You can’t hunt something that is not there, and when it’s not there, you need to create it or find a better spot by assessing your farm and taking action. To create what you want, you need to put habitat first and hunting second. Stop focusing more on the wind direction, food plot, and the set-up, and focus on the habitat, and things will start shifting. Focusing on the habitat is a game changer. However, most of us don’t have the patience to do it, and we can’t stand not hunting on our new land for a year or two, but doing this makes all the difference. Learn how to achieve 365 days in a year of comfort, food, water, and cover to enable deer to stay. You can’t stop deer from leaving your property but don’t give them a reason to leave. Take time to cultivate a good hunting experience through patience, don’t sell yourself short.  

In this episode with Greg Glesinger, we discuss buying land, habitat, what all great parcels have in common, and the absolute farm deal breakers you should live by. Greg is a habitat fanatic, has brought many farms over the years, and has hunted and tagged multiple deer that most people consider a deer of a lifetime. Get ready to learn from his 25 years plus experience, wisdom, and secrets that have enabled him to succeed.

Key Highlights from the Show

[00:01] Intro and a bit about our guest, Greg Glesinger

[02:09] Greg’s background and how he got into the hunting game

[05:41] The foundation book that has stood up for Greg to this day

[08:06] How prioritising habitat over hunting changed Greg’s strategy for buying land

[09:11] How Greg ramped up a 240 acres farm with a horrible habitat and food

[12:50] Transforming a transit property to a home property for deer

[14:48] Greg’s 40% timber strategy and how to apply it to smaller farms  

[16:35] One of the most important attributes when looking for a farm

[21:18] Patience and how it gives you more opportunities to harvest deer 

[23:47] Greg’s strategy and projects for hunting big bucks  

[26:47] The right pressure for high-value seeds and what it means to Greg

[29:15] Greg’s strategy of buying a great land 

[30:18] Greg’s horror stories of the mistakes he made in the past

[28:09] What inspired Greg to buy his first farm 

[33:40] What it was like decades ago to buy a farm Vs. today and Greg’s recommendations

[36:21] Greg’s perspective on the land market trends 

[43:34] Neighborhood plant factor and why you need to do your homework 

[45:13] Being strategic on your bucks’ structure and what you want to harvest

[49:00] What Greg wishes he knew when he started and his advice to you

[52:42] Paying attention to your deer traffic and patterns to get information 

[51:11] Creating a 365 days year food program and why it’s important   

[57:52] Water access in the food plots and the strategy that Greg employs  

[01:01:23] Hunting the big deers and learning their behavior patterns

[01:05:20] Finding out what you enjoy doing and pursuing it    

[01:06:59] Professional advice that Greg wishes he had known when he was in his 20s  

[01:16:10] Ending the show and calls to action

Notable Quotes