I’ve by no means didn’t fill my deer tag, however I don’t contemplate myself an skilled whitetail hunter for 2 causes. First, I grew up in a Canadian province with no deer inhabitants, and my dad didn’t hunt, so I didn’t develop up in a learning-to-hunt setting, and that’s one of the best ways to study. Second, though I acquired busy deer looking as quickly as I had the chance in my mid-2os, my time has all the time been restricted by work and household life, since I’m a traditional man like the remainder of y’all.
For these two causes, I’ve all the time been very eager to study looking ways from those that did develop up deer looking and from those that have spent lifetimes perfecting their ways and abilities. Which means I’ve listened to a lot of podcasts, learn a lot of journal articles, and a giant stack of books. And should you’re in the identical boat as I used to be, making an attempt to discover ways to deer-hunt as an grownup, then there’s one e-book it is best to get your arms on. That e-book is Dr. Ken Nordberg’s Whitetail Hunter’s Almanac.
Some background
Dr. Nordberg grew up within the rural midwest looking deer the normal approach, beginning by doing group deer drives whereas he toted a lever-action .30-30. He grew up, moved away to do a stint within the Navy as a dentist (therefore the “Physician” title) and likewise acquired himself a level in animal psychology. After he moved again to the U.S., he opened a non-public dentistry observe and began looking deer much more severely within the Minnesota northwoods. He additionally began learning deer. All through his free time away from his day job, Nordberg spent hours photographing deer and observing each side of their life. He additionally evaluated new looking merchandise in the marketplace, and was one of many guys on the forefront of the treestand revolution, and when he began writing for looking magazines, he was an early proponent of scent lures.
The newest model of the Whitetail Hunter’s Almanac (at present in its tenth version) is crammed with information gleaned from Nordberg’s looking and research in deer habits from the previous 50 years.
What I like about this e-book
Some looking books don’t actually provide you with a lot helpful info—they simply romanticize a sure type of deer looking, or they brag up the author’s prowess, or solely delve into a particular tactic that revolves round particular gear in a particular space. There’s nothing improper with these books when taken for what they’re, however I respect Nordberg’s Whitetail Searching Almanac as a result of it has numerous very useful info.
First, it accommodates numerous helpful fieldcraft (for lack of a greater phrase). Second, it’s not likely geared toward promoting you something; apart from basic looking tools, the one gear Nordberg recommends is a stool that you may make your self, and he publishes the plans without cost. Third, it accommodates info on a number of looking ways (though Nordberg actually focuses in on a pair he particularly likes, and explains his issues with different concepts). Fourth, most of the abilities and ways really helpful will work wherever, not only one particular area. And fifth, it has numerous helpful details about deer themselves—about how they eat, how the rut works, about their year-round residing realities, about how they react to people.
Nordberg’s looking methods are based mostly not simply on his personal looking successes (and he has actually shot numerous massive bucks), however additionally on the deer behaviors he noticed to formulate these methods. Now, granted, there are actually regional variations between deer based mostly on meals sources and buck density and dozens of different components. However should you observe the talents that Nordberg advocates (stealth, marksmanship, statement, pre-season scouting), it is best to discover success wherever you hunt.
What you won’t like about this e-book
Nordberg’s specialization in deep woods looking within the north means there are lots of different ways and practicalities to contemplate should you’re in a much-different space. As a result of a lot of Nordberg’s early ways have been based mostly on looking in snow, should you hunt in an space with no snow throughout deer season, you’ll discover his monitoring info much less helpful. For those who’re looking in a zone that prohibits rifles for deer looking, you’ll need to rethink a few of his concepts, or at the least modify them, on that foundation alone.
I additionally assume the Almanac might have maybe spent extra time inspecting the practicalities of looking strategies which have arisen because the writer’s Nineteen Seventies-Nineties heyday.
And eventually—and this can be the most important annoyance for many readers—Nordberg is actually not afraid to inform you how nice he and his household are at deer looking…
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Nevertheless, I can forgive the e-book these niggles, as a result of it accommodates a lot extra info than another deer looking e-book I’ve learn. It’s already 759 pages lengthy, and so as to add any extra info, you’d want to start out a multi-volume collection.
And regardless of the place you reside or the way you hunt, and even what you hunt, I believe you may study from this e-book by making use of Nordberg’s mindset to your looking. Even when all of his ways and strategies and even tools aren’t essentially suited to your space, his methodical method informs you of the method you have to take, refined by the realities of your space. And a few of his primary concepts (stealth, marksmanship) are obligatory in each massive recreation looking situation.
The place to search out the e-book
The tenth Version of the Almanac is at present on the market in e-book kind for $24.95 on Amazon. The tenth version was additionally accessible in printed kind, however these are bought out, and I’d not anticipate one other printing anytime quickly (I could also be improper—regulate www.drnordbergondeerhunting.com for updates).
Additionally observe that Nordberg does have printed variations of a few of his older almanacs on the market, a few of which include considerably totally different info. He additionally has printed or e-book variations of shorter books on whitetail looking in addition to black bear looking, and even DVDs. Go to dr-ken-nordberg.myshopify.com/collections/all to see what’s accessible.
https://www.youtube.com/@kennordberg9303
Or should you’re a cheapskate, like me? Watch his YouTube channel without cost, and you’ll choose up numerous info there.
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