Whitetail Landscapes - Hunting & Habitat Management

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

In this podcast Kenny Kane (Generations Forestry) and Jon Teater (Whitetail Landscapes) discuss the importance of biodiversity on the landscape. Kenny provides examples of how to manage a forest stand to develop a diverse set of tree species to promote interest by deer and other mammals. Kenny explains various cutting techniques that will help support forest development to align with objectives. Kenny discusses tree species that aren’t beneficial to deer. Jon explains concerns he has had when managing properties, deer populations and the relation to invasive plants on the landscape. Kenny gives a concerning example of how non-native plants can destroy the forested property and related regeneration.Kenny ties in the best tree species to deer habitat and what plants you may want to consider keeping or putting on your landscape.  Certain trees are more beneficial from a food and economic value standpoint and can add value to the overall property. Kenny explains insect issues as it pertains to certain tree species and how biodiversity can help maintain a healthy forest setting. Jon provides examples from the field and the problems he is seeing with insect damage, fragmentation and non-native plants. Jon and Kenny talk about buying a property for hunting and key considerations they both believe make the difference.Jon and Kenny discuss climate shifting and the related impact to tree species. Jon discusses tree species that are dying and the impact on client properties. Jon discusses some techniques to improve hunting properties when insect damage is occurring. Kenny explains his technique on dealing with clear cuts, tree chipping and his overall philosophy for betterment of a property.Jon and Kenny go off and discuss hunting tactics, style and related successes afield. Jon explains his style for evaluating a deer herd and health. Kenny explains his tactics and how he approaches hunting and his setting. Both contributors’ detail specific examples that make them relate to their hunting properties and what strategies work in their settings.Social Linkshttp://new.generationsforestry.com/https://instagram.com/kenjkane?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=https://whitetaillandscapes.com/https://www.facebook.com/whitetaillandscapes/https://www.instagram.com/whitetail_landscapes/?hl=en

In this episode, Jon Teater (Whitetail Landscapes) and Perry Battin (Drury Outdoors) discuss a day in the life on the Drury Outdoors Farm. Perry discusses his daily farm manager activities on the farm and the recent projects he has been working on. Perry focuses on the wins and snags that occur when you aren’t prepared to get a job complete.Perry discusses a recent box blind build and setup. Perry explains how he makes box blind setups mobile and why he chooses to make a mobile verse a more permanent setup. Perry and Jon discuss screening options for treestand setups. Perry brings up giant miscanthus and its benefits when considering a screen for hunting purposes. Perry and Jon discuss treestand access, timing and circumstances. Perry discusses food plot planning, planting and fencing. Perry breaks down seed options to use for the upcoming planting season to establish more green food sources this fall.  Perry and Jon discuss the number of farms that are being managed by Perry and how he handles the logistics of farms over multiple counties. Perry discusses the equipment that is being used on the farms and how that tends to create difficulty when performing work. Perry discusses the largest farm that he manages and why the Drury Outdoors owners have decided against having large farms and the benefits of smaller farms. Perry explains why big equipment can be problematic and what equipment works best for his style of management based on the landscape. Jon and Perry focus on tips and tricks that will help afield. Perry ends with his top recommendations and consideration for treestand and hunting setups.Social Linkshttps://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

In this podcast Rocky Burrus from SA Farms Management Service, discusses his process to build the ultimate setup for killing deer.  We dig into what Rocky has been doing since our last podcast. Rocky travels around the southern part of the US helping clients achieve success, as an implementer he is responsible for putting clients.Rocky discusses food plot timing and recent client’s visits. Jon discusses his food plots and what he is observing this time of year. Rocky breaks down how to emplace deer in areas and further describes what he calls buck traps. Rocky works with his client to enhance natural movements and improve huntability goals on his client’s properties.  Rocky’s breaks down his process of designing and setting up hunting properties. Rocky goes through each step and how you can build a property to kill quality deer every year. Rocky dismisses the idea of nocturnal bucks. Rocky provides a specific example from a recent client visit and how his team creates bedding, food plots and controls movement into his deer traps allowing success each year. Rocky explains how to move deer into different locations and how he establishes scrape stations near treestands to create the maximum draw.  Rocky and Jon discuss having the correct amount of cover and Rocky focuses on the use of hinge cutting to develop precision bedding.Social Linkshttps://www.facebook.com/safarmmanagement/https://whitetaillandscapes.com/https://www.facebook.com/whitetaillandscapes/https://www.instagram.com/whitetail_landscapes/?hl=en

In this podcast Tim Russell (Green Fire Forestry & Wildlife Services) and Jon Teater (Whitetail Landscapes) discuss the importance of understory vegetation management. Tim details a recent client visit and understory strategy he employs to help improve deer use. Tim explains the importance of light and how to manage that across the varying levels of forest infrastructure. Both contributors discuss plants deer eat.Tim and Jon discuss the process of evaluating the understory and the best perspective to allow the correct amount of light to the forest floor to improve cover and food. Tim discusses his method to evaluate the density of trees and the proper technique to ensure that landowners understand how to look past the number of trees per acre. Jon provides some suggestive basal area measurements that may be helpful for significant understory improvement and regeneration. Tim explains the concerns he dealt with on a client visit and how the client is shifting his focus to improving overstory and understory plants.    Tim explains what to do first before cutting any trees. Both contributors discuss plant use and replacement and the benefits to deer or other animals. Tim discusses the impact of legacy effects from deer and how that can alter the resulting forest. Jon discusses strategy to increase understory value for deer. Tim explains a concept called timber pimping and how not to be taken advantage by someone that may want to devalue your timber. Social LinksGreen Fire Forestry & Wildlife Services, LLChttps://whitetaillandscapes.com/https://www.facebook.com/whitetaillandscapes/https://www.instagram.com/whitetail_landscapes/?hl=en

In this podcast Todd Shippee (Empire Land Management) and Jon Teater (Whitetail Landscapes) dive into mentors, industry consultants, herbicides and waterholes. Todd explains the importance of dilution rates and how appropriate methods of chemical and water usage will benefit applications afield. Todd provides specific herbicides for a problem that Jon has on his property and how he attacks grass competition.Todd discusses the individuals he values in the industry and how he explored mentorship. Jon explains the value and perspective in providing consulting information and what he tries to take from the information that’s available publicly. Todd and Jon both discuss YouTube misinformation and those that publish material on YouTube, as well as its usefulness to land managers.Jon discusses being a better land manager and how he approaches his clients nowadays to ensure they get the most out of a consulting visit. Todd discusses the challenges he has endured as a consultant and his business strategy and model as it relates to Empire Land Management. Jon explains the paradigm shift he is trying to promote with clients and how he views success. Both contributors discuss their process to success and what to do to shift your property to being more productive.Todd and Jon discuss waterhole strategies. Todd explains where to emplace waterholes and the benefits to the deer. Todd details how he is using waterholes to funnel animals and get easier shots on deer. Todd identifies the number one reason why to have waterholes and if more waterholes are better.Social Linkshttps://www.instagram.com/empirelandmgmt/?hl=enhttps://whitetaillandscapes.com/https://www.facebook.com/whitetaillandscapes/https://www.instagram.com/whitetail_landscapes/?hl=en

In this episode, Jon Teater (Whitetail Landscapes) and Steve Sherk (Sherk’s Guide Service) discuss summer scouting for big bucks. Steve discusses the importance of summer scouting and Jon details food sources that attract deer. Jon identifies cover and food sources combined and the related benefits and usage. Steve explains the importance of areas that have heavy timber cuts and why he focuses on these locations.  Steve explains his process of inventorying deer in the summer months and why he values this information. Jon identifies how some properties are more conducive to attracting deer in the summer months and how to make a property more attractive to deer throughout the summer and fall. Steve and Jon discuss the cover that is used by deer in the summer months. Both contributors explain specific considerations such as usage and accessibility, and how this information explains how deer value certain habitat.  Steve explains where to put trail cameras, and how he creates interest at specific locations to help inventory deer. Steve explains options for scrapes and minerals and why these are important tools for surveying. Steve discusses how often he checks trail cameras and the importance of evaluating the trail camera data to understand more about deer and their landscape usage. Jon gets into his process for creating a positive environment for deer and how this technique can lead to a good outcome when you enter the property and the concerns some may have with disturbing deer.Steve and Jon talk about why they monitor certain areas in the summer months for deer usage. Further, monitoring tools such as cellular cameras are discussed in detail. Jon explains what will be discussed in the future and how both contributors have their eyes on certain bucks they plan on breaking down in future episodes.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

In this podcast Mitchell Shirk (Pennsylvania Woodsman Podcast) and Jon Teater (Whitetail Landscapes) discuss herbicide application for food plots. The discussion includes thinking about the actual return on investment of planting a food plot. Corn and Soybean management, related herbicides and how and when to handle certain unwanted weeds.Mitchell explains if herbicides work. Also, Mitchell explains the proper herbicides for numerous plants to include clover and chicory. Both contributors’ breakdown pre and post emergent herbicides and the related benefits and plant-back periods. Jon details what he has in his backpack sprayer when he’s afield.Mitchell and Jon discuss more complex food plots. Jon details roller crimping and throw and go regimes he has been applying for years. Mitchell discusses the mechanical controls you might consider, and what winter hardy plants and related biomass concerns he deals with on rotations. Mitchell ends with a great example of how to manage a soybean food plots and what herbicides to use.     Social Linkshttps://sportsmensempire.com/network/pennsylvania-woodsmanhttps://fwf.tennessee.edu/craig-harper/https://whitetaillandscapes.com/https://www.facebook.com/whitetaillandscapes/https://www.instagram.com/whitetail_landscapes/?hl=en

In Part 2 of the deer population podcast discussion Moriah Boggess (Deer Biologist, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission) and Jon Teater (Whitetail Landscapes) explain population monitoring.  Moriah explains the methods that he and others can use as a land manager to monitor deer populations. Other details such as woodlot and food plot browse surveys are explained. There are several key indices that help establish a foundation of knowledge for the deer living on your property and the related habitat that supports them.  Moriah discussesMoriah describes the biological factors that can be used on properties and how monitoring these measurements will help provide more insight into the deer living on your property. Other discussions on a property’s carry capacity, population census data, and quality improvements that may increase deer on your property are considered. Moriah and Jon discuss rules of thumb for taking deer on your property, that will get you ahead of the curve to ensure the populations remain in check. Moriah discusses aging deer and the factors and errors that are important to consider when evaluating the deer that are harvested.  Social Links https://www.instagram.com/moriah_biologist/?hl=enhttps://whitetaillandscapes.com/https://www.facebook.com/whitetaillandscapes/https://www.instagram.com/whitetail_landscapes/?hl=en

In this podcast Moriah Boggess (Deer Biologist, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission) and Jon Teater (Whitetail Landscapes) discuss considerations and the science behind deer populations and density dependence. Moriah explains how to sustain a robust, quality deer herd. The importance of deer density dependence is critical to the planning and management of a  herd. Moriah explains density dependence and both contributors discuss landscape carrying capacity and related population dynamics.Moriah explains what occurs when deer populations are too high. Moriah breaks down habitat quality in multiple scenarios and how certain areas are better situated to support deer populations. Moriah and Jon discuss ways to help improve your property when deer populations are too high. Moriah discusses stress periods in the north and south and how impactful those are on the deer we are trying to support with our management tactics.Moriah explains how to increase your carry capacity for deer. Additionally, discussions on maximizing and optimizing deer numbers to support hunting properties are broken down further. Moriah provides some rules to consider to increase buck quality and how a biologist evaluates a quality buck. Moriah and Jon end with maintaining appropriate densities and understanding dependence based on the landscape types, nutrition, epigenetics and diseases that impact the deer we are trying to support. Moriah explains the impacts of habitat and other conditions that affect fawn recruitment.Social Linkshttps://www.instagram.com/moriah_biologist/?hl=enhttps://whitetaillandscapes.com/https://www.facebook.com/whitetaillandscapes/https://www.instagram.com/whitetail_landscapes/?hl=en