Chasing Giants with Don Higgins

lots of great content in this episode. the segment from a listener submitted question about fruit tree polination is very interesting.

Good episode with a lot of food plot, velvet pictures, and hunting access talk the week that Don is featured on the cover of North American Whitetail Magazine.

In this episode, Don kicks off a new series discussing his best and worst of the week. Don helps listeners figure out what to look for in velvet pics. How much more will they grow? Don also takes some time talking about the mistake he made posting the wrong YouTube link on his social media with some vulgar language.

Don goes into a lot of details about putting trail cameras out. How many, where, when, and how are all answered. Some discussion about how some real estate agents and outfitters use trail camera and harvest pictures for marketing. And details about Lester's Feet Raffle getting ready to close.

Episode 70 touches on a lot of talk about the role fathers play with the next generation. Values passed down from Don and Terry's fathers set the foundation for this podcast. Who we are and what we want to be. Great questions about properties and intrusion on this episode.

In episode 69, Don talks about why whitetail are moving more this time of the year. Besides the rut, this is the most whitetail will move around the entire year and WHY! Don also takes some time to really discuss why he takes criticism so personal. On behalf of Don and Terry, we try to stay as honest as possible. Sometimes we need to use words more appropriate but you can be assured, our answers, comments, and opinions when we answer questions will always be sincere. We want to use this platform to glorify Christ and help other chase their dreams in the whitetail woods.

Don picks his Iowa unit today before the deadline. His strategy to find an Iowa giant is not as most think. Food plots are starting to pop. Don gives tips on how to understand browse pressure and when to spray for different situations. Again, three great questions in this episode.

Don spent some time in Iowa this week before coming home to finish up food plots at his home area. Which unit will he apply for? Terry prepares for back surgery.

In this episode, Don talks about the back story in having Mel scored and where he ranks among the all time biggest whitetail. Lots of rain flooded out his food plots so he is replanting this week. Terry breaks the news that he has to have another surgery.

Don takes a minute to talk about the 200 day cycle of a doe carrying a fawn. What does it meant that a fawn hit the ground now? Bred in October? Also a good overview of herbicides for those not familiar with the different types.

Happy Mothers Day to all the moms out there. We could not do it without you! Lots of great questions this week.

Don takes some time in this episode to catch up on some listener submitted questions that put him on the spot. Also, when to spray herbicide with different types of ground prep for spring plots.

Don transitions from consulting season and starts planting food plots on his home farm. We give an update on the Lester's Feet Charity Raffle and most importantly, ask for prayers for the Ward Family as little Adley is back in the hospital.

A great time was had in Shipshewana, IN at the Midwest Sportsman Classic this past weekend. He gave us an update about the quest for an Iowa Giant. Lester's Feet Raffle update. And, we saved extra time for a big crowd to ask questions and put Don on the spot. Nothing was off limits. Hunting, Religion, and Politics. What the crowd wanted to talk about - he did not hold anything back.

Great episode where we got to layout how the Charity Raffle will work this coming week. Also, Don realized while pulling a camera in a remote spot, bucks have already shifted back to summer ranges. Lots of great ideas and discussion. Enjoy!

Don and Terry move fast on this Easter Sunday Episode to answer some great questions this week submitted from listeners. Don gets a little fired up at the end talking about some ways that people over complicate their projects on their hunting properties. Hope you enjoy. Thank you to our sponsors: Buy-A-Farm, 360 Hunting Blinds, Vengeance camo, QuietKat, Real World Wildlife Products, Vortex, Lone Wolf, Victory Chevrolet, WildlifeFarming.com, and Mathews Archery

In this episode, Don takes time to discuss why control burns of native grasses are so important. He also give tips on setting up your native grass fields to have a safer solution to controlling the fire. Also, the large live group asks some great questions for Don to answer.

Live at the March 20th Higgins Outdoors Master Class, students put Don on the spot with tough questions that he has to answer. Al Foster was there again and we got to spend some time talking about ethics. More specifically, the integrity that we try to hold as the popularity of the podcast continues to grow. Questions about electric bikes, stand placement, tree saddles, hunting wrong winds are all covered in this episode.

Reload of EPISODE 56- Technical difficulties. Lots of laughs on this episode live at the 1st master class of 2021 - Terry clarifies some things about the cell camera test that may better explain why he stopped the test and got so upset. Don takes the opportunity to pick at him a little bit and a good time was had by all. Enjoy this live episode.

Don and Terry walk through his test methodology and findings for his 2020 cell camera test. Terry spent his own money and purchased 6 cameras to help consumers decide which ones were for them. There really are no winners but a looser... yeah probably! Truthfully, the hunting community is small. Don and Terry have relationships with all but one of these companies or their marketing staff so setting friendships aside, this episode provides an honest review of what happens when you put them side by side with no pro-staff deal on the table.

This episode starts with a touching interview with Karen Ward (mother of 2 small girls with Leukemia) who Terry's foundation in partnership with this podcast have been helping. She thinks she is just giving an update on the girls, but Chasing Giants has a surprise for her! Also, Terry and Don both talk about GARBAGE in the hunting industry. Also, Don is going to share his plans this year to chase an Iowa Giant!

Great questions this week create some great discussion about management plans. Terry waited till the end to get Don fired up about some politics that created a few laughs. Update on the Raffle to hunt with Terry and Don was discussed in the beginning. Enjoy!

This episode was used to draw attention to the Ward Family. The Ward Family is from Elizabethtown, KY and has three small children. Two of them (Tenley and Adley) are battling Leukemia. There father is a die-hard deer hunter. They are unable to work and renting a house close to the Cincinnati Children's Hospital to stay close to the girls. We answer some great deer questions this episode but most of all we want to encourage all our listeners to find a way to help someone this week. Thank you for the support. It is appreciated.

Detailed discussion about different options available for spring food plots from the one of the top seedsmen in the country. Alfalfa, Chicory, Clover, Corn, Sainfoin, Soybeans, Sun Hemp, and Sun Flowers.

In this episode, Don gives an example of why full property plans can not be given from an Ariel map. Nutrition is the topic discussed with the "Lessons Learned from a Research Herd." Also, two great questions about doe harvest and breading. The episode ends with a listener question addressing the guys who claim that bucks score way more than they really do. A funny but sensitive topic that will ruffle some feathers for sure. Enjoy!

This episode covers everything from Antler Genetics (was Smokey and Mel Related?), does a buck shedding have anything to do with rut, and what do you do when you have to pee in your stand.... Very interesting story to end this episode!

This episode is jammed packed of hard topics and questions. As Don and Terry were at the NE Ohio Sportsman's show, some tough questions came up about current topics in our industry and Country. As always, Don does not shy away from answering honestly even when it costs him a sponsor (you will have to listen to understand). After visiting with hunters in NE Ohio, we were reminded how good the Hunting Community is! Even though the negative gets the most airtime, support from our listeners means a lot to us. Thank you!

This weeks episode Don and Terry give their response to the new dual bolt crossbow that was announced while giving a preview of new products coming out from Real World in 2021. Enlist Food Plot Soybeans and Nutri-Crave Corn. Listen to this episode to understand the history and testing in both products and learn about the pilot program. Also, the second installment of Lessons Learned from a Captive Herd. Listener submitted questions include: Shed Hunting, Growth of Antlers Year to Year, and is Corn good for a deer?

In this Episode, Don and Terry kick off the new year with a series titled, "Lessons Learned from Captive Research Deer." This first episode talks about bedding areas. As always, three great questions from our listeners include public land discussion.

In this final episode of 2020, we discuss some things that really hit home to most hunters. A lot of time is spent talking about sharing property with buddies and family. Tough situation if the goals and objectives do not align. We also talk about our final tip on making a good stand great. Thank you very much for everyone's support and we wish everyone a happy New Year.

Don and Terry talk about access being a winter project that can make a good stand great. They provide an update on the Fixed vs. Mechanical Broadhead Debate vote by the listeners. They also use some of the questions submitted by listeners to talk about how we celebrate after we kill a buck and customer service for the products we use. Merry Christmas Everyone!

As the season transitions, Don encourages everyone to keep plugging away to fill your tag by watching the weather. Late season hunting is about the cold and the food. Keep grinding. We are also publishing a pole on Don's Instagram account to see if our listeners want to hear debates on topics like fixed and mechanical broadheads. We will let our listeners decide! FYI - Mechanical Broadheads were not on Don's Christmas list at the end but AMMO was at the top!

This episode kicks off the December series talking about ideas to make a good spot great. We have talked recently broadhead selection, but no one really touches the fact that we need our shots as close as we can to increase odds. Don shot 400" of antler combined less than 20 yards away. This episode talks about choosing the right tree then making adjustments to get the deer a little closer. Great Listen!

In this episode, Don and Terry are joined by the video producer of the popular Mel Video that was just released. Each of them reflect on the project and the overwhelming response from the Real World Hunters out there. Don also takes some time to talk about the transition to late season hunting as cold fronts move into the the Midwest this week. At the end of the episode, Don picks a winner for the free master class giveaway. Mechanical Broadheads came up too!

The story of Don's second buck is to special to just type it out on social media. This special edition podcast episode only talks about the story of the latest giant whitetail that Don harvests. You are not going to want to miss listening to Don talk about the last 3 years of learning this giant Non Typical.

In this episode, Terry starts by talking about how his wife saved his hunt by driving a set a keys half way to Illinois. He explains why his first pictures of the buck were posed the way they were. Both Terry and Don are blessed with supportive women. Then Don gives his opinion on some topics that not many will comment on. You cannot question him for saying what he thinks.....

In this episode, Don spends a lot of time talking about different phases of the rut. He talks about breeding season and what a buck will do as he moves from one day to another. Terry gives an update on his trespassing cattle situation. They also answer listener questions including one person who asked about mechanical vs. fixed blade broadhead.

Don talks about the 2 bucks killed on his place this weekend. Terry has to deal with the neighbors cows in his food plot again. Don gives his take on the election and Terry challenges his fellow Christians to "earn it."

The story of Mel. Mel is a 220" World Class Whitetail that Don harvested on October 30, 2020. The story ties into the story of Smokey, Don's last 200" buck. We walk back through this 4 year history with Mel in this episode. You do not want to miss this!

This episode is the final October Episode before full Rut weekly updates. Buck movement for Don has slowed down the last week but he is optimistic of the cold front coming through the next couple days. Join he and Terry to hear what they are seeing as they prepare for November

In this episode, Don and Terry talk about the hunting season and Don talks about upcoming weather change has him excited about this coming week. Stay tuned for the end of this episode as Don encourages people to think about some things as they are sitting in the stand this year. His advise on what to make your priorities may surprise you. GOD BLESS!

Don and Terry invite some local friends over to discuss some of the research from Episode #31 where Dr. Strickland discusses fetal programming, culling bucks, and CWD. Note - Audio may have some gaps in it while guests ask questions without a microphone. Don and Terry will repeat the question and discuss topics brought up.

In this episode with special guest Dr. Bronson Strickland from Mississippi State University, Don and Terry learn about some fascinating research. If you’re interested in how habitat and nutrition create bigger bucks, you will not want to miss this episode.

This episode dives into final prep for Don and the upcoming season. Terry's run of 2020 luck continues and he talks about missing a target buck last week and plans to overcome what happened. At the end of the episode, Don and Terry talk about some big news for Episode #31 you are not going to want to miss.

Don recently shared a blog about some hit list and up-and comer bucks he goes into detail about. He also takes a few minutes to share his story of how he purchased his farm. Terry's knee recover is going well and he made it to hunt 2 of the first 3 nights and is after a good one in Kentucky Early Season.

As we prepare for the season to open, Don releases his Buck Forecast for 2021. His observations may suprise some people as he ties antler size back to weather we had this spring. Terry's cell camera test continues with the 6 cameras being used in Illinois.

Although this episode goes a few minutes longer than normal, Don and Terry discuss a lot of things including season prep, cell camera test, some people who got their feelings hurt, and worshiping the creation instead of the CREATOR. Three great questions in this episode from listeners that you will not want to miss.

With so much bad information out there, Don talks about proven techniques he has seen with captive deer and wild deer on his home farm. Don always has examples to back it up. This is an episode you are going to want to listen to before the "AGE THIS BUCK" season starts on social media.

This episode dives into how Don got started into the hunting industry and some tips for those trying to find their way onto prostaffs and promotional partnerships.

In episode 23, Don told Terry he was going to put a pulley in the trees and hoist him up into the air to saddle hunt with his knee injury - Terry did some testing and it is NOT going to work. Listen to this episode and hear what Don has been up to in addition to some good listener submitted questions.