Land & Legacy - Habitat + Hunting

Latest Episodes:

Identifying Micro-Climates on Your Property Apr 26, 2022

Show notes

What is a Micro-Climate? Have you ever heard of that before? Did you know that you are likely impacting or creating a micro-climate right now as we speak? Better tune up to this podcast as we discuss the interworking of how vegetation, shade, humidity alters the future of the site drastically.

This podcast will change the way you look at your land. This podcast is designed to connect you intimately with the vegetation growing on your property and the results of them. We are talking about soil temperatures, moistures levels, and species of vegetation present. Micro-climates will open your eyes to see more parts of your farm in greater detail.

We hope you enjoy this podcast! Tune in next week for more land management content.

Reading the Body Language of a Wild Turkey Apr 20, 2022

Show notes

The best turkey callers are not ones who sound the best throughout every yelping sequence or one that can make the most delicate turkey noises, it's those who know when and what to say based on a turkeys body language.

Body posture, gobbling response time/intensity, strutting direction, and head color change, are all indicators we look very closely at when calling in a longbeard. These are telltale signs of when the next call needs to occur and the intensity in which you deliver it.

During the opening day of Missouri's turkey season, Chainsaw Chad had a hunt that unfolded just 35 yards in front of him which provides you will some great insight on why this scenario worked on an early gobbler with hens. Follow along on this podcast to learn the details that matter when closing the deal wild turkeys.

We're Missing the Point Apr 19, 2022

Show notes

What is the purpose of land? Why would you wish you're hunting success on luck?

We sit down with the Element guys this week to discuss hunting, fishing, and Christ. We cover a lot of topics so buckle up!

Full Throttle Habitat = Success Apr 12, 2022

Show notes

During the last few weeks of working across the country, we have seen successes and results around every corner. There is one theme however that rings true, the harder you push the envelope on habitat, the better you get. There is no dipping your toe in and finding incredible long-lasting success, it's full-on!

Follow along with us this week as we discuss the results from western Oklahoma, southern Florida, central Alabama, and central Pennsylvania. No matter where you go or what landscape you find yourself in, the results are there to be found if you don't get in the way. Sometimes the best thing to do is commit and implement. This sounds simple, but remember your results are waiting for you on the other side of the commitment.

The Proper Use and Application of Four Land Management Tools Apr 12, 2022

Show notes

During this week's podcast, Matt and Frank discuss the usage, application, and perspective that involve the four main types of habitat management tools. The four main types include prescribed fire, grazing, timber cutting/harvesting, and herbicide application.

These tools and their usage fall along a wide spectrum of usage, on both ends of the spectrum, either overuse or no use of each tool is less than ideal. The middle ground is where you find our recommendations lie. There is a balance that all land managers must find when it comes to using these tools and getting the responses you want the most. Factors such as regions, vegetation types, and climate all impact what is proper usage for you in your situation, not someone on social media.

It's time to use these tools appropriately to generate the response that will achieve your results.

Setting Goals that Make Sense - Destinations not Directions Apr 05, 2022

Show notes

How do you know when you've accomplished your goals? Is it the amount of deer you're seeing, the turkeys harvested, or the amount of money made on the farm? Whatever your goals are we can all agree that defining them is a must but sometimes it's hard to make those goals and we can get lost on the road. That road is without a destination but more just a direction to travel. This is where many are leading us in the direction of soil health. We're told we should be working to improve it, we're told to believe we can have amazing crops, and we're also told it could mean healthier animals, bigger bucks. Here's the problem, none of it can be proven and it all comes back to smoke and mirrors.

No Fire is Created the Same Apr 05, 2022

Show notes

This week we're discussing a recent prescribed fire at "The Woodlands" and how each and every burn unit has the ability to provide different results from each burn year to the next. You know what they say "Fires are burning up the turkey nests!" Let's get real here, grassland fires are about the only fire that burns 95% of the burn units. Timber burns with much terrain will almost always have areas that didn't burn.

We're also discussing the encounter Chad had the day after the burn with a lone hen. This strange encounter leads us to believe something else may be happening to our turkeys! #Forloveofhteland

Connecting with The Natural World with Kyle Lybarger Mar 29, 2022

Show notes

During this podcast we catch up with fellow conservationist, Kyle Lybarger of the Native Plant Society. Kyle has a strong passion for natural history and ecology, so he shared is depth of knowledge with us.

Passion is the start of something great. So learning about the complexities of the naturalist world helped to shape Kyle and fuel his outside educational experiences. Follow along as we need out about woodlands and savannas.

Generational Land Management - Hold the Line Mar 28, 2022

Show notes

It's hard not to be romantic about managing and improving a farm. After all this land could be apart of your legacy. Imagine the idea that one day your kids or grandkids could benefit from the work you've done on your farm. Sounds exciting right?! Bad news though, silver bullets are often "gone like the wind." They have no lasting impact on the land, so if you're focusing on food plots, feeders, trapping, mineral, your work will only have short term gain.

We base our management off of using God's template for land management and ensure we use natural disturbances to promote healthy ecosystems. Imagine your kids hearing the sound of Bobwhite Quail Whistling in a restored pine savanna that you completed with a plan of attack and the grit to complete? It's an amazing thought to have. Now, stop thinking about it and go do it!

Quality Habitat Doesn't Always Mean Quality Hunting Mar 22, 2022

Show notes

During this week's podcast, we hit a subject that some landowners are all too familiar with, poor hunting. No one wants to have to endure a season of poor success, spooking deer, and observations from afar. After a consulting visit to Virginia, Matt worked on a farm that had executed a previous plan and had begun to offer some quality habitat that was diverse. They were managing a farm intentionally, but the previous plan didn't involve any hunting strategy. This was a missing element that was key for the landowner's objectives.

So this week, we discuss how critical it is to plan out a hunting strategy prior to executing habitat management. Without access and wind direction in mind, quality habitat becomes less useful. We have to keep in mind and make room for secure areas to hold deer, transition areas to encourage daylight movement, but also destination food plots that are huntable. The movement of wildlife and the spatial arrangement of certain habitat features in a property design is the difference between having wildlife and successfully being able to hunt them.

Execution is key, but prior to executing, a proper planning session is always necessary!