon feeding and come in as free night fall -Texas

[@karmas.busdriver]

What I've learned from MSUDL, The Hunting Beast, The Hunting Public. There's 2 kinds of giant Buck Killers. The kind that essentially grow giant Bucks on managed ground that's both designed to hold and condition Bucks to a false sense of security, So they're less pressured easier targets, and the kind like The Hunting Beast, that gets Hardcore aggressive & puts the waders on for a 2 1/2 mile hike in the cattail marsh trying to get inside the Buck fortress for an assassination attempt. The reason the Hardcore method works, How many times, using all the advantages you can get, windy conditions which interfere with the buck hearing, using the dogwood, tag alder & Buck thorn to conceal your approach from a side wind or T post, How many times Can even a mature Buck survive such an incursion by Someone that's good at reading & playing that Chess Board? A Mature Bucks survival instincts are amazing, but it's still just a Deer. I Just love these videos picking the brains of you Amazing Deer lab guys!!😁Great info, not slanted to fit a gimmick sales agenda.

[@clintworthley2523]

Awesome video Jake so much great information.i got a question for you.put the rut aside.in your experience if a deer cross a road or a field that he will use that same route or close to the same route within a 24hour period??? just wondering your thoughts on this.love the podcast watch it every time.thanks again.

[@mattalderton3723]

Very good video Dr Strickland is very awesome

[@mattalderton3723]

The MSU deer lab videos are great for knowledge

[@tylerlee5349]

Learn so much from these MSU guys. I have a question, in Alabama, where I hunt and baiting is legal, if every time a buck detects my presence there is a pile of corn for him to eat, would he not at some point relate those 2 events, or is that just wishful thinking on my part?

[@specag31]

A great hunter came up with the three "S"s; Sight, Sound, Scent.

[@garretts1604]

Some great questions Jake

[@bradyschoolar1433]

Love the stuff! Great video. Hotty toddy

[@markmoore312]

Thank you for this video

[@mattd8411]

Amazing video good job guys alot of knowledge here. Watch Mark rover in the deer nose. Nasa engineer couldn't beat a dog's nose. Only thing seems to help sometimes is doe pee

[@joelkrystof5877]

The October lull in my area is from hunting

[@matthewbunger6115]

For the moon phase idea just monitor it through out the entire summer and early fall and not near the rut

[@the_quest_outdoors10]

for the nocturnal bucks what about hunter pressure

[@McDanielRanch]

Is there anything out there like this for mule deer?

[@levimarshall8427]

wow.. lots of info

[@lorrimorseramos3333]

I have to say the moon does have an effect. Our gun season in Indiana always starts on a Saturday morning. Each year it's different week in November . On early year the rut will be sooner because full moon is at different time too. No facts just 30+ years experience.

[@deerhuntingwithrickthepeas7870]

Soil health is everything for humans too. There is a reason there so many sick hunters that can't walk a mile. Ha!

[@bankerlies6121]

The bottom line is,this guy is not the buck,therefore he has no idea what a buck is doing

[@Louisiana-critter-getter]

When you get tired of getting blown at use scentlok it won’t happen… 3 years an I hunt more then most successful without getting blown at once if I don’t wear it it’s an 80% chance even a young doe will blow down wind

[@jlwilson1988]

Man I wish this was true. I have spent a fortune on scent lok base layers, lightweight setup, and heavyweight. Even with all 3 layers on I can't hunt downwind and expect not to get busted. I also use spray and ozone my clothing before I go. You will always respirate and deer can obviously smell it. Maybe I should go vegan that time of year😂

[@Louisiana-critter-getter]

@@jlwilson1988 bro have you not watched all John’s videos? Cause your ruining all your suits right off the bat lol

[@jlwilson1988]

@@Louisiana-critter-getter how so? Scent lok recommends using ozone to recharge them. I tend to listen to the manufacturer before anyone else.

[@Louisiana-critter-getter]

@@jlwilson1988 looks good on paper but obviously not working for you? Dosnt make any difference to me if you listen are not trying to fix your problems 🤷🏼‍♂️ good luck hunting my friend wish you the best.