Land & Legacy - Habitat + Hunting

Latest Episodes:

Success in the South! Managing Deer and Turkeys in Alabama Jan 24, 2023

Show notes

Alan Sommerford has been a run of success in the great state of Alabama but don't picture a land of milk and honey for wildlife. Alan is a cattle farmer with the idea of using the land to support his family all while also providing benefit for the wildlife. Tune in to hear how Alan is using hay production to benefit wildlife and make money.

Improving A Texas Ranch in the Cross Timbers Region Jan 23, 2023

Show notes

After a recent consultation trip to North Texas, Kyle and Matt design a killer habitat management plan for this property. During the podcast we break down the recommendations from top to bottom and how the eco-region plays a huge role in natural resource management. The goal of this farm was to better manage the natural vegetation to create predictable movement and develop a hunting strategy around this.

The Cross-Timbers Region is full of post oaks, blackjack oaks, and greenbrier, take a listen as we break down how we turn this into a whitetail deer haven. We talk about techniques such as travel corridor management, the installation of native food plots or wildlife openings, 2 -types of bedding thickets, and the usage and placement of corn feeders.

If you want to learn how habitat managers think through the process of managing a large ranch for whitetail deer in Texas, then give this podcast a listen!

S&F Arkansas Deer Status Update Jan 19, 2023

Show notes

This week we are joined by Cory Gray and Ralph Meeker from the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission to discuss what’s going on with our deer herd. Several issues from CWD to Gnats have plagued the deer herd across the state, but where are we now? Join us as we discuss what’s happening and what to expect.

Questions for a Habitat Manager with Dexter Keuss Jan 17, 2023

Show notes

We're covering all kinds of topics this week on the podcast, from favorite doe hunt, to biggest flops in habitat management. This podcast is different than every other podcast we've ever done so you don't want to miss it!

Consistent Kansas Giant on the Hedges Farm Jan 16, 2023

Show notes

The Hedges Farm in SE Kansas has been on a roll during the last few years. Kyle Hedges, a Land & Legacy consultant has been managing this family farm with clear intentions the last 5 years and the results speak for themselves. Although this farm has been in the family for more than 20 years, time is now on Kyle's side to manage the property for harvesting mature whitetails with a bow.

In the past few years, invasive species control, pollinator planting, TSI, bedding thickets, and burning have been on the top of the priority list. Between Kyle and his hunting buddy Byron who is another wildlife professional, they have been very intentional to move the needle on consistently harvesting top quality whitetails. In the past 3 seasons, they have tagged 4 mature bucks on this 160 acres with one 180-inch whitetail during the 2022 season.

If you want more from your farm, be intentional with your management like Kyle and Byron. To hear how they have increased their success, be sure to give this podcast a download!

S&F Wild Turkey Science Jan 12, 2023

Show notes

Mention turkeys on any social media page and the conversation quickly turns to the population decline and the opinions on why the decline is happening. Today we are joined with Dr Marcus Lashley from the University of Florida and Dr Will Gulsby from Auburn University for a big announcement. These two turkey research specialists have teamed up with Turkeys For Tomorrow (TFT) and are starting their own unbiased podcast to address the facts and debunk the myths surrounding the wild turkey and their environment. We look forward to tuning into their show and hope you do as well, the future of our turkey population depends on us all joining together to create a better environment for these birds we love.

TSI, Hinge Cutting, Woodlands and Savannas Jan 11, 2023

Show notes

Is a TSI timber block great bedding or is a hinge cut thicket better? Can you create different levels of cover without creating cover too thick it is bad for turkeys? What is the solution?! It's a shame it's taken 30 years of information in the outdoor industry to reach a point of understanding! Tune in this week to hear how to manage for your turkeys and deer with your timber management. #ForLoveoftheLand

Client Success: 20 Acres, a Dream, and Hardwork! Jan 10, 2023

Show notes

Here is the story of how an eager and goal oriented 20-year old purchased his first property, executed a habitat management plan, hunted smart, and tagged a great buck on 20 acres during the first hunting season. It doesn't take owning the whole county to get it done. Remember quality habitat is intentional, not accidental. This was not an accident, he will be success here next year and the years to follow.

On this podcast we have Tucker Dedmon of southern Missouri joining us. Tucker is an avid outdoorsman with a passion for private land. He set a goal of buying his first recreational property in 2022 and he was able to purchase 20 acres of hunting land at just 20 years old. But the persistence doesn't stop there. After an afternoon of touring the property and laying out a plan, we knew Tucker was going to get right to work. Within a few weeks the bedding thickets were cut and stands were being hung. All he was waiting for was for deer season to open for the bucks to get on their feet. And they did.

This story is a great example of how disciplined hunting and an executed habitat management plan will yield results. What is your excuse?

S&F That Doesn't Work Here Like it Does There Jan 05, 2023

Show notes

That doesn’t work here! We constantly hear it on social media. Today we are joined with Wildlife Professionals and Consulting Foresters from the North to the South to discuss various topics that we constantly hear, “How do I choose a land consultant”, “Should I hinge cut”, and “How do I increase my turkey population”; among several other topics. This week, Thomas and Hunter are Joined by Kyle Lybarger (Alabama), Daric Denny (Missouri) and Greg Berndtson (Pennsylvania). Each of these guys are at the top of their game and spend every day in the woods. Y’all grab your steel toe boots and maybe we won’t hurt your toes too bad as we dive into various topics in the wildlife habitat world to find out it that works here or not.

Advanced Lessons on Timber Stand Improvement (TSI) Jan 04, 2023

Show notes

The acronym TSI or Timber Stand Improvement is very commonly used, but the practice is often misunderstood. There is a wide realm of understandings, beliefs, and practices from people who believe they are completing TSI. However, we set the record straight this week and discussed the three main levels of TSI that we most commonly prescribe, Light, Medium, and Heavy TSI.

For each degree of TSI we discuss the canopy reduction, standard methods used to achieve those canopy openings, and what the general purpose or usage is from wildlife like whitetail deer and wild turkey within each degree of thinning. You get a free in-depth understanding of how TSI should be implemented and utilized on recreational farms.

Remember education is only as valuable if it is applied. So get out there and implement some of the sound TSI practices that we discussed this week on the podcast.

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