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Along the brackish waters of the southern gulf coast resides a unique species called diamond back terrapin, aka, the keepers of the salt marsh. In this episode we paddle along with field biologists to get our hands on one of these animals, as well as learn about what obstacles they face, and what that means for this essential coastal habitat.

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Steven Rinella talks with director of the Missouri Department of Conservation, Jason Sumners, about: honest updates on the state of chronic wasting disease in America; managing deer herds; what other states can learn from Missouri; keeping hunters at the core of conservation; whether we might be seeing the end of big bucks; and more!

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A few years ago, I spent my whole opening week in Kansas hunting a green soybean field full of browsing scars but didn’t see a single deer. When I finally stepped into the woods to find them, I found an area that looked like a feedlot—trampled to bare dirt with a healthy amount of whitetail poo sprinkled throughout.

I heard the reason for the scene before I spotted it as a few bur oak acorns tumbled to the ground. One massive tree was dropping hard and had seemingly pulled every whitetail in the county into its orbit. My months of summer scouting became obsolete in an instant, and I filled my buck tag under that tree two days later.

There are dozens of physiological and environmental factors that turn clockwork summer patterns into a pile of question marks by October, but acorns are arguably the most important for an early-season deer hunter to understand.

There’s a lot of protein propaganda in the whitetail world, and not without good reason. Protein is a necessary macronutrient for all living things, and it’s especially critical for summer whitetails in the midst of antler production, lactation, and regular body growth.

Crops such as soybeans and alfalfa are a hot commodity while protein needs are high, which create the pre-season trail camera and glassing opportunities that deer hunters drool over. However, once antlers harden and fawns are weaned, the looming energy demands of fall and winter push protein to the backseat. That happens to also be when acorns hit the ground.

Acorns can’t compete with most destination food sources for protein content, but they wipe the floor on the energy front. Nothing allows a whitetail to rapidly pack on fat like a hearty acorn crop, and they know it. A 1975 study in Virginia discovered that acorns accounted for over two-thirds of the diet volume of monitored deer in years of high abundance.

Another Virginia study found that deer expanded their home ranges to include acorn-rich areas and spent half of their foraging time on acorns alone during peak mast-fall, which conveniently straddles archery opener and pre-rut across much of North America. Acorns are a prime suspect when early-season deer suddenly vanish into the timber, but their influence varies by year and by species.

Sadly, deer hunting is not as simple as finding acorns. Not all acorns are equal in the eyes of a whitetail. North American oaks are divided into two main subgroups: red and white. Acorns of the red oak subgroup are generally higher in protein and fat than white oak acorns while being comparably high in carbs, but they’re also significantly higher in tannins and fiber. That makes them both less palatable and less digestible for deer despite appearing to have a better nutritional profile.

White oak acorns also germinate almost immediately after falling, which spurs whitetails to gorge on them as much as possible while they’re fresh. Bitter red oak acorns, on the other hand, overwinter as a nut and germinate in the spring. In areas where both subgroups are dropping, red oak acorns can be almost completely irrelevant until most of the white oak acorns are off the table, either due to consumption or germination.

To successfully target acorns, you need to know which kind you’re looking at. A white oak crop is highly valuable for a short period of time in the early season, but red oak acorns often take the lead by November and only increase in worth until closing day.

The influence of a good acorn crop on whitetail behavior is consistent. Unfortunately, annual acorn abundance is not, and it changes everything.

The whitetail-acorn dynamic mirrors a typical predator-prey relationship. Oaks, like cottontails, have boom and bust years, and whitetails, like coyotes or bobcats, respond in kind. The same Virginia study that found deer spent 50% of foraging time on acorns in years of above-average acorn production put that number at less than 5% during below-average years.

Likewise, a nearby study in Georgia showed that the observed home-range expansion of boom years did not occur in bust years. Instead, deer seem to stick to local row crops, food plots, and standard natural browse and forage when acorns are scarce.

Science still hasn’t found a reliable way to predict how many acorns will drop each year, and production can vary not only regionally, but also from ridge to ridge and even amongst individual trees of any given species. If you don’t want to miss out on some of the hottest action a whitetail hunter can get, you better be prepared for some in-season scouting. And if your oak ID isn’t the best, don’t sweat it. Fresh sign and a few sits in a nearby tree will tell you if deer are actively interested in the little brown nuts you found.

Classic deer cartridges didn’t cement their legacies overnight. Instead, decades of deer camps, proven track records, and crowded meat poles speak to why these rounds remain reliable favorites even today.

If you’re the camp member that’s been using the same rifle since there was an East and West Berlin, you’re in good company. Picking the top three classic deer cartridges is no small task, but we decided to go with the most popular ones from the 2023 Whitetail bracket.

There are plenty of other classics that could make an honest case for their inclusion. I’m sure plenty of you will skewer me in the comments for not including the .308 Win or .270 Win., and I hear you. Some of you might even make a case for those slightly obscure but fantastic rounds, like the .257 Roberts, .264 Win Mag., or .35 Rem. But we’re looking at three of the best classic deer cartridges that cover the gamut of hunting scenarios and letting you crown the champion.

Check out the list below and cast your vote. Then, come back Wednesday for Jordan Sillars’ take on the best new-school whitetail cartridges, where you can also vote (or bash) on three of the latest cartridges making their case in the deer woods. To wrap up our Whitetail Week, the winner of each category will square off on Friday, where you’ll vote for the best whitetail cartridge overall in a classics vs. new kid showdown.

We specifically chose three cartridges in different ballistic categories to avoid an apples to apples comparison. These three rounds cover most scenarios in the whitetail woods: long range, mid range, and close-quarter brush country.

Sig Sauer’s 180gr Platinum Hunter leaves the barrel at a respectable 2750 fps, and that heavier bullet slows down to just below 2000 fps at 500 yards. Because it’s still traveling near the 2000 fps mark, it drops about 55 inches. Those are fine numbers for a cartridge that’s been around for more than a century and one of the reasons it’s still relevant today.

At a screaming 3110 fps muzzle velocity, the 90gr .243 Win. makes for an incredibly fast, flat shooting cartridge. Sig Sauer’s 90gr Platinum Hunter only drops about 47 inches at 500 yards, but its lighter bullet weights pack a lot less energy than other cartridges. For instance, though its muzzle velocity tops 3000 fps, it only produces 1933 ft lbs of energy. But, for a mild-recoiling, flat-shooting cartridge, it’s more than enough for deer in mid to long(ish) range hunting scenarios.

Though modern bullets have extended the .30-30’s range, it’s forever known as a 100-yard gun. Luckily, it takes its job seriously and doesn’t pretend to offer anything else. You might find a few bolt, break, or pump-actions chambered in .30-30 Win, but this cartridge is suited for the quick, close quarter shooting of lever guns.

While it quickly loses speed and energy beyond 100 yards, a 160gr bullet going 2400 fps and packing 2046 ft lbs of energy is more than enough for classic big woods or brush country range. Those are good numbers for a gun usually spotted with open sights or shoot-through rings.

Bullets Used: .30-06–180gr Platinum Hunter, .243–90 gr Platinum Hunter,.30-30–160 gr FTX

A cartridge’s shootability refers to its recoil and availability. After working in a gun store and fielding complaints about both of these criteria, shootability is a legitimate yet overlooked factor for most folks.

The .30-06 Sprg. might not kick your teeth out, but it’s no daisy either. It kicks about 20-foot pounds of recoil. While it’s no magnum, it certainly punches harder than the other cartridges on this list.

I’d be willing to bet a safe full of guns that you could walk into anywhere that carries ammo and find a box of .30-06. You can find bullets ranging from 120-220 gr, while most places are likely to carry options from the 150-180 gr range. Basic round nose hunting bullets can run as low as $35 for a box of twenty, while more expensive options can cost upwards of $75 for the same count. Essentially, you’ve got a buffet of choices when it comes to this cartridge.

One of the biggest draws of this flat shooting speedster is its lack of recoil. It only tips the scales at about 8 ft-lbs of energy, which is why a lot of youth-rifles come chambered in .243. I’ve shot heavy-barreled varmint setups in .243 Win. that were pleasant to run because the lack of felt recoil. Say what you want, but all the velocity and foot pounds of energy doesn’t matter if you can’t keep from flinching.

You can also expect to find at least half a dozen bullet options from most major ammo suppliers. Sig Sauer offers an 80 gr. Elite Copper option at just $23.99 or a 90 gr Platinum Hunter for $64.99. In other words, you have plenty but not unlimited options.

The max recoil you can expect from this deer-slaying cartridge tops out around 14 ft-lbs of energy, while most hover around 10 ft-lbs. That’s slightly more than the .243 Win. and a lot less than the .30-06 Sprg.

Like the .30-06, you should expect to find .30-30 bullets at just about anywhere that carries hunting ammo and rural gas stations or hardware stores. Most hunting options will run you around $30 for a box of 20.

Versatility usually speaks to a cartridge's effectiveness across different game species. Not here. In this case, versatility refers to how the cartridge performs in a variety of landscapes where you might find whitetails.

It’s hard to not imagine the .30-06 Sprg not taking the crown in this category. Its ballistics and shootability make it ideal for both Eastern and Western hunting scenarios where it can perform at long distances in open country without being overkill for the big woods. Not to mention, you can shoot this cartridge in everything from a bolt gun with a 24-inch barrel to a pump-action carbine.

There are plenty of bullet weight options for the .243 Win., but the heavier options are truly suited for whitetails. Still, it’s light recoil and flat shooting make it a good mid range gun for most hunters. Its ballistics make it a great cartridge for anything inside 300 yards. Depending on your shooting capabilities, you could stretch beyond that mark, making it a good deer rifle in the big woods or a long stretch of pipeline down South.

Calling the .30-30 a one-trick pony feels reductive, but it made its claim to fame in traditional deer woods settings. Because it peters out so quickly after about 200 yards, it gets a major knock when it comes to versatility.

The .30-06 takes the crown ballistically, but that might only matter if you plan on regularly shooting deer beyond 300 yards. You might gladly sacrifice ballistic performance for recoil. Of course, nostalgia is a powerful kryptonite for whitetail hunters, and a classic lever gun might appeal to you more than a long action with an even longer barrel.

Cast your vote below and let us hear why in the comments!

Fall hunting season is here for most of us, and Brent’s sharing a listener story and one from his Arkansas Bear Camp. It's that time of year when hunters are chasing critters, and Brent’s in the mix with some of his closest friends. It’s time for MeatEater’s “This Country Life” podcast.

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This is the recipe I bring out when I’m having folks over and want to serve up an impressive main protein. The eye of round is one of my favorite cuts—it’s tender, flavorful, and unique. If you’re unfamiliar with the long, cylindrical muscle from the hindquarter, check out this helpful guide from Danielle Prewett to identify it while butchering your harvest.

I typically have an elk or two in my freezer, so the muscle group is quite large and can easily serve six people. If you’re using something smaller like a deer or antelope, it will likely only feed two to four people, depending on the size of the animal and your guests' appetites.

I’ve tried making this with bleu and goat cheese, but both overpowered the flavor of the meat a bit. I find Boursin to be a mild but flavorful alternative. The garlic and fine herbs variety is my go-to, but any savory flavor should work.

I like to slice into the side of the muscle and “unravel” it into a flat sheet. I then pound it flat before stuffing, rolling up, and trussing it in a similar style to Jesse Griffiths’ venison belly rouladen. Slicing it into thick pinwheels to serve makes for a really simple yet stunning presentation.

The unraveling of the roast is the only real tricky part of this recipe, so check out the video below to help understand how to prepare the meat.

Steve Rinella and the MeatEater Crew Discuss: Trump’s executive orders on hunting and fishing; Etsy loves Epstein but hates squirrels; a new U.S. record whitetail and a Pennsylvania state record elk; a little more on Yellowstone wolves (yes, it never ends), Congressman Ryan Zinke on the A River Runs Through It Act; and more!

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This week on the show Mark is joined by Tony Peterson to discuss the Top 10 greatest whitetail hunting lessons we’ve learned from our worst hunting fails - that being, the big bucks we’ve missed.

Presented by Moultrie

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On August 28, a Texas man pleaded guilty to violating the Lacey Act after federal investigators busted an illegal duck hunting operation over a baited pond in Walker County. Richard Lee Bowers, 55, of Conroe, Texas, admitted to running paid duck hunts at Pull Two Ranch, where hunters were taking migratory birds over corn scattered in and around the water.

The case dates back to November 2023, when U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service agents began investigating Bowers’ hunting operation. On November 18, 2023, agents surveilled Pull Two Ranch and discovered several duck blinds positioned around a pond where freshly scattered corn was visible beneath the water. Investigators returned the following morning and encountered Bowers and several hunters actively hunting ducks over the baited pond.

When confronted by investigators, Bowers claimed the corn was placed there for hogs.

However, interviews with hunters told a different story. According to federal prosecutors, hunters said baiting the pond with corn was a common practice at the ranch, and one hunter even had a photograph of Bowers carrying bags of corn near the pond. One witness also told investigators that several hunters confronted Bowers about the corn, to which Bowers allegedly replied, “That’s how we get all the ducks.”

Additionally, Bowers wasn’t offering the hunts for free. According to the Houston Chronicle, he charged hunters $100 per day to hunt ducks at Pull Two Ranch.

Because ducks are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), hunting them with the aid of bait is illegal under federal law. Enacted in 1918, the MBTA protects migratory birds and regulates how protected species can legally be taken. Bowers was initially indicted for violating the MBTA for the baited hunts.

However, the paid nature of Bowers’ operation brought another federal wildlife law into play—the Lacey Act. The act prohibits the sale of illegally taken wildlife, including wildlife taken during paid guiding or outfitting services.

Bowers was ultimately charged with violating the Lacey Act, which carries a stiffer potential prison sentence than the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. He pleaded guilty to the charge on August 28 and now faces up to five years in federal prison and a $250,000 fine.

According to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Texas, Bowers is scheduled to be sentenced on November 9. He will remain free on bond until his sentencing hearing.

Anecdotes have been both the savior and curse of hunting cartridges, rifles, and, especially, broadheads. This personal data, circulated in hunting camps, diners, and chat forums, has created an Iron Curtain between mechanical die-hards and fixed-blade fanatics.

Rather than acknowledge both their strengths and shortcomings, most folks take a hard stance against one or the other. Of course, the staunchest defenders in these camps often overlook proper tuning and practice that plays a huge role no matter what you have on the end of your arrow, and here at MeatEater we’ve flung more than a few.

We shoot anything from stone points to mechanicals and everything in between, but these are some of the best broadheads that we use for hunting.

Jump to: The Products We Tested and Reviewed

Before you pick up the flashiest pack of broadheads that catches your eye, just remember that people kill deer every year with stone points. The point: No broadhead will make up for your lack of tuning, preparation, and practice. Once you feel confident enough with your bow, here are a few criteria you’ll want to consider before you buy some of the best broadheads for hunting.

Almost all broadheads require some amount of tuning. Paper tuning your bow can help with this on the front end. A lot of the best mechanicals might require minimal adjustments, depending on your setup, while fixed-blades generally require more tuning. If you can, designate one of your broadheads for practice. Assuming your bow is properly tuned, you should expect consistent accuracy when shooting.

Sharp blades lead to pass-throughs, heavy blood trails, and short tracking jobs. Some broadheads come razor sharp out of the package. Others, like some fixed blades, require sharpening. Most mechanicals require blade replacement after each use, while the best fixed blade broadheads might only require a touch-up and last for several kills.

A good broadhead should have durable materials. Depending on the type of broadhead you shoot, durability might mean a few things. For a good mechanical, you should expect the blades to deploy and cut as advertised. Expect to replace the blades after a pass through. Sometimes, you might have to ditch the whole thing. For one-piece fixed blades, you should expect several kills out of some of the best broadheads. After all, you’ll want to get the most out of the price they command.

No matter where you fall in the fixed vs. mechanical debate, you can’t ignore the upside of shooting a big, tough fixed-blade like the Iron Will Wides. While it’s no guarantee, they can offer a better chance of providing a lethal shot if they hit bone. That’s one reason Mark Kenyon and Janis Putelis have both switched to the Iron Will Wides.

“With a heavy-duty fixed blade like the Iron Will, I feel confident that even if I hit bone—the shoulder blade in particular—I still have a strong chance of hitting the vitals,” Mark said. Janis runs the Iron Will Wides for the same reason but noted that he prefers the single bevel version.

“This year alone, I’ve killed a black bear, caribou, and elk with that broadhead,” he said.

The sticker price might shock you, but both Mark and Janis mentioned the durability of Iron Wills, which, according to Janis, “take some effort” to sharpen after a few uses. However, they stay sharp longer. It’s also worth noting that the price on the front end probably isn’t that far off from mechanicals or other hybrid-blade broadheads that require replacement blades after every shot.

Tony’s been in the hunting industry for decades, so he’s had plenty of opportunities to try out some of the best broadheads over the years. Recently, he’s settled on the Rage Trypans as his go-to for deer hunting.

“When mechanical broadheads first hit the hunting scene, I had some bad experiences with them. But, that was a long time ago, and the designs are way better now,” he said. “In fact, they are all I shoot for whitetails now.”

Tony prefers the Rage Trypan (100-gr) because they leave a massive wound channel and simplify the tracking process.

“I hunt a lot of small properties, so I want my broadheads to do as much damage as possible, because I don’t want my deer to die in someone’s yard or on someone else’s property if I can prevent it. The best way I’ve found to do that is to put a really big hole in them (usually two). That’s easy to do with the Trypans.”

Mechanical broadheads are known for creating massive wound channels. For urban hunters or folks on small properties, the Rage Trypan can help eliminate a long night of tracking, as long as you make a good shot.

When Steve was on the hunt for a new elk broadhead, he turned to Jason Phelps, who he trusts “implicitly when it comes to elk gear.” Phelps turned him on to Iron Will, so Steve spent some time with Bill Vanderheyden, the mechanical engineer who founded Iron Will.

He recommends Iron Will’s S Series broadheads, which minimize wind effects and maximize big game penetration.

“They shot beautifully from my rig,” Steve said. “The first thing I killed with them was a bull elk, taken with a full frontal shot. It took a few steps and died.”

And the sharp, durable heads continue to live up to the hype for other species too.

“A couple of weeks ago, I ran one through the thick portions of a wild boar’s skull, both front and back. The broadhead looked as good as new when I pulled it out.”

Choosing the best broadheads can send you down an ever-winding rabbit hole. You can calculate FOC, read plenty of archery forums, or debate the penetration levels of various broadheads in relation to draw weight. In reality, it doesn’t have to be that complicated. There are plenty of great broadheads that are widely available. That’s why K.C. Smith prefers the G5 Megameats.

“I like broadheads that are shot by a lot of people,” he said. “It just means there’s a ton of anecdotal evidence for them.”

Just because a broadhead, or any piece of gear, is popular or trendy, doesn’t mean you should write it off. After all, if it works, and it works for a ton of people, it’s probably living up to its expectation. In that case, you can let that evidence inform your decision.

K.C. used a ton of broadheads over the years. He also hunts to pay the bills, so he can’t waste time with subpar gear. He noted that the three big rear-deploy blades sold him on this broadhead.

“I love that they have three huge blades,” he said. “They just leave devastating wound channels, and I think the rear deploy gives them a bit more penetration than front deploy.”

Not to mention, the Megameats are reasonably priced (about $60 for 3), and they’re readily available, so you can find them at just about any sporting goods store.

I like finding what works and sticking with it. That’s why I’m still shooting the Swhacker Levi Morgan broadheads. They’re accurate out of the box and reasonably priced. To be honest, that’s what most hunters expect from a broadhead.

The Levi Morgan Swhacker broadheads come in 100 and 125-gr, while I’ve seen them listed as high as $50, most of the time you can find this 3-pack for $39. Compared to a lot of other broadheads, that’s more than reasonably priced. Because they’re so budget-friendly, I typically buy multiple packs at a time. You can even place the practice pin in the broadhead, which locks the blades and prevents them from opening. That way, you can practice during the season without having to retune or swap heads.

They’re not the most durable mechanical broadheads out there, and replacing the blades isn’t cheap. I actually had to ditch a few after last season, but this issue isn’t exclusive to Swhacker broadheads. As long as you put in the reps at the archery range, you can put this broadhead wherever you want, and that’s what counts.

"My hunting rigs are set around 50 pounds with a 26-inch draw length, so I typically prefer fixed broadheads to maximize penetration," Emily said. "And the G5 Montecs are some of the best out there. These affordable heads are low-maintenance, dependable, and deadly."

The one-piece construction means no moving parts to tinker with, and the spin-tested heads cut on contact with diamond-cut sharpness. Similar to the Megameat, the Montec comes in both pre-season heads with rounded points and BMP practice points so you can save the real thing for the field.

"G5 Montecs are the most budget-friendly broadheads on this list, plus you can resharpen the blades to extend their life and get even more bang for your buck," Emily said.

All broadheads require some amount of tuning. Fixed blades generally require more adjustments than mechanicals, because they have historically created more drag. However, more modern designs like vented or concave broadheads help reduce the amount of drag during flight. Contact Archery’s VBS (Variable Blade System) broadhead is one such example.

Last fall, I got both the vented and solid versions to test and shoot, and I’m running them this year. Contact Archery advertises that the VBS broadheads require minimal tuning, and so far, that’s been my experience. With the vented 100 gr VBS, I made a few minor adjustments to my rest before they were dialed in.

If you’re looking to make a quick broadhead change during the season, the VBS broadheads make a great option that won’t force you to start from zero. They’re also reasonably priced at $80 for a 3-pack, considering the materials and durability.

While the cutting diameter (1.25 in.) is pretty standard, you can also get either ⅞ or 1 ⅛-inch bleeder blades that come with the broadheads. Contact Archery is a small company, so the only downside is that sometimes the specific option you want might be out of stock. Otherwise, they’re worth the wait.

Bowhunters love to argue about what type of broadhead is best. The truth is, they’re both great options. Depending on your hunting setup and scenario, one might be more advantageous than the other.

Mechanical broadheads typically offer larger cutting diameters and fly more like field points. But they also have more moving pieces and less room for error. Fixed-blade broadheads have smaller cutting diameters but offer excellent penetration and durability.

Bowhunters with lower-poundage rigs should probably consider fixed-blade broadheads, especially if you’re targeting game larger than whitetails. For most modern bows and typical whitetail hunters, mechanical broadheads will work just fine. Again, it’s less about what type of broadhead you shoot and more about how much practice you log.