Don Higgins Strategy For Consistently Killing Giant Bucks!

On today's episode of The Exodus Podcast, We are back in Illinois talking deer hunting with Don Higgins. Don is a previous guest on The Exodus Podcast and never disappoints, and this time is no different! If you want to target and kill a giant buck, get ready to take notes!
We discuss:
-Do discipline hunters kill more mature bucks?
-How to balance being disciplined and aggressive when chasing a big deer
-Let the go, let them grow
-How to change tactics to go from killing 3-year-olds to 5-year-olds
-The #1 thing people do wrong when it comes to hunting mature bucks
-The first step you should take once you find a giant on a farm you can hunt
-What he's learned that stuck with him from over 400 property consultations
-How long does a plan take to produce results
-What habitats do giants typically use for sanctuaries on midwest properties
-How Don predicts when a deer is indeed going to daylight
-Running trail cameras like a trap line
-Do you check trail cameras in the rain
-Something that Don has completely changed his mind on after 40 years of hunting
-The biggest piece of deer hunting misinformation in the hunting community
-Mornings vs evenings, which is better?
-How much food Don leaves standing throughout the season
-The best property he has ever walked
-His favorite terrain features for stand locations
And so much more!
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[@joeymo8850]

Step one… buy a ton of land🤣

[@ExodusOutdoorGear]

Don’s farm is about 80ish acres of cover

[@markschuette2615]

@@ExodusOutdoorGear 80 acres in il imy area,, good farm ground $ 800,000.00 and thats reasonable.. i just sold 50 acres $ 700,000.00 most folks these days cant afford it

[@slimshady4157]

@@markschuette2615 not sure when you purchased the 50 acres you sold but at 14k an acre you likely made quite a capital gain on that investment...plus set a basis of valuation that attributes to the high cost of land in your area.

[@corybraswell510]

I got 80 acres and probably got more quality bucks that most guys that have several hundred! It has nothing to do with acreage quite honestly it's sound management that produces

[@Jefestephens]

That’s step two, step one is a strategic birth into a wealthy family! How in the hell else are ya gonna buy all that land!?!?

[@K4kashiSensei]

You guys are very good at asking the right follow up interview questions and getting more detailed answers from Don.

[@duanehensley8835]

Easy to let bucks go so they can age and get bigger when you own or control more than a couple hundred acres. But, it flat out doesn't work when all you can control is less than 200 acres and the area you hunt has a large number of hunters and hunting pressure. Don would never be that successful hunting in PA with less than 200 acres. No way! Now I know the comments I'm going to get, that Don's farm is only 120 acres, but if I were to guess, that 120 cares are mostly surrounded by ag fields and as is common in the midwest, the wood lots are small and much easier to pinpoint big bucks. So, in my opinion, Don's advice is only good for those who own or control a lot of land or have a property in the midwest.

[@rockysmart6406]

Strategy for killing giant bucks..... Own large areas of private land. Be rich. PERIOD.

[@OTM_LANCE]

Hopefully Don sees this but I’ve noticed over the last three year here in central Michigan big mature bucks moving with the with instead of their nose into the wind and it been pretty consistent.. I was wondering why and I think it because of the crazy amount of coyotes we have and maybe because of their ambush tactics? So maybe they are using eye sight going with the wind to see what’s in front and then using the wind to smell if something is trying to ambush them from behind?

[@corybraswell510]

I'm to that point! I've let several very good deer go this year that just need more time... All of these bucks I would've been happy with in my previous life! I recently inherited the family farm in Tennessee that has tons of potential I'm gonna capitalize on! It hasn't been easy letting these deer go but I know what my "goal" is and I'm determined to make it happen

[@duanehensley8835]

Another reason why Don's advice doesn't work for hunting in PA regardless of how much property you own or control is in high-pressure states like PA a 3 or 4 year old buck is much smarter and more weary than a 3 or 4 year old in the midwest. In other words, a 4 year old buck in PA is on the same level as a 5 or 6 year old in the midwest.

[@nathanielroseen5397]

That makes zero sense

[@nathanielroseen5397]

Amazing how many people write this guy off because they are poor and he is only rich in bucks because he has bucks! People who are rich in anything do things differently than those who are poor in that thing. Only a few bucks grow to be rich big horned giants because they think and do different than the other poorly disciplined bucks that get shot by the poorly disciplined hunters. Pareto distribution at play among people and the bucks. It is the law of the universe

[@natemihlbachler3511]

Does anyone ever wonder when digitally monitoring a deer or deer herd until you can kill your target buck in 15 minutes takes too much of the challenge out of it? A theme I see with big buck podcasts is game camera, game camera, game camera. It's getting to the point of closed loop monitoring then moving in.

[@bowman8316]

I totally agree ! Kinda cheating

[@Exrimordonaj]

As much as you might not like cameras they have helped a lot of hunter become more selective by hunting a certain buck and letting the younger ones walk helping the over all age group of bucks therefore improving hunting

[@natemihlbachler3511]

@@Exrimordonaj my post was more of a question than a statement. I run several cameras and have a love hate relationship with them. What cameras have proven to me is that hunting to much early in the season is detrimental to my mature deer hunting more so than actually using them to pattern deer. They are more of an inventory tool to me. We can sort out who is a shooter and who isn't before they are broadside at 20. Sometimes I feel they take the naturalness and mystique as well as the surprise factor out of hunting. I'm not sure that's good.

[@Exrimordonaj]

@@natemihlbachler3511I’m in the same boat as you love/hate. Biggest buck I ever shot was this year on a piece of public that I didn’t run cameras on, and really enjoyed the surprise factor of it when he stepped out.

[@natemihlbachler3511]

@@Exrimordonaj my hunting is basically all on my personal land and that is about the only place I hunt at least the only place I buck hunt. Actually my farm is 7 miles from Don's. Stand sights rarely are changed and I know the movement patterns. There for it is so important to know what deer is what because once he's dead you can't just move, you've gotta grow another.

[@MollyDogg1234]

I 100% agree with Don when he says giant bucks crave freedom of human intrusion, as well as bucks showing up at the same time / same place each year. I have seen the same thing. I currently have access to quite a bit of ground in one particular neighborhood, over 300 acres, (though I have other farms in other areas I hunt too.) Anyhow, of that particular 300 acres, I bet there isn't more than 10 total acres that doesn't see human intrusion in some form. That 10 acres holds 99% of the mature bucks in that neighborhood. And I'm not talking one 10 acre parcel. Its a few scattered parcels totaling 10 acres, maybe. A buck will put up with some human intrusion until he is about 3 yrs old. After that, they end up living in these tiny unpressured pockets of cover and completely change how and when they use the landscape. I just wish people would understand how important it is to be disciplined enough to just give the deer some room and just stay out! Best form of habitat improvement that there is, hands down! Don is a very intelligent man, who has worked extremely hard to get where he is today. Alot of people are jealous of him and try to belittle him at every chance, but I guarantee you he has sacrificed more, and worked alot harder than 90% of these jealous people would even think of doing. I respect that. The man is reaping what he has sowed.

[@chasinggiantswithhigginsou6147]

Thank you! I appreciate your support and the fact that you see through the haters rhetoric.

[@slimshady4157]

@@chasinggiantswithhigginsou6147 boy there are a lot of haters and trash talkers out there. It is sad to see from other fellow hunters and hard to understand why or what the point of it is. Fortunately for us who do not understand why it is others feel the need to be negative, you rise above it and are willing to share your time for us to learn from, for us to enjoy, and for us to dream bigger whitetail dreams than ever before! 🦌🦌🦌

[@dougvuillemot8670]

​@@chasinggiantswithhigginsou6147. Yup. . We got 2 40 acre sections that nobody goes into. It is a large river bottom bowl. it benefits everybody in our 2 mile area. Sadly I wish they would stay in there during rutt to. But they don't. Lol

[@ronfarrell08]

The only way I'll kill a 170 if he walks by before the 150 lol

[@DeltaFlaugeOutdoors]

Yeah that takes discipline (also location plays into it)

[@frankruiz1554]

I NEVER GET TIRED OF THE INTRO. I catch myself saying it out loud 🤣 to my wife and friends.

[@marknice7337]

Some of Don’s strategies can be applied to public hunters. But if you are a private guy this guy is for you for sure, his advice has helped me a ton. Now I’m not as good on public as I am on private so I understand the divide there but Dons advice will still help.

[@riverkatspeaks1827]

It takes a lot of discipline not to shoot those 3.5- 5 .5 year old bucks on public land. However, after learning to target mature bucks, you learn that many of them have the ability to survive if YOU don't kill them. Most hunters can't find much less target those bucks. Once you learn the keys in locating and targeting them, it elevates your game..... I'm not a "expert" but I know a thing or 2 about deer......

[@deerhuntingwithrickthepeas7870]

Don Higgins exudes maturity.

[@daveyboy8907]

400 consultations at 10 k each..Dons service isn't worth that kind of money..Just look at that house. I guess thats what killing a big deer and selling yourself can do.. Its crazy world.

[@jeffmarshall7843]

i killed a typical booner on public last year. it can be done. going to be officially measured when i get the mount back next month!! couldnt be prouder as a regular guy with no private property to hunt. i green scored at 166 5/8" meeting the minimum requirement for the 3 year record book. an illinois buck

[@aaronmanuel8661]

😂 Easy for you to say, Don! Pass a five year old. Have a goal. Discipline my ass. 98% don't have the ground to hunt that you hunt. You're not a better hunter than most anyone else. Acces to ground is key. This podcast doesn't help any normal hunter.

[@riverkatspeaks1827]

I've got multiple bucks on public land that have been growing to the point that as long at things don't change, I can target 1 and possibly 2 per year for the rest of my hunting career. Finding the spots that reliably grow that class of bucks with the proper genetics and age is the key, IMHO.

[@roosterdope6778]

Watched a couple guys drag out a 2x2 on one property and a guy got a 3x3 on a different property. Hard to let next years buck go this year when there’s 10 other people who see that buck willing to shoot em

[@tacticalsnoopy]

Can't wait to listen to this at the gym in the morning🙂! The teaser earlier was good

[@marvinwhittler518]

the key to big buck is being granted ground,money, free time from brith

[@noahhewitt9150]

Strategy: buy land in Illinois

[@HuntsT]

Step one, hunt in places that grow a lot of Giant Bucks. Step two, put out cell cameras that tell your when Bucks are in an area you can hunt. Step three, only hunt on for wind days. Didn't watch the video but that's about it.

[@gregklena4962]

Lol probably true

[@slimshady4157]

If you actually watched the video, maybe you wouldn't fail as often. Your assessment reflects your personal dislike of yourself. Bad attitudes typically amount to poor results. Could the reason you hate on others success so often be you are jealous or envious of their success or that you are simply incapable of it, or is it you are just that negative all the time? Finding truth, knowledge and God is a great combination for finding success in every aspect of life, especially in Whitetail deer hunting~

[@Eastky23wildlife]

@@slimshady4157 trys😊

[@markhall1169]

Did I just pickup on that fact that Don Higgins is gonna be on the public land deer challenge with Thp in Illinois 🤔

[@ExodusOutdoorGear]

I don’t think so

[@chasinggiantswithhigginsou6147]

How would it look if I was invited to one of these things and ended up killing the biggest buck of the group? That would silence the critics and they cant have that!

[@slimshady4157]

@@chasinggiantswithhigginsou6147tho it would sure be great to see and make for some good viewing entertainment! You have many fans who appreciate the dedication and hard work you put in. More over, that you share an "inside baseball" look at your strategies and knowledge. Thank you for the opportunity to be a beneficiary of your success and thank you to all at Exodus Outdoor Gear for continuing to bring us great videos. Wishing you a safe and successful 2022 season, Godspeed.

[@bowman8316]

@@chasinggiantswithhigginsou6147 your arrogance is repulsive

[@bankerlies6121]

Small fence make big deer

[@mrpush2532]

His opening sentence "if you lower the bar you just shot next years gaint". Thats funny. Where I hunt, if you don't shoot that "mediocre" buck this year, someone else will. A giant around here in PA is literally an anomaly that you only see during the rut because he widened his travel distance and comes out during daylight cause he's horney. These hunters are very spoiled.

[@dilloncovalt91kg]

PA public land holds some absolutely giant deer. They're there. You just cant find them.

[@mrpush2532]

@@dilloncovalt91kg Yes, there are some mature deer everywhere. If I choose not to spend most of my life and time NOT searching for these big guys, I will hunt where it make most sense to me.and I can do so using up a reasonable amount of time. That just happens to be where what I said above applies. Some of us don't have the resources to spends entire weekends searching for and planning hunts say in public areas trying to find that giant. Again, many of you hunters are very spoiled. Either by deer populations in your area and low hunting pressures, or you have lots or ag nearby and or lots of time. I would say that makes you a clear exception, not the rule.

[@dilloncovalt91kg]

@@mrpush2532 you act as if these deer are impossible to find. You have to put in some work to reap the rewards that come with that work. “If I choose not to” - how can you say something like that and then call others spoiled that will put in that work and are just as busy as anyone else. Seems like a very immature take.

[@bowlingmotorsportsbowling5990]

Why do most all podcast talk hunting public land mostly?

[@thepressurepack3777]

Killing deer on private land is easy.

[@gregorywebb5713]

What cameras do you have the best luck with?? User-friendly, good signals and picture quality??? Thanks for your time. Bowhunting in Ohio since 1976. I grew up loving Whitetail

[@douglasroseveare7295]

I tried to let one live last season that outscored the buck I shot. Without even measuring it was obvious. Long story short somebody shot the buck on the neighbors place a couple days later. That has happened to every big buck I watch walk away for next year. It ends up on somebody else's wall the same year. Doesn't bother too me too much though. I hunt my place and don't drive all over shooting from the road or hunting on other peoples land. All the bucks I have ever harvested are on my own 160 acres and all but 1 of them score net 130 or higher. The only one that didn't was injured badly and would have no doubt had a hard time in the Manitoba winter. This year there will be some food plots put in to hold the deer though and hopefully the next 145" buck that walks will survive and become a B&C. There are plenty of does to fill the deepfreeze anyhow.

[@jake-hofer]

Enjoyed this conversation! Can't argue the success Don has had over the years and his willingness to share his knowledge/tactics.

[@jhoffman81]

In this intro you can see Cody before he made his transition to an Avatar

[@ec9697]

This is exactly why public land hunting sucks.too many different opinions.you can kill them every now and then and even consistently in some cases but it’s much harder than being able to have property you control.out here qdm has ruined hunting.they kill every 2.5yr old with 4 on one side and we just get giant 6 points and other trash

[@dougvuillemot8670]

Yup. And they have signs that say let him go let him grow. Them fuckers are as bad as the Amish. They wipe out all the does. Iv watched it happen over and over.

[@buckydavis9434]

Would love to know what he means by land management garbage he has me Thinking

[@williamhansbrough5465]

I hunt on a crop Farm next to a really large wildlife bow only hunting my question is is there anything I can plant after crops are cut early October in Kentucky to keep deer coming there after crops are cut and the farm does have small wooded areas

[@dougvuillemot8670]

I'm in Michigan and they seem to hit my clover right until the snow. It should stay green longer in Kentucky.

[@howelblueforeever]

Sounds like something someone with 100s of acres of private land in a prime whitetail state would say. 🥱

[@WesternNyBigfoot]

what's his favorite set up? saddles ridges pinch points

[@ec9697]

Oh yeah and you also need to be where the deer grow 150+ lol

[@ec9697]

I get east winds 90% of the time lol we love west and north winds

[@farontoller3837]

You ain't got one of them million dollar perfect deer in the gate do ya

[@sureguy8124]

Misinformation is east wind. 😆 🤣 😂 😹

[@pastorjosh44]

Do any of your episodes specifically address strategies for trail cameras? How do I run cameras without driving off deer? Thanks for any help.

[@ExodusOutdoorGear]

We have some earlier episodes that dive into this topic, but it’s likely overdue to revisit some tried and true tactics

[@justinadams159]

Sucks but I can’t hunt this way till i get a big property

[@StealthTRD]

He gonna struggle on public

[@pastorjosh44]

Do any of your episodes specifically address strategies for trail cameras? How do I run cameras without driving off deer? Thanks for any help.

[@ExodusOutdoorGear]

We have in the past, but we should revisit this!

[@jimmyalamo839]

a small tip would be find heavy traffic game trails, youll see it in the ground

[@lesiamalencore4741]

Step one $$$$ and be a prick to neighbors and other hunters. How hard could it be to kill Deer over a bait field that don’t get hunted might as well take the next step and hunt at night

[@bowman8316]

Hahaha 👍🏼👍🏼

[@gsquared2394]

Would you stop rotating in your chair. Every video

[@austinphillips9966]

I made the podcast 😂

[@cummins4408]

Anyone ever wonder what a God complex sounds like, this is it.