23 August 2026
Someone Sends You a Tip on a 200” Buck… What Do You Do? | Chasing Giants 339
Chasing Giants with Don Higgins
About
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.
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.