With the new year here, it’s time to look back at the incredible bucks taken by hunters in 2023
Author: Scott Bestul
Scott Bestul
Trained as a high school English teacher and coach, Scott Bestul left that lucrative field to pursue another—as a full-time freelance writer in 1990. He sold his first story to Field & Stream a few years later and has been contributing to the brand ever since. Highlights Education Bestul graduated from Winona State University in 1985, with a B.S. in English (writing emphasis) and a coaching certificate. Experience Bestul has been the F&S whitetails columnist for more than a decade and has written dozens of articles and contributed to many feature packages since joining the brand. Additionally, he’s contributed to many national and regional outdoor magazines and newspapers. Bestul paired with F&S Executive Editor, Dave Hurteau, to write the The Total Deer Hunter Manual and The Total Bowhunting Manual. Bestul also co-authored The Last River Rat with Wisconsin resident Kenny Salwey in 2001. He was awarded the Quality Deer Management Association’s “Signpost Communicator of the Year” in 2013, and has given seminars at deer expos and sportsman’s shows across the country. Bestul will enjoy his 50th deer season this fall, and has been turkey hunting since the 1980s. He’s been an avid upland hunter and fisherman since boyhood. F&S Lightning Round Favorite Place to Fish: Driftless region trout streams in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Iowa,Favorite Critter to Hunt: Whitetail deer in the woods behind his home,Bucket List Adventure: Float trip for archery moose in Alaska or the Yukon,Most Prized Piece of Gear: Recurve bow I helped build,All-Time Favorite F&S Story: “The Quicksand” by Bill Heavey Notable Work
A step-by-step guide to measuring that big whitetail deer you just tagged, from a certified B&C scorer
The best time to hunt deer is any time you get a chance. But you’ll see more action in the woods if you plan your hunts based on this guide
Want to bag a winter buck? Your best chance is to find out what he’s eating first
Everything you need to know to I.D. oaks, plus expert tips for finding, scouting, and hunting the best oak stands
From the obvious, like acorns and corn, to the overlooked, like white cedar and sumac, these favorite deer foods and your knowledge of them can help you fill a tag this fall
This is an affordable new wireless trail cam that includes impressive features for its price range
Our bowhunting test team goes in depth on a great budget compound bow from PSE
We sat down with Kip Adams of the National Deer Association to learn how expert whitetail deer managers age bucks
The best part of your entire deer hunting season is here. Make the most of it by studying these pro secrets for hunting every phase of the rut
