Ryan Rothstein, Author at Outdoor News

December deer hunting: Unconventional warm weather calls for unconventional tactics

Featured, Features, Home Page News, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, National Hunting, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin / Ryan Rothstein

I distinctly remember the weather that day. It was a lackluster December day – slightly overcast, with temps at least five degrees above normal. Sure, there was snow on the ground, but nothing about the conditions gave me butterflies regarding my odds of killing a buck. If anything, I was hoping to see a few does, because I hadn’t seen any large bucks on camera.

December deer hunting: Unconventional warm weather calls for unconventional tactics Read More »

Still seeking a buck? December deer hunting means putting in your time

Featured, Featured, Features, Home Page News, Hunting, Hunting, Minnesota, National Hunting, Wisconsin / Ryan Rothstein

If you’re still holding onto a buck tag, early December deer hunting can be a strange time.
The orange army has passed through, there are fewer deer in the woods resulting from firearms season harvest, and most of the deer herd can’t seem to decide if they’re still rutting or if they’re packing on the pounds for winter. But there’s one segment of the herd that’s decidedly more interested in breeding than feeding: mature bucks.

Still seeking a buck? December deer hunting means putting in your time Read More »

Are co-ops the key to better buck quality in Minnesota?

Featured, Home Page News, Hunting, Minnesota, National Hunting / Ryan Rothstein

Inevitably, like death and taxes, each deer season I hear from frustrated hunters unhappy with how their season transpired.
It usually revolves around a few topics: not seeing enough deer, enough bucks, or enough mature bucks. It’s no secret that Minnesota has a lot of deer hunters, and that we hammer the antlered segment of the herd.

Are co-ops the key to better buck quality in Minnesota? Read More »

Your buck is one for the wall. What’s next?

Features, Hunting, Minnesota, National Hunting / Ryan Rothstein

For thousands of Minnesota deer hunters, the past several days have been a whirlwind. They are the lucky few that were in the right place at the right time – they shot their dream bucks.

Your buck is one for the wall. What’s next? Read More »

DNR’s Barb Keller discusses the state of Minnesota deer hunting

Featured, Hunting, Minnesota, National Hunting / Ryan Rothstein

It’s hard not to be in a good mood this time of year. The days leading up to firearms opener find me giddier than a toddler on Christmas Eve.

DNR’s Barb Keller discusses the state of Minnesota deer hunting Read More »

Understand scrapes, the ‘social media’ of the whitetail world, to up your odds as a hunter

Featured, Featured, Features, Home Page News, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Hunting, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, National Hunting, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin / Ryan Rothstein

I’ve always been fascinated by the ways in which deer communicate, and there’s no better example of that than scraping behavior. Although whitetails have numerous means of direct communication via grunts, bleats, and more, this is an animal that lives and dies by its nose, so it’s only proper that scraping activity is foremost among the non-verbal communications.
One of the most interesting facts to keep in mind is that all deer, regardless of sex or age, utilize scrapes year-round. What changes is the frequency and type of interaction with the scrape depending on the time of year.

Understand scrapes, the ‘social media’ of the whitetail world, to up your odds as a hunter Read More »

The art of winging it: Here’s what to target when a new deer-hunting trip presents itself

Featured, Features, Home Page News, Hunting, Minnesota, National Hunting / Ryan Rothstein

Those who know me would tell you I have a bad habit of floating wherever the wind takes me when it comes to deer hunting. There’s a running joke that if you need anything from me in the fall, you’d better get it prior to November, because I completely disappear off the grid once the calendar turns from October.
Apart from getting me in hot water with my better half, it often results in me winding up in new places I’ve never been and having no idea where or how deer move on a property.

The art of winging it: Here’s what to target when a new deer-hunting trip presents itself Read More »

Your first western deer hunt? Here are critical rules for success

It’s a somewhat hopeless feeling, realizing how greatly the odds are stacked against you. I’ve hunted the Great Plains states enough to know that getting within archery range of any deer seems like an insurmountable task. But, as the old saying goes, where there’s a will, there’s a way, and oftentimes determination is a deer hunter’s best friend.
No matter where or how you’re hunting deer out West this year, here are some universal truths to help you punch your tag.

Your first western deer hunt? Here are critical rules for success Read More »

Wealth of acorns offers array of opportunities in the deer woods

Featured, Features, Home Page News, Hunting, Minnesota, National Hunting / Ryan Rothstein

This year is shaping up to be a mighty interesting deer season in Minnesota for a whole slew of reasons.
The one that is capturing my attention currently is the absurdly humongous acorn crop smothering the ground. If you’ve stepped outside in any capacity in the past month, you’ve likely had to do a dance to avoid a tumble from the skating rink of brown marbles. Though mast years, when most oaks dish out a glut of acorns, are relatively common, typically occurring every two to five years, this year is truly something to behold. I recall a couple of large mast years, but nothing holds a candle to this year.

Wealth of acorns offers array of opportunities in the deer woods Read More »

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Ryan Rothstein

December deer hunting: Unconventional warm weather calls for unconventional tactics

Still seeking a buck? December deer hunting means putting in your time

Are co-ops the key to better buck quality in Minnesota?

Your buck is one for the wall. What’s next?

DNR’s Barb Keller discusses the state of Minnesota deer hunting

Understand scrapes, the ‘social media’ of the whitetail world, to up your odds as a hunter

The art of winging it: Here’s what to target when a new deer-hunting trip presents itself

Your first western deer hunt? Here are critical rules for success

Wealth of acorns offers array of opportunities in the deer woods

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