Chasing Giants with Don Higgins

Chasing Giants Podcast #348 | Cold Fronts, the Rut & a HUGE Announcement!

What really controls mature buck movement during October and the rut? Don Higgins shares some eye-opening trail camera numbers showing just how dramatically temperature can impact deer activity.

But before we get into deer hunting, we have some incredible news to share!

**An Answered Prayer for Robin Higgins**

Don opens this episode with an emotional update on Robin's cancer journey and the incredible report they received from Mayo Clinic. After months of treatment and thousands of prayers from the Chasing Giants family, Don and Terry reflect on faith, gratitude, and the power of prayer.

Cold Fronts, Deer Movement & the 2026 Rut Report

Don explains how his trail camera activity went from approximately 80 pictures during extreme warm weather to more than 2,500 pictures during a major cold front!

That's a massive difference in deer activity, and Don has a new plan to document the relationship between temperature and deer movement throughout the rut.

Big Announcements!

We're excited to introduce the new Chasing Giants website at https://www.chasinggiants.com, featuring our new ready-to-use mock scrape ropes and merchandise.

We also discuss our partnership with Contors, a powerful hunting and habitat management app featuring terrain-influenced wind visualization, property management tools, food plot resources, and more.

Higgins Hot Seat: SHOOT OR PASS?

Don gets put on the spot with trail camera photos of bucks he's never seen before. Would he shoot them or let them grow another year?

Listener Questions

We also discuss:

- Hunting fence rows during the rut

- How mature bucks use the downwind side of cover

- Sharing trophy buck photos on social media

- Don's cattle project with his grandson

- Rebuilding timber habitat after ash tree loss

2026 Rut Report Giveaways

Follow Don Higgins and Chasing Giants for the daily Rut Report and opportunities to win Chasing Giants mock scrape ropes, Scrape Magnet, and Contors subscriptions.

Giants TV Sponsors:

Real World Wildlife Products

Asio Gear

Chasing Giants Podcast Sponsors:

Asio Gear

Real World Wildlife Products

Hawke Optics

Novix Outdoors

Midwest Land Group

360 Hunting Blinds

Mike’s Mighty Micros

Gingerich Tree Farms

TagOut Technique

Grubb Implement

Brenton USA

Mathews Archery

Victory GMC & Auto Group

Wildlife Farming

WiseEye Technologies

Chasing Assurance Podcast Sponsors:

Heartwood Planning Group

WiseEye Technologies

Coonless Feeders

Green Prairie Seed Company

© 2026 Chasing Giants Podcast. All rights reserved.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests and hosts during this episode are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Chasing Giants, our sponsors, advertising partners, affiliates, or associated organizations. This interview is presented for informational purposes and to encourage respectful discussion.

Copyright Notice: Any unauthorized reproduction, rebroadcast, redistribution, recording, or use of this audio or video, in whole or in part, without the express written consent of Chasing Giants LLC is strictly prohibited.

The FIRST major October cold front of 2026 has arrived, and mature bucks are finally showing themselves in daylight!

In Episode #347 of the Chasing Giants Podcast, Don Higgins and Terry Peer break down the dramatic change in deer movement following a major temperature drop across the Midwest. From bucks fighting before dark to mature deer appearing on trail cameras in the middle of the afternoon, the evidence is hard to ignore.

Does weather really trump everything when it comes to mature buck movement?

Don explains why temperature is such a critical factor, what this early cold front means for the upcoming rut, and why the next few weeks could offer even better opportunities.

Also in this episode:

- Don picks up the mount of his legendary buck, Doubting Thomas.

- The 2026 Higgins Rut Report is coming back with daily giveaways!

- Introducing the new Chasing Giants Mock Scrape Rope.

- How a WiseEye trail camera helped law enforcement catch a trespasser.

- Can acorns cause a doe to stop nursing her fawns?

- How much of a 40-acre property should be food plots versus bedding cover?

- Are scent-control products overrated?

- Don and Terry share their opinions on crossbows during archery season.

- Why complicated food plot designs often fail to produce mature bucks.

- Don reveals a major change in his fruit orchard strategy that could be a game changer for daylight buck movement.

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!

What kind of deer movement did you experience during the October 16–17 cold front? Did you see more mature bucks in daylight? Increased fighting? More scrape activity?

Leave your observations in the comments below!

Website: https://www.chasinggiants.com

Submit a question for Don and Terry through the website. If your question is selected for the podcast, you'll receive an exclusive sponsor T-shirt!

COMING SOON

The 2026 Higgins Rut Report returns around October 30! Follow Don Higgins, Chasing Giants, and Real World Wildlife Products for daily rut observations and opportunities to win prizes.

Subscribe to Chasing Giants for weekly discussions about mature whitetail hunting, land management, habitat improvement, and the pursuit of world-class bucks.

#ChasingGiants #DonHiggins #WhitetailHunting #DeerHunting #OctoberColdFront

Giants TV Sponsors:

Real World Wildlife Products

Asio Gear

Chasing Giants Podcast Sponsors:

Asio Gear

Real World Wildlife Products

Hawke Optics

Novix Outdoors

Midwest Land Group

360 Hunting Blinds

Mike’s Mighty Micros

Gingerich Tree Farms

TagOut Technique

Grubb Implement

Brenton USA

Mathews Archery

Victory GMC & Auto Group

Wildlife Farming

WiseEye Technologies

Chasing Assurance Podcast Sponsors:

Heartwood Planning Group

WiseEye Technologies

Coonless Feeders

Green Prairie Seed Company

© 2026 Chasing Giants Podcast. All rights reserved.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests and hosts during this episode are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Chasing Giants, our sponsors, advertising partners, affiliates, or associated organizations. This interview is presented for informational purposes and to encourage respectful discussion.

Copyright Notice: Any unauthorized reproduction, rebroadcast, redistribution, recording, or use of this audio or video, in whole or in part, without the express written consent of Chasing Giants LLC is strictly prohibited.

Is there a difference between being a great archer and being a great bowhunter? How far is too far when taking a shot at a whitetail deer?

In Chasing Giants Podcast Episode #346, Don Higgins and Terry Peer tackle one of the most debated topics in bowhunting today: long-distance archery shots and the responsibility hunters have to the animals they pursue.

After a listener questions hunters taking 70-yard shots at live deer, Don shares his perspective from nearly 50 seasons of bowhunting. He explains why he prefers to get mature bucks within 15–20 yards, why knowing your limitations matters, and why the real challenge of bowhunting may be getting closer rather than shooting farther.

But that's only part of this week's conversation!

IN THIS EPISODE:

Don Higgins' Next Big Habitat Project

Don takes us behind the scenes of his 300-acre Illinois property and reveals his plans to eliminate nearly a mile of maintained paths to create larger, less-disturbed bedding areas. He also discusses his long-term goal of producing more mature, giant-antlered bucks and leaving an incredible wildlife habitat legacy for future generations.

Fruit Tree Management Tips

- How much water newly planted fruit trees need during drought conditions

- When and how to transplant young fruit trees

- The hidden dangers of mice nesting inside tree tubes

- Protecting young trees from damage during fall

Food Plot and Herbicide Updates

Terry shares the results of a surfactant experiment on waterhemp and marestail at his southern Illinois farm. The results weren't what they hoped for, reinforcing the importance of proper weed management and pre-emergent herbicides.

2026 Rut Report Announcements

Don reveals plans for this year's Rut Report, including daily prize giveaways and opportunities for hunters across the country to share what they're seeing in the woods.

Listener Questions

- What's the best way to organize trail camera photos and track individual bucks over multiple seasons?

- Are 70-yard bow shots ethical?

- Should you hunt October mornings when access, wind, and temperatures are perfect?

Updates on the new Chasing Giants website, consulting resources, the latest ASIO Gear backpack, and Don's recent property tour on Chasing Giants TV.

SUNDAY NIGHT PRAYER TIME

Wes Delks closes this episode with an encouraging message about church hurt, forgiveness, and the importance of Christian fellowship. Scripture references include Matthew 24:10, Hebrews 10:24–25, and Ephesians 4:26–27.

Subscribe for weekly conversations about whitetail deer hunting, habitat management, food plots, land management, and the pursuit of world-class whitetails.

Visit our Chasing Giants channels for additional property tours, educational videos, and hunting content.

Southland Christian Church Men's Event — https://www.southland.church/feed

What's the farthest distance you would personally take a shot at a live whitetail with your bow? And do you think today's bowhunters are putting too much emphasis on shooting distance?

Tell us in the comments!

If you enjoy the podcast, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE with another serious whitetail hunter.

#ChasingGiants #DonHiggins #Bowhunting #WhitetailHunting #DeerHunting

Chasing Giants Podcast Sponsors:

Asio Gear

Real World Wildlife Products

Hawke Optics

Novix Outdoors

Midwest Land Group

360 Hunting Blinds

Mike’s Mighty Micros

Gingerich Tree Farms

TagOut Technique

Grubb Implement

Brenton USA

Mathews Archery

Victory GMC & Auto Group

Wildlife Farming

WiseEye Technologies

Chasing Assurance Podcast Sponsors:

Heartwood Planning Group

WiseEye Technologies

Coonless Feeders

Green Prairie Seed Company

© 2026 Chasing Giants Podcast. All rights reserved.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests and hosts during this episode are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Chasing Giants, our sponsors, advertising partners, affiliates, or associated organizations. This interview is presented for informational purposes and to encourage respectful discussion.

Copyright Notice: Any unauthorized reproduction, rebroadcast, redistribution, recording, or use of this audio or video, in whole or in part, without the express written consent of Chasing Giants LLC is strictly prohibited.

Something strange is happening in the deer woods this fall.

Don says that in nearly 50 years of deer hunting, he has never seen this much scrape activity during September. Terry is seeing the same thing across properties in Kentucky, Ohio, central Illinois and southern Illinois — and it isn't just bucks. Does are hammering scrapes too.

So what's causing it?

In this episode of the Chasing Giants Podcast, Don Higgins and Terry Peer dig into the incredible early-season scrape activity they're seeing and discuss what it could mean as we move deeper into October.

Don also shares his recent fall habitat work, including why he believes fall is the best time to plant trees and how he's adding oaks, apple trees and pear trees without unnecessarily disturbing his hunting property.

Then the conversation takes a much more personal turn.

Illinois deer season is open...but Don hasn't hunted yet. He hasn't even shot his new bow.

Don explains why his priorities are changing, why he's suddenly more excited about trapping than deer hunting, and how Robin's health and spending time with his grandson have changed his perspective.

Terry and Don discuss something every serious hunter eventually has to confront: hunting may be a huge part of our lives, but it shouldn't be the most important part.

Also in this episode:

• Terry recaps his 50th birthday trip and fishing the Destin Rodeo

• Why fall can be the perfect time to plant habitat trees

• Don's experience at the Illinois Trappers Association event

• Why Scrape Magnet-treated mock scrapes are holding deer for hundreds of trail-camera photos

• Why mature bucks sometimes simply disappear

• The growing controversy surrounding thermal drones and deer hunting

• Drop-away rests vs. Whisker Biscuits

• Whether you should mow underneath white oaks, persimmons and other feed trees

• Listener questions from across the country

• An update on Robin and her upcoming Mayo Clinic visit

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU:

Are you seeing more scrape activity than normal this fall?

Tell us where you're located and what you're seeing in the comments. We're especially interested in hearing whether you're seeing unusually heavy scrape activity from both bucks AND does.

And if you're using rope scrapes or Scrape Magnet, are deer spending more time working those scrapes than you've seen in previous years?

Subscribe to Chasing Giants and follow along throughout the 2026 deer season as Don and Terry share what they're seeing in real time.

#ChasingGiants #DeerHunting #WhitetailDeer #WhitetailHunting #DeerScrapes #ScrapeActivity #DeerHabitat #LandManagement #Bowhunting

Chasing Giants TV Sponsors:

Real World Wildlife Products

Asio Gear

Chasing Giants Podcast Sponsors:

Asio Gear

Real World Wildlife Products

Hawke Optics

Novix Outdoors

Midwest Land Group

360 Hunting Blinds

Mike’s Mighty Micros

Gingerich Tree Farms

TagOut Technique

Grubb Implement

Brenton USA

Mathews Archery

Victory GMC & Auto Group

Wildlife Farming

WiseEye Technologies

Chasing Assurance Podcast Sponsors:

Heartwood Planning Group

WiseEye Technologies

Coonless Feeders

Green Prairie Seed Company

© 2026 Chasing Giants Podcast. All rights reserved.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests and hosts during this episode are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Chasing Giants, our sponsors, advertising partners, affiliates, or associated organizations. This interview is presented for informational purposes and to encourage respectful discussion.

Copyright Notice: Any unauthorized reproduction, rebroadcast, redistribution, recording, or use of this audio or video, in whole or in part, without the express written consent of Chasing Giants LLC is strictly prohibited.

Five years. One old South Carolina swamp buck. And an ending Joe Miles will never forget.

On Chasing Giants Podcast #344, Terry Peer and Don Higgins are joined by special guest Joe Miles from ASIO Gear for an episode packed with whitetail strategy, hunting stories, and one incredible mature-buck success story.

Joe takes us through his long history with a South Carolina swamp buck that somehow survived year after year in an area where hunting pressure makes it extremely difficult for bucks to reach old age. After years of pictures, missed opportunities, travel conflicts, and never actually laying eyes on the deer, Joe decided this was going to be the season he dedicated to him.

Then an unexpected clue changed everything.

A mineral site that hogs had turned into a muddy water hole became the key to finally patterning this old buck. Joe noticed the deer returning every few days to drink—and built a hunting strategy around it.

The result was the first time Joe had ever laid eyes on the buck in five years…and ultimately the opportunity he had been waiting for.

Joe, Don, and Terry also dig into several timely topics as hunting seasons open across the country:

• Why trail-camera activity seemed to suddenly disappear across much of the Midwest

• How heavy acorn crops can completely change deer movement

• The increase in scrape and mock-scrape activity

• Joe's upcoming hunting plans and his growing addiction to the recurve

• New gear coming from ASIO Gear

• Whether EHD should change your harvest strategy

• Why some mature bucks suddenly become aggressive rut travelers

• When to plant fall food plots when the forecast looks dry

• Why the most meaningful buck isn't always the biggest buck

Joe also discusses the story behind his documentary about his life, hunting background, and the creation of ASIO Gear.

It's a full hour of deer hunting conversation with three guys who spend a lot of time studying mature whitetails—and hunting them.

Drop a comment below: Have your trail cameras picked back up after the September slowdown? And are your deer abandoning fields and bait for acorns?

Subscribe to Chasing Giants and join us each week as Terry Peer and Don Higgins talk mature whitetails, habitat, hunting strategy, and the lessons learned from chasing giant bucks.

#ChasingGiants #JoeMiles #ASIOGear #WhitetailHunting #DeerHunting #MatureBucks #Bowhunting #WhitetailDeer

Something strange happened in mid-September — our trail cameras practically went DEAD.

Don went from getting hundreds of deer pictures a day to virtually nothing. Terry started seeing the same thing on multiple properties spread across a huge geographic area.

Is it weather? A seasonal transition? Bucks shedding velvet? EHD? Or something else entirely?

In Episode 343 of the Chasing Giants Podcast, Don Higgins and Terry Peer compare what they're seeing and ask listeners across the Midwest to check their own trail-camera data.

We especially want to hear from YOU: Go back to roughly September 10–11 and look at your camera activity. Did you see a sudden decline in deer movement too? Tell us your state and what you saw in the comments.

But that's just the beginning of this episode.

Don and Terry also dive into one of the biggest challenges food plotters are facing right now: DRY WEATHER.

They discuss what to do when you've planted but haven't gotten rain, how long seed can remain viable waiting for moisture, when it's time to move away from brassicas and toward cereal grains, and why you shouldn't give up on a fall food plot too quickly.

They also cover:

• What to plant when you're getting into October

• Why cereal grains give you a longer fall planting window

• Oats vs. rye vs. winter wheat vs. barley

• When to plant potted fruit trees

• Why December can be an outstanding month for tree planting

• Clover vs. alfalfa during drought

• When to mow clover one final time before hunting season

• Waterhemp problems in soybeans

• The importance of residual herbicides and timely weed control

• What makes a good land-consulting client

• How to choose the right habitat consultant

• Where trail cameras should REALLY be placed around food plots

• Whether mature bucks avoid elevated box blinds

Don also explains why a trail-camera location should be built with the same thought and strategy you would put into a hunting location. Instead of simply observing a large food plot, concentrate deer movement into predictable locations and position cameras accordingly.

And when it comes to elevated blinds, Don explains why there isn't a simple yes-or-no answer. Individual bucks react differently, and how you access and hunt the blind can be just as important as the blind itself.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK:

Did your trail-camera activity suddenly fall off during mid-September?

Drop your location and what you observed in the comments. We'd like to compare reports from hunters across different regions and see whether there is a larger pattern.

Chasing Giants TV Sponsors:

Real World Wildlife Products

Asio Gear

Chasing Giants Podcast Sponsors:

Asio Gear

Real World Wildlife Products

Hawke Optics

Novix Outdoors

Midwest Land Group

360 Hunting Blinds

Mike’s Mighty Micros

Gingerich Tree Farms

TagOut Technique

Grubb Implement

Brenton USA

Mathews Archery

Victory GMC & Auto Group

Wildlife Farming

WiseEye Technologies

Chasing Assurance Podcast Sponsors:

Heartwood Planning Group

WiseEye Technologies

Coonless Feeders

Green Prairie Seed Company

© 2026 Chasing Giants Podcast. All rights reserved.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests and hosts during this episode are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Chasing Giants, our sponsors, advertising partners, affiliates, or associated organizations. This interview is presented for informational purposes and to encourage respectful discussion.

Copyright Notice: Any unauthorized reproduction, rebroadcast, redistribution, recording, or use of this audio or video, in whole or in part, without the express written consent of Chasing Giants LLC is strictly prohibited.

Deer season is officially here, and Chasing Giants is back with plenty to talk about.

Terry kicks off Episode 341 with an update from his first hunts of the 2026 Kentucky season, including a fascinating Western Kentucky property where years of habitat improvement, food plots, bedding cover and disciplined buck management are beginning to show major results.

Don and Terry discuss why buck management can have such a dramatic impact on a property—not because hunters are “changing genetics,” but because they can influence which bucks are allowed to reach older age classes.

They also talk about last-minute food plot work, overseeding standing corn and soybeans, hairy vetch, cereal grains, miscanthus screens and preparing properties for the heart of deer season.

Then the conversation takes a turn.

Don is going old school.

His grandson Walker has developed an interest in trapping, and Don is pulling out knowledge and equipment from a part of his outdoor life that predates his obsession with giant whitetails. Their goal includes catching 50 raccoons and eventually pursuing the different Illinois furbearers together.

From there, Terry brings up a fascinating debate happening in another outdoor industry: forward-facing sonar in fishing.

It raises a much bigger question:

What happens when technology becomes so effective that the younger generation experiences hunting and fishing completely differently than the generation before them?

Trail cameras. Cell cameras. Drones. Forward-facing sonar.

Where is the line between using technology and losing the skills that originally defined the outdoors?

Don gives his perspective on the generational divide and why passing along woodsmanship, character, integrity and faith may be more important than ever.

Plus, this week's listener questions include:

• Would Don consider becoming Illinois DNR Director if Darren Bailey asked him?

• What's the big buck that Don still thinks he should have killed?

• Do trail cameras take some of the excitement out of hunting?

• How should you hunt a small rut funnel surrounded by larger properties?

• How does Don deal with criticism and haters on social media?

• Will a buck with an abnormal extra beam grow it again next year?

And perhaps one of the best reminders of Episode 341:

Keep hunting fun.

Hunt the way that makes YOU happy. You don't have to impress social media, Don, Terry or anybody else.

Thanks for listening, watching and being part of the Chasing Giants community.

BOONE BROTHERS

Kentucky hunters have an incredible opportunity to turn their deer harvest into meals for hungry children.

One donated doe can provide approximately 115 meals through Boone Brothers.

Deer season is officially here, and Chasing Giants is back with plenty to talk about.

Chasing Giants TV Sponsors:

Real World Wildlife Products

Asio Gear

Chasing Giants Podcast Sponsors:

Asio Gear

Real World Wildlife Products

Hawke Optics

Novix Outdoors

Midwest Land Group

360 Hunting Blinds

Mike’s Mighty Micros

Gingerich Tree Farms

TagOut Technique

Grubb Implement

Brenton USA

Mathews Archery

Victory GMC & Auto Group

Wildlife Farming

WiseEye Technologies

Chasing Assurance Podcast Sponsors:

Heartwood Planning Group

WiseEye Technologies

Coonless Feeders

Green Prairie Seed Company

© 2026 Chasing Giants Podcast. All rights reserved.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests and hosts during this episode are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Chasing Giants, our sponsors, advertising partners, affiliates, or associated organizations. This interview is presented for informational purposes and to encourage respectful discussion.

Copyright Notice: Any unauthorized reproduction, rebroadcast, redistribution, recording, or use of this audio or video, in whole or in part, without the express written consent of Chasing Giants LLC is strictly prohibited.

Don Higgins’ annual Big Buck Forecast is here—and his outlook for the 2026 whitetail season may surprise a lot of hunters.

After decades of running trail cameras across multiple properties, counties, and states, Don says this has been the worst summer he can remember for finding mature bucks.

So what is happening to our mature whitetails?

In Episode #341 of Chasing Giants, Don and Terry break down what Don is seeing across his trail-camera network, how mature buck numbers have changed, what role increased hunting pressure and technology may be playing, and why Don believes hunters who want to continue chasing mature whitetails need to start paying attention.

They also discuss:

• Why hot weather has crushed recent deer movement

• Hard-horn bucks beginning to show up

• Whether you should plant fall food plots in extremely dry conditions

• The winner of the Lester’s Feet South Texas hunt

• Why Don believes fewer 150"+ bucks are surviving to maturity

• How technology is changing mature buck hunting

• Whether the world-record typical whitetail will ever be broken

• Why the next world record could be getting killed every year before reaching its potential

• Whether mature bucks actually seek out areas without hunting pressure—or simply get lucky

• One large hunting property vs. owning multiple properties

• Don’s aggressive approach to managing his buck herd this season

• Russian olive and honey locust for whitetail habitat

• Apples vs. pears vs. persimmons for deer orchards

• The importance of creating something on your property that your neighbors don't have

Plus, we share an important update on Robin, talk about the incredible mission of Boone Brothers, and celebrate another successful Lester’s Feet fundraiser.

As hunting seasons begin opening across the country, we wish every member of the Chasing Giants family a safe and successful 2026 season.

God bless, and thanks for chasing giants with us.

#ChasingGiants #DonHiggins #WhitetailDeer #DeerHunting #BigBucks

Chasing Giants TV Sponsors:

Real World Wildlife Products

Asio Gear

Chasing Giants Podcast Sponsors:

Asio Gear

Real World Wildlife Products

Hawke Optics

Novix Outdoors

Midwest Land Group

360 Hunting Blinds

Mike’s Mighty Micros

Gingerich Tree Farms

TagOut Technique

Grubb Implement

Brenton USA

Mathews Archery

Victory GMC & Auto Group

Wildlife Farming

WiseEye Technologies

Chasing Assurance Podcast Sponsors:

Heartwood Planning Group

WiseEye Technologies

Coonless Feeders

Green Prairie Seed Company

© 2026 Chasing Giants Podcast. All rights reserved.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests and hosts during this episode are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Chasing Giants, our sponsors, advertising partners, affiliates, or associated organizations. This interview is presented for informational purposes and to encourage respectful discussion.

Copyright Notice: Any unauthorized reproduction, rebroadcast, redistribution, recording, or use of this audio or video, in whole or in part, without the express written consent of Chasing Giants LLC is strictly prohibited.

What is the #1 factor controlling whitetail deer movement?

According to Don Higgins, it isn't the rut. It isn't the moon. It's TEMPERATURE.

In Episode 340 of the Chasing Giants Podcast, Don shares a recent real-world example from his trail cameras. After averaging roughly 100–400 photos per day across eight cameras, a temperature change caused activity to explode to more than 1,500 photos per day — and the movement wasn't limited to nighttime.

Don and Terry break down why weather can trump nearly everything else when it comes to mature buck movement and how hunters can use cold fronts throughout the entire deer season.

Also in Episode 340:

• Why 2026 is producing an incredible hard and soft mast crop

• Acorns, apples, persimmons, chestnuts and other fall food sources

• How abundant food can change deer patterns

• October morning hunting — when does it actually make sense?

• A mature buck encounter that completely changed how Don hunts

• Why giving up the wind can ruin even a great stand location

• What "woodsmanship" really means

• Why trapping can make someone a better deer hunter

• Teaching the next generation traditional outdoor skills

• Using hairy vetch for soil health and whitetail food plots

• Hunting over bait: the difference between legal and ethical

• How to prepare for the moment of truth on a giant buck

• Listener questions and important prayer requests

With hunting seasons beginning across the country, this episode is packed with information you can put to use immediately.

Subscribe to Chasing Giants and join Don Higgins and Terry Peer each week as they discuss mature whitetails, habitat management, hunting strategy, faith, and lessons learned from decades in the whitetail woods.

#ChasingGiants #WhitetailDeer #DeerHunting #MatureBucks #ColdFront #DeerMovement #WhitetailHunting #HuntingPodcast #FoodPlots #DeerHabitat

Chasing Giants TV Sponsors:

Real World Wildlife Products

Asio Gear

Chasing Giants Podcast Sponsors:

Asio Gear

Real World Wildlife Products

Hawke Optics

Novix Outdoors

Midwest Land Group

360 Hunting Blinds

Mike’s Mighty Micros

Gingerich Tree Farms

TagOut Technique

Grubb Implement

Brenton USA

Mathews Archery

Victory GMC & Auto Group

Wildlife Farming

WiseEye Technologies

Chasing Assurance Podcast Sponsors:

Heartwood Planning Group

WiseEye Technologies

Coonless Feeders

Green Prairie Seed Company

© 2026 Chasing Giants Podcast. All rights reserved.

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests and hosts during this episode are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Chasing Giants, our sponsors, advertising partners, affiliates, or associated organizations. This interview is presented for informational purposes and to encourage respectful discussion.

Copyright Notice: Any unauthorized reproduction, rebroadcast, redistribution, recording, or use of this audio or video, in whole or in part, without the express written consent of Chasing Giants LLC is strictly prohibited.

What would you do if somebody sent you a photo — and the exact location — of a 200-inch whitetail?

On Episode 339 of the Chasing Giants Podcast, Don Higgins and Terry Peer dive back into one of the most debated subjects in hunting: the difference between what is legal and what is ethical.

After last week's discussion generated more than 100 comments, Don explains why hunting ethics have to go beyond simply asking whether something is legal. That conversation leads directly back into thermal drones — including the story of a hunter who spent $10,000 on a thermal drone, used it for only a few months, and then sold it because he believed the technology crossed an ethical line.

Then Don addresses controversy surrounding a recent Whitetail Master Academy clip about receiving tips on giant bucks. Don explains exactly what happens when somebody sends him information about a big deer, why most tips never make it beyond his computer, and why he has walked away from opportunities to hunt tremendous bucks when doing so would step on another hunter's toes.

Don also shares an incredible story about locating a giant Nebraska buck on public land. After tracing the trail-camera photo back to the young hunter who originally captured it, Don called him directly and asked for his blessing before hunting the deer. The hunter said no — and Don walked away.

Plus, Don and Terry answer listener questions covering:

Why Don is cautious about river-bottom hunting properties

Whether NutriCrave high-oil corn is difficult for deer to digest

Whether shooting a cull buck can push a target buck off your property

How to recognize hunting content that may not tell the entire story

How Don chooses stand locations based on wind

Why sometimes the best hunting decision is simply staying home

The episode closes with Sunday Night Prayer Time with Ty Miller and a challenge to stop merely reacting as Christians and begin intentionally viewing our lives, neighbors, challenges and priorities through God.

Chapters

00:00 Welcome to Chasing Giants 339

00:25 Update on Robin Higgins

03:00 Prayers for Gene Wentzel & Kevin Thayer

05:00 Legal vs. Ethical Hunting

09:40 Are Thermal Drones Unethical?

11:00 Hunter Buys a $10,000 Drone — Then Sells It

14:15 Protecting Your Property From Drones

16:25 Boone Brothers & Donating Deer in Kentucky

18:45 What Happened to Whitetail Master Academy?

21:00 Don Responds to the Big Buck Controversy

23:30 Rumors About Don Higgins

25:55 Don Knows Where Two 200” Bucks Are Right Now

28:10 Treat Other Hunters the Way You Want to Be Treated

30:35 Should You Share Pictures of Giant Bucks?

32:55 How Don Handles Tips on Big Bucks

35:20 The Giant Nebraska Public-Land Buck

37:40 River Bottom Properties — Good or Bad?

40:05 Can You Keep Mature Bucks on Your Property?

42:30 Is High-Oil Corn Hard for Deer to Digest?

44:50 Will Killing a Cull Buck Push Away Your Target Buck?

46:55 Is Hunting Content Becoming Fake?

49:20 Smoke, Mirrors & Hunting Personalities

53:15 Does Don Know Every Mature Buck on His Farm?

55:10 Choosing Stands for Different Winds

59:30 Sunday Night Prayer — Seeing Life Through God

YouTube Tags

Chasing Giants, Don Higgins, Terry Peer, Chasing Giants Podcast, whitetail deer, whitetail hunting, deer hunting, mature bucks, big bucks, giant whitetails, 200 inch buck, hunting ethics, hunting controversy, thermal drones, deer recovery drones, hunting drones, trail cameras, trail camera pictures, public land bucks, hunting permission, deer hunting tips, habitat management, land management, food plots, deer behavior, river bottom hunting, deer hunting pressure, bowhunting, Kentucky deer hunting, Whitetail Master Academy, Don Higgins whitetail, Christian hunting podcast

Chasing Giants TV Sponsors:

Real World Wildlife Products

Asio Gear

Chasing Giants Podcast Sponsors:

Asio Gear

Real World Wildlife Products

Hawke Optics

Novix Outdoors

Midwest Land Group

360 Hunting Blinds

Mike’s Mighty Micros

Gingerich Tree Farms

TagOut Technique

Grubb Implement

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