Land & Legacy - Habitat + Hunting
722 episodes - English - Latest episode: 3 days ago - ★★★★★ - 197 ratingsThe Land & Legacy podcast brings expert advice each week on everything from habitat management, hunting, and recreational land investments. We unpack real world scenarios that we experience through consulting across the country to help you become a more productive landowner and hunter. If you own land, this is the podcast for you!
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Episodes
Turkey Management 301
April 28, 2020 23:59 - 1 hour - 67.6 MBHere it is, all you need to know about turkey management. Do you have turkeys on your property now? Do you want turkeys? Download this podcast and apply these techniques to the property you hunt to create more habitat for the wild turkey. Turkeys are diverse so therefore they need lots of different plant communities on the landscape to persist. The expansive diet of the wild turkey is a great reminder of just how diverse the habitat needs to be. Turkeys need to have grasses, forbs, insects...
Spring Turkey Success Part 2
April 28, 2020 00:23 - 1 hour - 72 MBWhat an unreal first week of the spring turkey season for the Land & Legacy team in southern Missouri. Opening day was a huge success for Matt and Seth Harker. Two birds were down just as we planned in Part 1 of this podcast series. On the other hand, Adam and Chad Keith struggled during the first day, but made a strong showing on the second day of the season when they tagged two mid-day gobblers. Each turkey hunt was unique in its own way and we share the breakdown of those hunts on this ...
Are You a Producer or a Consumer?
April 21, 2020 02:32 - 1 hour - 58.3 MBHere we go! This podcast topic has been brewing for several weeks. In essence, the podcast is simply produced to get people thinking about pulling the trigger. We have spent several years discussing all the things it takes to fall into place for turkeys, quail, and deer to be produced. This is not just a simple phenomenon that we have huntable populations. When habitat in most of the country is rapidly declining, we have to recruit more producers than we currently have. This podcast is hea...
Turkey Opener: Planning and Strategy Pt. 1
April 21, 2020 00:37 - 57 minutes - 52.6 MBAnticipation is at an all-time high this week. Here in Missouri, the spring turkey season has now opened. This week's podcast is special as you will hear from two different groups of Land & Legacy hunters hitting the turkey woods. This Part 1 podcast is focused around the scouting, land management, and hunting strategy leading into the opener of turkey season. One team will consist of Seth Harker, Trace Harker and Matt Dye, while in an adjoining county, Adam Keith and Chad Keith will be jo...
The Future of Land Management - Wildlife CO-OPS
April 14, 2020 03:00 - 1 hour - 70.3 MBAs this crazy world we live in continues to evolve, so does conservation. With the continual increase of land values across the country, it is becoming more difficult for landowners to hold larger tracts of land devoted to wildlife and conservation. More and more we are seeing recreational focused properties decrease in size. With the decrease in the average size of land parcels, it is more difficult to have larger blocks or areas where habitat is very segmented. It is common to have pocket...
Youth Hunting - The Difference Between Boys and Girls
April 14, 2020 03:00 - 40 minutes - 36.7 MBIt might be every dad's dream who grew up hunting to think of the day that he gets to introduce his kids to hunting. A passing of the torch, or a deep rooted heritage belief that this is what our family does. But, as many Dads will likely tell you, that's not always how it happens. During this recent Missouri Youth Turkey season, our good friend Seth Harker got the experience of the fun differences of taking a son and taking a daughter. With patience and humor Seth was able to have an excit...
Let the Food Plot Planting Begin
April 07, 2020 02:36 - 1 hour - 72.1 MBIt's that time again when the food plot planting questions start all over. Food plot planting is just around the corner and we are ready for it, are you? This week, we discuss the common food plot questions we receive as well as the most popular misunderstandings when it comes to planting food plot varieties. It seems as if people only want to plant a monoculture of soybeans for food during the summer and winter, however often times, that cannot occur due to over browsing, but year after y...
We Are Losing Quail Habitat at Alarming Rates
April 07, 2020 02:05 - 53 minutes - 48.7 MBOn this week's podcast, Matt and Frank discuss the recent trends in bobwhite quail numbers. This podcast should wake you up! Not with excitement, but with a cause to care. Although quail are still found in decent numbers across some portions of their historic ranges, vast amounts of the range are quite each summer. There are no more whistles occurring. Pennsylvania has even considered the bobwhite quail extirpated from the state. Why is no one doing anything about this? Land & Legacy is no...
You think CRP is Good? Just Wait!
March 31, 2020 02:25 - 57 minutes - 52.9 MBWhat does CRP mean to you? Do you think of dense tree plantings or a mix of warm-season grasses among a vast number of tillable acres? Did you know this program was initiated to reduce erosion and improve water quality? You can learn this and much more about the ways to improve CRP land for various wildlife species during this week's podcast. The role that CRP has played over the years has drastically improved the number of acres available for upland bird species to reproduce. The wide var...
What Makes a Larger Impact? Managing Coyotes or Antlerless Deer
March 31, 2020 01:27 - 1 hour - 68.6 MBWell, sit back and get ready for a debate. This week is full of science, hard data, and truth about managing for a bigger impact. Our goal here is to provide information that will allow landowners to accomplish their goals the quickest and to educate them along the way. So why not debate two hot topics and see which one science will reveal as the most impactful. For years, hunters or deer managers have been trying to better understand the coyote and how they impact deer populations. Withou...
The Importance of Nesting Cover for Turkeys and Quail
March 24, 2020 03:00 - 47 minutes - 43.3 MBRecently we sat down with some of the top Wild Turkey Biologists in the country who are studying the decline of turkey populations through the South and Southeast. We're taking another look into some of the biggest factors causing unsuccessful nests when we chat with our very own Kyle Hedges. You may have heard that Turkey and Quail can have multiple nests a year if the first one fails, but have you ever considered why it's important to try and create a landscape where the first nest is su...
Don't Use Whitetail Deer As Your Habitat Meter
March 24, 2020 03:00 - 1 hour - 59.6 MBDuring this week's podcast, we are self- quarantined in separate offices as we record but we keep bringing the heat on land management information. This spring has been a blur and we have many new and exciting projects that we have been working on across the country. We review a few quick highlights from recent consultations in Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, and Georgia. In addition, we discuss why things such as age class, antler size, and quantity of deer may not be the best gauge for hab...
Friends, Films, and Coffee with Nathaniel Maddux
March 17, 2020 01:40 - 57 minutes - 52.5 MBOver the course of building Land & Legacy, Nathaniel Maddux has seemed to stay in the shadows, despite his immense support in the mission. Nathaniel is the owner of Slate & Glass Productions which creates documentaries and films for brands and individuals looking to share their stories. Nathaniel and his wife also own Niangua Coffee, which is based out of SW Missouri. To share this new adventure for Nathaniel and his wife, we invited him to join us on the podcast to discuss his life as a C...
How To Increase Usable Space for Whitetail Deer
March 17, 2020 01:10 - 53 minutes - 49.3 MBIf you missed the QDMA Whitetail Weekend, we give you a taste of what the seminars and educational opportunities are present at the event. Every year, we speak at this event to help educate people on how to increase the value of their property for whitetail deer. This year, we presented on the reasons and value of managing the natural resources for whitetail deer. First, we define what usable space is for whitetail deer. What is required to keep deer on a property throughout the entire yea...
Non-Native Invasive Species Are Not Welcome!
March 10, 2020 01:31 - 38 minutes - 35.3 MBThere is no room for non-native invasive species on the landscape. These species vary from region to region, but the presence of them is not welcome. Non-native species do not have their natural predators therefore, landowners have to become the predator of choice. It falls on your shoulders to eradicate or at the very least, keep them from spreading. These species are rapidly invading the swamps, prairies, woodlots, forests, and fields across the country. The direction and speed at which ...
Flush-Cut, Hinge-Cut, Hack-N-Squirt, When To Use Each
March 10, 2020 01:06 - 1 hour - 83.3 MBTimber management is not a question of if you should implement it, but when. However, there are serious misconceptions as well as misunderstandings of techniques. This podcast is devoted to fuel the need and educate the audience on how to implement proper timber management techniques on your hunting property. Landowners are plagued by analysis paralysis! They have often researched information too much and hear so many contradicting recommendations that they can not begin working on managin...
When Science and Optics Collide - “RLVNT”
March 03, 2020 02:35 - 35 minutes - 32.4 MBBy now you know we are kinda nerdy when it comes to wildlife and facts about how they work and function. Well this week we take science and the function of how birds such as wild turkeys and waterfowl see! The light spectrum changes when you see through there eyes. Since this is the case, it begs the question, how do they see you? This week, we sit down with Adam Winkleman, the owner of RLVNT. Adam's knowledge and experience lies within the optics industry, but his hunting passion lead him...
The Power of Native Plant Communities
March 03, 2020 02:01 - 21 minutes - 20 MBWhile in Nashville at the National Wild Turkey Federation Convention, we caught up with Pure Air Native’s Justin Adams. He took time to sit down and review the power of native plants on the landscape. The last few weeks we’ve have talked with biologists about the requirements for wild turkeys across the country. Some of the key components consist of early successional habitat, insects, and hard mast. To have each of these components on your property at the right time of the year both turke...
Using Prescribed Fire to Restore Landscapes and Ecosystems
February 25, 2020 01:50 - 38 minutes - 35.1 MBThis week, we sit down with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commissioner to discuss the direction of wildlife and landscape management in the state. We were encourage to hear of the direction this new commissioner was taking the department. Arkansas is an extremely diverse state offering flooded bottomland, prairies, agriculture land, woodlands and savanna’s. This present both challenges and opportunities when managing the state and its wildlife. In our discussion, we really hit on prescribed f...
What Hard Science Tells Us About Wild Turkey Populations
February 25, 2020 01:11 - 1 hour - 80.3 MBLast week we spoke with the man who was in charge of the restocking efforts of the the wild turkey across North America. This week, we sit down with two biologists Mike Chamberlin and Brett Collier to discuss wild turkey numbers and why they are plateauing or even dropping. Wild turkey reproduction is a complicated matter, but as we find out today, habitat and landscape usage is incredible important to annual reproductive success. Wild turkeys need specific habitat requires to nest and rea...
The History of Re-Stocking Wild Turkeys with James Earl Kennemar
February 18, 2020 04:07 - 28 minutes - 26.2 MBEver wondered how wild turkey populations became available in your neck of the woods? You may need to take a moment and thank this week's guest, James Earl Kennamar. This gentleman was at the helm of conservation and re-stocking efforts with his long term position at NWTF. James Earl was the spearhead of re-stocking and expanding the turkey population beyond the native range. During the podcast, we discuss the process and challenges James Earl faced throughout his career. Much of this can...
Managing Right of Ways with NWTF's Steve Barlow
February 18, 2020 03:47 - 47 minutes - 43.8 MBDuring this podcast, we sit down with Steve Barlow of NWTF and associate Travis Rogers of Corteva. These two gentlemen represent large groups actively working to increase the conservation footprint around the country, but specifically within power line and gas right of ways. These clearings transect large blocks of timber and offer great opportunities for diversity. In the country, over 14 million acres of right of ways exist. That is a huge resource that offers an incredible amount of lan...
"Renewing the Mind" of Hunters with Dr. Sanchez
February 11, 2020 03:00 - 1 hour - 68.8 MBSit back and prepare yourself to be challenged, encouraged, spiritually awakened, and educated. This week, we sit down with the renowned Dr. Sanchez who is a hunter, outdoorsmen, father, and a powerful man of God. For many years now, we have discussed the deep connection between our time in Creation and how that helps to repair us and lower stress. Finally, our guest has the science to prove it all! We discuss in full detail how and why time in the outdoors is necessary to manage stress le...
Introduction to Burr Oaks Bluff
February 11, 2020 03:00 - 59 minutes - 54.1 MBWe want to officially welcome you to our latest project, Burr Oaks Bluff! This farm is about to get a major facelift. This week, we discuss this 288-acre farm in the Loess Hills of Western Iowa with the new owner Brenton Feucthenberger and his team. Burr Oaks Bluff is a dynamic property with tillable acres, burr oak savanna to be restored, barren hillsides, native grasses, forbs, and shrubs. The property also has a beautiful pond situated among the Loess Hills. The plan for this property w...
The Recipe for Producing Top Caliber Deer ANYWHERE
February 04, 2020 05:30 - 30 minutes - 28.2 MBThe excuse of I don't live in Iowa or Kansas anymore doesn't work. Big deer can be produced anywhere across the country! No matter the state, the resources are present on the landscape, they just need to be managed in a way to produce the results you are looking for. A developed age structure in a whitetail herd is difficult to come by in many portions of the country. The number of older bucks in the herd is simply less in states like West Virginia or North Carolina, but that does not mean...
Addition by Subtraction - Land Management Edition
February 04, 2020 05:00 - 36 minutes - 33.3 MBThis week we find ourselves in the great state of Iowa! the hunting heritage is strong here in the state. But to make the hunting better and to improve the land, it is important to understand the basic principle that you must subtract to add value. Most farms we work do not have the existing habitat in place that you can simply begin to manipulate disturbances to improve habitat. First off, in most cases, things must be removed. This could be closed-canopy timber, cool-season non-native gr...
Cookie Cutter Consulting - Why Historical Evidence is Important in Land Management
January 28, 2020 08:00 - 1 hour - 60.8 MBWhen it comes to land and wildlife management there should be very little cookie cutter techniques. That's due to the ever changing landscape that we get to call home. There should be a change in your management from what ecosystem to the next or from one state to the next. The principles of replicating nature and using nature as our model are the same but our focus of plant communities and layout may change to support the local wildlife and their needs. That's why we don't follow any ratio ...
How To Make Your Property A Chick Factory
January 28, 2020 03:17 - 1 hour - 77 MBThis week is all about chicks, as in how to increase brood survivability on your property. Quail and wild turkeys can nest in many different locations and in varying types of vegetation with adequate success. So if they are nesting successfully to sustain a population why are numbers dropping? In this podcast we address the most crucial timeframe for both quail and wild turkeys and what they need on the landscape. Once a turkey poult or a quail chick has hatched the average rate of surviva...
Growing and Harvesting a Michigan Giant Whitetail
January 20, 2020 22:56 - 53 minutes - 49.4 MBEvery state has the potential to grow top-caliber deer. In most areas, the natural resources are already present on the landscape to produce great habitat. However, it’s just in the wrong form. That is how we help assist landowners to shape the landscape on a way that improves the land but also produces results. This podcast walks you through that exact situation as Jason from Western Michigan tags a 163” whitetail on his home turf. Despite the many challenges in getting deer to older age ...
The Pitfalls of Managing for Big Bucks Only
January 20, 2020 22:46 - 1 hour - 73.9 MBBeing our on the road a lot during this time of the year, we begin to see many different habitat types that are struggling and begging to be managed in a better way. During this weeks podcast, we discuss the recent observations from the field. We cover states like Illinois, Indiana, West Virginia, and Ohio. In addition, we pose the question, what if we only managed for big bucks. What would the landscape look like, what would be the priorities of our time when on the property? How would th...
Observations from Across the Whitetail's Range
January 14, 2020 08:00 - 1 hour - 64.3 MBOn this week's podcast, we discuss our recent observations traveling from Kansas to West Virginia. We saw farming landscapes, bottomland, CRP, and thousands of timbered acres. These observations will help you to look critically at your property so you can influence it greater making it more attractive for wildlife. First and foremost, improving and restoring the landscape is important. Wildlife need a home, not an insufficient place to simply survive. We are looking for all wildlife to thr...
How to Shrink a Deer's Home Range
January 14, 2020 05:00 - 1 hour - 65.9 MBTrying to keep a mature deer on your farm for as many days as possible is a goal many hunters try to obtain. Others wish to lower the amount of deer they find dead from "winter kill" or from predators. Landowners also find themselves in a stand still and what else to do to improve their farm. All these scenarios or problems can be solved with the technique we call "fragmenting the farm." We we start out looking over an aerial image we try to coordinate different habitat features or plant co...
Must Kill Management - Finding True Land Management
January 07, 2020 03:28 - 1 hour - 57.7 MBHave you ever heard a deer hunter speak about needing to kill more coyotes and a few months later complain about having too many deer? Or better yet a self proclaimed conservationists complain about native weeds taking over his non-native food plot? One that hurts the most is the process of taking a highly diverse, highly beneficial grassland or old field and plant it in a monoculture food plot. SO many problems here that can be solved with a little deep thinking. Must Kill Management is a...
Tricking Out a Kansas Farm
January 07, 2020 02:22 - 49 minutes - 45.6 MBOn this week's podcast, Matt, Kyle, and Frank breakdown the steps it is going to take to convert an under-utilized farm in Kansas into a dynamic wildlife rich property. Currently, these parcels have several key elements to attract, hold and harvest various wildlife game species. On the podcast, we cover topics such as CRP buffers, managing nesting/brood rearing cover for quail, creating corridors for wildlife, timber stand improvements, cattle and grazing contract management, cover crops, s...
Edge Feathering - The Lost Habitat Management Tool
January 07, 2020 02:13 - 1 hour - 62.8 MBEdge Feathering has been lost in the weeds for sometime now but it's time you should bring it back. When we look for habitat or land management tools we usually go with the new fad or silver bullet. Hinge cutting has been on the scene for a couple of years now with major publicity, but what if we told you that edge feathering can provide more benefits to more species of animals? You might now believe that statement but let us break down all the benefits of edge feathering for you in the po...
A Year in the Life of a Land Manager
December 31, 2019 03:09 - 1 hour - 80.6 MBOne of the goals we have for the podcast is to help land managers prioritize their time. There are so many different ways that land managers can get side-tracked with gimmicks and time-consuming techniques that yield little to poor results. Time is too precious and habitat is too poor for mistakes or idol years in management to occur. Disturbances on the landscape create and manage diversity. For optimization of each acre, follow along with this timely podcast as we layout each technique m...
Big Buck Encounters and 2019 Gear Review
December 24, 2019 04:42 - 1 hour - 68.3 MBLate-Season does not at all mean the best part of season has come and went. Some fantastic hunting opportunities are still out there for the taking. This week, we recap an incredible hunt Matt had recently. Two great looking bucks almost squared off at 20 yards in a food plot. This hunt was a great example of the power of quality forage at this time of the year, but also the better harvest opportunities with the aggressive edge feathering completed around this food plot. All the action took ...
The Truths of Trapping Predators
December 24, 2019 04:19 - 55 minutes - 50.8 MBThis week's podcast Kyle and Frank go deep into the history of trapping and the complex dynamics of predator-prey relationships. Both Kyle and Frank are experienced trappers and actively trap predators each season, from coyotes, bobcats, raccoons, all the way to beavers and muskrats. With their biological research and extensive landscape management experiences, Kyle and Frank settle the argument of the implications of reducing predator numbers to improve game species such as turkey, whitet...
Why You Should Be Using Prescribed Fire
December 17, 2019 01:25 - 47 minutes - 43.2 MBPrescribed fire is discussed throughout our podcasts. From the launch of Land & Legacy we always try to discuss the importance of native species and practices that replicate nature's natural cycle. Fire is a huge part of what shaped our environment and prescribed fire is an important management technique that should be implemented if you're in a landscape that historically had fire. Kyle Hedges and Frank Loncarich discuss their views on using this wonderful land management tool and how to i...
Hunters Trying to Play "Land Manager" & Common Mistakes
December 17, 2019 00:44 - 1 hour - 64.1 MBOn this podcast, Matt is joined by Kyle and Frank to discuss an important common misunderstanding among hunters. There is a disconnect between hunters and land managers. Often times the amount of hours spent hunting can easily skew the observations and importance of certain habitat features of the critters you are chasing. The factors that influence deer during the fall do not make them persist the months outside of season. Without those vegetation types or components of the habitat, whiteta...
Late Season Timber Hunt Buck with 8 Inch Bases
December 10, 2019 05:00 - 1 hour - 89.8 MBYes, you guessed it, late-season deer hunting success with Seth Harker. No this was not over cut corn, a field full of soybeans, or a lush clover field. This hunt started two weeks ago when a familiar buck showed back up to the farm. A large winter flock of turkeys, lead Seth away from the destination food plot and back into the red oaks. Years ago a TSI project was completed in this area that released the black oaks and red oaks in this particular portion of the farm. With a strong crop o...
Western Upland Bird Hunting on Public Land
December 10, 2019 03:00 - 1 hour - 58.8 MBLand & Legacy Consultants Frank Loncarich and Kyle Hedges headed west this September to chase upland birds in Wyoming and Nebraska. Turn back to the podcast on October 8th to hear about the first part of their hunt with their pursuit of Sage Grouse. On this week's podcast they're discussing their hunt for Sharp Tailed Grouse and Prairie Chickens and what tools they used to make it a successful hunt! When you're hunting on a vast landscape like that of our western states, it can be challeng...
Client Success - Transforming Recreational Property
December 03, 2019 03:00 - 1 hour - 61.5 MBDuring this week's podcast, we sit down with a client form Southern Missouri to discuss the transformation his property is going through. In February 2018, we toured the 147 acres in South Central Missouri. This father/son duo were eager to begin working on improving the habitat after four years of slow, random, and sparse wildlife encounters. Right out of the gate, we knew the property would present unique access issues as the land lays long and narrow. However, after getting onsite and e...
Virtual Property Evaluations
December 03, 2019 03:00 - 1 hour - 65.6 MBFinally, it is here! We have been hinting at this for some time and after many months of development, we are releasing a new service to landowners. This podcast unveils and describes in full detail a new way we are able to assist landowners in managing their property. For many years we have been putting boots on the ground with clients across 27 states by completing in the field consultations. This has been the backbone of our services, but this has also allowed us to survey the country an...
Hunting a Wilderness - What Does the Future Hold
November 26, 2019 03:00 - 1 hour - 55 MBThis past week, we stepped out into a different realm most would not picture us in. We took advantage of the 1000's of acres of public land in southwest Missouri open to hunting. These acres are held and managed by the US Forest Service. There are two separate units in this area, one being a Wilderness and the other units being actively managed using prescribed fire and intense TSI. This was the perfect way for us to examine and explore both units to accurately compare preservation versus co...
Kansas Deer Hunting & Land Management with Kyle Hedges
November 26, 2019 03:00 - 1 hour - 55.2 MBKyle Hedges and Frank Loncarich joined the Land & Legacy team to extend the knowledge and information our company can provide. Both with a long history in land management, they've brought lots of information to this platform, but they're also passionate deer hunters. Kyle Hedges joins us this week to discuss his long history of managing his family farm in southeast Kansas. We're going back to the early 90's when Kyle began the process of land management. Similar to Adam and Matt, Kyle focu...
Massive Habitat Improvements in Kentucky
November 19, 2019 03:00 - 58 minutes - 53.6 MBIf you have listened and followed along for very long, you know that we often recommend full-scale land management and habitat improvements on each property we visit. This workload can often-times be overwhelming as the projects seem to stack up quickly. Very few times, does the landowner take the wheel, roll up the sleeves, and begin to knock out projects one by one based on time being a limited resource. However, Land & Legacy client, Heath Sutton of Bowling Green, KY has been hard at work...
Hunting Success with Habitat Improvement
November 19, 2019 02:51 - 48 minutes - 44.8 MBTrying to manage a property to maximize your hunting success sounds like an easy thing to do! To anyone who's ever owned or managed a farm knows it's way more complicated than that. This week we're joined by three Land & Legacy clients who we've worked with to improve the habitat on their farm not only for deer but many other animals as well. It's a podcast you don't want to miss as you hear some results they've had in only a short time. What do you think a deer would prefer more during th...
Whiplash - The Story of a 6.5 Year-Old Whitetail
November 12, 2019 03:00 - 51 minutes - 47.4 MBOn this podcast, we chat with Land & Legacy contributor Seth Harker. Seth is a life-long resident of Southern Missouri and has taken his fair share of mature whitetails in the area. The story and hunt for a buck named Whiplash is one that starts several years ago. On a recent rut hunt, Seth completed the story by arrowing this 157 2/8th inch bruiser. During the podcast, we will chat about the years of development and details that lead to the recent harvest of Whiplash. You will hear how c...
Habitat Changes and the Effects on Hunting
November 12, 2019 03:00 - 56 minutes - 51.7 MBEvery deer season is a learning experience and for Adam and Chad it's a great reminder of just how far it has come. Not many people are blessed with the ability to have a family farm and a long-term lease next to each other, but it's given them the ability to watch the deer herd change as well as the size of the bucks calling their farm home. Unfortunately it took much longer than expected! Over the years people preached food plots were key, but they found that to be inaccurate. With recent ...