The journal for serious hunters.

Big BuckJournal

The Buck, The Why, and The Gear.

Every week: one giant whitetail, one lesson most hunters never learn, and the gear behind it.

What you get every week

The Buck

One giant whitetail and the full story of how he lived, how he was patterned, and how he finally hit the ground.

The Why

One lesson most hunters never learn — the wind, pressure, or timing detail that actually made the difference.

The Gear

The exact setup behind the hunt — what Dale would buy again at full price, what he wouldn't, and why.

Latest issues

Maryland Couple Tags Two Big Bucks 400 Yards Apart

Maryland Couple Tags Two Big Bucks 400 Yards Apart

Two Maryland stands sat 400 yards apart. By dark, Susanne and Darrel Steffy each had a big buck down.   The buck, the

Dale Richey  •  Sep 24, 2026
The Wind Was Wrong. He Moved Three Times And Got His Buck

The Wind Was Wrong. He Moved Three Times And Got His Buck

Kentucky heat, bad wind, and one target buck. Nate Wilks kept changing the plan until Freddy finally stepped broadside at 27 yards.

Dale Richey  •  Sep 22, 2026
The Rain Quit. His Target Buck Came Back

The Rain Quit. His Target Buck Came Back

Opening-day rain ran Jay Maxwell out of the woods. His trail camera showed the target buck back less than 45 minutes

Dale Richey  •  Sep 17, 2026
He Let Down At Full Draw. Then Megatron Stepped Out

He Let Down At Full Draw. Then Megatron Stepped Out

Zavier Gillespie passed several shootable bucks, let down at full draw when Megatron stopped behind a tree, then got one more chance

Dale Richey  •  Sep 15, 2026
This 355-Pound Maine Buck Had Hunters Doing a Double Take

This 355-Pound Maine Buck Had Hunters Doing a Double Take

A 1955 Maine hunt produced a 355-pound dressed whitetail, then a second weighing nearly erased the record and started a fight

Dale Richey  •  Sep 10, 2026
He Sat Out The Wrong Wind. Then A 170-Inch Buck Walked In

He Sat Out The Wrong Wind. Then A 170-Inch Buck Walked In

Jackson Flair stayed out of his best Tennessee setup when the wind was wrong. Days later, patience and a pre-ranged lane

Dale Richey  •  Sep 8, 2026
He Passed Two Mature Bucks. Then His Target Walked In.

He Passed Two Mature Bucks. Then His Target Walked In.

A 60-yard strip of Arkansas timber turned into a parade of mature bucks, but Derek Curtis kept waiting for the one

Dale Richey  •  Sep 3, 2026
A Possible World-Record Buck Vanished Before It Was Ever Official

A Possible World-Record Buck Vanished Before It Was Ever Official

A Minnesota whitetail rough-scored near world-record territory, changed hands for thousands, and then vanished before anyone could make the score

Dale Richey  •  Sep 1, 2026
Three Years. One Hard Wind. A 233-Inch Kansas Buck

Three Years. One Hard Wind. A 233-Inch Kansas Buck

A three-year chase ended when a hard Kansas wind gave Drew Yarmer a chance to crawl within 20 yards of a

Dale Richey  •  Aug 27, 2026
August Bucks Are Predictable. Pressure Is What Breaks The Pattern

August Bucks Are Predictable. Pressure Is What Breaks The Pattern

August bucks can still be hunted on a summer pattern. The key is knowing where a mature deer moves in daylight without

Dale Richey  •  Aug 25, 2026

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