21 December 2025
When Managing Deer Means Saying NO to Giants | Chasing Giants Podcast #304
Chasing Giants with Don Higgins
About
Management Bucks, Passing Giants, Early Shed Antlers & Hard Winter Decisions
In this episode of the Chasing Giants Podcast, Don Higgins and Terry Peer tackle one of the most misunderstood and controversial topics in modern whitetail management — passing a mature target buck and choosing instead to harvest a management buck.
Don recently filled his second Illinois buck tag, but not in the way most hunters expected. After years of habitat work, nutrition planning, selective harvest, and disciplined decision-making, Don explains why he passed his #1 target buck after gun season, a decision that left many people scratching their heads — and voicing their opinions loudly on social media.
This episode pulls back the curtain on what real deer management actually looks like, including:
Why some mature bucks should be passed — even late in the season
How years of selective harvest change your perspective as a hunter
The emotional and mental side of letting giants walk
Why “success” isn’t always measured in inches or score
The conversation also dives into unusually early antler shedding, with Don sharing firsthand trail-camera evidence from his own farm. Together, Don and Terry discuss how extreme cold, stress, nutrition, and a hard rut can impact deer health and behavior — and what land managers should be paying attention to as winter sets in earlier than normal.
Listeners will also hear detailed discussions on:
Winter nutrition and food plot carryover
Supplemental feeding myths and dangers
Why running out of food in late winter is a management failure
How harsh winters can shape antler growth the following year
The second half of the episode features an extended listener Q&A, covering:
How many acres it really takes to grow mature bucks
Crossbows, youth hunters, and earning the right to hunt
Buck-to-doe ratios and Illinois deer management challenges
Ethical ways to handle doe harvest and venison donation
How faith and stewardship play a role in responsible hunting
This episode isn’t about chasing inches — it’s about discipline, stewardship, patience, and faith. Whether you’re managing 40 acres or 400, this conversation will challenge how you define success in the deer woods.
🤝 EPISODE SPONSORS
Asio Gear • Midwest Land Group • Novix Outdoors • Mike’s Mighty Micros • Victory Auto Group • 360 Hunting Blinds • Real World Wildlife Products • Mathews Archery • Gingerich Tree Farms • Brenton USA • Vortex Optics • Grubb Implement • TagOut Technique • Wildlife Farming
⚠️ DISCLAIMER
Any reproduction of this content without the written permission of Chasing Giants TV LLC is strictly prohibited.
In this episode of the Chasing Giants Podcast, Don Higgins and Terry Peer tackle one of the most misunderstood and controversial topics in modern whitetail management — passing a mature target buck and choosing instead to harvest a management buck.
Don recently filled his second Illinois buck tag, but not in the way most hunters expected. After years of habitat work, nutrition planning, selective harvest, and disciplined decision-making, Don explains why he passed his #1 target buck after gun season, a decision that left many people scratching their heads — and voicing their opinions loudly on social media.
This episode pulls back the curtain on what real deer management actually looks like, including:
Why some mature bucks should be passed — even late in the season
How years of selective harvest change your perspective as a hunter
The emotional and mental side of letting giants walk
Why “success” isn’t always measured in inches or score
The conversation also dives into unusually early antler shedding, with Don sharing firsthand trail-camera evidence from his own farm. Together, Don and Terry discuss how extreme cold, stress, nutrition, and a hard rut can impact deer health and behavior — and what land managers should be paying attention to as winter sets in earlier than normal.
Listeners will also hear detailed discussions on:
Winter nutrition and food plot carryover
Supplemental feeding myths and dangers
Why running out of food in late winter is a management failure
How harsh winters can shape antler growth the following year
The second half of the episode features an extended listener Q&A, covering:
How many acres it really takes to grow mature bucks
Crossbows, youth hunters, and earning the right to hunt
Buck-to-doe ratios and Illinois deer management challenges
Ethical ways to handle doe harvest and venison donation
How faith and stewardship play a role in responsible hunting
This episode isn’t about chasing inches — it’s about discipline, stewardship, patience, and faith. Whether you’re managing 40 acres or 400, this conversation will challenge how you define success in the deer woods.
🤝 EPISODE SPONSORS
Asio Gear • Midwest Land Group • Novix Outdoors • Mike’s Mighty Micros • Victory Auto Group • 360 Hunting Blinds • Real World Wildlife Products • Mathews Archery • Gingerich Tree Farms • Brenton USA • Vortex Optics • Grubb Implement • TagOut Technique • Wildlife Farming
⚠️ DISCLAIMER
Any reproduction of this content without the written permission of Chasing Giants TV LLC is strictly prohibited.