Managing the ground you own or hunt is so much more than planting food plots. There are TONS of different habitat management techniques deer hunters can use to restore the native habitat and in return, create a desirable environment for the animals that use the landscape. Every property is different and the management techniques needed to improve the overall habitat and hunting opportunities can vary from region to region and even property to property. In this blog, Land and Legacy Habitat Consultant, Brady Bradley, will give useful tips and tactics to use throughout the year to help you improve your ground. 

Winter

Winter is a great time to kick off your habitat goals for the year. Most hunting seasons are over or winding down and our thoughts turn to what we can do to improve our odds for next season. Whether you had a successful season or not, there is always room for improvement. Here are a few practices that you might consider for your property next winter.

• Prepare firebreaks
• Dormant season prescribed fire
• Timber harvesting
• Timber stand improvement (TSI)
• Spray cool season non-native grasses before native plants green-up
• Create bedding thickets
• Plant native warm season grasses (NWSG)/pollinator mixes
• Establish wildlife water holes
• Fertilize spring/summer plots
• Frost seed 

Spring

When spring finally arrives it’s hard to stay inside. The warmer days and hint of green on the landscape reminds us of everything we have to get done. Hopefully if you worked your tail off during the winter months then your to do list shouldn’t be a mile long. I always enjoy seeing how specific areas that saw extensive management during the winter months, react to the new growing conditions when the time is right. Here are a few practices that you might consider for your property next spring.  

• Early spring burn to control non-natives
• Spray non-native plants
• SI (late spring)
• Timber harvesting (weather permitting)
• Create bedding thickets
• Mow NWSG and pollinator plantings as needed 
• Plant spring/summer plots 
• Establish wildlife water holes

Summer

If you’re like me, summer is not your friend, but that doesn’t mean there is no work to be completed. There are plenty of projects to be completed during the summer months to ensure the success of your property and upcoming hunting season. Here are a few practices that you might consider for your property this summer.

• Growing season fire
• TSI
• Timber harvesting 
• Spray non-native plants
• Create bedding thickets 
• Mow NWSG and pollinator plantings as needed
• Create new food plot locations
• New roads
• Mow existing roads if needed
• Fertilize/plant fall plots mid-late summer

Fall

Fall is a time when we get to sit back and enjoy the fruits of our labor. Whether it be harvesting our #1 buck or just seeing how the wildlife utilize our property after the months of hard work we poured into it. We can rest easy knowing that the time we spent improving our property did not go unnoticed. The wildlife that utilize your farm will benefit from the work you completed. So during this season, yes there is work to be done, but don’t stress as much if it gets pushed to another day. Take the time to enjoy your property from the stand. 

• Spray non-native cool season grasses after 1-2 hard frosts
• TSI
• Timber harvesting
• Shoot a booner!

Seeking help?

“Habitat Consultants” seem to be popping up daily in the hunting industry. I get it, who wouldn’t want to talk about hunting and habitat all day everyday. When choosing the right consultant for your property it is important to first understand your goals. Are you just wanting someone to show you how to plant a food plot or tell you where to hunt? Or are you wanting someone to help you improve every aspect of your property? From the timber, to the pastures, to the tillable acres, a true habitat consultant will help you improve every acre of your property. If this is what you’re wanting then don’t settle for any ‘ol habitat consultant. Do your homework and interview your consultants before choosing one. Here is a list of questions to start off with.

• What experience do you have with forestry, crops, pasture ground, etc?
• How long have you been consulting?
• Do you like to hunt?
• What are your clients saying?
• Have you ever consulted in my area before?
• What resources can I expect from you after the consultation?
• What type of consultation packages do you offer?

There’s something to be done in every season. Don’t sleep on the work and you’ll reap the benefits this Fall.