Last week we had a gorgeous early spring day here in Central Pennsylvania. Not one of those almost too-warm afternoons that brings everyone into frenzy, but a pleasantly mild 50-some degrees, truly my favorite weather. I took the opportunity to head straight from work to scout for deer in the mountains.

Many folks shed hunt this time of year, which I somewhat do, but what I am really searching for is buck sign leftover from last fall's rut. During winter, the deer in this area herd up in thermal hemlock valleys which they don't frequent nearly as much during hunting season, so shed hunting does not benefit me substantially. Early spring prior to green-up is a tremendous time to be searching for new spots. I am looking for general areas with good deer concentrations, and next fall I will do stealth recon missions to verify there are bucks using the area and pinpoint stand locations. The combination of signs I look for are quite simple, yet require tuned-in observation to locate: convergence of deer trails, typically on benches, saddles, and other map features; with scrapes and rubs (preferably big) in the vicinity; and, food (acorns) and bedding within easy reach.

Returning from his mule deer hunt in Arizona, outdoors content creator Mike Rogers has a few pieces of advice to pass on to other outdoor enthusiasts eager to follow in his footsteps. One of the most important parts of hunting in the desert is finding the highest vantage point and being able to remain resilient in the fluctuating daily desert conditions. This means two types are gear are essential keys to success: clothing and optics.

I’ve always believed that you must suffer before you succeed, that you must go through pain, mishaps, and adversity to make an experience worthwhile. My experience in the eastern Nevada mountains came with no shortage of suffering, but that made it so much more rewarding.

For the past month, iSportsman has been sponsoring hunting YouTuber Mike Rogers as he ventured out into the Arizona wilderness in search of his first mule deer. Mike just returned from his second trip into the desert and has some stories to tell.

I wrestled to find a new solution to an old problem. A problem that has plagued deer hunters for ages. I had many failures, but those only deepened my resolve to find the right ingredients to find a solution. This recipe is the result of finally cracking the code for that allusive perfect use for the Venison roast you find at the bottom of your freezer. The one from last hunting season, or maybe even two years ago.

Hunting runs in the Stolowski family. Michael Stolowski has been hunting for 54 years, starting at the age of 10. Michael got his first deer at age 12 while tagging along with his father and older brother and, from there, was a lifelong hunter. After hopping between various hunting lands, they eventually settled on a place in 1977: Fort McCoy.

iSportsman is currently sponsoring YouTuber and active-duty service member Mike Rogers (@TLOMikeRogers) for multiple trips to Arizona for late season mule deer hunts. Already back from his first outing, Mike is itching for more. Spending several days getting up early, hiking long desert treks, and ascending rocky hills to glass for wildlife wasn’t enough, and we agree.

Don Maulden and his wife Elizabeth have been hunting together for over thirty years. Don is a veteran who served for twenty-three years; anytime he was off duty he would go hunting, and Elizabeth went with him. She originally started just to spend more time with her husband but hunting quickly became one of her lifelong passions too.

In the last 2 months millions of pounds of venison were harvested by America’s hunters. The deer from which this enormous quantity of meat was taken in all sorts of weather, in nearly every terrain and was harvested by rank amateurs and expert hunters alike. No government inspectors will be on hand to insure proper cleanliness and other procedures are followed. It’s up to the hunter to do it right. Some will and some won’t; and for those who don’t, the result is likely to be some gamy-tasting deer meat.

Some hunters believe canned meat is the pinnacle of a deer’s culinary worth once the backstraps are gone. Maybe, you have been guilted into taking a jar home from an enthusiastic family member only to drown the contents in store-bought spaghetti sauce. For hunters, the pursuit of the game is the prize. However, there is the opportunity to view bringing the hunt from the field to your table as the ultimate reward.