I’ve by no means did not fill my deer tag, however I don’t take into account myself an knowledgeable 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 the easiest way to study. Second, though I received busy deer looking as quickly as I had the chance in my mid-2os, my time has at all times been restricted by work and household life, since I’m a standard man like the remainder of y’all.
For these two causes, I’ve at all times been very eager to study looking techniques from those that did develop up deer looking and from those that have spent lifetimes perfecting their techniques and abilities. Meaning I’ve listened to plenty of podcasts, learn plenty of journal articles, and a giant stack of books. And in case you’re in the identical boat as I used to be, making an attempt to learn to deer-hunt as an grownup, then there may be one e book you must get your palms 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 method, 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 in addition received himself a level in animal psychology. After he moved again to the U.S., he opened a personal dentistry observe and began looking deer much more significantly within the Minnesota northwoods. He additionally began finding out 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 the moment in its tenth version) is stuffed with information gleaned from Nordberg’s looking and research in deer conduct from the previous 50 years.
What I like about this e book
Some looking books don’t actually offer you a lot helpful data—they simply romanticize a sure fashion 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 incorrect with these books when taken for what they’re, however I admire Nordberg’s Whitetail Looking Almanac as a result of it has a whole lot of very useful data.
First, it incorporates a whole lot of helpful fieldcraft (for lack of a greater phrase). Second, it’s not likely geared toward promoting you something; apart from normal looking gear, the one gear Nordberg recommends is a stool that you may make your self, and he publishes the plans free of charge. Third, it incorporates data on a number of looking techniques (though Nordberg actually focuses in on a pair he particularly likes, and explains his issues with different concepts). Fourth, lots of the abilities and techniques beneficial will work anyplace, not only one particular area. And fifth, it has a whole lot of helpful details about deer themselves—about how they eat, how the rut works, about their year-round dwelling 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 a whole lot of large 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 elements. However in case you observe the abilities that Nordberg advocates (stealth, marksmanship, statement, pre-season scouting), you must 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 numerous different techniques and practicalities to think about in case you’re in a much-different space. As a result of lots of Nordberg’s early techniques had been based mostly on looking in snow, in case you hunt in an space with no snow throughout deer season, you’ll discover his monitoring data much less helpful. If you happen to’re looking in a zone that prohibits rifles for deer looking, you’ll must rethink a few of his concepts, or not less than modify them, on that foundation alone.
I additionally assume the Almanac might have maybe spent extra time analyzing the practicalities of looking strategies which have arisen because the creator’s Seventies-Nineteen Nineties heyday.
And at last—and this can be the most important annoyance for many readers—Nordberg is actually not afraid to let you know how nice he and his household are at deer looking…
An excellent start line
Nevertheless, I can forgive the e book these niggles, as a result of it incorporates a lot extra data than every other deer looking e book I’ve learn. It’s already 759 pages lengthy, and so as to add any extra data, you’d want to start out a multi-volume sequence.
And regardless of the place you reside or the way you hunt, and even what you hunt, I believe you’ll be able to study from this e book by making use of Nordberg’s mindset to your looking. Even when all of his techniques and strategies and even gear aren’t essentially suited to your space, his methodical strategy informs you of the strategy you’ll want to take, refined by the realities of your space. And a few of his fundamental concepts (stealth, marksmanship) are obligatory in each large recreation looking situation.
The place to seek out the e book
The tenth Version of the Almanac is at the moment on the market in e-book kind for $24.95 on Amazon. The tenth version was additionally out there in printed kind, however these are offered out, and I might not count on one other printing anytime quickly (I could also be incorrect—keep watch over www.drnordbergondeerhunting.com for updates).
Additionally notice that Nordberg does have printed variations of a few of his older almanacs on the market, a few of which include considerably totally different data. 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 out there.
https://www.youtube.com/@kennordberg9303
Or in case you’re a cheapskate, like me? Watch his YouTube channel free of charge, and you’ll decide up a whole lot of data there.
