Whitetail Deer Book

Much has been written on the whitetail deer. As a deer hunter and deer manager, many of us have read basically everything we can get our hands on in an effort to learn more about whitetails. Educating ourselves is an effort to raise our chances of success each season.

There is no question the information available today on whitetails has helped both the deer and the deer hunter. It was only about 10 years ago that a buck scoring in the 150-inch range (Boone and Crockett) would turn heads. Back then; a buck of that size was rare. But the management practices learned and now implemented have helped us grow deer larger and healthier. Today, it is not uncommon for hunters to reasonably expect to see and kill bucks that exceed this 150-inch benchmark. For those unfamiliar with Boone and Crockett scoring system, it is a way to measure a set of antlers using a standard measuring formula.

It was only 10 years ago when whitetail managers could only dream of a buck that would score 200 inches. But thanks to many of the management strategies learned by the whitetail enthusiast, there are bucks that now exceed the 300-inch mark. Any serious deer manager or hunter realizes that it takes age, proper nutrition and genetics for a buck to reach its true potential. But it also takes knowledge for it to all come together.

I recently received a new book titled “Observing & Evaluating Whitetails”, written by Dave Richards and Al Brothers. This book has set a new benchmark when it comes to valuable information for the hunter/ deer manager. Richards is a native Texan that is known for his widely published deer photos, which have appeared in virtually every deer magazine on the market. Brothers is a wildlife biologist and a legend in South Texas. His management philosophies have improved the future for deer, deer hunters and property owners.

Within its hardbound cover there are hundreds of stunning deer photos with cutting edge information on whitetail communication, sensory capabilities, aging, diseases and more. Readers will learn about the history of whitetail management and discover that today’s management strategies (that seem so logical) were foreign only 40 years ago. Every page is so full of information that the whitetail enthusiast will not be able to put it down.

Producing trophy whitetails is a year round effort. It is something that takes commitment from landowners and hunters. There are three tools used by all successful deer managers. They are binoculars, a camera and a bullet. Each of these tools has a special purpose and this book will expand on how successful managers make decisions on growing trophy deer. Additionally, you will learn how the art of determining the age of a live deer came about.

Richards and Brothers have spent thousands of hours in the field observing North America’s most popular big game animal. This book reveals many of the most interesting experiences they have encountered. Will this book make you a better hunter? Will it make you a better deer manager? It all depends on how you can put this information to use on your particular piece of land.

The book is available in either hard cover or soft cover by contacting the Quality Deer Management Association at www.QDMA.com.