#370 - What Thermal Drones Reveal About Mature Bucks: The FUTURE Of Whitetail Research with Derrick Dixon

Derrick Dixon from Whitetail Research has been blowing up on YouTube — and for good reason. He’s using thermal drones to uncover whitetail deer behavior in a way that hunters have never seen before. In this episode, Derrick shares how he quit his job (actually got fired the day his second child was born!) and went all-in on his dream: studying whitetails with cutting-edge drone technology. The result? Groundbreaking insights on mature buck bedding, travel routes, scrapes, rubs, morning vs evening movement, and thermals that could change the way you think about deer hunting forever.

We dive into:

• Why thermal drones may be the biggest breakthrough in whitetail research since GPS collars
• How bucks really move in the rut — mornings vs evenings
• The truth about buck bedding and if “J-hooks” really happen
• What scrapes, rubs, and travel efficiency reveal about mature deer
• Why some spots look un-huntable (and how to approach them)
• Derrick’s personal story of betting it all on a drone and exploding on YouTube

And So Much More!

If you’re serious about whitetail hunting tactics, understanding mature buck behavior, and staying ahead of the curve, you don’t want to miss this episode. 

 

Follow along on social!

IG - @WHTLDEER

TikTok - @WHTLDEER

YouTube - @WHTLDEER

 

Thanks again for all of the support from our partners—none of this would’ve been possible without them!

-Moultrie: https://bit.ly/moultrie_

-Hawke Optics | Use Code WHTL for 15% off: https://bit.ly/hawkeoptics_

-OnX: https://bit.ly/onX_Hunt

-Painted Arrow: ⁠⁠bit.ly/PaintedArrow