EP188 From The Vault: Habitat Solutions, Adaptive Management and Food Plots

FROM THE VAULT: In this episode, Jon Teater (Whitetail Landscapes) and Jake Ehlinger (Habitat Solutions 360) discuss food plots, property management, design, maintenance, and new property layout techniques. Jake explains his no till, food source options and how to reshape your property based on the neighborhood. Jake discusses his neighborhood and how to approach changes on a yearly basis. Jake's adaptive management style and his ability to be consistent and grow more tonnage per acre, allows him to pull in more deer and be less susceptible to over browse.

Jake discusses his current food plot regime, and breaks down why this is the better late season food plot option when trying to manage a larger deer herd. Jake details his property layout and how deer congregate on his property when he creates “green plots” and how his food plots will outcompete other options like soybeans. Jake discusses a combination of soybeans and corn and what ratio he plants each in to get maximum results. Jake provides an option for annual plants and other options you have for late season food.

Jake explains his neighborhood situation and what his neighbors are doing from a harvest to food perspective and how this impacts his property. Jake discusses the importance of his observation treestand and how you can observe much more through your own eyes as compared to trail cameras. Jake explains how trail systems he lays out will lead deer through his property for better hunting opportunities. Jon discusses the importance of observation data and why we should not ignore this information when evaluating deer movement. Jake explains his observation data and how bucks use cover and how deer move based on densities and wind direction. Jake explains how deer can avoid trail cameras and sometimes our reliance on trail cameras can be fraught with lack of or misinformation. Jon and Jake discuss how deer are individualistic and how data from trail cameras and observation lead to more information on deer behavior. Jon explains a strategy to pull a mature buck onto your property and the bits of information he relies on to ensure deer are going have increased interest in a property. 

Jake discusses changes over time and how he handles the maintenance and improvement side of his property as succession occurs. Jon explains what we need to consider as we are making changes on our property as we go through seral stages over time. Jake explains a recent change he has made to his property to ensure deer utilization is high. Jake discusses normal maintenance and specific changes that may be needed to ensure bedding areas remain permanent fixtures in a deer’s movement. Jake explains how to cut a focal area on his property through creating walls of cover, travel corridors, open and closed areas in the best locations. Jake continues to improve his and his client’s properties through these detailed methods of cutting and how he emphasizes diversity on the landscape.

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