In Part 2 of the Thermal Drone Wildlife survey series, we breakdown a new service option for those listening and entertaining how beneficial a thermal drone survey can be. We speak with Jack Huston of Midwest Deer Surveys who will be the contractor conducting the flights for this new service. His level of expertise, skill, and professionalism are top notch in the world of whitetails and thermal drones.

It is our firm belief that most simple drone surveys certainly do answer two basic questions, how many deer do I have and where are they located? As this is great information, there leaves a ton to be desired. With more analysis and reviewing of the flights as they are all recorded, we can dive deeper. We can answer more questions about the herd trends, fawn recruitment rates, clear harvest objectives, habitat usage, deer patterns/property usage during certain weather/wind patterns. This kind of information will serve you and your knowledge of a property very well and for a long time. It can also answer, how well have my habitat improvements worked, are they being utilized by deer or bypassed?

Thermal drones are great tools! You have to learn them to know where they shine and when you have to analyze the information to pull more value from the thermal flights. We are excited to offer this new service and allow you to continue to learn as a land steward.

During this podcast we start a short series on drone surveying for wildlife population surveys. the more data you have about the wild free ranging deer herd that you have, the better a herd manager you can be. Part 1 is going to talk about the methodology behind a thermal drone survey and why they are effective! In addition, we talk about the journey we took to best understand these surveys.

To become the best managers, oftentimes we need to embrace technology and the opportunities that these advancements can provide while still remaining honest about their limitations or the skills or lack of skills of a drone operator. We talk in length about the pros and cons of this technology and surveying technique as we compare it to pellet surveys, trail camera surveys, and more.

Tune in next week as we reveal more about the future of drone surveys and how you may be able to get our eyes on your herd to guide you in becoming a better herd manager through thermal drone surveying.

We are always working on the property trying to enhance the habitat, or preparing food plots, but oftentimes opening day slips up on us before we are really ready. This is a great time of year to get the most important part of the hunt ready for success. This week Alan and Brady discuss what you need to be doing ahead of season, to get your stands ready for the upcoming season.

Tools we find helpful:

-Safety Harness

-ratchet straps

-chainsaws

-machete

-hedge trimmers

-rope

-wasp spray/bug spray

Choosing the right location:

-access

-getting off the edge

-cover!!!!

-creating pinch points

Types of stands:

-climbers

-lock-ons

-saddles

-ground blinds

-kid friendly setups

Check out the Mobile Hunter's Expo to try out the latest and greatest in the mobile game!

Southern show in Dalton, GA August 8-10

Midwestern show in Wilmington, OH August 22-24

Buying "the right" farm can be a daunting task. Luckily, we have some helpful tips and tricks that can make the process a breeze, all the way to the closing table. On this week's podcast, Alan Summerford and Brady Bradley discuss what should be at the top of your list when purchasing a farm. They dive deep into the buying process and why there are certain things you should not overlook before you pull the trigger on that new piece of dirt!

This week we have on guest Brock Knapp from Accu-drone Solutions. Brock is a licensed drone operator and herbicide applicator in Arkansas and Missouri. His business issues drone technology to manage farms and recreational land. Both for aerial spraying and seeding!

We discuss in depth the tech behind drones, the upsides and struggles that drones have, the it effectiveness and efficiencies compared to normal spraying applications. Hills, hollers, spot spray or broadcast spray, these tools can handle the job with less waste, water, and time!

In this podcast Kyle and Frank break down a research paper that compared late spring burns vs. fall burns and the plant response, deer usage, and turkey usage in those burns. Spring units created more forbs ,fall burns created more woody browse. Spring units were better for deer nutrition and turkey broods. Fall units were better for deer bedding and turkey nesting.

This week Matt and Chainsaw Chad discuss the ins and out of forbs and the value they provide to lactating whitetail and bucks developing antlers. We review a recent NDA article published by Mark Turner named "One Type of Plant is the Greatest source of Deer Nutrition. Here's How to Grow it"

We get deep into the Crude Protein, Calcium and Phosphorus nutritional demands and which forbs provide the adequate % to demands of a lactating whitetail doe. Broadleaf species such as marestail, jewelweed, pokeweed, ragweed, old field aster and giant ragweed rise to the top of the list when it comes to nutritional value. It does appear that calcium levels and protein levels are rarely lacking, but the phosphorus levels are less commonly found met by forage values.

Regardless, the true takehome value comes from offering diversity in your forages! Both, forbs and woody and semi-woody plants need to offered in abundance! Its not food plots that are meeting the needs of whitetail deer, its weeds! Promote weeds to feed deer.

It's foodplot season!!! Most people are geared up and ready to plant their summer plots, but is that what we should be doing? On this episode, Alan and Brady discuss when a landowner should plant summer plots. It's time to take a look at your farm, to see if a summer plot will actually benefit the property. Summer plots certainly have their place on many farms, but sometimes they can lead us astray from what should really be taking place to have a more successful hunt.

We've also included some tips and strategies that we use to ensure ample forage during the crucial antler-growing period for bucks.

We've got the facts that point you to how quickly deer relate to the value produced from harvesting timber! A client conducted a thermal drone survey in 2024 before a timber harvest was completed. From May to October of 2024 the farm had its timber harvested by a crew, bedding thickets, heavy TSI, medium TSI, and Light TSI were all conducted through the harvesting.

Following up the timber harvest, in early 2025 another thermal drone survey was conducted and the comparison between the two is astounding. It's not that numbers bumped largely, but simply the reallocation or distribution of resident deer are heavily selecting the logged vs unlogged areas.

During the podcast we review a LandBeat video that highlights all of the amazing information we collected from these surveys!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-5vNHmDeQQ

In this episode of the Land and Legacy podcast, Matt Dye and Alan Summerford discuss the NWTF project, focusing on the management and behavior of wild turkeys during the months of March and April. They emphasize the importance of active management for wild turkey habitats, exploring the behavioral patterns of turkeys as they prepare for breeding season, their foraging habits, and effective management techniques to enhance turkey populations. The conversation highlights the significance of understanding turkey behavior and habitat needs to ensure successful management and conservation efforts. This conversation delves into the management strategies for wild turkeys, focusing on habitat techniques for March and April. The discussion highlights the importance of managing food plots, controlling grasses, and creating suitable nesting environments. The speakers emphasize the significance of diversity in habitat management and the need for proactive measures to ensure successful turkey reproduction. They also share insights on the nesting behavior of turkeys and the critical factors influencing nest success.