Freelance outdoor writer Don Higgins has had numerous articles published in a variety of hunting magazines including North American Whitetail, Bowhunter, Outdoor Life, Petersens Bowhunting, Whitetail Journal and others. Now Don has authored his first book detailing the lessons that he has learned from a lifetime of hunting mature whitetail bucks in the “real world”. What is the “real world”, you ask? Simply put, the real world is where most of us hunt. It is not the staged and phony hunts that we sometimes see on TV or on videos which often take place behind high fences or on guided and outfitted hunts. In the real world, everyday hunters pursue wild and hunter-wise bucks with a lot of competition from others. This is exactly the kind of whitetail hunting that Don has mastered over the past three decades. While his whitetail hunting success and exposure as an outdoor writer has set him apart from the crowd, Don still considers himself just another deer hunter that reaps rewards reflective of the effort that he puts forth. He much prefers to be known for his strong hunting ethics, respect for the whitetail deer, and for giving back to the sport of bowhunting than for killing monster bucks. Even so, his track record cannot be denied. In this new book, Don does not seek to make himself out as a hero or expert. Instead he shares the lessons learned from passionately pursuing mature whitetail bucks in places similar to those where other real world deer hunters also hunt. Hunting Trophy Whitetails in the Real World is more than a how-to book however.  It also includes stories of successful big buck hunts and the lessons they taught, as well as opinions and advice on various topics related to deer hunting. Don never learned the meaning of “politically correct” and instead simply tells it like it is and lets the chips fall where they may. Without a doubt this book is both unique and long overdue. Included in the 20 chapters and over 200 pages are the following subjects:

Patterning Bucks - Is it possible?

Sanctuaries - Every mature buck has at least one.

Early Season Bucks - Don’t overlook this period.

Hunting the Rut - Don’t get caught up in hunting sign.

Late Season Hunting - Nothing fancy, just persistence.

Treestand Tactics – proven ideas.

Mornings or Evenings - Which is best?

Is There Really a Second Rut? - Don’t be misled.

Deer Hunting Ethics - An all too often avoided subject.

Foodplots and Land Management - Advice garnered   from experience.

Deer Huntings Future - Are we headed in the right direction?

     These are just some of the chapters that will help you understand what it takes to consistently tag mature whitetail bucks. You will also enjoy “The Buck of a Lifetime” in which Don details his hunt for a giant buck scoring over 200”. It is a buck that Don missed a shot at when the buck was 3 ½ years old and scored in the 140s. Two years later he was wearing world class antlers when Don saw him 4 times from 4 different treestands before eventually killing him. Then in “The Rest of the Story”, Don details the never before published account of the legal battle over this buck that started with the buck being confiscated by an Illinois Department of Natural Resources conservation officer. The chapter is completely true and at times so unbelievable that you will be left shaking your head. In fact, this chapter and a couple of others were reviewed by two separate attorneys to protect Don from possible lawsuits! It is definitely a “must read”.