Bedding thickets and need for providing secure cover is the backbone of a solid hunting property.  In the timber it takes a distinct strategy to create these dense thickets. However they can’t be too thick that only the edges are used. These units also have to have 80-100% sunlight allowed in. So this week we answer the question of how to manage the canopy while managing the debris load of each unit. 

Not every consultation is created equal. Recently we travel to North Mississippi to work a bottom land floodplain forest property. These sites always have their challenges but we were in for a exciting spin on managing Bottomland forest this week. 

After spending several hours on the property, we were stumped the time being. Understanding the function of a property is critical to then making quality recommendations, but the function of this farm was way out of sorts. We break down how we approached this challenging farm and determined how to best strategize access and plan. We stuck to the Land andLegacy habitat management principles and these guiding principles revealed the next best steps.

Not every farm is going to be clear, cut, and dry. This farm requires extra attention to detail to realize its full potential. It also requires a landowner to be humble and work with Creation in their pursuit of reaching their goals.

We talk habitat management 365 days a year because it’s critical to optimizing a landowners success. However, so is a well developed and executed hunting strategy for that specific farm! We tour farms weekly and find most hunters are hunting a farm all wrong! This can easily derail even the highest quality habitat or decrease your success in a great neighborhood with ample mature deer to chase. 

During this podcast, we urge you to balance your habitat management strategy with an equally solid hunting strategy. You have to be able to determine when not to hunt. The best days of the year are east to figure out with forecasts and increased deer behavior, but knowing when to stay out is critical! 

Give the three pronged approach a try for 5 years, you will see a notable improvement in reaching your goals! 

They are known as man’s best friend and quickly become a part of the family, they love us unconditionally and their only goal is to spend more time with us. Today we pay tribute to Piper as Hunter talks about his recent loss with her as well as many other four legged friends that have gone too soon.

Kyle and Frank discuss a few herbicides that should be kept on hand at all times for landowners. They also get into the specifics of various herbicides and different times and ways to utilize them. They examine the issues with not only invasive species, but also thick grass, stump treatment and more. Tune in for some tips that might help on your farm this summer.

 How about the fact we’ve lost 3 out of every 4 meadowlarks since 1970?  This is not just a problem for songbirds.  Bobwhite quail, prairie chickens, even deer and turkeys are hurt by the decline of grasslands.  All is not lost, however, as native grassland habitat can be easily restored across the Midwest and South and now is the time to act.  In this episode, Kyle and Frank discuss grassland conservation opportunities and the unprecedented amount of money that is available to private landowners to convert agricultural fields and exotic grass pastures to native grasslands.  They discuss the wildlife benefits of native grasses, of course, but also the important function native grasses and forbs can serve as a source of high quality forage in the summer months and as a way of “drought-proofing” a forage base.  Kyle and Frank also discuss how most of the once-perceived roadblocks to establishing native grasses have been overcome and that it is easier than ever to get an established stand in just one year.  They also take you through the process of finding local resources to help in designing and implementing a native grass program on your farm.  Cost-share dollars for native grassland conversion is at an all-time high across the country and if you’ve ever thought of converting a portion of your property to natives, now is the time and this is your podcast!