

Whitetail Landscapes - Hunting & Habitat Management
Sportsmen's Empire
Whitetail Landscapes focuses on enhancing whitetail deer hunting properties through design and management efforts. Jon Teater owns and operates Whitetail Landscapes and has established clients throughout the United States. Jon’s experience combined with reoccurring podcast guests will provide opportunities for those around the country to learn how to improve their hunting property.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 27, 2022 • 45min
Early Season Hunting Tactics, Setups, and Strategy
In this episode, Jon Teater (Whitetail Landscapes) and Steve Sherk (Sherk’s Guide Service) discuss hunting plans and setups for early season. Steve dives into his process and plans for the next several weeks before clients arrive. Jon explains his plans and when he anticipates having a shot at one of his target deer. Jon explains fawn recruitment on his own property and how the habitat is expected to benefit his fall hunting.Steve discusses the data he has collected over the past five years and what key weather factors he believes primarily impacts deer movement. Jon and Steve both discuss the number one external factor that impacts overall movement. Steve discusses how cold weather impacts deer at different times of the year, and how some weather fronts may reduce movement in the areas he hunts. Jon discusses what he has observed on private lands and what he believes negatively impacts deer movement.Steve discusses the details of his early season plans, more specifically where he hunts and the habitat he prefers. Steve doesn’t have the traditional bed to feeding patterns, which creates a different strategy he believes advantages him in the big woods. Steve discusses the locations he believes provide the best hunting and bedding. Steve explains early vs late season bedding. Jon and Steve discuss the value of high-quality food and how this pertains to deer interest. Steve explains more about his hit list deer and how he plans on targeting them. Steve details his mobile setup preferences vs fixed treestands. Steve explains how close he gets to bedding areas and why his tactics have changed over the past few years. Steve ends with detailing the significance of the sign he pays attention to and how that relates to deer movement and interest.Social LinksSherk's Guide Service – Guided Deer Hunts (sherksguideservice.com)Sherk's Guide Service - Home | FacebookSteve Sherk Jr. (@sherksguideservice) • Instagram photos and videoshttps://whitetaillandscapes.com/https://www.facebook.com/whitetaillandscapes/https://www.instagram.com/whitetail_landscapes/?hl=en

Sep 20, 2022 • 45min
Big Buck Harvest, Trail Cameras, and Hunting Strategy
In this podcast Rocky Burrus (SA Farms Management Service), Perry Battin (Drury Outdoors) and Jon Teater (Whitetail Landscapes), discuss big bucks, trail cameras and hunting strategy. Rocky details his big buck killed in August in Tennessee. Rocky breaks down the layout and how he puts the hunt together on the mature deer. Perry explains food plot concerns and the related drought, and how he and the team are combatting that on an acre by acre basis. Jon provides some examples of how his clients handle drought. Perry discusses the hunting strategy that the Drury team employs when killing does and how they plan on concentrating big bucks around their food plots.Rocky explains why he uses wise-eye trail cameras and why and the data collections software that comes with his cameras is so great. Rocky and Perry explain the number of cameras they are using on the properties they hunt and manage. Perry explains why he uses Reconyx trail cameras and what he has noticed over the years from the high-end trail camera company. Perry discusses data collection and how the work of analyzing the pictures is broken up amongst the team members. Perry, Rocky and Jon discuss the hunting strategy they consider, age class and caliber of deer they go after annually. Jon details his near-term plans and what he anticipates for his hunting season. Rocky and Perry discuss drought and water sources and where to put these on the landscape to attract deer.Social Linkshttps://www.facebook.com/safarmmanagement/https://www.instagram.com/safarmmanagementservice/?hl=enhttps://www.instagram.com/perrybattin_druryoutdoors/?hl=enhttps://www.druryoutdoors.com/https://www.plantbiologic.com/https://whitetaillandscapes.com/https://www.facebook.com/whitetaillandscapes/https://www.instagram.com/whitetail_landscapes/?hl=en

Sep 13, 2022 • 53min
How to Harvest a Big Buck Early Season
In this episode, Jon Teater (Whitetail Landscapes) and Mark Haslam (Southeast Whitetail) discuss how to harvest a big buck early season. Mark’s expertise and management strategy to improve loblolly or longleaf pine stands and approach to hunting big bucks has proven that early season hunting success can be achieved. Mark explains his early season tactics, and what areas he focuses on as it pertains to mature deer. Mark details layouts, topography and related vegetation, and food sources that are key to planning where to hunt. Mark explains why he prefers morning hunts early season and what folks are missing out on if they aren’t hunting early. Mark and Jon discuss the primary factors that go into a morning hunt and how overlooked these may be by most hunters, especially in the southern United States.Mark explains the process he goes through to evaluate deer, and the related movement. Mark discusses trail camera information and its importance. Jon discusses zones of interest as it pertains to breaking down deer movement.Mark breaks down his hunt to kill a mature buck, and considers factors such as rain, natural movement, food plot layout, thermal cover. Mark details the forest layout and how he fragments pine forest to create food and bedding thickets. Mark explains how to slow down deer on your property and how this leads to success. Mark explains agriculture food sources, food plots, and relative distances of hunting locations near these areas. Jon and Mark discuss natural food strategies, and the benefit on the landscape to the deer herd.Mark brainstorms about concepts related to measuring and evaluating antlers. Jon and Mark explain why the current method of scoring antlers is deficient. Mark and Jon end with explaining doe harvest and the importance on the landscape. Social Linkshttps://southeastwhitetail.com/https://www.instagram.com/markhaslam/?hl=enhttps://whitetaillandscapes.com/https://www.facebook.com/whitetaillandscapes/https://www.instagram.com/whitetail_landscapes/?hl=en

Sep 6, 2022 • 54min
Wildflowers, Deer, and Design
In this podcast Travis Harmon (Creative Habitat) and Jon Teater (Whitetail Landscapes) discuss the importance of ecological diversity through considering pollinator plantings. Travis explains ideal locations to emplace wildflowers on the landscape. Travis details the observation and activities that occur around these locations and how attractive plantings can be for deer. Also, wildflowers can increase the number of insects and birds that prey on these insects, like turkeys.Travis explains annual and perennial plants that should be considered and how attractant they are to deer. Jon details some cover crop options that work well to attract deer while removing pressure off wildflowers. Travis explains the intense interest of deer in sunflower planted areas, and a trick he uses to reduce deer browse. Both Travis and Jon explain the federal programs, and the potential benefits and what route they prefer to go with clients.Travis explains more on-site selection, where to start and ideal conditions to establish pollinator plantings. Travis identifies the time required to establish plantings and the related long term and short-term stance on plant selection. Travis explains the ideal times to establish plantings and consider competing plants, especially cool season grasses. Travis details the minimum equipment he uses and how he has shied away from expensive tools like a no till drill. Travis suggested the benefits of transitioning from grass to wildflowers can be great to landowners and reduce workload.Speaking Engagement:Woods & Wildlife Outdoor Show 2022 September 16 &17th, 16th 10AM-7PM, 17th 9AM-3PMLocation: NY Steam Engine Association Grounds 3349 Gehan Road Canandaigua, NY 14424Social Linkshttps://www.facebook.com/creatingwildlifehabitat/https://creativehabitatllc.com/https://www.instagram.com/creativehabitatllc/?hl=enhttps://whitetaillandscapes.com/https://www.facebook.com/whitetaillandscapes/https://www.instagram.com/whitetail_landscapes/?hl=en

Aug 30, 2022 • 49min
Water, Waterholes, Drought and Better Deer Hunting
In this podcast Todd Shippee (Empire Land Management) and Jon Teater (Whitetail Landscapes) discuss the significance of water, waterholes, drought and how to establish better tactics around deer hunting. Todd dives into the world of waterholes and Jon details the habitat side of water. Todd explains how to handle drought in your area and strategies surrounding food plots. Jon and Todd discuss the benefits of water and property layout, as well as nutritional demands of deer. Jon and Todd discuss the negatives of not buying property with water.Jon discusses the volume of water required to support food plots and Todd provides examples of how he supplements crops that lack water because of weather. Jon and Todd compare vegetation and water resources and what becomes a priority to deer, especially during hunting season. Todd details where he considers putting ponds and waterholes on his client’s properties. Todd explains other reasons deer are drawn to water sources.Todd suggests a certain type of waterhole that creates instantaneous and higher usage by deer. Todd discusses how to install a waterhole. Jon details locations he prefers to locate waterholes and why in the Eastern United States waterholes are not as big of a trend as in the Midwest or Western part of the country. Todd explains how to maintain waterholes and tricks he uses that are simple. Todd discusses adding supplements to waterholes to support deer and other animals. Todd explains putting in wildlife scrapes and a planting strategy that will be highly attractive to deer.Speaking Engagement:Woods & Wildlife Outdoor Show 2022 September 16 &17th, 16th 10AM-7PM, 17th 9AM-3PMLocation: NY Steam Engine Association Grounds 3349 Gehan Road Canandaigua, NY 14424Social Linkshttps://www.instagram.com/empirelandmgmt/?hl=enhttps://whitetaillandscapes.com/https://www.facebook.com/whitetaillandscapes/https://www.instagram.com/whitetail_landscapes/?hl=en

Aug 23, 2022 • 60min
Logging and Property Layout
In Part 2 of the logging conversation Josh Streichert (JWS Logging) and Jon Teater (Whitetail Landscapes) discuss the process and issues they experience on the job sites. Jon explains the building blocks to a successful environment, and how-to bring changes to your hunting property in a larger way. Josh explains the payment process and gets into user questions on evaluating timber quality, scaling and selling timber, stumpage prices and estimating timber volume.Josh discusses the timeframe for harvesting timber and methods he uses to sell and get the landowner the most value. Josh and Jon explain failures that they experienced in the field. Jon discusses the importance of soil, hydrology, and rutting hazards that can impact a job negatively. Josh discusses the differences in equipment and the potential side effects of various equipment options.Josh and Jon go into detail on how to set up a hunting property, while considering timber. Both explain how to implement the property plan and consider the difficulties that might be experienced when working through the process of layout and harvesting. Josh explains his process of setting up logging roads, access trails, maintenance of trails and food plot locations. Jon discusses silvicultural soil scarification and the related benefits. Josh explains how not to damage trees while transporting to the landing sites. Josh explains when to clean up the logging trails and method to evaluate tree volume.Social Linkshttps://whitetaillandscapes.com/https://www.facebook.com/whitetaillandscapes/https://www.instagram.com/whitetail_landscapes/?hl=en

Aug 16, 2022 • 48min
Logging and Timber Sales 101
In this podcast Josh Streichert (JWS Logging) and Jon Teater (Whitetail Landscapes) discuss the importance of logging on the landscape. Josh explains how he sets the bar high when it comes to his clients and how the changes on the landscape can improve deer habitat, hunting, and other woodlot considerations. Josh breaks down the key considerations to hiring a logger or forester. Jon and Josh discuss timber sales and what strategy they employ when they set up bedding areas for deer.Josh explains some basic and more in-depth strategies when it comes to client goals and what landowners need to do to establish trust when hiring a professional to cut their timber. Josh explains what landowners normally perceive as the most important aspect to hiring a logger or forester. Josh and Jon go through the steps a landowner should take to get a logger under contract and how to evaluate their own woodlot.Josh discusses what trees to cut first, and his tactic to sustain timber across a property. Josh discusses the state of the timber market and where he expects it to go in the near term. Josh explains his most preferred time to cut timber. Jon and Josh discuss the buying and payment contract options that are used and the positives and negatives to either option.Social Linkshttps://whitetaillandscapes.com/https://www.facebook.com/whitetaillandscapes/https://www.instagram.com/whitetail_landscapes/?hl=en

Aug 9, 2022 • 46min
Deer Biology and Property Layouts
In this podcast Rocky Burrus (SA Farms Management Service) and Jon Teater (Whitetail Landscapes), discuss the importance of understanding some basic and more complex topics related to deer biology and how this relates to setting up a hunting property. Rocky discusses when deer feed, how to encourage daylight movement and focused feeding times. Rocky keys in on the importance of a deer’s sense of smell and how he sets up properties. Jon discusses sociobiology and the social stress and the impact on a deer’s psychology, physical well-being, and antlers.Rocky discusses deer health and habitat considerations that are essential to supporting basic and advanced nutritional demands to improve potential. Rocky explains what to do in areas of large agriculture and what he plants on client properties to support deer and provide high value attraction. Jon and Rocky discuss late season food sources for deer and what they are emplacing in their own food plots to increase value to their deer herd.Jon discusses hinge cutting versus native shrubs and the benefits he sees from not hinge cutting in certain examples. Jon discusses anecdotal information in the northern latitudes that pertain to mature deer and predation issues. Rocky discusses how to work with local farmers around properties to sustain deer and benefit the future crop potential. Rocky and Jon discuss how to regulate deer movement with key strategies. Jon discusses biosocial factors with deer and how to understand where deer want to reside at times on the landscape. Rocky ends with how to make tactful changes to client properties that will lead to better hunting.Social Linkshttps://www.facebook.com/safarmmanagement/https://whitetaillandscapes.com/https://www.facebook.com/whitetaillandscapes/https://www.instagram.com/whitetail_landscapes/?hl=en

Aug 2, 2022 • 46min
Matching Hunting Strategy to Habitat
In this episode, Jon Teater (Whitetail Landscapes) and Jake Ehlinger (Habitat Solutions 360) discuss the matching hunting strategy and habitat. Jake discusses some of his latest techniques to reduce browse pressure on food plots. Jake discusses deer numbers across the country and on his own personal property and how he manages this issue. Jake details his recent successes on his property and what will make his client’s successful after they evoke a plan and strategy.Jake defines transition areas and their significance when designing a hunting property. Jake discusses social zones and how they are important to deer movement and his top strategy to make these areas highly productive. Jake explains early, mid and late season habitat and how that relates to specific hunting strategies he employs. Jake explains when he hunts during the day for each period of the hunting season and how tactical he is in his approach to diagnosing when to hunt deer. Jake explains when he starts hunting morning areas and what he believes are the best strategies to harvest a buck during the rut. Jake has a humble attitude and his realistic approach to putting himself in the right areas at the correct time based on the habitat has increased his sightings. Jake and Jon discuss long-term changes that can be made and how this will increase the quality of deer property and how the enhancements have paid off on the properties they both manage and own. Jake explains how his habitat has changed over time and how this has benefited his hunting, to include increasing the number of mature bucks on his property.Social Linkshttp://habitatsolutions360.com/https://www.facebook.com/HabitatSolutions360https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCetSptPTK0gmg0BE5oRnTTAhttps://whitetaillandscapes.com/https://www.facebook.com/whitetaillandscapes/https://www.instagram.com/whitetail_landscapes/?hl=en

Jul 26, 2022 • 42min
Deer Management Journey
In this podcast Jon Teater (Whitetail Landscapes) and Ryan Audet (Client) discuss the journey of owning and transforming a hunting property. Ryan is a recent client located in Vermont that has gone through the consulting and implementation process with Jon, and his journey and know-how has allowed him to transform multiple properties he manages. Jon and Ryan discuss the importance of having a vision and being empowered to make changes. Jon discusses the importance of long- or short-term objectives and setting goals that work toward an overall vision. Ryan discusses his ideas and philosophy and why he decided to hire a consultant. Jon explains why consulting is important to setting the stage to lay out a proper plan that will support goals. Ryan explains how he benefited from the onsite consulting and implementation work, and how he has taken the strategies and established his “Deer Lense” to make his small and large property turn into better future hunting property.Jon discusses the empowerment mindset and how that will lead you down the road to push yourself to make changes to your property. Jon and Ryan discuss the tools required, Ryan’s mindset and how hard work and applying it to the property has already helped. Ryan explains what changes he has seen as a result of making changes to his properties.Jon explains his Deer Lense and how to transform and level up food plots, timber and fields. Jon and Ryan explain specific strategies for both small and large hunting properties. Ryan and Jon discuss the importance of social hubs on the landscape. Jon explains how to create better bedding areas. Jon demystifies the ideas around inside versus outside hunting properties. Jon explains doe and buck bedding and why many hunters are unsure if there truly is a difference. Jon explains how YouTube related information can be more of a problem in establishing true principles to property management and design.Social Linkshttps://whitetaillandscapes.com/https://www.facebook.com/whitetaillandscapes/https://www.instagram.com/whitetail_landscapes/?hl=en