Something strange happened in mid-September — our trail cameras practically went DEAD. Don went from getting hundreds of deer pictures a day to virtually nothing. Terry started seeing the same thing on multiple properties spread across a huge geographic area. Is it weather? A seasonal transition? Bucks shedding velvet? EHD? Or something else entirely? In Episode 343 of the Chasing Giants Podcast, Don Higgins and Terry Peer compare what they're seeing and ask listeners across the Midwest to check their own trail-camera data. We especially want to hear from YOU: Go back to roughly September 10–11 and look at your camera activity. Did you see a sudden decline in deer movement too? Tell us your state and what you saw in the comments. But that's just the beginning of this episode. Don and Terry also dive into one of the biggest challenges food plotters are facing right now: DRY WEATHER. They discuss what to do when you've planted but haven't gotten rain, how long seed can remain viable waiting for moisture, when it's time to move away from brassicas and toward cereal grains, and why you shouldn't give up on a fall food plot too quickly. They also cover: • What to plant when you're getting into October • Why cereal grains give you a longer fall planting window • Oats vs. rye vs. winter wheat vs. barley • When to plant potted fruit trees • Why December can be an outstanding month for tree planting • Clover vs. alfalfa during drought • When to mow clover one final time before hunting season • Waterhemp problems in soybeans • The importance of residual herbicides and timely weed control • What makes a good land-consulting client • How to choose the right habitat consultant • Where trail cameras should REALLY be placed around food plots • Whether mature bucks avoid elevated box blinds Don also explains why a trail-camera location should be built with the same thought and strategy you would put into a hunting location. Instead of simply observing a large food plot, concentrate deer movement into predictable locations and position cameras accordingly. And when it comes to elevated blinds, Don explains why there isn't a simple yes-or-no answer. Individual bucks react differently, and how you access and hunt the blind can be just as important as the blind itself. QUESTION OF THE WEEK: Did your trail-camera activity suddenly fall off during mid-September? Drop your location and what you observed in the comments. We'd like to compare reports from hunters across different regions and see whether there is a larger pattern. 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.