Land & Legacy - Habitat + Hunting

On this week's podcast we break down with an expert the art of decoying in rutting whitetails to bow range! This podcast is fun, filled with great bowhunting tips, and stories of successful hunts, including several Boone and Crockett whitetails, postured up to slam a buck decoy. Greg Glesinger is a very successful bowhunter who strongly believes in the power of a buck decoy during the pre-rut phase. His success is more than enough to get the average bowhunter jacked up about bowhunting over a decoy. Greg shares countless tips on how to properly set up the decoy, angles, ranges, locations in fields, and much more. This podcast will leave you feeling like a pro on how to decoy whitetail bucks into bow range once you've listened to it. During the podcast, you will hear the intense stories of how bucks reacted to the well-placed decoy, including one, that left the decoy needing to be repaired by three bottles of super glue! That's intense. We hope you enjoy the podcast and share it with fellow hunters! #ForLoveoftheLand Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

On this week's podcast, we compare and contrast two different regions of the great state of Texas. Kyle Hedges joins Matt Dye on this podcast as the recommendations begin to flow. As we know and share during this podcast, the region you own or hunt property in makes a considerable difference. We highlight two different properties this week, one that receives only 21 inches of rainfall a year and another that gets over 50, both in the state of TX, both that want to manage deer and wild turkey. 30 Inches of rain doesn't seem like a lot, but over the course of a year and the timing of these rains has serious implications on vegetation growth, prescribed usage, stress periods for wildlife and much more. We hope you enjoy this week's podcast and learn more about the natural world and the factors that make it work and flow. #ForLoveoftheLand Land & Leagacy is Powered by Simplecast

Not one, not two, but three bucks over 200" in four years is quite the accomplishment. Throw in a 193" buck last year and you're looking at one of the best four years of deer hunting anyone can have on free range whitetails! Greg Glesinger of Drury Outdoors is a longtime friend and Land & Legacy Client and his story is something we can all learn from. "You have to put deer hunting aside when trying to manage your land." Gregs says when he made a major shift in the production of his farm. In 2017 we visited Greg's farms and immediately saw major potential. By focusing on ROI (Return on Investment) or practices that actually make a return on the property for wildlife value both in the short term and long term. Timber Stand Improvement, Old Field Management, Edge Feathering, Savanna Restoration, and many more, have led to one of the healthiest deer herds we have worked with. We don't just discuss the habitat work, we also discuss hunting strategy and using ROI on selecting days to hunt. This is a podcast devoted to doing what's right for the land and how to capitalize on the benefits. Greg is a wealth of knowledge and we know you'll enjoy this one! #ForLoveoftheLand Land & Legacy is powered by Simplecast

Follow along with us this week as we chat with Seth Harker who relives the story and multi-year hunt for a buck him and Trace call Hefty. Young bowhunter Trace Harker finally connects on this buck at just 25 yards. This podcast breaks down that journey of highs and lows. Several seasons ago, Trace Harker shot Hefty at 4.5 years old. Unfortunately, the arrow didn't penetrate but thankfully the buck survived the shot and lived to be chased again. Following the same path and pattern in 2020, Hefty started becoming a regular on the Cuddeback cameras. After seeing the pattern redevelop in the exact same location, Seth and Trace went in after this now 6.5-year-old buck. Walking the same path, Hefty was arrowed by a well-placed arrow. Trace was pumped and the buck was down quickly. Be sure to hear how Seth and Trace stayed with this deer for multiple years. There is some serious deer strategy talk as they take down another mature buck with a bow in early archery season. #ForLoveoftheLand Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

It's been too long since we had Dr. Sanchez back on the podcast but without any more waiting we breakdown what it means to leave a "Living Legacy". This podcast and topic is special to us as the work Legacy is within our own name. In this podcast, we go deep into the long term impact of relationships. How do you maximize them? How do you use the outdoors and creation to connect with people? How do you support people and share wisdom with them? This podcast is incredibly relevant to how hunters, fathers, husbands, etc.. can be the best they can be. We hope that you take time to reflect on this podcast and apply what you can to your life and relationships. Be sure to share this podcast with those who need to hear this message, be a friend to those in need. #ForLoveoftheLand Land & Legacy is powered by Simplecast

Learning from someone else's mistakes and also their best practices is a lot easier than trying to learn from your own mistakes. Land & Legacy Client Eric Pitcock bought his farm in 2016 and began the process of land management. In the beginning he started with planting food plots, fruit trees, and switchgrass. Results were limited and it was until the year 2020 when the fruit trees produced the first fruit. Over the years he's modified his management style to focus more on long term effects that can also have immediate results, such as timber stand improvements and invasive species control. Have you ever heard of switchgrass plantings that result in a barrier deer won't utilize? This is a problem that Eric experienced after planting several acres in his old fields, fortunately enough he used a quick treatment of herbicide to knock the grass back and nature took over with head high natives that provided food and cover for many wildlife species! Nature loves diversity, and with Eric now managing for increased diversity and all wildlife he's seeing some of the quickest returns he's had since owning the farm. With all this work done, it's no surprise it didn't take him very long to find a mature buck to hunt. In fact, it was his first hunt of the season. Tune in to this podcast to hear how it all unfolded! #Forloveoftheland Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

On this podcast, we complete a multi-day hunt for a velvet 8-pointer in southern Missouri. We take you through the techniques and strategy we go through over several days of the hunt. This is an installment with almost play-by-play action. After observing a big 150 inch 8 pointer, Chad goes in after him. We break down the strategy we deploy to get within bow range. This group of bucks is feeding each night in an alfalfa field on a cattle farm. To say there are a few variables to this hunt is an understatement. We break down our thought process as we attempt to put an arrow in this buck on the first weekend. We saddle hunt and even climb a tree only 10 feet off the ground to make this happen. Be sure to follow along with this exciting semi-live podcast. Enjoy the hunt breakdown! Stay tuned for more hunts like this from the Land & Legacy team. #ForLoveoftheLand Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

During this podcast, you will hear from Kip Adams the Conservation Director of the QDMA. Kip is a long time hunter and land manager with extensive knowledge of whitetail deer management. Kip and his family own roughly 700 acres in north-central Pennsylvania. This farm is situated in a heavily hunted portion of the whitetail's range. With his class and willingness to educate fellow hunters, Kip shares his farm's personal trail camera history with us to learn from. In this podcast, you will hear Kip discuss how to conduct a trail camera and hunter observation study. Then we will discuss in full detail what all these numbers like the buck to doe ratio, doe to fawn ratio, age structure, and percentage of the deer herd you should be harvesting. These numbers are real and have significance to everyone listening because they are repeatable. Acquiring these numbers isn't difficult. A simple camera trap along with hunter observation cards will do the trick. Don't go into the season without having goals. If you want to grow bigger bucks, shoot does. Reduce the number of mouths and each deer will improve in condition. There is a balance or harmony with the land and wildlife that call it home that each land manager should strive to accomplish. #ForLoveoftheLand Land & Legacy is powered by Simplecast

Whitetails reveal all that we need to know if we can read their body language. As bow season has opened up here in Missouri and only a few hunts in, a few observations have hit us squarely in the face. Deer tell us everything we need to know. We've observed a large destination food plot twice now. This plot has had 25-30 deer in it each night. With that many deer, it is easy to observe common whitetail deer behavior. During this podcast, we breakdown how to read deer behavior. What does it mean when you see a deer's tail wag or a flag stand upright? What does it mean deer are alerted when feeding? What does it mean when you hear a deer blow? We break down all of these behaviors as many of them can be misunderstood by hunters. Knowing these common deer behaviors will make you a better woodsman and deer hunter. This information at the beginning of the season will give you the advantage as season opens up across the country. Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

On this podcast, you will hear our take on a listener question. This question falls right in line with some of the recent podcasts we are having regarding herd management. This time it is on a bigger scale. We look beyond a single property and involve regions and states. During the podcast, we talk about a real life example form Southern Iowa. This podcast follower has seen a decrease in the number and quality of bucks over the course of 8 years, despite completing some pretty serious land and herd management during this time. So, we break down in an honest review of what this landowner could be experiencing. This neighborhood is seeing crazy lease values and outfitting. The number of mature bucks being harvested annually is only increasing. The targets are being shot while does are left to increase. If you want to hear the answer to this question on a deeper level, then follow along on the podcast. Take a dive down to the complexities of managing wild free ranging whitetails. #ForLoveoftheLand Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

As the bowhunting season is opening up across the country, we are putting the finishing touches on our gear selections for this season. Today's podcast revolves around the bowhunting gear we plan on taking to the deer stand this fall. You will get a list of the new products we are trying. As we move through the season, you will hear about our experiences with each one. Every year, there are new products to choose from and try. Although we don't often get bogged down by the product game, it is still good to try new things and provide you with honest feedback from real-life hunting scenarios. Some of the products will include arrows, broadheads, blinds, saddles, boots, ozone, bows, and more.Be sure to follow along to see what we plan to include in our whitetail hunting daypacks. This will be a fun fall! We hope you break the mold for 2020, get outside and try something new. This is a great year to take a new person hunting! #ForLoveoftheLand Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

On this podcast, you will hear the recipe for having more big bucks on the landscape. This isn't rocket science, yet it seems hunters get caught up in genetics and food plots constantly. If you want more deer with bigger antlers then develop an age structure that allows deer to reach maturity. Plain and simple. As the season begins to open up in your neighborhood, you are immediately faced with decisions. Do you harvest certain bucks or not? Without fail, we will hear, if I don't my neighbor will... Well, guess what, if you do, then your neighbor will not, regardless, you don't control every outcome. But every time you kill a but in defense of a neighbor, it dies. It doesn't get older and you were the road block between developing the age structure you wanted, not anyone else. The secret recipe for big bucks comes not by buying products but with education, habitat, and age structure. The age structure can be influenced by not harvesting younger age class deer, offering secure cover, and creating a wildlife co-op. These are the options, what will you do differently? #ForLoveoftheLand Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

We had to reach out to the experts on this topic. Bryan Jackson of the National Weather Service is an experienced meteorologist who works day in and day out studying weather. Bryan is a part of an experienced team that predicts the precipitation levels across the country. He joins us this week to teach us more about the weather. Any hunter or land manager needs to have a comprehensive understanding of interpreting weather conditions. We spent time this week discussing how weather fronts are formed and the impact they have on things such as barometric pressure, prevailing winds, and precipitation. In addition, we breakdown the most recent hurricane Laura as many of us took cover or advantage of the rainfall and planted our food plots ahead of her arrival. There is so much to learn as we find out from Bryan. Weather predictions are not clear cut and dry. They are educated guess based on how thousands of variables will play out, so we have much to learn. Take a few minutes to learn about the natural world and how it plays a huge part in our daily life. This podcast will leave you wanting to learn more about weather events and the climate in your region. #ForLoveoftheLand. Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

On this habitat focused podcast, we discuss the benefits of the burning during the late summer. Yes, we burned during a drought recently here in southern Missouri with strict goals and objectives for this burn unit. On this podcast, we examine, how, why, when, and where. Growing season fires are not like dormant season fires, they result in different outcomes. A growing season fire usually allows the forbs to flourish while controlling the woody saplings in the unit based on the time of the fire. Based on the ambient temperature outside, it is much easier to top kill a sapling when temperatures are warmer now than in February. The size of these units also are very important, we use a growing season fire to put the finishing touches after the broad strokes of habitat improvements have been made. Edge feathered areas usually respond very well to a growing season fire. It places more food and cover in close proximity to food plots. Be sure to listen to this educational podcast on prescribed fire during the growing season. Turn your habitat into a dyanmic offering for the wildlife. #ForLoveofotheLand Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

New opportunities are on the horizon for Land & Legacy this fall. With one phone call, we packed the truck and headed west to a new hunting opportunity. A generous client has offered an invitation for this fall to hunt a large property with him and his crew. We quickly jumped on the chance and this podcast, is our plan of attack to chasing whitetails in Oklahoma.This property is managed intensely for waterfowl. However, that doesn't mean there aren't ample opportunities for quality whitetails. During this podcast, we break down our perspective prior to visiting this farm recently and then again after the visit. With having eye balls on the farm our perspective and season outlook has changed. Be sure to follow along as we dissect the farm, habitat, variables, and season dates for 2020 in Oklahoma. This podcast is a look into the fall hunting season for the Land & Legacy team. We are thrilled to hit the woods soon with the crew chasing whitetails in Missouri and now Oklahoma. We hope you enjoy the podcast and can share some of the same principles on learning new hunting territories. #ForLoveoftheLand Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

Have you ever heard of the phrase "that farm is managed"? Have you stopped to consider what that means? Do you wonder, what type of management they are talking about? Overtime we have seen this term become devalued and over-generalized. During this podcast, we clearly outline the difference between herd management and land management. These two different types of management play huge roles in the progress we aim to see on land. Land management involves, TSI, prescribed fire, old-field, etc. Herd management involves tracking and selectively harvesting deer based on recorded data such as adult sex ratios, fawn recruitment rates, recorded weights, and overall carrying capacity. If you desire to maximize your property you have to actively manage. Manage the land in sync with the herd. It's not, one or the other, it's both. If you want results, manage every aspect and year-round by addressing the needs of the land and herd. #ForLoveoftheLand Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

During this podcast, we sit down with Kyle Hedges of Land & Legacy to discuss the cheat codes for dove season. The opening day of dove season in many states is just as important as deer season. The heritage and tradition built around this sport is impressive, so give this podcast a listen to learn how to be successful every summer. Last year at this time, we discussed how to plant and manage a pristine sunflower patch for opening day. This year, we discuss what natives should you be hunting over for doves. Do you hunt pond banks with bare dirt? What about roost trees? Some of the top native species to look for when scouting for doves are, barnyard grass, foxtail, ragweed, and wholly croton. If you enjoy dove hunting, it's not too late to scratch out a few good hunts for this year. Download this podcast to increase your chances as dove season in your neck of the woods opens up! #ForLoveoftheLand Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

On this weeks podcast, we discuss the flexibility of land. We have worked a certain property in Ohio for several years now. Despite working the same property, the ownership has changed hands. This means plans change! We cover this week, how new owners means new objectives, but the question is, can the land handle the change? Since the property has sold, the new owners are now full time residents of the property with a young family. This means the property has more hands to work it, but more hunters as well. So we need to accommodate for that and increase the access and number of hunting locations across the farm. In addition, the amount of useable space for whitetails needs to increase as well. We need to add cover across the entire farm to increase the overall carrying capacity. This was done with solid execution in the last 5 months. Roughly 20 acres of clear cuts have been completed. Over 15 acres of native grass and forbs blends have been established. Cover is not limiting on the property! The land is handling the changes very well, despite many drastic measures, the response has been great. The land has responded very well, but so has the deer herd. After reducing deer numbers significantly, the fawn recruitment rate is extremely strong. But also impressive are the size of some of these bucks. Despite a dry summer, these bucks have grown impressive racks!We hope you enjoy this podcast and use it as fuel to change your property for the better. Remember drastic improvements come from drastic changes! #ForLoveoftheLand Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

Sometimes the best way to learn is to look back in history at what worked and most importantly, what didn't work. During this podcast we discuss some of the biggest failures we've ever committed on our family farm and some of the most common we see people making. If you're looking to make an impact on your farm without it costing a fortune don't miss this podcast. We're walking through techniques we used that we're still trying to correct today, like deep tillage, hinge cutting, and even road layout. Many decisions we make when managing our land affect the farm for the long haul. Consider the importance of a plan and working through that plan to ensure that progress is made. As a young land manager we spent many weekends randomly working the property with no real plan, my how things have changed. If you're not tracking your progress with photos of before and after your work and journaling your work, you're falling into the same trap that we did. That has been one of the biggest regrets we have in land management and thankfully you shouldn't have to make the same mistakes. Listen in to this podcast to avoid those annoying regrets and mistakes. #ForLoveoftheLand Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

During this weeks podcast we bring you an update from the owners of Bur Oaks Bluff. This 280 acre property is getting a habitat facelift. Since the owners took possession earlier in 2020, many things across the property have changed. We cover topics such as cedar removal, food plot expansion, TSI, edge feathering, tillable acres expansion, fishing pond improvements, and more! This property is well on its way to creating a dynamite whitetail property in a under estimated period of Iowa. Southern Iowa isn’t the only place giant whitetails are produced. Give this podcast a listen if you want to watch a farm come alive for wildlife in the coming years. This farm will be a destination location for a future outdoor minded family. Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

It’s been coming for a while, the wool revelation for the typical eastern whitetail hunter. Wool has been used for hundreds of years as a premium fabric for all kinds of clothing. This week, we speak with Kevin Harlander of First Lite to learn about the company and the secrets of wool based hunting gear. Are your tired of the overheating on your way to the treestand, but freezing your tail off as you sit the whole day? We were too! After much research and trial and error we have switched to wearing wool hunting clothing. From the start of season till the end, the Properties of wool keep us covered. In addition to creating incredible hunting clothing, First Lite is devoted to the conservation of wild things. From west to East, this company is giving back to the habitat. Not just money, but time, labor, and education. If you haven’t given First Lite a chance, we encourage you to try some pieces this fall and support a conservation minded company! Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

During this week's podcast, Matt and Frank discuss one of the largest and overlooked fundamental aspects of land management, location! Your specific region matters. The east is not the west and the north is not the south. Despite bobwhite quail living in all of these regions and despite it being the same animal you are managing for, the management will be different! The region you live in and manage is likely the second largest factor when it comes to management decisions. The first being, what species you will be managing for, but second is your location in that species range. Social media has connected people and brought to light some good and bad techniques over the years. However, the connection of people has often led to many practices being mis-used. Things that work in the north for deer, many not work or be even remotely necessary for those in the south. It is imperative to know your location, soils, rainfall, temperature, growing degree days, first and last frost dates. We encourage you to download the podcast and listen closely. This podcast will help elevate your understanding of your property and how it relates to your region. Manage with fundamental principles to get the response you want! #ForLoveoftheLand Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

Are you ready for fall like we are? Ready or not here it comes. During this week's podcast we discuss how fall food plots actually work. We start at the basis with the understanding of how seeds germinate. Germination of seeds starts when adequate moisture is available, yet, most food plots start off with a practice of removing all the soil moisture, like discing. In addition, after discussing how to get the most out of your food plot planting, we dive into soil improvement techniques. The phrase "I'm building soil" is often misused and misunderstood. So we discuss in detail the 5 principles of building soil health. These principles should not be confused or deviated from as they simply work with mother nature. Building soil does not happen overnight, the process is complex and the solution will be as well. Monocultures are not the solution. Be sure to hear us out on this topic. It's a hot button item, but simply science should be applied to understand how the soil should be improved.Be sure to share with others who need to hear this message. To get the most out of your food plots, you need to understand the medium they are planted in. Give this podcast a download and a share. #ForLoveoftheLand Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

Here it is! Finally the wait is over, after a few years of development, Hunter Pruitt the founder of the National Wildlife Cooperative is ready to release his baby. We are thrilled to be a part of the launch of this project. If you are a landowner or lease ground, turn your ears all the way up, this podcast and organization is for you. Research strongly supports the need for landowners joining forces to work side by side improving the habitat for a wide array of wildlife species. We are not talking about improving properties, we are talking about improving regions! This is an organization for the benefit of the landowner and wildlife, not itself. This grassroots organization puts the value back on the land and landowner, with a focus not just on one animal, but land and wildlife itself, so we can get on board with that!Have you considered starting a wildlife cooperative in your area? Do you know where to begin? Please take time and visit the National Wildlife Cooperative website. Read the information provided and take action, open dialogue with your neighbors and start improving regions! Look beyond your property, don't just stop there. #ForLoveoftheLand Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

We would be hypocritical if we didn't implement cooperatives in our region. These cooperatives are wide ranging in the structure, some will be very organized while others will be fresh and new. However, the important thing is they will be started and communication can begin between landowners. This week we have two interviews during the podcast, one with Matt Dye and Seth Harker who was before his time and started working with neighbors to improve the overall neighborhood he leased ground in. Although not all jumped on board right out of the gate, his region is now seeing some incredible results, routinely harvesting multiple 150" class whitetails yearly and countless turkeys. In comparison, Adam and Chad discuss how they plan to begin a cooperative around the Prairie Hollow property. At this time the neighborhood is full of hunters, but very little communication between the groups. In time, with open dialogue, this too will be a region to watch wildlife and habitat be improved. This week is full of wildlife cooperative news! We hope you will join us in standing up for wildlife and the land they roam. Carry the torch in your neck of the woods to discuss goals and expectations with others openly. #ForLoveoftheLand Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

Over the course of several years we have worked closely with Stratton Seed Company to develop many different blends for food plotters across the country. Without fail, we always get the question, what food plot blend should I plant? This broad question leads to many other questions. So this podcast addresses the benefits of each fall annual blend that Stratton Seed company offers. In addition, Keith Hammer of Stratton Seed Company joins us on the line to do the fall food plot blend breakdown. Two of the top food plot contenders each and every fall is between the Legacy Blend and the Bounty Hunter Blend. Although composed of similar species, these two blends complete different objectives for the food plotter looking into the future. The Legacy Blend is dynamic and offers benefits from fall through the winter and well into early summer with a diverse blend including three different annual clovers. In comparison the Bounty Hunter provides great forage from fall through spring, but times out earlier than the Legacy Blend. These differences maybe the most important when it comes to deciding which one to plant. Find out which one is best for you.Don't forget about the clover options as well, both annual and perennial with the Emerge and Revival blends. Both are dynamic but accomplish different tasks in the food plot. The Revival blend is likely our favorite blend from the benefits it provides over the course of an entire year. It is important to remember that it is a perennial so this benefit comes year after year! We hope you enjoy this week's podcast and give Stratton Seed a try this fall. Be sure to checkout all the options for food plots at www.shoplandandlegacy.com Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

How's the weather in your part of the world? It's the middle of the summer so most of us are experiencing the severity of summer heat. If the summer rains have missed you, you're probably looking at a drought. As a deer manager we've likely been told to hate droughts and that "wet weather means bigger, healthier deer." Although that statement may have some truth, the natural world doesn't revolve around just deer. Finding the positive in the situation can not only help you appreciate the current situation but it can also help you understand how changing weather patterns can help certain plants and animals. One of the biggest topics covered in this podcast is the benefit of a dry nesting season for ground nesting birds like quail and turkeys. While a deer hunter may hate the heat, a quail manager will be relieved without the worry of flooding. Finally, during a drought you can monitor food plot species and native species and observe which species thrives in the heat and which fails. With acres and acres of cool season non native grasses throughout the midwest it's easy to see how the heat takes the life out of many acres of the landscape. Take this time in the summer to look over your farm and find a void of productivity and work to improve it! Don't let the summer heat get you down, change your perspective and look to improve your natives! #ForLoveoftheLand Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

This podcast is one for the ages! We take a light hearted approach this week to land management information. Disclaimer, these "research" points are just fun jokes to show the importance of diversifying the landscape is. These are not true, but humorous to imagine if they were true, just how much valuable work would get done. From the title of the podcast, you can tell that the topics in this podcast aren't actually true. Things such as, "Had you heard, that midges that carry EHD require eastern red cedar for egg laying purposes?" Obviously, this isn't true, however imagine if it was for a moment. The vast monocultures of eastern red cedar that decrease water intake, biodiversity, and much more would be addressed. This is just one example of many that we wish were true. Take this podcast light heartedly! We hope you enjoy it as it will bring humor to your day. Let's get out there and work the landscape, run a chainsaw, target invasives, and remove some nonative cool-sesaon grasses! Enjoy.Learn.Share! #ForLoveoftheLand Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

Our land, public or private is showing clear signs of warning. In many places the land is degraded and in need of assistance. How do we know this? Well, the clues are everywhere, we just need to be looking and observing to see these clear indicators. The health of our landscape is greater than chasing a mature whitetail or gobbling turkeys in the spring. Stress on the landscape has revealed itself in many different ways, it's our job to bring this to light so that we can address the issues. Things such as invasive species infestations, soil erosion issues, poor soil health, unhealthy forests, degrading populations or isolating populations due to poor habitat conditions. All of these are signs that something is out of whack or unbalanced in nature. This podcast is not meant to bring a bummer to your day, but simply enlighten you to beware of the fact, we have work to do. The world is not coming to an end, but we have areas across the landscape that need help! Enjoy.Learn.Share! #ForLoveoftheLand Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

During this podcast you will hear how two Land & Legacy listeners used us to help find them the perfect property to reach their goals. Oftentimes we find folks enter into real estate transactions on an emotional basis. This emotion can cloud judgement and cause buyers remorse months later. Wil Perry and his father contacted us to find them the right recreational property in the mid-west. Even being from north Georgia, they wanted to become non-resident landowners with their hearts set on Southeast Kansas. This area has its positives and negatives, but by purchasing the right property, you can have some incredible hunting success. So we worked with them and scoured the listings to find the top properties at the time on the market. With solid communication and critical evaluations of each one, we landed on one specific property. By utilizing our network of agents across the country, we found the proper closing agent and got the deal done. Flash forward to July 2020 and the Perry's are proud owners of a 120 acre parcel in Elk County Kansas. This property has already had a Land & Legacy consultation and at the moment it is underway in the transformation. With an educated and calculated purchase, this property will not only meet, but likely exceed the expectations of the Perry's. We are blessed to have assisted on their journey, but look forward to working with other like minded land owners. #ForLoveoftheLand Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

Do you dream of owning your own property one day? Do you have a complex understanding of what that buying process looks like? During this podcast you will be enlightened on how the world of buying and selling recreational real estate work. Our goal with every client is to work on behalf of clients to help them reach their goals whether they contact us when they already own a property or are just entering the buying process. We discuss in this podcast the role of buying agents, selling agents, commission splits, and the truths behind the real estate marketing schemes you commonly see. It will open your eyes to the weaknesses as you are preyed upon by the marketing of recreational property. We all know that not every piece of property can be a "Big Buck Paradise". In addition, you will hear our pitch for the Ozarks. With the recent current events and the drive for people to become self sustainable the land ownership opportunities locally are very appealing. Our local real estate values are affordable, but offering some incredible hunting opportunities as well. It takes work, but we know the recipe to make it happen. Enjoy.Learn.Share! #ForLoveoftheLand Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

Oftentimes the debate of food versus cover has caused heated discussions among hunters. Here is the quick and simple explanation, the answer is both. Why would you attempt to manage for either one without the other? That does not make sense. Great food without quality cover in close proximity is useless. In comparison, only having cover and no food is severely limiting! After a recent trip to the incredible state of Iowa, this debate becomes incredibly clearer. The vast amount of acres of food literally covered the landscape from tillable crops to alfalfa, and legume heavy pastures. This amount of food is great, but it is only available for 5-6 months out of the year, then the food supply drops drastically. Imagine a place where the food supply does not stop or is at least sustainable throughout the remainder of the year. In contrast, cover of high quality is limited in Iowa as well. Some old field areas or CRP offer solid cover, but even this has times when it is less than ideal cover. Young forests are very rare, so adequate winter cover is rare. It is important to remember that food and cover is not a decision to be made. Both are just as equally as important to have on a property. As good as Iowa is, it has holes and could use improvement. #ForLoveoftheLand Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

During this podcast, we break down a contract on an existing Land & Legacy project. These are real numbers applied to real habitat management projects. We encourage everyone to listen to the podcast who has had interest in enrolling in these types of programs. These cost-share programs help conserve and pay landowners to implement sound management practices on their property. Page by page we cover the different techniques, from our of work that would be completed, how we would complete the work all the way down to how much cash is exchanged for doing it. Some of the management practices included are FSI, prescribed fire, conservation cover, temporary forest openings, medium brush management all the way up to heavy brush management. If you've ever wondered how, why, or if its worth enrolling your land into cost-share programs, then this podcast is for you! Enjoy.Learn.Share! Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

Hope you are ready for a passion-filled podcast! This week we fly off the cuff and provide listeners with an in-depth look at why we love land. Being passionate about something requires devotion and deep understanding. This hour is filled with countless reasons why we are so devoted to learning as much as we can about land and being the best land managers and landowners as we can be. The first profession was a caretaker of the land. This is a calling, so we feel as if those who own land have a big responsibility. The connection between the biological world we live in and manage is so closely connected to the spiritual world. The illustrations between being a gamekeeper and real-world scenarios are countless. So the more we know or educate ourselves about the biology of plants and animals, the more we grow spiritually. Landis bigger than hunting, it's bigger than food plots, it has more to offer. If all you do is hunt and food plot, you are only scratching the surface when it comes to overall enjoyment of land. Please take time to consider this podcast. Reflect on your experiences. Get outside and spend time enjoying the natural world, you're called to do it! #ForLoveoftheLand Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

On a recent trip to the mid-Atlantic region, Matt was able to spend time reviewing success from a client who planted diverse natives as well as met with a new landowner who has converted just 1.5 acres into a food production mecca! You will hear about both wonderful stories on this week's podcast. It is a joy to share with everyone the success that those who implement the plans have. These real-life examples are perfect to build off of and use as encouragement for others to replicate this success on their own property. We sit down with Kevin of southern Maryland to discuss the progress of the native wildlife corridors he planted. In just year two this planting is booming with life from diverse grasses to many pollinator species. In addition, we interview Daniel Adams of Up and Adams Farm. Daniel is a brand new client of Land & Legacy, but while onsite, we took time to review the other ways he is using his land. Daniel and his family devote 1.5 acres to food production. This includes 40 laying chickens, 90 meat chickens, 5 pigs, and a 7,500 sq foot garden that could support 30 different families. This type of production out of 1.5 acres is incredible! We can't wait to hear what you think about this content! #ForLoveoftheLand Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

Grab your pen and paper for this podcast! After many months of debating this podcast topic, we release the truths behind the knowledge that will take you deeper in the understanding of your property. The foundation of habitat management is a detailed knowledge of the resources that comprise habitat offered on the property. This foundation is simply, what vegetation is growing? Without being able to identify what plant species are growing it is impossible to make sound or qualified land management decisions. It would be irresponsible for someone to either apply herbicide or cut trees down without knowing what they are spraying or even what they are sinking a chainsaw into. During the podcast, we stress the importance of repetition and intentional learning of the plant species growing on your property. This doesn't happen without practice. In addition, we leave you with 20 very common plant species that deer strongly relate to in four different categories, trees, shrubs, forbs, and grass. If you can learn these 20 species you can learn 200 more. But this requires you to start! Learning the native flora in your region is a skill. This skill makes you powerful in the land management game. Begin using helpful apps such as iNaturalist to sharpen your skills! Be diligent and learn these species so you can learn how to improve as a land manager and hunter. #ForLoveoftheLand Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

Where did all the quail go? This is a recurring question that begins in the eastern United States and ends in western United States with many ideas and opinions. Like many complicated questions, it has a very complicated answer that we do our best to break down and discuss some of the biggest factors in the decline of the Bobwhite Quail. From habitat loss, to predators, to farming practices, to timber harvest, Kyle and Adam paint a picture of a landscape during the early 1900's to mid 1960's to present day. Bobwhite Quail numbers have been declining for many years now and without an understanding of the problem there will be no real solution. Education is the solution to many problems in our world today and educating everyone that "Predators ate all the Quail," is simply a false statement. Did you know that farming today looks entirely different than it did even 30 years ago? Or that one of the country's largest sawmills sat in south central Missouri, where close by, quail hunting was done with a canoe and dogs floating the Current River. What a changing world we live in!Quail discussions shouldn't all be doom and gloom and this podcast isn't either. We chat about the great things we can do as land managers to bring the quail back. Co-operatives to government cost-share opportunities to incentivize landowners to improve their farms and be rewarded for their work! Deer hunters, don't miss the boat on this, it's important you care about quality habitat as well! #ForLoveoftheLand Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

If we could sum up food plots in one question or phrase it would likely be, "How can we maximize our food plot production with as little time and money as possible?" We strive to always find the best products for the money and allow us to have the best return on our investment. It is no different with food plots and we've fortunately been planting and testing for a long time. During that time we've found some major money pits, bad practices, and also very quick results that helped landowners save money all while still growing successful food plots. Why does soil health always include non-native annual species? Why soil health improvement shouldn't involve monocultures of plants and low diverse blends. These are all questions and concerns we discuss in new movements headed towards soil health. We really get into the weeds on this podcast as we talk about implementing cattle into our system to build diversity and increase disturbance on the food plots. Finally, we touch on some of our testing with no drill, and only small equipment like ATV's and UTV's and how almost anyone can go no till. Diversity wins again! #ForLoveoftheLand Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

On this week’s podcast we cover all things summer and heat. It’s been heating up in the Midwest and a recent consulting trip to Texas reinforced the need for thermal cover. Yes, thermal cover for the summertime. The heat and potential for drought are something land managers should consider. Can you imagine what summer thermal cover looks like? How do you create it? Why is summer thermal cover even necessary? We address these questions and more. By the end of the podcast you will be considering shade, aspects of slopes, bedding on extended points, wind currents and much more. Don’t forget about the bottomland management as well. Creeks with shaded sandy banks will be “hot” spots.Don’t let the heat keep you from managing your land appropriately. Make sure you address each stress period adequately for the wildlife you want to promote. Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

In this podcast, Frank and Matt discuss the foundation and start of life for many of the game species we all enjoy chasing. We address rumors and common misunderstandings that revolve around nesting, brood rearing, lactation and fawning. One of the common thoughts is that spring rains destroy nests from flooding or even flood and wash turkey poults into the mighty Mississippi River. This idea has spread and caused a lot of misunderstanding on how to best understand weather events during the Spring. It is not flooding that causes poor recruitment, it's the lack of a poult's ability to stay dry. Rain and cool nights cause hypothermia, this inability to regulate body heat ultimately causes the young birds to perish. In addition, fawns can be just as fragile. If you are trying to grow the biggest or baddest deer herd possible, it starts with healthy does, lactation, and quality fawning cover. Just because you see fawns on camera and your deer population isn't struggling like bobwhites, doesn't mean fawning habitat can't be improved. Be sure to give this podcast a listen! We need to collectively begin thinking of the spring as one of the most critical times in our game species life. Let's commit to solid education as it will guide our management in a more productive fashion. Enjoy.Learn.Share! #ForLoveoftheLand Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

The best tool a land manager can have is their own two eyes! Chainsaws, prescribed fire, tractors, drills, sprayers are all great, but if you don't see what needs to be seen, then the tools we do have will be misused. One of the largest problems we see when we tour farms is the lack of knowledge the landowner has of their given property. In many cases, the most time a landowner spends on the property is spent on a UTV, not their own two feet. To see what's happening on a property, you have to walk. Walk constantly, get off the roads, take the beaten path. If you spend 80% of our time on the roads, we miss 90% of the property and the resources the farm actually is offering. You have to monitor the property, trail cameras, food plots, and road systems only tell a small fraction of the story. In addition, do you terminate your food plots too early? Are you cutting the fall blend too short? We answer these questions as well this week. We hope you Enjoy.Learn.Share! Tag a fellow landowner who needs to hear this message. #ForLoveoftheLand Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

This Spring has been one to remember from chasing turkeys to burning down the roads on consulting trips. Two recent trips took Adam to the hills of Central Pennsylvania and Matt to the lakes of Minnesota. These two northern regions created some important field observations and similar management strategies. When traveling and working in different regions of the country it is important to recall the significance of each area. There are no cookie-cutter situations where all the techniques work the same and the climate conditions are similar. On our trips, we both recognize that woody browse is so incredibly significant to understand and produce, there are various ways to accomplish this. For Adam, timber harvesting was critical and being executed routinely. On the other hand, TSI and shrub plantings were the recommendations for Matt in his region. Without a doubt, principles of habitat management don't change, however, each and every region must be studied and examined to produce the best habitat that is suitable for wildlife. is applicable. We hope you enjoy learning about the management opportunities that each region has even if you are from other portions of the country. Enjoy.Learn.Share! #ForLoveoftheLand Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

Back on the road again, Matt and Frank discuss a recent trip to the heart of deer country in SouthEast Kansas. Working with new landowners is always enjoyable, but these two, a father and son, have an incredible work ethic and desire to improve habitat the right way. They aren't looking for quick fixes, they know the work before themis going to be tough, but rewarding. So we developed a plan for them to use in transforming a simple travel corridor into a deer holding and hunting mecca. This 120 acres of an abandoned homestead is the only cover around for a large area. Two large creek systems flow through the farm north to south that is surrounded by native pastures and dotted agriculture fields. You can see as it lays by examining and aerial that this farm would be attracting deer along this large corridor. However, that is isn't satisfactory, the goal is to maximize each and every acre! So we are going to expand existing corridors, create new ones running east to west with the existing cover andslow deer down as they hit the farm by creating new food resources and superior bedding. I cannot wait to get the success photos back from these two! This farm is ready for an overhaul and these two landowners are just the pair to do. #ForLoveoftheLand Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

Sit back and enjoy! Yup, we went there and put a bullseye on soybeans! This week, we invited Kip Adams of the QDMA to discuss how bucks grow antlers. This is a complex subject and one that many folks are severely misunderstood about. The timing is critical to understand when evaluating the driving factors and influences revolving around antlers. Many people are focused on turkey hunting or food plots to slow down and see that antler formation begins during late March or April each and every year. Soybeans in most areas are still two months away from being a beneficial forage and adding value to antler growth. Roughly 50%+ of antlers are developed by mid-June! Think about that the next time you consider how valuable food plots are to growing antlers. So what then makes antlers grow? Forbs, native broadleaf annual and perennial plant species are the magic that fuels the mind-blowing growth every hunter is enthralled with each fall. Please take time to share this podcast with each hunter, food plotter. land manager, and whitetail enthusiast that you know. Antlers help drive conservation, so understanding them is critical will help improve habitat across the country. Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

If you haven't learned yet, we love prescribed fire for managing native plant communities. Fire has so many different elements that impact the result of applying fire to the landscape. It has its cautions, but so do running a chainsaw and applying an herbicide. Take the precautions and use this incredible tool! After two different prescribed fires completed this year on the Prairie Hollow Property, there are several results to discuss. The later burn timing allowed us to specifically target and top kill multiflora rose and many other woodland shrubs such as spicebush. After opening up the canopy over the past few years through a timber harvest and TSI, the growth was impressive, so fire allowed us to reset this growth. It is critical as we discuss in the podcast to have sunlight reaching the ground if you want prescribed fire to produce quality results. If you want or need drastic results, you have to do drastic things! We hope you enjoy learning about prescribed fire and how we use this natural and incredible tool to improve the landscape for wildife and plant communities. Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

The ongoing statement is that cattle and wildlife can't co-exist and this podcast is devoted to debunking that statement. Adam and Kyle discuss the use of cattle in a grazing rotation that he calls "conservation grazing." This system uses cattle to replicate historical Bison herds on the diverse landscape to improve habitat for Bobwhite Quail and other grassland birds. This grazing has not only increased diversity on the landscape for grassland birds but also species like whitetail deer. One of the biggest questions by landowners in our consulting business is the possibility of bringing in financial gains on their farm. Cattle grazing contracts could be a great way to increase income, improve habitat, and increase animal populations. Win! Win! Win!We discuss the differences in grazing patterns you'll find commonly used on the landscape today and what a herd of cow/calf or stockers looks like and their individual grazing selection. We even take a look at the historical fires and grazing and what the historical landscape might have looked like and how we can replicate it! #ForLoveoftheLand Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

We all grew up listening to our Grandpa's, hanging on every word they had to share with us. Well, these days we find that not all of these phrases hold true. This podcast is devoted to searching for the truth in science and then how we can apply this to the property we manage. Grandpa's always seemed to undervalue soil, as it was commonly referred to as dirt. This misunderstanding of such a valuable resource has led to decades of mistreatment of this resource. Now we know with the help of science and technology that there is more life under the soil than above it. These ideas and misconceptions have led to poor practices and management decisions when planting seeds whether working in food plots or agriculture fields. The search for fresh, new, peer-reviewed science gives us the best knowledge and decision making power. We have one life to improve the world we call home. It's time we make a devotion to decision making based on truth and science. Give the wildlife and natural resources your best! Please share this podcast! Let's learn and share valuable information with one another. This will result in powerful changes and improvements all across the country. Enjoy.Learn.Share! Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

On this podcast, we talk specifically on the best ways to manage open acres on recreational land. These open acres can be comprised of various forms of cover, foods, and security. After a recent consulting trip to Kansas, the topic of open management is on the brain. Most landowners have open acres to manage and improve for wildlife, so listen up! On the podcast, we cover, native pasture management, cattle management, bottomland TSI, invasive species management, crop rotations, cover cropping, CRP, and non-resident food plot acres. All of these topics make for great conversations regarding midwest wildlife management. This multi-purpose property us going to be developed into a fantastic recreational property with income when he implements the recommendations on his property. We hope you enjoy learning how to manage the open acres on your property during this podcast. Thanks for sharing and listening! ForLoveoftheLand Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

During this podcast, we examine the benefits of purchasing the latest and greatest gear versus simply habitat management tools. These tools we compare and contrast are priced in the same ballpark as a common new hunting product such as the newest bow, greatest trail camera, or even a shoulder mount. As hunters, we need to do a better job at improving the habitat rather than taking from it consistently. What would happen if all the hunters decided to purchase a chainsaw rather than the newly released rangefinder. What would happen to the land, would we see healthier animals, or even more conservation efforts put into place? We think so, therefore use this podcast as a great reminder of how you spend your time and money can impact the land we hunt even more! Habitat improvements don't happen unless they are we start them, that falls on our shoulders. Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

Here it is, all you need to know about turkey management. Do you have turkeys on your property now? Do you want turkeys? Download this podcast and apply these techniques to the property you hunt to create more habitat for the wild turkey. Turkeys are diverse so therefore they need lots of different plant communities on the landscape to persist. The expansive diet of the wild turkey is a great reminder of just how diverse the habitat needs to be. Turkeys need to have grasses, forbs, insects, worms, hard mast, soft mast, gravel and all of these different elements in the right spatial arrangement. Without these arranged appropriately the rearing of turkeys will be limited. Similar to whitetail management, diversity reigns king! In addition, the height of the vegetation is also very important, too tall or too thick and the acre becomes unusable. In this podcast, we talk timber management, prescribed fire rotation for turkeys, bare soil, fallow fields, and roosting sites. Please do your part in becoming a producer and share this podcast. The wild turkey will thank you! These critters are amazing, but we need to do our part in managing these birds for others to enjoy. EnjoyLearn.Share! #ForLoveoftheLand Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast