Whitetail Landscapes - Hunting & Habitat Management

In this episode, Jon Teater (Whitetail Landscapes) explains how to perform a site assessment on a hunting property. Jon dialogues on the key attributes and features that will reshape the way you evaluate land and features to better purchase and enhance your hunting property. Jon provides a new method of assessment that simplifies the process of determining if a property is right and what not to do when buying a property. Jon provides insight into his own land buying journey and what he believes are better ways to evaluate land use and neighboring properties. Jon finishes with discussion on how to identify weakness in a land purchase before it is too late and why conventional thought around bargain properties isn’t always the correct.Social Linkshttps://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 planting season, rain, planting corn and beans. Perry discusses a new liquid fertilizer system that is advancing their corn plants. Perry explains the equipment that supports planta recent harvest and how the layout of the property led to success. Perry discusses new products like Reax, Altura, Riser and Biologic products like Mean Green to help plants develop.Perry and Jon discuss Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), fire on the landscape, non-native plants, summer burns. Perry discusses cattle grazing, fencing issues and responsibilities of landowners handling issues with cattle in the Midwest. Perry discusses more about no till drills and what equipment they are using this year.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=enDruryOutdoors - YouTubehttps://getgrowingwithnutrien.ag/https://www.agspray.com/https://www.ph-outdoors.com/g-series-no-till-drill-1

In this episode, Jon Teater (Whitetail Landscapes) and Kenny Kane (Generations Forestry) discuss forest management strategies and land improvement. Kenny explains a recent mountain day event and active management on a client property. Kenny answers questions on managing various tree species such as beech, maple, oak, and cutting techniques like shelterwood and clearcut.  Kenny explains balancing economics and good forest management. Kenny discusses both short term and long-term decisions in the woods that lead to better deer habitat.Jon and Kenny talk about a shift in the landowners’ mindsets, now many are investing into the property and different approaches and goals that are considered nowadays than years ago. Jon and Kenny talk about evaluating woodlots and ensuring the forest is not mismanaged.  Jon discusses herbicide treatments. Kenny and Jon discuss land fragmentation, building connections amongst improvements and ensuring the properties have various management prescriptions.  Kenny discusses non-native plants, insects, and treatment options. Kenny discusses beech tree management and recent updates. Jon and Kenny discuss balancing goals when thinking through each improvement, forest regeneration and what tree species should be maintained across the landscape for deer.Social Linkshttps://whitetaillandscapes.com/https://www.facebook.com/whitetaillandscapes/https://www.instagram.com/whitetail_landscapes/?hl=enHome - Generations ForestryKenny Kane (@kenjkane) • Instagram photos and videos

In this podcast, Jon Teater (Whitetail Landscapes) and Tim Russell (Green Fire Forestry & Wildlife Services) discuss when to hire a forester and the important considerations that are essential when considering goals for timber and supporting quality habitat. Tim discusses goals on revenue from timber, residual trees, desired future condition, and misses many foresters make. Tim discusses the importance of future timber and to not get lost in consultants that dissuade landowners from doing the right thing. Tim and Jon discuss habitat practices, improved deer hunting, fawn drop and survival and the importance of a quality forest management and habitat plan.  Social Linkshttps://whitetaillandscapes.com/https://www.facebook.com/whitetaillandscapes/https://www.instagram.com/whitetail_landscapes/?hl=enGreen Fire Forestry & Wildlife Services, LLC

In this episode, Jon Teater (Whitetail Landscapes), Steve Sherk (Sherk’s Guide Service) discuss summer activities that will lead to better options for mature buck harvest success.  Steve explains why it's critical to scout now to ensure hunting season is productive. Steve discusses the importance of mock scrapes, where to put scrapes and how to scout new areas. Steve explains specific locations that deer will socialize and what deer prefer through the summer months and into deer hunting season.Jon discusses the importance of evaluating high stem count areas, what they mean to the deer and as hunters and how to discern good quality habitat and cover based on high stem count areas. Steve details the importance of location with scrape locations and how to identify locations in the summer months. Steve perfects certain aspects of the slope that will drive interest throughout the summer. Steve discusses travel corridors and pinch points and the importance during summer scouting.Steve explains timing of scrapes and when he prefers to start scrapes and why if you are starting scrapes late in the summer you may be missing out on interest come hunting season. Steve discusses urinating in scrapes and what he prefers when setting up a mock location. Steve explains the importance of having noticeable scrapes and enhancing the visual aspect of scrapes.Steve and Jon discuss how deer disperse and understand how deer move around as they transition to hardened antlers. Steve explains the importance of finding low pressure locations and locations that have high interspersion indexes with better habitat.Steve discusses big mistakes that he must overcome that will allow for a better upcoming hunting season. 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 episode, Jon Teater (Whitetail Landscapes) and Mark Haslam (Southeast Whitetail) discuss upcoming land management strategies for handling high deer populations. Mark explains the importance of evaluating food and health status of deer post-harvest and comparing that data to local information. Mark discusses fawn recruitment in high deer populations and factors that he uses on his property to support deer on his farm.Mark discusses tactics to maintain deer populations and relative food in densities over 150 deer per square mile. Mark explains the importance of food plots and a strategy that plays off neighboring agriculture crop production. Mark details local crops and his tactics to promote interest on his property to ensure deer remain interested on hunting property. Mark discusses hunting tactics around mature bucks.Mark explains when to take does, what age class he prefers and his tactics around shooting does early and often. Mark discusses what locations to take deer to ensure hunting locations are not impacted during the rut. Mark and Jon discuss food value and the decisions around when to take deer to ensure food remains adequate.Mark discusses tactics to improve deer habitat and related food. Mark explains how to manage open ground with fire, native plants, and discing options. Mark suggests new ways to protect food plots and how to reduce deer herbivory. Mark explains field management techniques and what plants originate in these areas and how to ensure deer remain interested year after year. Mark discusses planting soybeans and relative size of food plots with a high deer population. Mark discusses food plot mixes for high deer populations when landowners lack open spaces. Mark explains his interest in sun hemp and how to plant sun hemp so a hunter can see deer and receive the food benefit.  Mark discusses fall/winter food plots that support deer through spring and support other species. Mark discusses options for those that can't do timber stand improvement or burning on the landscape. Social Linkshttps://whitetaillandscapes.com/https://www.facebook.com/whitetaillandscapes/https://www.instagram.com/whitetail_landscapes/?hl=enSoutheast Whitetail – Habitat, Conservation & VenisonSoutheast Whitetail (@southeast.whitetail) • Instagram photos and videoshttps://sportsmensempire.com/podcasts/the-southern-way

In this episode, Jon Teater (Whitetail Landscapes) and Tom Biebighauser (Wetland Restoration and Training) discuss the importance of wetlands and restoring our properties with better management tactics. Tom has developed highly successful and inexpensive techniques for restoring wetlands and streams that should last forever without maintenance. He cautions against using berms, dams, dikes, levees, weirs, diversions, pipes, pumps, water control structures, or wells that all require frequent and expensive maintenance. Having built over 1,400 dams he has since decommissioned over 300 dams and impoundments, restoring natural valleys in the process.Tom explains the benefits of wetlands and wet areas for deer and how we can better utilize these areas to enhance our hunting properties. Tom explains the benefits to deer, why deer need wet areas and the health benefits to deer. Tom explains how to build a wetland, taking a soil test, and how deep you need to dig to understand the right amount of clay to get the areas to support all season water. Tom explains the importance of groundwater in certain areas to establish wetlands. Tom explains site selection for creating wetlands. Tom explains in many instances why creating channels, ditches are not necessary to maintain water within these wetland areas.Tom details how to establish wetlands in dry areas to techniques that can support wetlands during droughts. Tom explains the rare species that come to wetlands and how to better the ecology and related predators within the food chain. Tom explains why plastic water holes are unhealthy and how these are impacting the areas so negative. Tom explains why midges and mosquitoes come to exist in wetlands and how to reduce the volume of certain insects on the landscapes.Tom explains the benefit of building wetlands with woody debris. Also, using natural large boulders and other rocks to ensure there is diversity of structure in and around wetlands. Tom explains the benefits of planting trees in wetlands and how to manage cattails in these areas. Tom explains water fluctuations and how to reduce non-native plants in wetlands. Tom details native plants that are ideal in wet areas and benefit wildlife. Tom explains the method to create a technique of creating uneven ground establishing more diversity. Tom explains why dams do not work, flooding, muskrats, and beavers are the demise of dams. Tom explains the top plant that deer eat in wetlands. Social Linkshttps://whitetaillandscapes.com/https://www.facebook.com/whitetaillandscapes/https://www.instagram.com/whitetail_landscapes/?hl=enTom Biebighauser - Wetland Restoration & Training (wetlandrestorationandtraining.com)

In this episode, Jon Teater (Whitetail Landscapes) and Albert Tomechko (Vitalize Seed) discuss the importance of soil health and an equation that will lead to bigger deer. Albert discusses the issues with soil samples and the benefit of the soil probe, taking gps coordinates, and being consistent when taking soil samples. Albert and Jon discuss soil report cards, land use, infiltration.Al and Jon discuss a client’s soil test and evaluates CEC, magnesium, calcium, pH. Al gets into the details of what amendments to use, like dolomitic lime.  Al explains base saturations, and Jon discusses amendment toxicity. Al breaks down options for low potassium levels that are low and Jon explains some natural ways to remedy soils. Al and Jon discuss micronutrients and how to benefit plants and create more attraction for deer. Jon discusses ways to increase protein levels within adequate levels of molybdenum.  Al and Jon discuss food plots, why corn and soybeans are not always the best option for clients and think independently from traditional ways that don’t necessarily align with the climatic conditions and actual deer demands. Jon discusses increasing biomass and more food for deer on his client properties.Social Linkshttps://whitetaillandscapes.com/https://www.facebook.com/whitetaillandscapes/https://www.instagram.com/whitetail_landscapes/?hl=enHome | Vitalize Seed Company

In this episode, Jon Teater (Whitetail Landscapes) and Travis Harmon (Creative Habitat) discuss a project of restarting an area for pollinator blends and the individual steps that a landowner can take when thinking through the process of establishing flowering plant species. Travis explains the importance of understanding when nature drops seeds and trying to replicate seed drop times to align with planting processes. Travis explains a better way to develop a pollinator blend and utilizes his nursery to expand and provide better plants to his clients. Travis discusses rooting hormones to support better plant development.Jon discusses an ancient technique to help better propagate plants across hunting properties. Jon discusses easy ways that support an increase in raspberries, blackberries, red osier dogwood. Travis discusses other ways to develop plants and ideas around developing better plants that have higher survival. Jon and Travis explain the benefit of using fabric to reduce weed competition andTravis explains his new property and activities around enhancing each area and ways to make changes on a new hunting property. Travis details current federal programs, and improvements surrounding upland birds, Wetland Reserve Program (WRP), and row tree planting. Travis breaks down his new property and areas that are problematic and plants like cattails, and limitations related to the WRP program that are impactful. Travis details the steps of adding fruit trees, food plots, tree plantings. Travis discusses removing cottonwood trees and cattails. Travis discusses turning a property around that has very few deer.  Travis goes through the steps of removing cottonwood, and why it's necessary to reduce species that over compete other preferred plants. Travis explains mistakes he has made with removing trees and what chemicals work best when removing certain tree species. Travis discusses designing a property around fire and how if its not done properly it can limit your ability to maintain a property. Travis discusses wetlands, the importance of removing non-preferred plants to support an increase in duck interest and feeding. Jon discusses beaver areas and the related benefits after these animals disband these areas. Travis explains the importance of emergent wetlands and overlooked plants in these areas. Travis and Jon discuss tree plantings and replacement plants for cottonwoods, such as chokecherry, dogwoods, elderberry. Social Linkshttps://whitetaillandscapes.com/https://www.facebook.com/whitetaillandscapes/https://www.instagram.com/whitetail_landscapes/?hl=enhttps://www.facebook.com/creatingwildlifehabitat/http://creativehabitatllc.com/https://www.instagram.com/creativehabitatllc/?hl=en

In this episode, Jon Teater (Whitetail Landscapes) and Todd Shippee (Empire Land Management), discuss upcoming projects. Todd discusses ways to restart areas that are not productive and uses a leaf blower to address leaf litter and resident debris. Todd explains the use of a seed blowing tool https://extremeblowerproducts.com/ that provides an option for quickly adding in clover, switchgrass, etc. to an area. Todd explains ways to decrease pressure on regenerating woody material. Todd explains methods of cutting, the importance of basswood. Jon and Todd discuss removing trees, hinge cutting, felling trees, using treetops as fencing.Todd explains his preferred oak trees to plant on client properties. Todd discusses his favorite conifer tree and methods of planting that support hunting and better deer movement. Todd explains converting an agriculture field for habitat, putting in tamaracks, burning reed canary grass and leveraging native plants to enhance deer interest. Todd discusses taking land out of agriculture production, and the ways to work with farmers to ensure relationships remain intact and tax considerations.Todd explains using fire to ensure that wet areas become more productive and ideal conditions to burn. Todd details building bedding areas and tree species to consider when heeling in bedrooms. Todd details precisely how to build humps and hammocks in wetland and conifers and deciduous trees to introduce. Todd and Jon discuss developing nurseries on the properties for supporting plant needs and other techniques to promote more plants. Jon discusses beavers and wetland areas and related enhancements.  Todd discusses travel corridors, shaped bedding areas, and extreme work activities that will yield better hunting.Social Linkshttps://whitetaillandscapes.com/https://www.facebook.com/whitetaillandscapes/https://www.instagram.com/whitetail_landscapes/?hl=enEmpire Land Management (@empirelandmgmt) • Instagram photos and videosWhitetail Institute - Food Plots - Deer Food Plot Seeds - Soil Testinghttps://extremeblowerproducts.com/