Land & Legacy - Habitat + Hunting

Are there really secrets left in deer management? The answer is no, but we still have lots left to figure out. One aspect of deer management that seems to be forgotten is the idea of overall herd management. Hunters seem to divide the deer population into two segments and treat them separately despite them being the same animal. We can’t expect to consistently grow above average bucks in a given sea in stressful conditions. Nothing and no one does well under stress, yet many hunters allow deer herds to become stressed in relation to population dynamics and the carrying capacity. We’ve got to manage the natural resource and find the balance or harmony with the land to reach an optimal state that produces giant deer annually. Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

We all start out with the best of intentions when it comes to the work we want to accomplish on a property. We create our own to - do lists while hunting but then sit an wonder where the time went and why only half the work got done. There are tons of tools available to help manage work, however we recommend using OnX Hunt! This tool now allows you to create layers and folders to store information, waypoints, shape file, etc. So our pro-tip is to take the to-do list you’ve created and block out each unit you want to work but then sort them in folders based on each month. Only focus on the work you’ve added to the folder for the month you are in. So in March you should only be working on March projects. Stay on track and on task! That will get you more improved land quickly! Use the code Land&Legacy20 to save yourself on a yearly subscription! Land & Legacy is Powered by Simpleast

Even in great neighborhoods with a history of giant bucks can use a little work, and in many cases a lot of work! Aaron Woodward, a Land & Legacy client, with a farm in southeastern Kansas has been working to improve his farm for several years now. Back in 2019 Adam and Kyle visited his farm to help advise a plan to improve the habitat for deer, turkeys and quail, and the farm has been getting better and better!Between bedding thickets, timber stand improvement, invasive species control, and crp establishment, the farm is setting up to be an incredible farm. On this particular hunt Aaron utilizes the habitat work he's done to place himself in the hot seat for an incredible November hunt! #Forloveoftheland Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

How's your rutcation going? Do you look forward to the rut on your property or despise it? What does that say about your property and the management of the natural resources? We are here this week to break it down in detail as we compare and contrast two different farms and two different rut hunting experiences. Farms with highly managed habitat can be incredible places to hunt during any time of the year, but those with a proper layout and distribution of dense cover are exciting to say the least! In comparison, those farms with no definition of the habitat or very few pinch points can spell disaster for a deer hunter during the rut. In other words, the rut is your litmus test for your recreational property. Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

On this weeks podcast we re-tell the story of a buck named Goofy. Adam was fortunate to harvest this buck with a bow on his second sit for Goofy. That was not by accident! The story takes some twists and turns, but follow along with us to learn about the game plan that was developed to intercept this unique mature buck. There is no surprise why he was using the area of the farm like he was, but the hunt setup and grunting used to seal the deal was special! Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

This week we share with you a story from a client named Patrick Stewart. His family owns property in Kentucky that they have been hunting and managing for years. With mild success over the course of ownership they new they wanted more and should be experiencing it. So, they called us and we got to work developing a plan. This podcast confirms the need for clear direction and plans for moving forward. Dabbling in habitat management only gets your back sore. Cranking up the dial of intensity gets results. That is what Patrick Stewart did during the of season. Now we get to hear how it paid off on his third sit of the archery season! Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

This is a loaded question! We do our best to unpack it this week during the podcast of where to buy hunting property. As with any big decision in life, there are certain pros and cons that should be weighed out. This decision to look for recreational property in a proven big buck-killing neighborhood or to buy in an unknown area is a highly debated one. During this podcast, we discuss several different scenarios that a land buyer would find themselves in. But we also discuss how important it is to understand the neighborhood or surrounding area before you buy a property for hunting. A proven neighborhood means deer got big there once, but does it mean that the success is sustainable? Another question we address is, how many nonresident landowners make up the neighborhood, is there enough to do total herd management? In the case of starting your own co-op or neighborhood, it is important to start larger than smaller. The road may be longer, but it could have a few more speed bumps along the way as relationships and expectations develop within an area. To find out what scenario is best, download and give this podcast a share! Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

Bowhunting can be difficult, it's all about minimizing the risk of failure. However, even after a fatal shot is made, this does not mean you will recover the deer. Have you ever bumped a deer? What about lost blood along the trail? In this podcast, we discuss the ways we approach recovering an animal that ensures a calculated, slow, and, steady pace. This is the best way to avoid common but costly mistakes. A good way to describe a safe approach to recovering a deer is to be cautiously pessimistic. When you are on the blood trail, you need to stay calm, move slow, and be on the hunt for any clue left behind. Many times, the trail is taken up too quickly. This alerts the deer and causes the trail of clues to diminish when if simply left alone, the deer would have expired in their first bed. Don't rush into the track job. Rewind the shot in your mind, ask youself the following questions and answer honestly, Was the deer broadside? Was the deer on edge? Was the shot wise? What was the reaction? Was it a pass-through? Was the angle too extreme? Where did the arrow exit? Did you hear the deer fall? The answers here will guide you to know when and how to take up the blood trail. If you've ever lost a deer, this podcast requires your ear. Learn about our guidelines for tracking deer. This podcast is packed with lots of great tidbits on finding your wounded deer, give it a listen and share! Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

Sure we all know and accept that deer like acorns, tender leaves, and "food plots". But, that is an elementary understanding of what deer actually eat. When you dive deeper into the annual foraging needs, the metabolic process, and availability of resources, you take your understanding of deer and their requirements to a new level. Everyone always wants to talk about the protein content of the latest and greatest feed they put down on the ground, but protein isn't all that deer seek. Other elements like calcium, phosphorus, boron, etc... all play a role in the deer's diet. They don't receive these various micronutrients by eating the same plant, food plot blend, or feed you put on the ground every day. When you begin to explore this deeper, you find that the foraging behavior and nutrient needs follow what is naturally produced on the landscape. So to meet these needs let's first understand on a deeper level, how nature works. This week we discuss the role of forbs, woody browse, browse, hard mast, soft mast, grasses, and fungi. Do not miss this podcast! This is critical to understand if you want to grow healthier, bigger, or more deer. Give this podcast a listen and a share! Land & Legacy is powered by Simple Cast.

Big deer only grow where crops are grown! Wrong! That's been the commonly accepted answer after a quick evaluation of the Boone and Crocket entries map. That is a very surface-level takeaway from that map. When you study that map and begin to think, I don't live in crop country, you may say to yourself, can I really expect to shoot big deer? The answer is yes, and the route to achieve that is not to bring the crops to your less productive soils. The answer is to not conform to the overall landscape management practices that your area is conducting. If you live in pasture country, don't manage pastures in the commonly accepted way. If you live in timber country, manage your timber differently. The B&C map shows us that the areas with fewer entries is not the way to grow big deer, it suggests different management approaches must be taken in those areas. Don't settle for less when you can change your management style to meet the needs of deer to reach optimization for your hunting property. Land & Legacy is powered by Simple Cast.

After a successful podcast last week, we need to complete the comparison podcast to build upon the importance of having your priorities in order for your property. Last week we discussed a timber-dominated 320-acre property. This week, we discuss a 35-acre property that is roughly 50% open and 50% timber. Various habitat techniques will be used, but not as important as the order in which techniques get accomplished. One of the biggest resources we can give to a property is not financial, it's time. Therefore, how you spend your time really matters. This resource is often thought of as secondary, but it's not. Quality habitat work can be accomplished when you have time to implement it. So listen up on how to properly tackle an intensive approach to maximize wildlife habitat on 35 acres. Be sure to give this a listen and a share! #ForLoveoftheLand Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

Have you harvested a buck yet? Are you waiting for the rut to hunt or the cooler days in the forecast? If so, this podcast was designed for you to learn how you can get ahead of everyone else and the upcoming growing season. What you do now, has the ability to set you apart! Cool-season grasses when they are out of place can be the enemy of quality habitat. However, we are entering a great time to tackle that grass head-on. A timely herbicide application will terminate the grass ahead of winter. This give you plenty of time to have the area burned off and prepared ahead of the growing season in 2022. In addition, we share some great insight from a recent consulting trip comparing bottomland acres to upland sites. Don't miss out on the information to turn your property into a wildife paradise. Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

During this week's podcast we break down a property and the habitat techniques from top to bottom. There is 11 total, but the number isn't important, it is the order that is key. So during Part 1 of this podcast series, we will walk you through the property characteristics and then the order of importance based on the landowner's goals. We often see landowners who have the right idea, but their emphasis, plan, and priorities are all wrong. Intentions are great, but without execution they mean nothing. So, during the podcast, we showcase how we would use specific habitat techniques on a property and line them up one through eleven in order of importance. This gives you an idea of how you could become more impactful on your own property. We all want to make an impact and leave a legacy with your property. But it's important to evaluate if you are choosing to do the right techniques that will make the largest positive impact possible. Time to get our priorities in line and do things with a purpose. Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

During this podcast, Matt and Adam discuss a successful archery hunt Adam had recently over a plot of Heritage Blend. Although this hunt was a great success and we share the details, it is a reminder to be successful in overall property management, you cannot drop the ball on herd management. We see it time and time again, great farms that do some of the best habitat work fall victims to focusing ONLY on the top 1% of the deer herd. If this is what you've done as well, then you are missing out on optimizing your deer herd and property. You cannot manage a herd well by only focusing on one or two older age-class bucks, it's not management, it's neglect. Those are strong words, but truthful ones. Bucks will get bigger anywhere in the country when does numbers are balanced. To learn more about the crazy details of this doe hunt and to better understand antlerless deer numbers, give this podcast a listen. Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

The stars aligned and we got aggressive, it paid off when a mature buck strolled through during daylight hours. Chainsaw Chad put an arrow where it needed to be and the buck dropped within sight! The story for this podcast starts back in the spring with a late frost. With zero white oak acorns for miles around this farm, we knew the alfalfa was going to light up with deer during the early season. When monitoring the field edges with cuddelink cameras, it was no surprise to find lots of deer using the fields, but some large bucks doing the same. Just a few days prior Adam was observing the field and saw one of the target bucks entering the field, it was game on from here. We pushed in and hunted a small ridge we thought these bucks were staging up on before dumping into the large destination alfalfa field. Well, to hear more about how the successful early season hunt went down, you will have to tune into this podcast! We hope you enjoy this podcast! Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

Throughout the years of doing podcasts, we have discussed pasture land and cattle on many of them. However, devoting an entire podcast to the pros and cons of pasture on a recreational property is necessary. So many landowners fall into this category and it is necessary to honestly evaluate how good the property can become when pasture land is understood. Immediately when we discuss pastured acres, we have to determine if the pasture is a cool-season nonnative pasture or a native pasture. This makes a huge difference in the management and expectation during a transformation. In addition, cattle being on a recreational property was once considered a big no-no. However, with a deeper understanding of cattle and how they create a disturbance, there is extreme value in the proper management of cattle on recreational property, we will discuss this in great detail. If you own property with pasture or are considering buying a property that has pasture land on it, you NEED download this podcast and see how to address the pasture on your property. Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

Frustrated by only getting buck movement during the night? Are you scratching your head wondering why does it seem like these deer only move during the cover of darkness? These are common questions that we hear from folks from all across the country. It plagues a lot of hunters and leaves them wondering what can I do about these situations. On this podcast, we cover the Top 5 reasons why you are only seeing nighttime activity. Some of these reasons may shock you, while others seem logical. But what is more important than the reasons are the solutions. The solutions reverse the problems and solve many other complications that hunters face. The important rule of thumb is to know where the bedding takes place, but also how to properly setup a trail camera! User error can play a large role in this equation. To document more daylight movement of your target bucks, start by listening to this podcast, then, pickup the chainsaw! Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

Another archery season is among us here in Missouri. Despite the heat this week, we had several hunts that took place with success. To hear more about these hunts and how we plan to tackle these next cold spells, download this podcast! With temperatures pushing 90 degrees last week, we still tried our hand at bow hunting to break the ice. The first sit of the year was an aggressive move that resulted in a doe harvest. But this would not have been possible without super clean access and winds during that hunt. Another observational set lead to putting eyes on a target buck. This intel was just what was need to dive into the tree later this week. A fifteen-degree temperature swing is forecast for this week, so more intense movement is expected. Hopefully, we can close the distance on one of these target bucks. Follow along each week for bowhunting recaps! Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

Over the course of several years our company had been blessed to grow, taking Adam and Matt across this country. However, they haven't been alone, Kyle and Frank have been alongside for years. During this podcast, you will hear how these two team members will be coming to a farm near you. With years of experience managing natural resources publically, privately, and personally, Kyle and Frank are ready to hit the road. Their strong communication skills set them apart from many biologists in a similar field. Being able to work directly with landowners to create and paint a vision for their property is no easy task. We have to teach people how to create something that they have never seen. So providing them with the blueprints of their future recreational property is a skill that these guys have mastered. So they are ready to tackle any project that comes our way. We want to thank you for following along and trusting Land & Legacy as a source for your natural resource management information. The future is bright and we can not wait to have one of our team members work with you! Land & Legacy is powered by Simple Cast.

During this podcast, we discuss the varied food resources available to whitetail deer during the 2021 hunting season. When we start to look at patterns that deer are on now, we all know that they are subject to changing rapidly during this time of the year. Oftentimes early season hunting scenarios revolve around white oak acorns. However, this year we believe will be very different. During the spring of 2021, a hard frost during the flowering stage of white oaks really set the stage for the fall crop in this region. In addition, the later portion of summer has turned dry, which is not uncommon, but even so, it makes for very delayed plantings of food plots. To say food is rather limited, can be an understatement as our season opens up for bowhunting this week. So to combat these challenges, we are faced with evaluating food sources closely. Early bedding hunts are very difficult and risky, so hunting deer based on food availability is the alternative strategy. But, this takes close examination and it appears alfalfa and soft mast such as persimmon could be a strong player as the season opens up! Land & Legacy is powered by Simple Cast.

On this podcast we break down the ways we determine future success in a deer stand. Weather along with other variables can strongly influence deer movements on a daily basis. So this podcast we discuss how we analyze weather forecasts to determine which days provide the highest probability of success. When looking at weather conditions, we tune into variables such as temperature, relative humidity, barometric pressure, wind direction/speed, cloud cover, and more! Having a reliable weather app to show you these variables is important. You not only want to look at the current conditions but how they change over time, so having all of this information in one weather app is important. To learn more about predicting deer movement and hunting success download this podcast. Knowing when and where to hunt is critical. Trust a reliable source. Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

Are there no bucks on your farm you're interested in hunting? Did your summer food plots fail due to too much browse pressure? Do you feel that the bucks aren't growing as big as you would have hoped for? These are common conversations we have during this time of the year, and when you're in this situation maybe it's time to reevaluate. We're currently looking at having a year of sacrifice on Whistling Woodlands for several reasons. First, we finally have a logger who's able to log the entire farm. Second, We've noticed that the number of deer have increased over the last few years to a point of over browsing on some plots. Lastly, we've noticed very few bucks we're looking to harvest on the farm, likely do to th logging operation activity and the few number of deer because of only a few trail cameras out. With all these things happening we're looking to make this fall a year of sacrifice. Meaning, we're not focused on finding a hit list buck, but instead harvesting plenty of antlerless deer, and lowering the deer population. With the logging going on, we know the habitat is going to get much better and the deer herd will follow the habitat increase. Like a lot of farms, the deer herd can get out of hand quickly so we're using this fall to make sure it doesn't happen anytime soon. ForLoveoftheLand Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

Break out the steel-toed boots for this one. We dig deep this week to help you unlock the true potential of your property. We hear of excuses such as neighbors or unchangeable variables such as season regulations from every state/property we work. However, often times, those variables are not what is limiting the potential of the property. Sometimes it is the landowner themselves. This is not easy or comforting to say, however, it's what is true in some cases. When asked what is the ceiling or potential for my property, we often have a difficult time answering that. What we create is the roadmap to discovering the potential, but quantifying or determining with certainty the ceiling of a property is unachievable, but at the same time likely unimaginable if you have vision. Do you want to take your recreational property to the next level. Do you want to discover the potential or at least take the journey to see just how good it can get, because we sure do! Give this podcast a share with a landowner who needs to hear this message. Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

We are big believers in going against the grain. The common rule of thinking is to kill deer you have to put your time in. Where that certainly has paid off for us all, it is not necessarily the full truth or secret to deer hunting. This week on the podcast, we reevaluate the ways to tagging your target buck and it involves more time on the couch opposed to in the field! We've said it before, but there should be more importance placed on determining when not to hunt as opposed to when to hunt. A great movement day is easy to spot in a 7-day forecast. Although deer move daily, it's not always to the same degree. So, keep stands fresh and wait patiently for your time to strike. Having treestands for every wind option is nice, but having a few really quality stands is even better! There are many stands we don't enter until it's time. Find the sets that work for certain winds and then stay out until those conditions present themselves. It's all about keeping hunting locations fresh until the deer you chase start utilizing the area heavily during daylight. It's not a sprint out of the gate for early season, but a marathon! Happy Hunting! Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

It's been a busy week in the northeast working with landowners and improving habitat! Adam and Matt are once again looking at acres and acres that are in desperate need of timber management. When it comes to the northern winters, woody browse is in high demand! Unfortunately the availability of woody browse is limited but that doesn't mean it can't be provided overnight! When it comes to timber management in the north, it's important to realize how problematic it is to use herbicide to kill trees that can provide so much nutrients in a much shorter period of time than relying on new woody saplings to grow. Also did you know Missouri will be having their first ever Black Bear season in October? Listen in to hear how it could be one big setup for game wardens! With bears across southern Missouri it will be exciting to hear how this season plans out! And finally, we discuss some big news that has seemed to stay behind the scenes in the world of turkeys. Check it out! Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

During this week's podcast, Kyle and Matt discuss how to be the most prepared land manager possible. We all know the struggles and difficulties that all landowners face. Some of these struggles are expected while others are totally unexpected. However, with proper planning and we can turn struggles into successes. Download to learn how to be the best landowner in your neighborhood. Do you feel like you run around your farm on the weekends chasing projects and never getting anywhere? There are several ways to stay prepared and ready to tackle the unexpected. Things such as flooding, downed trees, invasive species, road closures, etc all can throw wrenches into the plans. Here are the best ways to keep on task and schedule so that the progress keeps moving forward on habitat management projects. We hope you learn and enjoy the ways we develop contingency plans for farm managers! Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

This week we have Ryan Manners a Land & Legacy client on the podcast. Ryan and his buddy Bucky work together to improve a farm located in southern Ohio. During this past March, Matt visited the farm and put together a site-specific plan for the property to steer their work in a new direction to maximize their impact on it. Over the past six months over 120 acres of pasture have been removed to allow the early successional plant communities to grow into an old field management scenario. In less than a full growing season, the native growth is already 5-6 feet tall offering both cover and forage. This forage is also out-competing the soybean fields across the property. Do you have native forage that is this attractive? On this podcast, Ryan discusses the value of how a plan is a fast-track to success! You will not want to want to miss this opportunity to hear firsthand from a client. We hope you enjoy the podcast and see the value of a landowner sharing their perspective. Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

On this week's podcast Adam sits down with his brother Chad to discuss their property Whistling Woodlands and their plan to utilize cattle not only as a managed tool to improve habitat but also as a tool to create financial gain to help pay for the farm! Over the course of the last few months they have been utilizing the cows in a rotational grazing pattern to help avoid overgrazing, but most importantly to create a diverse rangeland more suitable for wildlife. Even in a short period of time, they're already seeing turkeys in pastures recently grazed and are excited to know the future looks bright! They discuss their herd of South Poll cattle and how not just any breed of cows can be thrown in this management system. Bred specifically for heat tolerance, low maintenance, and non selective foragers, these cattle will be a huge part in turning this property around and breaking the barriers that cattle and wildlife can't coexist. Tune in for ideas of possibly including cattle on your farm! Land & Legacy is Powered by SImplecast

During this podcast we review and answer the most recent listener questions. We’ve had to split these questions between two podcasts due to the number of great questions we had sent in. Within the podcast you will hear questions on how to address timber management, timber harvests, early successional habitat, food plots, and property layout. We want to thank everyone for their questions and support weekly of this habitat, land, and wildlife management podcast. Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

It seems like each week, we try to describe what we do and how we work with landowners by using practical illustrations. During this weeks podcast we bring pizza into the discussion. You maybe wondering how pizza even seems logical, but give this podcast a listen and see how you may fit into the scenario or illustration. One thing that we cannot teach is vision and this podcast is all about seeing into the future. How and what land can become is visionary, not what it is in the present. Do you see the completed project before it’s done? Give this podcast a listen to learn how. Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

Have you ever been skeptical of scientific research or wondered how applicable is this really? Well, this podcast will leave the doubt to itself at the moment you hit play. Be prepared to be blown away. For years now, we have preached, lectured, and shared the power of combining both security and quality cover in the same areas, we simply call them bedding thickets. We know that they are commonly used and are generally the most influential vegetation types offered for deer hunting. This theory may have just become a scientific fact, you be the judge. You will hear how GPS collars confirm the drive and selection of these areas over commonly hunted areas or those with less than an ideal cover. In addition, you will hear how to manage your timber. Does thinning more aggressively really pay off for more forbs produced? We are anxiously awaiting the feedback on this podcast! Enjoy. Learn. Share! Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

During this podcast, we have returning guest Chad Keith to discuss with us the important steps a landowner should go through before having the logging crew arrive. Follow these easy steps of marking your timber to get the most out of your timber harvest for either wildlife benefits or timber enhancement benefits. We will discuss how to mark leave trees, a seed tree harvest, a clear-cut, and more! Don't miss this practical and helpful educational podcast on timber management. Enjoy! Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

Have you ever wondered how by cutting and removing trees that you actually improve the overall forest? Well, you're about to find out during this podcast. The Whistling Woodlands project just turned up the heat on a timber management project as reinforcements were called in. The loggers just arrived to completely change the future of this property. During this podcast, you will hear how outside-of-the-box thinking with regards to a timber harvest got a crew excited to return and put the plan into action. This harvest will be complex, but also simple for the crew to execute as flagging, painting leave trees, sharing the vision for the harvest have all been completed. Clear-cutting with three different follow-up management strategies will occur as well as a seed tree cut, and selective thinning. Each of these practices is based on its proximity to other future plant communities and its aspect on different slopes. If you've considered ever harvesting timber to improve the forest and the wildlife that utilizes it, this will give you the encouragement to pursue that further! Timber management requires action! Be sure to listen if you want to maximize your recreational property. Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

During this podcast, we cover the exciting discussions revolving around our fall food plot strategies. We have several new plots to discuss how they will be converted from fescue pastures into diverse fall food plots. In addition, you will hear how we intend to use food in relation to known bedding locations to entice certain predictable travel patterns to make hunting easier. Fall food plots have all been discussed before, but these planting strategies and tools are all about a bigger future for these areas. Think of these fall plots as a stepping stone for more to come down the road out of these areas we discuss. Be sure to follow along on social media in the coming months to see these food plots being put into play. Hopefully, many hunts will be shared in and around these locations. Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

We looked to our followers for this podcast! After a recent podcast post asking for viewer questions, we are here to answer! Our overall goal for the podcast each week is to help landowners, so addressing their direct questions is one of the best ways possible. During this podcast, we will cover the following topics, timber management in uplands and bottomlands, what to do when you can't use prescribed fire, are oaks as important as we really think, early-season hunting tactics, how to convert ag fields into old fields, and much more! Hope you enjoy this listener-influenced podcast! #ForLoveoftheLand Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

On this podcast, we take it down to the south where I am joined by host Frank Loncharich. We breakdown some of the key property features from a recent consultation. This podcast style allows you to follow along with an annotated map on our social media pages. Use this to guide yourself through the podcast. On this property breakdown, you will hear us discuss property features such as open agricultural fields, north and south-facing slopes, enclosed deer pens, 20-year old clear-cuts, chicken barns, year-round creek, remanent savanna, and establishing travel corridors. To learn how and what recommendations we make follow along with this podcast. Dive into deer management in the south with us this week! Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

During this weeks podcast we cover our recent findings from states along more northern latitudes and compare to the Southern states. Guess what, we may shock you in what we find and say! Land Management is different where you go, however, all through the techniques we recommend may be very similar the plant species change. Vegetation Composition isn’t talked about enough! It matters what plants are growing on a site and we discuss how there are commonly more useful plants per acre up north than in the south. So, essentially there is more to work with or less to terminate or remove, making the job easier! To learn more about the management in the Northern states like Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Iowa, Minnesota, New York, and Michigan, be sure to download and enjoy! Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

Are you a frustrated recreational landowner? Have you been owning land for years without success or implementing the hunting industry standards without improvements? What do you have to show for in all your years, time, and money? During this week, we take a look at the common pitfalls of land management. Where people place their time and energy is a good indicator of their ability to make serious land management changes. Our goal is to bring awareness to these common mistakes to avoid the long term landownership with limited success. Don’t settle for what you have, been intentional with you management! Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

This can easily be the largest hurdle for most landowners to overcome. How to do prepare best for a complete 180-degree change of a hunting property? Some of the major habitat changes such as a timber harvest, adding cattle to recreational property, edge feathering, and. many other very visual techniques. You have to mentally prepare for this! With our own ongoing projects beginning we walk you through firsthand the ways that we have begun to accept the imminent changes to our property. The best way we found to prepare, is to have an end goal in mind for that specific acre being impacted. What is the desired future condition? What is the best and fastest practice to get me? Once you have these two questions answered, the only thing left to do is pull the trigger. The confusion, apprehensiveness, and uneasy feelings many people go through come from uncertainty from the value that practice brings to the overall goal. Once you know the value and best way to get there, its easier to prepare for a property overhaul. Share this with someone who needs to make some big long-term decisions with their farm! Enjoy.Learn.Share. #ForLoveoftheLand Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

On this podcast, we show you a visual change to a Land & Legacy property from 30,000 ft. Will Russell of central Pennsylvania took advantage of a property plan and it shows. You can't deny the change! Take a look for yourself. Will and his family have left a positive and legacy impact on this recreational property. This farm now has diversity, whereas before it was a homogeneous, closed-canopy forest before with a few dotted food plots. However,, those days are gone! With the timber harvested as recommended, access was improved, as was the diversity of the plant communities, increased woody browse and cover. This property will never be the same! Be sure to listen closely to this podcast, learn from Will and his relentless pursuit of quality habitat. Enjoy. Learn. Share! Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

During this podcast, we wrap up the final thoughts from the Soil Health series. This podcast has been a long time coming that will take all the fluff and boil it down to what should wildlife managers really be concerned with. Everyone wants the best results, we can all agree on that, however, you cant skip ahead when the foundation isn't even set yet. Why get fancy, when you can't even grow a simple productive plot yet. The basics need to be met first, then we can begin to take a bite off the larger piece of the pie. You need to realize although the soil is the building block of life, it has to be broken down into finding the balance. Although it can be complicated, build off the basics and shoot for the balance, the rest will take care of itself. We hope you enjoy this podcast series wrap-up! Let us know your thoughts. Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

Although summer may seem to be like you can breeze right through it thinking all is taken care of in the wildlife world. However, that would be short-sided. There are several factors that people always overlook during the summer timeframes. Summer thermal cover for species such as bobwhite quail, wild turkey, and whitetail deer is key! It's often overlooked, but you can't forget about it, because there are essential elements to create quality summer thermal cover. Summer thermal cover is comprised of several elements, shade, wind speed, topography, and appropriate forb development. In addition to this, environmental factors such as insects, ticks, and mites increase stress, so summer thermal cover doesn't just mean cooler temperatures, but parasite management as well! You will be shocked at how much these parasites cause stress on the individuals. Be sure to check it out! Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

During this podcast, you will hear from two new landowners who are working diligently to get some habitat work completed. Since closing on the properties, time has been the limiting factor, but that is changing and projects are getting completed. This podcast discusses how a new fencing project will be one of the most impactful projects on the farm as cows will be managed for the first time, opposed to them roaming freely. In addition, trees are hitting the dirt. More sunlight will be spurring on new regeneration on both farms through a timber harvest as well as a giant bedding thicket project. We also need your help to name these farms. We've got our ideas, but we need your thoughts! Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

On this podcast, we get down into the weeds, literally. It's time to clearly define the difference between old fields and abandoned fields. At first glance, they may look similar, but the functionality of the two is far from equivalent.So please follow along with our social media post that highlights the two photos we discuss throughout this podcast. You will be examining photos from Southern Iowa and Southwestern Ohio, one is productive and the other is a wildlife wasteland for now. You are going to want to follow along closely with Part 2 to take your land and habitat management understanding to the next level. Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

We've all read articles and seen videos about the ways to grow bigger antlers. Often times the conversation revolves around feeding programs, mineral stations, genetics, and the age of the animal. Well, all those may play a small role, what about stress? For many years we have been pondering the idea of how to quantitatively evaluate the stress placed on individual deer within a herd, obviously, we are still searching for that answer, but we have many cases studies where lower stress levels in the population and on the landscape have resulted in huge antler increases. If you want to learn the forgotten or overlooked variables of growing larger deer, think about how widely spaced the resources are across the landscape. Are deer using more energy than they should access what they need? If so, that's unnecessary stress! In this podcast, we break down the dirty details of antler growth. To learn how to make the most of your landscape to shoot larger deer, consider giving this podcast a listen. Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

This week we hosted a wonderful event in Northern Missouri with the National Deer Association and OnX Maps. This event we geared to the recreational landowner looking to improve their hunting property. We toured a client's farm who has worked diligently on improving his habitat. This opportunity provided all of the attendees the chance to review some killer habitat projects and learn from someone else's hard work and planning. The other special opportunity attendees had was the chance to learn, use, and understanding the tool of digital mapping when it came to land management. OnX Maps was used by all attendees to learn how this tool makes land management planning and execution easier. This app is incredible for keeping track of burn units, TSI planning, bedding thicket, invasive species removal, road creation, and much more. If you are a landowner who is stuck and unsure how to manage your property and reach your goals, give us a call! Become a member of the National Deer Association today. Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

Welcome to a new podcast format! We are going for a more visual learning experience, so please follow along closely with the podcast instructions to get the most out of each episode. Head over to our Facebook or Instagram account for photos that we reference during this podcast. We closely examine two photos, calling out plant species, describing the structure or composition of the plants in each photo. In addition, we also answer the following questions, how does this benefit wildlife and how would we manage it? This podcast format will get your eye trained to observe the landscape the way we do. You have to have a critical eye to know how to improve habitat for whitetail deer, wild turkey, and bobwhite quail. Let us know what you think! Thanks for joining us! Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

Just how fast can I make habitat better? We do our best on this week's podcast to answer that question but be prepared, the answer may surprise you. We are not talking years, we are talking months for night and day transformations. We discuss a 6-month journey of a glade restoration that has completely changed this portion of the farm. In December this unit was almost solid cedar, now it is full of native grasses and abundant forbs and pollinating species. Don't waste time on starting as huge benefits await you. Your land could be begging for improvements and changes, so do not fear the fact that a response could be years away. Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

Where have all the turkeys gone?! It's a common question we've been hearing through much of the United States and it's a very complex answer. We decided to check in this week with some of the most popular hunters in Missouri who have hunted here for many years to see what trends they've witnessed and things they're doing to help improve turkey numbers. Mark Drury of Drury Outdoors has been at the top of our list for successful turkey hunters for a long time. Going back to the days when Adam filmed for Drury Outdoors he's always respected the passion Mark has for the wild turkey. MArk continues to have a successful spring even with numbers down statewide, so we're getting to the bottom of why? Next up Michael Hunsucker and Shawn Luchtel from Heartland Bowhunter have seen a drastic difference in turkey numbers from the early 2000s and it's quite concerning to them. We discuss what they believe might be leading into the numbers decline and how they're managing their farms to help both deer and turkeys. Regardless, we all have ideas at how we can help the turkeys, from lowering tags offered, to ending the fall turkey season to year round trapping of predators, but getting the Department of Conservation to make the first move will be the trickiest move yet. #forloveoftheland Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast

On this week's podcast, we discuss some recent findings on our consultation trips. These times in the field are priceless with countless observations of how wildlife are utilizing certain habitat features. One of the more reoccurring things we see are isolated and routinely used beds, often referred to as "buck beds". Buck Beds have gotten a lot of attention lately, however, one of the most missed features of this is that adequate cover is often limited. When quality cover is limited, we see routine beds, often used day in and day out. Although consistent bedding is good, having abundant, quality, secure, cover is even better. The next time you find a buck bed, look at the structure, consider how to create more of that on the landscape as opposed to how can you hunt that location? Be a land steward! #ForLoveoftheLand Land & Legacy is Powered by Simplecast