Land & Legacy - Habitat + Hunting

Latest Episodes:

Topography: 301 Sep 25, 2025

Show notes

Hang on to your treestand seats.... we take a deep dive this week into why topography is such an influential part of habitat management and hunting strategy. There is nothing that predicts and dictates what deer do more than topography. From influencing what native vegetation grows where, to how thermals work, and the path of least resistance.... topography takes the cake! If you want to become a better deer hunter and land manager, learn how to read topography! Once you've mastered that, then you can begin to understand how it impacts vegetation growth, moisture and how wildlife react to it as they move on the landscape. A great tool to learn from is OnX on the desktop version of the map. Use the exaggerated topography with the hybrid map overlaid to really understand how to read the slopes! This will make you a better woodsmans overnight!

Macro and Micro Variable: Early Season Sep 18, 2025

Show notes

It goes without saying there are always things evolving or changing in the whitetail world. Early season may be the biggest change though. From testosterone changes, to territory changes, to food sources and then to minor pressure movements and often time drought conditions. These variables can be placed into two categories, Macro and micro variables. The Macro variables are the variables that all whitetails are having to consider or are being influenced by, these changes are more physiological than environmental like the micro variables. These variables alter, influence, and predict how deer will then move on the landscape. Therefore they impact hunt strategy greatly! These changes cannot always be predicted months in advance when you set your farm up for the season, so you must be willing to pivot and adjust or call an audible to your plan when it is necessary. Oftentimes, the best laid plans need to have audibles thrown into the mix to accommodate for these macro and micro variables that hunters and landowners do not have control over! This week we break these all down so you can become a better woodsman.

Step by Step Food Plot Install Breakdown Sep 10, 2025

Show notes

We are back this week at the Farm Progress Show in the John Deere Booth talking about green and yellow John Deere equipment and how to properly install food plots with various pieces of equipment. Not every food plot gets planted the same way, the approach varies greatly depending upon the starting point. Are you starting with timber, or an old log landing, or perhaps an old field is being converted into a food plot. Follow along as we go step-by-step on how to properly get that food pot plot planted. Skid steers, tractors, and the various implements can get confusing, which one do you use and when? We break this down for the audience to create a guide on installation with food plots. We often find that food plots get more complicated than they should be. It's important to know when to sit down a piece of equipment and when to pick up a different one, whether that be clearing, grading, burning, planting or spraying! We hope this podcast helps you become a more effective food plot planter!

Maximize the Value of Different Land-Use Types Sep 03, 2025

Show notes

This week we are recording live in the John Deere booth at the Farm Progress Show in Illinois. This event is huge in the agriculture world so this week's message is inclusive to owners of all different land-use types. From Ag-land, to timber production land and even cattle pastures, we talk to producers of different crops and how to expand operations and value land with some outside of the box thinking. It is easy to become singular minded when an operation is dependent upon success to hold the land, but oftentimes that singular focus can also be the thing that holds you back as a landowner. So, we breakdown each land use type and discuss the avenues out there for landowners to really increase revenue streams and find the max value in your land holdings. We hope you enjoy this educational podcast all about land ownership! Thank you John Deere for the invite as well, we will be back next year!

Meeting assets for NWTF August/Sept. are ready! Aug 27, 2025

Show notes

August: What is the bird doing? What is the bird eating? How do I create what the bird is using? Growing season burning- What does it accomplish for a turkey now and in the future? Soft mast foraging opportunities- Diet review, hard seed/grass seed production flock congregation- amalgamation poult production, over the hump! Sept: What is the bird doing? What is the bird eating? How do I create what the bird is using? Hard mast production and foraging opportunities begin TSI- Best time to complete- Are logging operations good for turkeys? Understanding roosting locations/ advantages

7 - Key Pre-Season Strategies Aug 21, 2025

Show notes

Deer season is just around the corner. Are you prepared or are you behind? This week we discuss 7 key points that you should be considering as we draw very near to deer season. From food plots, to treestands, trail cameras, and more we cover the fine detail points of each that will ready you both mentally and physically. It's time to get actually ready and ahead of the curve. As hunters is easy to be very reactive in your approach and hunting strategy. This podcast is designed to reverse that and make sure you are proactive in your approach. Don't miss opportunities, capitalize on them!

Early Season Strategies Aug 13, 2025

Show notes

Deer season is upon us!!! Multiple states now have velvet seasons, but even if you don't have a velvet season it's time to start getting an inventory of the bucks on your property. On this episode Alan and Brady break down the strategies for targeting early season bucks. This episode focuses on how to find velvet bucks, and how to get them into bow range. --Trail Camera strategies --Where to place stands --Food Plot strategies that can be implemented now --Water holes

Top Priority Deer Checklist to Complete in August Aug 06, 2025

Show notes

During this week's podcast Matt and Adam cover the long list of top priority items to get completed for the month of August if you are a deer hunter and land owner. In addition, we discuss bachelor groups of bucks and if you have them how to keep them, plus if you don't how to attract bucks once the bachelor groups break-up into fall home ranges. August is the make or break month for food plots. It's time to make the critical decision to know if you terminate and move on or if you just overseed for the fall. We break down the case by case scenarios to assist hunters in this decision making process. From perennial food plots to grain plots and even summer annual blends, we walk you step by step through the process of ensuring you have a successful food plot for fall.

How to Establish, Grow and Maintain an Alfalfa Food Plot Jul 30, 2025

Show notes

In this episode, Matt Dye discusses the establishment and management of alfalfa as a food plot crop. He emphasizes the importance of proper soil preparation, planting techniques, and weed control strategies to ensure a successful alfalfa stand. The podcast also highlights the nutritional benefits of alfalfa for wildlife, particularly deer, and its versatility throughout the seasons. Matt shares personal experiences and insights to encourage listeners to consider alfalfa as a reliable food source for their properties.

Breaking Down Hunting Property Access Jul 23, 2025

Show notes

In this episode of the Land of Legacy podcast, host Matt Dye introduces a new format that combines video breakdowns with podcast content. He discusses a client's hunting property, focusing on access strategies, the importance of discipline in hunting, and the benefits of converting crop land to CRP for improved habitat. The conversation emphasizes the significance of road systems in property management and concludes with a look at future opportunities for hunting and land management.