#393 - A Masterclass In Everything Late Season Whitetail with Don Higgins
The WHTL Podcast - Whitetail Deer Hunting Tactics, Stories & Expert Guests
Jake Hofer
4.9 • 616 Ratings
🗓️ 9 December 2025
⏱️ 65 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
-
Late-season success depends on weather stacking and food sources
-
Deer movement increases with cold fronts and stable winds
-
EHD recovery requires patience and reduced harvest pressure
-
Strong neighbor relations help protect herd and property
-
Soybeans and corn remain top late-season food drivers
-
Self-regulation is key; don't rely on state rules alone
-
Habitat design should concentrate deer movement, not spread it
-
Tree planting needs prep: kill roots, add nutrients, protect trees
-
Bucks will travel far; understanding home range guides strategy
-
Long-term herd health requires disciplined, intentional management
And So Much More!
Want to become a better whitetail hunter? Click the link below and sign up for the Whitetail Master Academy today!
https://bit.ly/WhitetailMasterAcademy
Follow along on social!
IG - @WHTLDEER
TikTok - @WHTLDEER
YouTube - @WHTLDEER
Thanks again for all of the support from our partners—none of this would've been possible without them!
-Moultrie: https://bit.ly/moultrie_
-Hawke Optics | Use Code WHTL for 15% off: https://bit.ly/hawkeoptics_
-OnX: https://bit.ly/onX_Hunt
-Painted Arrow: bit.ly/PaintedArrow
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | I think that calling buck thing that I mentioned earlier, the more I see, the more convinced I become that calling bucks works over time. |
| 0:07.5 | I've been doing it on this place for about 20 years now. |
| 0:10.0 | I'll argue with anybody till the end of time. |
| 0:12.6 | It's made an impact. |
| 0:13.9 | Show me another 120 acres where the owner has killed three bucks over 200 inches. |
| 0:19.4 | This week on the White tole podcast presented by |
| 0:21.5 | Moultry, we have a special live event replay from the White Tow Master Academy where you can |
| 0:26.1 | watch over 40 land plants from none other than Don Hagan's each month. We have an expert come on |
| 0:31.8 | and members can ask whatever question they want and this are all the questions the members had |
| 0:36.2 | and hopefully it'll help you |
| 0:37.7 | right now as we get deeper into December or for planning for next year. The older I get the more |
| 0:42.3 | I hate shooting a buck in the late season because he's made it through the rut, he's made it |
| 0:46.7 | through the gun seasons. He's just a few weeks away from surviving the entire season. In this version |
| 0:52.1 | we cover all sorts of different questions. Obviously John's fourth 200 inch deer, coaling bucks does it really work, deer movement, late season patterns, how much is the weather truly impact deer movement, and much more? Have you ever considered having a couple of stands deep in the timber that you can hunt one perfect day during the rut? I won't even try it. I think that's a great way to run off the buck that you're trying to kill. If you want to learn more about being a member at the White Tail Master Academy, it would be a huge support to the channel. We have discounts from a variety of different brands that are partnered with the Master Academy, a pile of videos that are really in depth to hopefully help you set up your farm, help your hunting |
| 1:27.8 | tactics get a little bit better, and ultimately build up for a better season. |
| 1:31.2 | So I hope you guys enjoy it. |
| 1:32.3 | Here we go. |
| 1:32.8 | Don, welcome back here. |
| 1:34.4 | I'm going to pass it off to you. |
| 1:35.6 | We got some questions here in the docket already. |
| 1:39.3 | So here we go. |
| 1:40.5 | I'm going to jump out of here and let you do your thing. |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from Jake Hofer, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of Jake Hofer and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.