Land & Legacy - Habitat + Hunting

Latest Episodes:

Evaluating Hunting Property Module with NDA and OnX Maps Jun 17, 2021

Show notes

This week we hosted a wonderful event in Northern Missouri with the National Deer Association and OnX Maps. This event we geared to the recreational landowner looking to improve their hunting property. We toured a client's farm who has worked diligently on improving his habitat. This opportunity provided all of the attendees the chance to review some killer habitat projects and learn from someone else's hard work and planning.

The other special opportunity attendees had was the chance to learn, use, and understanding the tool of digital mapping when it came to land management. OnX Maps was used by all attendees to learn how this tool makes land management planning and execution easier. This app is incredible for keeping track of burn units, TSI planning, bedding thicket, invasive species removal, road creation, and much more.

If you are a landowner who is stuck and unsure how to manage your property and reach your goals, give us a call! Become a member of the National Deer Association today.

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This Does Not Equal That - Part #1 Jun 08, 2021

Show notes

Welcome to a new podcast format! We are going for a more visual learning experience, so please follow along closely with the podcast instructions to get the most out of each episode. Head over to our Facebook or Instagram account for photos that we reference during this podcast.

We closely examine two photos, calling out plant species, describing the structure or composition of the plants in each photo. In addition, we also answer the following questions, how does this benefit wildlife and how would we manage it? This podcast format will get your eye trained to observe the landscape the way we do. You have to have a critical eye to know how to improve habitat for whitetail deer, wild turkey, and bobwhite quail.

Let us know what you think! Thanks for joining us!

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How Fast Can I Make the Habitat Better? Jun 08, 2021

Show notes

Just how fast can I make habitat better? We do our best on this week's podcast to answer that question but be prepared, the answer may surprise you. We are not talking years, we are talking months for night and day transformations.

We discuss a 6-month journey of a glade restoration that has completely changed this portion of the farm. In December this unit was almost solid cedar, now it is full of native grasses and abundant forbs and pollinating species. Don't waste time on starting as huge benefits await you. Your land could be begging for improvements and changes, so do not fear the fact that a response could be years away.

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Buck Beds Jun 01, 2021

Show notes

On this week's podcast, we discuss some recent findings on our consultation trips. These times in the field are priceless with countless observations of how wildlife are utilizing certain habitat features. One of the more reoccurring things we see are isolated and routinely used beds, often referred to as "buck beds".

Buck Beds have gotten a lot of attention lately, however, one of the most missed features of this is that adequate cover is often limited. When quality cover is limited, we see routine beds, often used day in and day out. Although consistent bedding is good, having abundant, quality, secure, cover is even better.

The next time you find a buck bed, look at the structure, consider how to create more of that on the landscape as opposed to how can you hunt that location? Be a land steward! #ForLoveoftheLand

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Turkey Report w/ Mark Drury, Michael Hunsucker, and Shawn Luchtel. Jun 01, 2021

Show notes

Where have all the turkeys gone?! It's a common question we've been hearing through much of the United States and it's a very complex answer. We decided to check in this week with some of the most popular hunters in Missouri who have hunted here for many years to see what trends they've witnessed and things they're doing to help improve turkey numbers.

Mark Drury of Drury Outdoors has been at the top of our list for successful turkey hunters for a long time. Going back to the days when Adam filmed for Drury Outdoors he's always respected the passion Mark has for the wild turkey. MArk continues to have a successful spring even with numbers down statewide, so we're getting to the bottom of why?

Next up Michael Hunsucker and Shawn Luchtel from Heartland Bowhunter have seen a drastic difference in turkey numbers from the early 2000s and it's quite concerning to them. We discuss what they believe might be leading into the numbers decline and how they're managing their farms to help both deer and turkeys.

Regardless, we all have ideas at how we can help the turkeys, from lowering tags offered, to ending the fall turkey season to year round trapping of predators, but getting the Department of Conservation to make the first move will be the trickiest move yet. #forloveoftheland

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Summer Habitat To-Do List May 25, 2021

Show notes

We are bridging the gap between spring and summer during the growing season, so this week's podcast is devoted to all things summer habitat to-do list. Spring annual food plots take a large time away from landowners, but what value do they bring? We discuss in full detail how you should be approaching food plots that are supplementally adding forage to your property.

In addition, we discuss the opportunity to treat non-native invasive species on your property. As we move into the timing when foliar applications of these species can be very effective. Do not forget to treat these plants as they will overtake the understory, edges of openings, and decrease total forage.

It's time to get to work for the wildlife. #ForLoveoftheLand

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Turkey Talk with Aaron Warbritton of THP May 25, 2021

Show notes

During this podcast, we are joined by Aaron Warbrittion of The Hunting Public. As a fellow passionate turkey hunter Aarons' experiences bring a unique point of view as a huge public land turkey hunter.

We bring a new perspective to the turkey decline across the country. This is not just a Missouri problem as Aaron shares from his experience, he has witnessed this in Arkansas and many of the other Southeastern states. So the question becomes, what can a public and private landowner do collectively to address this problem? How can we come together to support habitat enhancement, fund research, and bring awareness to the issue.

Join us for a collective assessment on the future of the wild turkey. We aren't singing the doom and gloom song, but we bringing awareness to the general decline of the turkey as a natural resource.

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Intense Habitat Management on a New Small Acreage Farm May 18, 2021

Show notes

This is an exciting time in the life of Land & Legacy. Our families have been blessed to both pursue new land ownership opportunities. This new opportunity is not only going to be slightly different though. Matt and his wife purchased a 35-acre farm with a house and barn, this parcel is surrounded by cattle pasture, unmanaged timber, and some hunting pressure.

The goal with this property is to not only make it a homestead for our family but a small farm to put our habitat management skills to the test. We are going to overhaul the habitat and natural resources on the property to make this small acreage as beneficial to the wildlife as possible. There will be intensely managed old-fields, one large 3-acre bedding thicket, shrub plantings, invasive species removal, Forest Stand Improvements, and some quality food plots added with hunter accessibility in mind. This farm is going to showcase just how much quality habitat offered can influence deer movements!

We are excited to share this opportunity with you and showcase these techniques on a new parcel. Follow along with this project on social media for updates!

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Wild Turkey Decline - We Are the Problem May 18, 2021

Show notes

During this podcast, we discuss the growing trends of wild turkey hunting, harvest information, decline, hunter participation, and the role everyone plays in this equation. In the last few weeks as the state of Missouri has disclosed its 2021 spring turkey hunting results, the general public has been very vocal about the results. The vocalization has stirred up the blame game for the decline in turkeys harvests.

We dive deep into science and harvest information to find the answers for improvement. We don't play the blame game, just stick to the facts. It seems there is outrage with the state's Department of Conservation around the decrease, however, how can they be held accountable for a turkey recruitment problem? We need to be clear on what the problem is, which is, turkeys are not being as successful in making more turkeys each season. Now, there are a ton of factors impacting this, but 97% of the state is privately owned. So, who is gonna make the largest impact, you and me! Not a state agency, this problem and solution fall on our shoulders. It's time we start taking responsibility for a turkey recruitment problem.

We hope you share this podcast with everyone looking to improve turkey numbers across the country. #ForLoveoftheLand

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Revealing the Truth Behind the Food Plot Seed Industry May 11, 2021

Show notes

As we have discussed before there are some great marketing schemes out there floating around the hunting industry, one of these being food plot seed. We aim to expose this week while talking with the folks at Stratton Seed Company, just how different are these seeds from one brand to another?

It is very common to experience sales pitches regarding seed selection and superiority with frequently used food plot varieties, however, we expose the truth from the origins of this seed and lack of variety among most food plot seed types. Sure there are some varieties of soybeans, oats, or radishes that have some differences in genetics or growth rates, but when you see purple top turnip in a blend from various seed companies, it's still just purple top turnip and likely comes from the same grower. So, the question becomes if there isn't much difference in seed selection or origin, then why do costs vary so much? Well, we answer that question as well in this podcast.

If you want to hear transparency from a genuine food plot company, then tune in! You may be surprised at what you find out! #ForLoveoftheLand

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