Land & Legacy - Habitat + Hunting

Latest Episodes:

This Is Why We Love Land Jun 23, 2020

Show notes

Hope you are ready for a passion-filled podcast! This week we fly off the cuff and provide listeners with an in-depth look at why we love land. Being passionate about something requires devotion and deep understanding. This hour is filled with countless reasons why we are so devoted to learning as much as we can about land and being the best land managers and landowners as we can be.

The first profession was a caretaker of the land. This is a calling, so we feel as if those who own land have a big responsibility. The connection between the biological world we live in and manage is so closely connected to the spiritual world. The illustrations between being a gamekeeper and real-world scenarios are countless. So the more we know or educate ourselves about the biology of plants and animals, the more we grow spiritually. Landis bigger than hunting, it's bigger than food plots, it has more to offer. If all you do is hunt and food plot, you are only scratching the surface when it comes to overall enjoyment of land.

Please take time to consider this podcast. Reflect on your experiences. Get outside and spend time enjoying the natural world, you're called to do it! #ForLoveoftheLand

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Planting Natives and Homesteading in the Mid-Atlantic Jun 23, 2020

Show notes

On a recent trip to the mid-Atlantic region, Matt was able to spend time reviewing success from a client who planted diverse natives as well as met with a new landowner who has converted just 1.5 acres into a food production mecca! You will hear about both wonderful stories on this week's podcast.

It is a joy to share with everyone the success that those who implement the plans have. These real-life examples are perfect to build off of and use as encouragement for others to replicate this success on their own property. We sit down with Kevin of southern Maryland to discuss the progress of the native wildlife corridors he planted. In just year two this planting is booming with life from diverse grasses to many pollinator species.

In addition, we interview Daniel Adams of Up and Adams Farm. Daniel is a brand new client of Land & Legacy, but while onsite, we took time to review the other ways he is using his land. Daniel and his family devote 1.5 acres to food production. This includes 40 laying chickens, 90 meat chickens, 5 pigs, and a 7,500 sq foot garden that could support 30 different families. This type of production out of 1.5 acres is incredible! We can't wait to hear what you think about this content! #ForLoveoftheLand

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Why Do I Need to Identify Plants? Jun 16, 2020

Show notes

Grab your pen and paper for this podcast! After many months of debating this podcast topic, we release the truths behind the knowledge that will take you deeper in the understanding of your property. The foundation of habitat management is a detailed knowledge of the resources that comprise habitat offered on the property. This foundation is simply, what vegetation is growing?

Without being able to identify what plant species are growing it is impossible to make sound or qualified land management decisions. It would be irresponsible for someone to either apply herbicide or cut trees down without knowing what they are spraying or even what they are sinking a chainsaw into. During the podcast, we stress the importance of repetition and intentional learning of the plant species growing on your property. This doesn't happen without practice. In addition, we leave you with 20 very common plant species that deer strongly relate to in four different categories, trees, shrubs, forbs, and grass. If you can learn these 20 species you can learn 200 more. But this requires you to start!

Learning the native flora in your region is a skill. This skill makes you powerful in the land management game. Begin using helpful apps such as iNaturalist to sharpen your skills! Be diligent and learn these species so you can learn how to improve as a land manager and hunter. #ForLoveoftheLand

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Where Did All the Quail Go?! Jun 16, 2020

Show notes

Where did all the quail go? This is a recurring question that begins in the eastern United States and ends in western United States with many ideas and opinions. Like many complicated questions, it has a very complicated answer that we do our best to break down and discuss some of the biggest factors in the decline of the Bobwhite Quail. From habitat loss, to predators, to farming practices, to timber harvest, Kyle and Adam paint a picture of a landscape during the early 1900's to mid 1960's to present day.

Bobwhite Quail numbers have been declining for many years now and without an understanding of the problem there will be no real solution. Education is the solution to many problems in our world today and educating everyone that "Predators ate all the Quail," is simply a false statement. Did you know that farming today looks entirely different than it did even 30 years ago? Or that one of the country's largest sawmills sat in south central Missouri, where close by, quail hunting was done with a canoe and dogs floating the Current River. What a changing world we live in!

Quail discussions shouldn't all be doom and gloom and this podcast isn't either. We chat about the great things we can do as land managers to bring the quail back. Co-operatives to government cost-share opportunities to incentivize landowners to improve their farms and be rewarded for their work! Deer hunters, don't miss the boat on this, it's important you care about quality habitat as well! #ForLoveoftheLand

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Food Plot Trials and Tribulations Jun 09, 2020

Show notes

If we could sum up food plots in one question or phrase it would likely be, "How can we maximize our food plot production with as little time and money as possible?" We strive to always find the best products for the money and allow us to have the best return on our investment. It is no different with food plots and we've fortunately been planting and testing for a long time. During that time we've found some major money pits, bad practices, and also very quick results that helped landowners save money all while still growing successful food plots.

Why does soil health always include non-native annual species? Why soil health improvement shouldn't involve monocultures of plants and low diverse blends. These are all questions and concerns we discuss in new movements headed towards soil health. We really get into the weeds on this podcast as we talk about implementing cattle into our system to build diversity and increase disturbance on the food plots.

Finally, we touch on some of our testing with no drill, and only small equipment like ATV's and UTV's and how almost anyone can go no till. Diversity wins again! #ForLoveoftheLand

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Creating Summertime Thermal Cover Jun 09, 2020

Show notes

On this week’s podcast we cover all things summer and heat. It’s been heating up in the Midwest and a recent consulting trip to Texas reinforced the need for thermal cover. Yes, thermal cover for the summertime. The heat and potential for drought are something land managers should consider.

Can you imagine what summer thermal cover looks like? How do you create it? Why is summer thermal cover even necessary? We address these questions and more. By the end of the podcast you will be considering shade, aspects of slopes, bedding on extended points, wind currents and much more. Don’t forget about the bottomland management as well. Creeks with shaded sandy banks will be “hot” spots.

Don’t let the heat keep you from managing your land appropriately. Make sure you address each stress period adequately for the wildlife you want to promote.

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It's Time To Start Focusing on the "Little Guys" Jun 02, 2020

Show notes

In this podcast, Frank and Matt discuss the foundation and start of life for many of the game species we all enjoy chasing. We address rumors and common misunderstandings that revolve around nesting, brood rearing, lactation and fawning.

One of the common thoughts is that spring rains destroy nests from flooding or even flood and wash turkey poults into the mighty Mississippi River. This idea has spread and caused a lot of misunderstanding on how to best understand weather events during the Spring. It is not flooding that causes poor recruitment, it's the lack of a poult's ability to stay dry. Rain and cool nights cause hypothermia, this inability to regulate body heat ultimately causes the young birds to perish. In addition, fawns can be just as fragile. If you are trying to grow the biggest or baddest deer herd possible, it starts with healthy does, lactation, and quality fawning cover. Just because you see fawns on camera and your deer population isn't struggling like bobwhites, doesn't mean fawning habitat can't be improved.

Be sure to give this podcast a listen! We need to collectively begin thinking of the spring as one of the most critical times in our game species life. Let's commit to solid education as it will guide our management in a more productive fashion. Enjoy.Learn.Share! #ForLoveoftheLand

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Open Your Eyes, You're a Land Manager! Jun 02, 2020

Show notes

The best tool a land manager can have is their own two eyes! Chainsaws, prescribed fire, tractors, drills, sprayers are all great, but if you don't see what needs to be seen, then the tools we do have will be misused.

One of the largest problems we see when we tour farms is the lack of knowledge the landowner has of their given property. In many cases, the most time a landowner spends on the property is spent on a UTV, not their own two feet. To see what's happening on a property, you have to walk. Walk constantly, get off the roads, take the beaten path. If you spend 80% of our time on the roads, we miss 90% of the property and the resources the farm actually is offering. You have to monitor the property, trail cameras, food plots, and road systems only tell a small fraction of the story. In addition, do you terminate your food plots too early? Are you cutting the fall blend too short? We answer these questions as well this week.

We hope you Enjoy.Learn.Share! Tag a fellow landowner who needs to hear this message. #ForLoveoftheLand

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Timber Management in the North Woods May 26, 2020

Show notes

This Spring has been one to remember from chasing turkeys to burning down the roads on consulting trips. Two recent trips took Adam to the hills of Central Pennsylvania and Matt to the lakes of Minnesota. These two northern regions created some important field observations and similar management strategies.

When traveling and working in different regions of the country it is important to recall the significance of each area. There are no cookie-cutter situations where all the techniques work the same and the climate conditions are similar. On our trips, we both recognize that woody browse is so incredibly significant to understand and produce, there are various ways to accomplish this. For Adam, timber harvesting was critical and being executed routinely. On the other hand, TSI and shrub plantings were the recommendations for Matt in his region. Without a doubt, principles of habitat management don't change, however, each and every region must be studied and examined to produce the best habitat that is suitable for wildlife. is applicable.

We hope you enjoy learning about the management opportunities that each region has even if you are from other portions of the country. Enjoy.Learn.Share! #ForLoveoftheLand

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Expanding Travel Corridors and Increasing Diversity in Kansas May 26, 2020

Show notes

Back on the road again, Matt and Frank discuss a recent trip to the heart of deer country in SouthEast Kansas. Working with new landowners is always enjoyable, but these two, a father and son, have an incredible work ethic and desire to improve habitat the right way. They aren't looking for quick fixes, they know the work before themis going to be tough, but rewarding. So we developed a plan for them to use in transforming a simple travel corridor into a deer holding and hunting mecca.

This 120 acres of an abandoned homestead is the only cover around for a large area. Two large creek systems flow through the farm north to south that is surrounded by native pastures and dotted agriculture fields. You can see as it lays by examining and aerial that this farm would be attracting deer along this large corridor. However, that is isn't satisfactory, the goal is to maximize each and every acre! So we are going to expand existing corridors, create new ones running east to west with the existing cover andslow deer down as they hit the farm by creating new food resources and superior bedding.

I cannot wait to get the success photos back from these two! This farm is ready for an overhaul and these two landowners are just the pair to do. #ForLoveoftheLand

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