Ryan Rothstein, Author at Outdoor News

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

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

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 »

Crossbows in Minnesota: Let’s look at what their use could mean for deer hunting

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

There’s no doubt about it, legalization of crossbows for all during Minnesota’s archery season is the big-ticket change for the 2023 deer season. I’ve heard lots of chatter about it the past couple of months – mostly opinion and hearsay.
I’m big on having empirical data and evidence to back up assertions, so let’s speculate on the impacts crossbows might have on Minnesota deer hunting. But how to accurately estimate the effects of new regulations never before tried here? We won’t know how crossbows influence hunting in Minnesota until we have a few years of data to peruse, so the next best thing is to peek next door, and Wisconsin is a good case study.

Crossbows in Minnesota: Let’s look at what their use could mean for deer hunting Read More »

A pollinator garden and some knowledge about whitetails that came with it

Featured, Features, Home Page News, Hunting, Minnesota, National Hunting, Nature Page & Night Sky / Ryan Rothstein

Last winter, I spent hours scheming and dreaming about my landscaping.
Numerous flower beds and small garden areas were left untended in 2022, because I had just purchased the property and was working on interior projects. Consequently, the landscaping suffered, and I knew it needed my focus in 2023. I can’t help but squeeze habitat into any square foot possible, so I laid out elaborate designs for native pollinator gardens throughout the yard.

A pollinator garden and some knowledge about whitetails that came with it Read More »

The rye factor: a deer herd game-changer

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

I will never forget March of 2023. Why am I thinking about last winter at the end of August, you ask? Because as long as I live, I will never be able to erase the image of a starving herd of deer, down to skin and bones, browsing in a clear-cut that I had just finished creating. During the past few years, I’ve become fascinated with a land manager’s ability to influence the composition of a deer herd through trigger-finger management and nutrition.

The rye factor: a deer herd game-changer Read More »

Here are the ‘must-haves’ for public land deer hunters

If you’ve never hunted deer on public land, there are plenty of small items you’d never think to bring if you’re used to hunting on the back 40, when all of your gear is a comfortable distance away in your truck or a cabin.
These consequential pieces of gear have a nasty habit of tripping you up while you’re learning the ropes of public-land hunting. Fortunately for you, I’ve been caught without all of these items while deep into public land at some point, so now you can avoid the pain of learning these lessons the hard way.

Here are the ‘must-haves’ for public land deer hunters Read More »

Meet new Outdoor News columnist Ryan Rothstein, a deer addict in every sense

Featured, Features, Hunting, Minnesota, National Hunting / Ryan Rothstein

Since I’ve never been one to beat around the bush, allow me to introduce myself: I’m Ryan Rothstein, and I’m a deer hunter.
I was born and raised in central Minnesota, and I’ve been obsessed with deer since I could walk and talk. I can still remember impatiently waiting around my grandparents’ house all day on firearms deer opener for the hunting party to get back so I could see what they’d harvested. I’ve always struggled with being forced to wait for things.

Meet new Outdoor News columnist Ryan Rothstein, a deer addict in every sense Read More »

Breaking News for

Sportsmen Since 1968

Pick a Region

Shortcuts

Latest Posts

Should you shoot single-bevel broadheads? Here’s what to consider

Jeremiah Haas: The joy of the unknown is often the fun of fishing new waters

Catching up with the ‘jerk’ buck, a huge-bodied New York 10-pointer

Christine Thomas: Major steps up, captures barn hunt title

Shortcuts

Latest Offerings

Wisconsin Cuffs and Collars, Vol. 1

Fleece Cap in Blaze Orange

Shortcuts

Contests

Letter to the Editor

Events

Shortcuts

Breaking News for

Sportsmen Since 1968

Ryan Rothstein

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

Crossbows in Minnesota: Let’s look at what their use could mean for deer hunting

A pollinator garden and some knowledge about whitetails that came with it

The rye factor: a deer herd game-changer

Here are the ‘must-haves’ for public land deer hunters

Meet new Outdoor News columnist Ryan Rothstein, a deer addict in every sense

Get the Outdoor News Delivered to Your Inbox

Help Shape the Future of OutdoorNews.com!

Introducing The Outdoor News Foundation