Discover effective wildlife conservation strategies beyond the usual food plots, as we explore the intriguing world of property management for deer hunting and turkey conservation, with an emphasis on innovative practices like fire prescriptions and timber stand improvement.
For decades hunters have focused on food plots as the source of attraction for deer and other wildlife on their properties. Despite being such a small part of the overall property, hunters will spend more time planning around this one aspect rather than the other 90% percent of the property where the gains are truly made.
I get it, food plots are fun. Throwing seed out on the ground and watching deer and turkeys consume the resulting vegetation as part of the hard work put in months later is awesome. It gives us all the warm fuzzies to see wildlife taking advantage of our good stewardship. The reality is however, that huge strides on your property in regards to deer nutrition will not be made in that food plot alone. The average hunter has one or maybe a couple of food plots usually an acre or less and those are typically only planted for the fall. Those plots do not provide adequate tonnage to really benefit a deer. To some of you, I realize I am preaching to the choir. This article is more geared towards folks that haven’t yet come to realize that gimmicky seed blends are not the ticket to that big buck you’re after.
Odd Areas
Most all properties unless extensively managed will have what I call, odd areas. These are areas where there is little to no wildlife benefit, but could provide some with a little elbow grease. Imagine an internal road going through a property that currently only has fescue growing alongside it. Consider how simply eliminating the fescue with a broad spectrum herbicide and allowing the native species in the seedbank to germinate can provide great cover for turkey poults and some additional browse for the deer herd. Do you currently have a bit of open ground or pasture you simply can’t help but mow? If this sounds like you, then you may need to visit your doctor and see if you have an illness I have heard Dr. Craig Harper refer to as recreational mower disease. In short, lay off the bush hogging. Not every square inch of your property must be neatly manicured. Unless you’re making significant income from hay production (unlikely) then convert that hay field into a beautiful array of annual wildflowers, forbs, and herbaceous plants by disking and burning. Not only will it look much prettier than that boring ol’ fescue, but you’ll likely have more critters visit as well. This is an over-simple synopsis, but you get the gist and the deer and turkey that call your farm home will thank you.
Fire
Prescribed fire seems to have become a trendy management tool as of late, and I for one am really happy about that. The more fire we get on the landscape the better. Aside from making for some cool instagram photos, fire is probably the most cost-effective management tool we have and it’s wildly beneficial. Depending on the time of year, fire can be used to “reset” an area back to an early successional state, topkill softwood species that provide little wildlife value, and add a better forb component which benefits all species, especially turkey and quail. One easily recognizable benefit of the increased forage fire produces is the ability of the land to hold more deer and turkey. Who wouldn’t want that? Fire is highly encouraged by biologists and land consultants alike, but only under the right conditions. Before beginning, you should always reach out to your local forestry department or NRCS office to help get a plan in place. Fire is best approached similar to how you should treat a loaded gun. Revered, not feared.
Timber Stand Improvement
This buzzword is floating around deer management circles at a high frequency as of late, and for good reason. In layman's terms, timber stand improvement (TSI for short) is the practice of removing non desirable trees to make room for the ones you do want. It can also mean opening the canopy to let more sunlight hit the forest floor thereby gaining more food and cover at ground level. Most folks immediately think of hinge cutting when they hear TSI. The truth is that without proper planning, most hinge cuts are so poorly executed that you would be better off removing the tree entirely. If not done properly, you could accidentally cut desirable trees such as white oaks that would have been dropping mast for your deer this fall, or end up with such a tangled mess that no deer would dare walk through it. Be forewarned when you open the canopy up, the beneficial natives won’t be the only species trying to burst forth. Invasive species will also rear their ugly head and you’d better be prepared to take action immediately or you’ll be going backwards not forwards. Again, consult with a local forester or NRCS office to get some professional guidance.
The common trend I see among these topics is that the most beneficial things for the creatures that call your land home, can’t be bought on the shelf at your local sporting goods store. As the old saying goes, “nothing worth having comes easy.” Spend more time on other areas of your farm this year and see if it doesn’t pay big dividends. Besides, without the habitat to keep the animals around, none of them will want to come visit your dinky food plot anyway. All jokes aside, I’m not saying there is anything wrong with planting food plots, but I am saying your time could be better spent on projects that would have a much bigger impact on your hunting and the local deer and turkeys overall. Also, don’t feel like this is something you have to take on all at once. Start small. Pick a small area of your farm to experiment with some of the techniques listed above. Secondly, assess how the wildlife are responding to it. If it’s positive then keep going. If it’s negative, then change course. There is no need to over complicate it, and this really should be fun and rewarding overall. This article was written to give a bird’s eye view of projects you can do on your property. When it comes time to execute the plan, reach out to a professional such as a biologist, forester, or a land consultant. Many of these folks share the same passions as you and are driven by your success.
"My love for the outdoors began on a bluegill pond. My father was showing me the ropes before I was even old enough to remember. My father recognized my passion for the outdoors and nurtured it, which ultimately led me into hunting big game, small game, waterfowl, and pursuing adventures outside my home state of Tennessee. My genuine passion for the outdoors and first-hand knowledge of land ownership made me a natural fit for Whitetail Properties Real Estate, where I serve folks in attaining their dreams of becoming a land owner themselves. I am also a certified level two deer steward through the National Deer Association. Above all, I desire to be a better follower of Jesus, and steward wisely the gifts He has given me. That includes my beautiful bride and my 2 wonderful children."
- Jordan Couch
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