Articles

What is your goal when planting forage for your whitetail herd? There are numerous products on the market that will produce some of the most delectable, nutritious forage possible for deer, but the same plants also produce fruit, like beans, peas, grains, etc. There are many plants that I plant solely for the leaf forage, even though they could also produce fruit. And just so you know, in this case “fruit” is referring to a bean, pea or cob, even though most people think of fruit as apricots

Developing your food plot strategies to create the ideal big buck trap If you want to build a small hunting food plot or “kill plot” that draws mature bucks out during shooting hours, you need to think creatively. Moreover, you may need to be able to live with a little bit of an unkept, ragged look to the plot and its immediate surroundings if you wish to create a great “big buck trap.” Those magazine-cover shots you see with one type of cultivar growing lush and green from edge-to-edge may not

There seems to be an endless amount of online information on what are the best things to plant for whitetails, but a gamekeeper may still wonder, “What is the best summer food plots for deer on their specific property.” To put it simply, whitetails need a consistent high protein, nutrient-rich food source to be at their peak health and to express their genetic potential in terms of body size, antler growth, and optimum fawn rearing. The Benefits of Planting Legumes Legumes are by far my favorite

Do you want more deer on your property? If so, you need to remember that females are our “production department.” Sure, they need a little help, but very little. One buck can service numerous females during one breeding season. It’s almost impossible to know for certain how many unless the area was fenced and you took DNA from the buck and all the fawns within the enclosure. However, simply having lots of females to create more fawns doesn’t mean you will be improving fawn recruitment. There are

The turkey population decline has impacted us for several years, so seeing young turkeys in late summer is cause for celebration. Such was the case in August 2022. Five of the ten hens in the local flock successfully nested and appeared with their broods populating the farm with 23 young turkeys. However, one brood of four was substantially smaller—less than half the size of the other broods which suggested a successful late hatch. This article will discuss early versus late hatches—renesting

At the mention of the words “food plot” one can’t help but envision fields of clover, deep-green brassicas, and tall stands of corn or soybeans. While the goal of a food plot may be to enhance feeding options for local wildlife and to help you seal the deal on a buck of a lifetime, some wildflower plots can also add to the aesthetics of your property, attract pollinators, in addition to providing much needed cover and bugging opportunities for turkey poults as they develop. What makes a

Nothing triggers a turkey hunter into fitful dreams and self-imposed sleep deprivation like bushy beards, lusty gobbles and limb-hanger spurs. However, understanding wild turkeys and some parts of their anatomy—beaks, feet, legs and yes, the coveted spurs, are worthy of a closer look at how they function in the species’ survival. This column will discuss their structure and roles. Important insight is included from wild turkey expert and researcher, Dr. Michael J. Chamberlain, PhD., Terrell

The “winter to spring transition” and its affect on flock dynamics. Whether wild turkeys have survived winter’s bitter cold, a balmier southern version, or something in between, Nature’s promise of winter’s end triggers big changes in turkey flocks. Habitat and forage needs also evolve as the next season approaches and turkeys prepare for every turkey hunter’s happiest time of year—spring! This issue’s column discusses how turkeys alter their social behaviors, flock dynamics, and ranges in

Eastern wild turkeys ( Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) are the most abundant and widespread of the four subspecies commonly occurring in the U.S. Their range covers most of the eastern half of the U.S. from Maine south to Florida, west to Minnesota and south across the eastern fringe of the Plains States to eastern Oklahoma and Texas; and in western Washington. EASTERN WILD TURKEY DESCRIPTION Wild turkeys are the largest members of the order Galliformes - chicken-like birds - with males ranging

The benefits of buying land may be simple to understand, but that doesn't mean owning land can't come with its own unique complexities. Case in point: easements. Let's say you purchase some land for you and your family to hunt on. Your name may be on the deed, but that doesn't mean others may not have a legal right to use the land as well. For instance, the land may feature an easement that allows a local utility company to make use of the property. At the same time, if property you own is