QI’ve read that the Florida whitetail is the smallest whitetail subspecies in the world. When I was stationed in Panama in 1991, I saw a deer that looked like a whitetail but was about the size of a small dog — at most 30 inches tall. Do whitetail deer range that far south?
–Alfonso Zepeda, via e-mail

A
Indeed they do. Throughout North and Central America, biologists generally recognize 30 subspecies of whitetails. Although the Florida Key deer (Odocoileus virginianus) you mentioned is the smallest deer in the U.S., the deer you saw in Panama (Odocoileus virginianus chiriquensis) is the smallest whitetail in the world.
–C.J. Winand, Contributor

Q
Is there an expandable broadhead that will not deploy when shot through the mesh windows of a ground blind?
–Greg Reed, via e-mail

A
I know of three mechanicals that should work well for you: the T3 from G5 Outdoors (www.g5outdoors.com), the Trophy Ridge Rocket Meat Seeker (www.trophyridge.com), and the NAP Bloodrunner (www.newarchery.com), which is sort of a hybrid design.

Others might work, but I would avoid those with unsharpened leading edges (on closed blades) that might catch on the mesh. Whichever head you choose, practice shooting through mesh windows to make sure the heads slice through the mesh cleanly.
–Curt Wells, Equipment Editor

Q
I killed two deer this year. I thought both were adult does but discovered they were actually bucks that had dropped their antlers. I killed the first on December 23, the second on December 29. Most of what I have read on this subject says bucks typically start shedding their antlers around the middle of January. Is what I experienced uncommon? If so, what would cause them to drop their antlers so early?
–John Margis, via e-mail

A
Testosterone levels determine when antlers drop, and those levels decline when bucks are run down or in poor nutrition. Several variables affect a buck’s health: age (older bucks rut hard, fight hard, and get run down), quality of habitat (poor nutrition leads to poor health), and buck-to-doe ratio (lots of does usually mean poorer nutrition). I don’t know what part of the country you come from, nor what age of bucks you shot. In most cases, bucks in good health drop their antlers late, while those in poor health drop them earlier.

My new book, Whitetail Racks, includes a whole chapter on this phenomenon.
–Dr. Dave Samuel, Conservation Editor

Q
Is it ok to store a bow in an unheated shed over the winter when temperatures dip well below freezing? Should I do anything to my bow before storing it there to prevent damage?
–Butch Ryan, via e-mail

A
You should not have to worry about storing your bow in an unheated shed. I would back out the limb bolts several turns as long as you don’t exceed the total number of turns recommended by the manufacturer. This will take some pressure off the limbs, strings, and cables. Next, wax the strings and cables as a protective measure. Also take note of all the bolts used to attach your accessories. If you see any rust, remove the bolts, clean them, and reinstall. A thin coat of light grease on the carbon-steel bolts will keep them from seizing in the aluminum riser, but if the bow is dry and your storage area is a low-humidity environment you should be fine. Also, make sure no mice can get to the bow and chew on the strings. Storing your bow in a case is fine too, as long as it’s dry inside. I prefer to hang my bows by the top cam from a hook.
–Curt Wells, Equipment Editor