Chasing Giants with Don Higgins

What would you do if somebody sent you a photo — and the exact location — of a 200-inch whitetail? On Episode 339 of the Chasing Giants Podcast, Don Higgins and Terry Peer dive back into one of the most debated subjects in hunting: the difference between what is legal and what is ethical. After last week's discussion generated more than 100 comments, Don explains why hunting ethics have to go beyond simply asking whether something is legal. That conversation leads directly back into thermal drones — including the story of a hunter who spent $10,000 on a thermal drone, used it for only a few months, and then sold it because he believed the technology crossed an ethical line. Then Don addresses controversy surrounding a recent Whitetail Master Academy clip about receiving tips on giant bucks. Don explains exactly what happens when somebody sends him information about a big deer, why most tips never make it beyond his computer, and why he has walked away from opportunities to hunt tremendous bucks when doing so would step on another hunter's toes. Don also shares an incredible story about locating a giant Nebraska buck on public land. After tracing the trail-camera photo back to the young hunter who originally captured it, Don called him directly and asked for his blessing before hunting the deer. The hunter said no — and Don walked away. Plus, Don and Terry answer listener questions covering: Why Don is cautious about river-bottom hunting properties Whether NutriCrave high-oil corn is difficult for deer to digest Whether shooting a cull buck can push a target buck off your property How to recognize hunting content that may not tell the entire story How Don chooses stand locations based on wind Why sometimes the best hunting decision is simply staying home The episode closes with Sunday Night Prayer Time with Ty Miller and a challenge to stop merely reacting as Christians and begin intentionally viewing our lives, neighbors, challenges and priorities through God. Chapters 00:00 Welcome to Chasing Giants 339 00:25 Update on Robin Higgins 03:00 Prayers for Gene Wentzel & Kevin Thayer 05:00 Legal vs. Ethical Hunting 09:40 Are Thermal Drones Unethical? 11:00 Hunter Buys a $10,000 Drone — Then Sells It 14:15 Protecting Your Property From Drones 16:25 Boone Brothers & Donating Deer in Kentucky 18:45 What Happened to Whitetail Master Academy? 21:00 Don Responds to the Big Buck Controversy 23:30 Rumors About Don Higgins 25:55 Don Knows Where Two 200” Bucks Are Right Now 28:10 Treat Other Hunters the Way You Want to Be Treated 30:35 Should You Share Pictures of Giant Bucks? 32:55 How Don Handles Tips on Big Bucks 35:20 The Giant Nebraska Public-Land Buck 37:40 River Bottom Properties — Good or Bad? 40:05 Can You Keep Mature Bucks on Your Property? 42:30 Is High-Oil Corn Hard for Deer to Digest? 44:50 Will Killing a Cull Buck Push Away Your Target Buck? 46:55 Is Hunting Content Becoming Fake? 49:20 Smoke, Mirrors & Hunting Personalities 53:15 Does Don Know Every Mature Buck on His Farm? 55:10 Choosing Stands for Different Winds 59:30 Sunday Night Prayer — Seeing Life Through God YouTube Tags Chasing Giants, Don Higgins, Terry Peer, Chasing Giants Podcast, whitetail deer, whitetail hunting, deer hunting, mature bucks, big bucks, giant whitetails, 200 inch buck, hunting ethics, hunting controversy, thermal drones, deer recovery drones, hunting drones, trail cameras, trail camera pictures, public land bucks, hunting permission, deer hunting tips, habitat management, land management, food plots, deer behavior, river bottom hunting, deer hunting pressure, bowhunting, Kentucky deer hunting, Whitetail Master Academy, Don Higgins whitetail, Christian hunting podcast Chasing Giants TV Sponsors: Real World Wildlife Products Asio Gear Chasing Giants Podcast Sponsors: Asio Gear Real World Wildlife Products Hawke Optics Novix Outdoors Midwest Land Group 360 Hunting Blinds Mike’s Mighty Micros Gingerich Tree Farms TagOut Technique Grubb Implement Brenton USA Mathews Archery Victory GMC & Auto Group Wildlife Farming WiseEye Technologies Chasing Assurance Podcast Sponsors: Heartwood Planning Group WiseEye Technologies Coonless Feeders Green Prairie Seed Company © 2026 Chasing Giants Podcast. All rights reserved. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests and hosts during this episode are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Chasing Giants, our sponsors, advertising partners, affiliates, or associated organizations. This interview is presented for informational purposes and to encourage respectful discussion. Copyright Notice: Any unauthorized reproduction, rebroadcast, redistribution, recording, or use of this audio or video, in whole or in part, without the express written consent of Chasing Giants LLC is strictly prohibited.

What would you spend to make one of your best hunting setups even better? On Episode 337 of the Chasing Giants Podcast, Don Higgins breaks down one of the most elaborate habitat projects he's tackled on his farm—a creek crossing built specifically to influence deer movement. After a previous crossing was destroyed by flooding, Don isn't taking any chances this time. He's rebuilding it with a massive repurposed steel tank, crushed limestone, rebar and approximately eight inches of concrete. The investment? Don estimates he'll have around $3,000 in a creek crossing that isn't intended for tractors, equipment or vehicles. It's strictly for the deer. But there's a reason. The crossing connects bedding cover in switchgrass and miscanthus with an approximately 1.5-acre food plot, creating a natural pinch point. Don has positioned a ladder stand on one side and a 360 blind on the other to take advantage of different wind directions. We also discuss: • Why Don believes his farm may have finally reached its potential • How small habitat improvements can make already-good stands even better • Using terrain and creek crossings to influence deer movement • Don's approach to rope scrapes and Scrape Magnet • Why the location of a mock scrape matters • How many rope scrapes may be too many • Using historical trail-camera data instead of reacting to current pictures • Managing a small property with mature bucks • A listener's difficult situation with a neighboring landowner • The potential impact of data centers and solar farms on hunting property • Real World Wildlife Products' continued growth • An upcoming marketing opportunity with Real World • Walker Higgins' new entrepreneurial adventure • The final push for the Lester's Feet Texas hunt raffle PLUS — stay through the end for this week's Sunday Night Prayer Time. Chasing Giants isn't about finding shortcuts. It's about understanding whitetails, improving habitat, learning from experience and constantly asking: "What can I do to make this setup better?" Thanks for watching Episode 337 of the Chasing Giants Podcast with Don Higgins and Terry Peer. SUBSCRIBE to Chasing Giants TV and turn on notifications so you don't miss the next episode. #ChasingGiants #DonHiggins #WhitetailHabitat #DeerHunting #WhitetailHunting #LandManagement #HabitatManagement #MockScrapes #TrailCameras #FoodPlots Chasing Giants TV Sponsors: Real World Wildlife Products Asio Gear Chasing Giants Podcast Sponsors: Asio Gear Real World Wildlife Products Hawke Optics Novix Outdoors Midwest Land Group 360 Hunting Blinds Mike’s Mighty Micros Gingerich Tree Farms TagOut Technique Grubb Implement Brenton USA Mathews Archery Victory GMC & Auto Group Wildlife Farming WiseEye Technologies Chasing Assurance Podcast Sponsors: Heartwood Planning Group WiseEye Technologies Coonless Feeders Green Prairie Seed Company © 2026 Chasing Giants Podcast. All rights reserved. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests and hosts during this episode are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Chasing Giants, our sponsors, advertising partners, affiliates, or associated organizations. This interview is presented for informational purposes and to encourage respectful discussion. Copyright Notice: Any unauthorized reproduction, rebroadcast, redistribution, recording, or use of this audio or video, in whole or in part, without the express written consent of Chasing Giants LLC is strictly prohibited.

Many hunters make the same mistake every summer—they plant their fall food plots too early. This week, Don Higgins and Terry Peer discuss what they discovered while checking food plots in southern Illinois after weeks of heavy rain and mature Johnsongrass infestations. Topics include: • When to actually plant fall food plots • How weather changes your planting strategy • Mature Johnsongrass control in soybeans • Why bigger food plots aren't always better • Business advice from Don Higgins • Listener submitted questions • Fruit trees, doe management, habitat design and more Whether you're planting Real World Wildlife Products, clover, cereal grains or brassicas, this episode will help you avoid costly mistakes before deer season. Subscribe for new episodes every week. Chasing Giants TV Sponsors: Real World Wildlife Products Asio Gear Chasing Giants Podcast Sponsors: Asio Gear Real World Wildlife Products Hawke Optics Novix Outdoors Midwest Land Group 360 Hunting Blinds Mike’s Mighty Micros Gingerich Tree Farms TagOut Technique Grubb Implement Brenton USA Mathews Archery Victory GMC & Auto Group Wildlife Farming WiseEye Technologies Chasing Assurance Podcast Sponsors: Heartwood Planning Group WiseEye Technologies Coonless Feeders Green Prairie Seed Company © 2026 Chasing Giants Podcast. All rights reserved. Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed by guests and hosts during this episode are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of Chasing Giants, our sponsors, advertising partners, affiliates, or associated organizations. This interview is presented for informational purposes and to encourage respectful discussion. Copyright Notice: Any unauthorized reproduction, rebroadcast, redistribution, recording, or use of this audio or video, in whole or in part, without the express written consent of Chasing Giants LLC is strictly prohibited.