Huntin' Land Podcast

This episode of Huntin' Land features an interview with Luke Gerhart, founder of Gerhart Outdoors. Luke shares how he started his business helping people experience the outdoors in remote locations around the world after a disappointing elk hunt early in his career. He discusses how international hunting trips can directly support conservation efforts and local economies in places like Africa and New Zealand. Luke emphasizes the importance of vetting outfitters to ensure clients have a positive experience. The conversation also covers the personal memories and excitement that come with hunting abroad, as well as how Gerhart Outdoors partners with conservation groups like Delta Waterfowl to raise funds for their missions. Overall, the episode provides insights into the logistics, benefits, and personal rewards of international hunting trips.

In this episode, Joe Baya and co-host Butch Thierry dive into the fascinating world of deer vision with Gino D'Angelo, an Associate Professor of Deer Ecology and Management. The discussion centers on how deer perceive their environment and what hunters can do to optimize their camouflage and stand placement. Gino shares insights from his extensive research at the University of Georgia, explaining how deer see differently than humans, particularly in low light and with UV perception. The episode also covers practical tips for hunters on movement, color and pattern selection, and the importance of backdrop in concealment. Whether you’re a seasoned hunter or just starting out, this episode offers valuable information to enhance your hunting strategy.

On this episode we interview Gino D'Angelo, Associate Professor of Deer Ecology and Management at the Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources at the University of Georgia. Gino discusses the latest deer vision research. D'Angelo explains how deer have superior night vision and can see in the UV spectrum, but have limited color perception compared to humans. This impacts how deer perceive movement, contrast, and camouflage. The research shows deer have a very wide field of view, around 300 degrees, and poor depth perception. This means hunters need to focus on breaking up their outline and matching their background, rather than just the color of their camouflage. Elevation, sun position, and minimizing movement are also critical for effective deer stand placement. Gino shares advice for students interested in pursuing careers in natural resource management fields like wildlife biology. Overall, the discussion provides valuable insights for hunters to improve their deer hunting strategies based on the latest deer vision science.

On this episode, we discuss the upcoming deer hunting season and getting ready for it. We interview Zach Clark from Big & J Attractants to talk about using deer attractants effectively. Zach shares his background in marketing and sales at the company, as well as his own lifelong experience as a deer hunter.

Zach explains the importance of using nutritional attractants rather than just empty calories like corn. He highlights Big & J's focus on deer nutrition, with a team of PhD nutritionists formulating their products. Zach advises against just dumping out large piles of attractant, and instead suggests starting small and letting deer get accustomed to the new scent. He also recommends mixing attractants with corn to slow down consumption.

The discussion covers common mistakes people make with attractants, the seasonality of different products, and dealing with non-target species like raccoons. Zach emphasizes that attractants are not a silver bullet, and that proper hunting strategy and scouting are still essential. Overall, the podcast provides useful tips for effectively using deer attractants as part of a comprehensive hunting approach.

This podcast discusses the safety and gear considerations of saddle hunting. Van Wilkes, co-owner of Hang Free, provides in-depth advice on selecting safe and reliable saddle hunting equipment. He emphasizes the importance of using gear from reputable manufacturers, properly inspecting and maintaining equipment, and avoiding homemade or modified components. Nick Williams, an experienced saddle hunter, explains how he got into the sport to hunt public land more efficiently. Van covers topics like carabiners, ropes, friction hitches, and ascenders, stressing the need to follow manufacturer guidelines. He also advises new saddle hunters to take a slow, methodical approach when setting up and climbing to prioritize safety over speed. Overall, the discussion highlights the technical aspects of saddle hunting gear and the precautions necessary to hunt safely from a tree.

On this episode of Huntin’ Land we talk with Jake Spears of Ducks Unlimited about Waterfowl Impoundment Planning for Landowners. We discuss the feasibility of creating waterfowl impoundments on recreational properties, even in areas not known as major waterfowl flyways. Clint Flowers emphasizes the importance of managing impoundments well and documenting their productivity to increase property value. The guests explore factors to consider when selecting a site, including choosing low-lying areas prone to natural flooding that are attractive to ducks. Jake advises an ideal impoundment size of 20-30 acres, with multiple smaller impoundments often better than one large one. He stresses the critical role of water control structures to fine-tune water levels. Maintenance and managing natural vegetation are key, as is working with conservation organizations like Ducks Unlimited to access expertise and potential cost-share programs. The guests share inspiring success stories of revitalizing old impoundments and creating new ones that attract significant waterfowl. They encourage landowners to reach out to local experts to assess feasibility and develop a plan, while setting realistic long-term expectations for these projects. The overall focus is on providing valuable waterfowl habitat, not just creating a private hunting spot.

On this episode of the Huntin’ Land podcast we interview Stephanie Fuller from Forestry Works about careers in the forestry industry. We discuss the misconceptions many people have about forestry being limited to jobs like logging and forestry, when in reality there is a wide range of career opportunities from business roles like accounting and marketing to more technical positions using new technologies like drones. Stephanie explains how the forestry industry in Alabama has a $36 billion annual economic impact and employs over 120,000 people. She highlights the diverse career paths available, the industry's focus on sustainability, and the efforts to recruit the next generation of forestry workers through partnerships with schools and communities. Stephanie emphasizes the potential for growth and innovation in the forestry industry for those with an entrepreneurial mindset.

On this week's show, Joe and Butch discuss creating successful food plot seed mixes with Caleb Weaver from Southern Seed and Feed. Caleb explains the importance of soil testing and selecting seed varieties suited to soil and climate conditions. Listeners learned that seeding rates must account for factors like seed coatings, purity, and germination rates. Planting methods and deer browse pressure may require adjusting seeding rates. The show covered balancing different seed varieties to provide nutrition throughout the growing season. An exclusion cage can help evaluate browse pressure to determine if seeding rates need increasing. Overall, selecting a pre-made seed blend takes the guesswork out of creating mixes, but soil testing is still important for amending soils properly.

On this episode of Huntin' Land we talk with Brad Lockwood of Koola Buck. Brad discusses the benefits of aging deer by hanging them for improved meat quality as well as valuable insights for hunters looking to improve their deer processing experience. Brad covers topics such as the optimal temperature range (38-41°F) for aging deer by letting them hang , the convenience of being able to process deer on your own schedule and the advantages of using a portable deer cooler compared to a permanent walk-in cooler. Brad discusses the features of their portable cooler, including its patented airflow system that can quickly cool meat in a small space. We also discuss considerations for choosing the right cooler size and maintaining the unit properly. Overall, the episode and the versatility of using a portable cooler for storing food and drinks during hunting trips and events.

This episode we interview Chuck Sykes, the director of the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, about deer supplemental feeding. Sykes shares his background and how he became the director, despite initial reluctance to take the state job. He emphasizes the importance of habitat management over supplemental feeding for deer. Sykes defines supplemental feeding as providing additional nutrition beyond what deer need to survive, typically during lean periods like late winter and late summer. He recommends using high-protein feeds like soybeans to fill nutritional gaps. Sykes stresses the need for baseline data on deer herd health and age structure to guide management decisions. He encourages landowners to participate in the state's Deer Management Assistance Program to collect this data. The discussion covers strategies for managing deer populations, including habitat manipulation, supplemental feeding, and controlling hog numbers. Sykes emphasizes the importance of working with neighboring landowners and having realistic expectations for deer management.