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Ask any wildlife specialist, passionate hunter, or avid fisherman what connects them to wild places and they’ll most likely provide some variation of this answer: we don’t live on the land; we live with it. Justin Hertzel and Chase Higgs, both of Hayden Outdoors, are no different. These avid sportsmen are quick to point to a lifetime spent hunting, fishing, and wandering through woods and prairies as the reasons they do what they do today. Justin Hertzel is a designated broker with Hayden Outdoors in Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, and Arkansas. He grew up hunting and fishing, and has called the heartland of Lincoln, Nebraska home nearly his entire life.
Similarly, Chase Higgs spent his earliest days bass fishing, fly fishing, upland bird hunting, and waterfowl hunting. These days, he’s a videographer and biologist for Hayden Outdoors based in Northern Colorado with a love for fishing that runs as deep as the alpine lakes and rivers where you’ll find him much of the time. It’s a passion that led him to fishery and habitat assessment work.
Recently, we asked Justin and Chase to chime in on effective and successful wildlife management and conservation strategies. Here’s what they had to say.
Chase Higgs with the spoils from fly fishing in Colorado.
Introduction to Wildlife Management
Wildlife management on recreational property and ranches is an elemental part of a healthy habitat and long-term conservation. Wild animals play a key role in local ecosystems through foraging, seed dispersal, water detoxification, and oxygen production. How large of a role does the landowner have in managing wildlife on recreational or hunting property? “A substantial one, depending on what you want your return to be,” as Justin puts it. The return you will see and experience in the form of healthy wildlife, regenerative habitat, and returning animals is a direct result of how much effort you put into the process.
Chase expands on the idea. “The beauty of private property is that the owner has the ability to protect or enhance its resources using methods that are much more difficult to implement or maintain on public land. Property owners have the opportunity to create stretches of pristine habitat, and they can take a lot of things into their own hands to enhance the landscape.”
Understanding your local ecosystems and establishing a set of guiding principles for managing wildlife helps ensure long-term animal population and ecosystem health on your land.
Assessing Your Property’s Wildlife
One of the first – and most important – steps in successful wildlife management on your land is conducting a wildlife inventory. Having this baseline will help you create a viable conservation plan moving forward. You need to ascertain wildlife populations and their health before implementing a wildlife management plan.
Identify common species and their habitats. Know which animals are living on your land and how they’re utilizing the local habitats. There are a variety of ways to gather this information, including simple observation. Trail cams on your propertyare another excellent way to get real-time information and feedback. Also consider working with your local resource management agencies such as the U.S. Forest Service and Fish, Wildlife, and Parks. Talk with your neighbors about what they see on their property, comparing notes to learn more about how animals are moving through the land and which corridors they might be using.
Recognize signs of wildlife presence. Again, keep a keen eye out for where animals might have been, what they’re eating, where they’re bedding, antler sheds or rubs, scrapes and foot prints, and where their water sources are.
Creating a Wildlife-friendly Habitat
There are four cornerstones to any successful wildlife management plan: cover, bedding, food, and water. “The more ample those four things are, the more game you’re going to maintain and sustain in that specific area,” says Justin. “Game animals are definitely adaptive. They’re going to adapt to what they have.”
A healthy, properly thinned and limbed forest gives larger game a haven. “A lot of the tree species in the Midwest states are producing food that deer and turkey will eat.” So, in addition to safe shelter, learn which native tree species provide valuable nutrition for the animals that call your land home.
Chase’s specialty in fish and fisheries shines a light on waterways. “For lakes and ponds, water quality and aquatic vegetation management should always be monitored. As for streams and rivers, it is important to address stream bank erosion and in-stream structures, which provide habitat and also help mitigate bank erosion.”
As you walk your property, look for opportunities to improve wildlife habitat. Consider landscaping for wildlife and increasing shelter and bedding opportunities with hinge cuts or overgrowth. Plant native species that are known to provide fish and animals with nutrient-rich food sources. Finally, ensure the animals that move through your property have enough water. If water doesn’t occur naturally on your land, look to temporary and permanent infrastructure that can benefit animals, such as water capture vessels, troughs, or man-made ponds.
Balancing Human and Wildlife Needs
Ensuring both people and wildlife can safely cohabitate on your land is a pinnacle principle of recreational real estate ownership. Make sure your property is safe for both, including managing human-wildlife interactions. Most experienced sportsmen will know the basic rules of respecting the land, water, and animals, but if you host people who are newer to the idea, establishing basic rules of safety is a good idea.
These can be as simple as “No feeding the animals” to maintaining a safe distance from all wildlife. Discourage interference in the natural rhythms of wildlife movement, feeding schedules, and other seasonal occurrences.
This coexistence is key to healthy habitat management and animal harvesting. Chase says, “Hunters and anglers play a key component in conservation. Not only do their dollars account for the overwhelming majority of funding toward the preservation of our landscapes and resources, but their eyes and ears also help keep tabs on our lands. Not many people pay better attention to their surroundings than sportsmen, and this attention to detail helps fish and wildlife managers and organizations address issues. Hunters and anglers help encourage the respect and protection of our resources.”
Justin encourages reaching out to your local game warden. “Every warden has a region, which you can typically find on game and fish websites. These people offer a wealth of knowledge on what’s going on in the area – including diseases, numbers, etc. – for animals of all sizes.”
Hayden Outdoors agent Clay Owens after a day of predator management on a cattle ranch.
Controlling Nuisance Wildlife
A big part of maintaining healthy wildlife numbers on your land is controlling nuisance wildlife. According to Justin, “Coyotes, mountain lions, and bobcats are typically the most pervasive predators.”
If you’re concerned about animal populations on your property, identifying problematic species is step one. Talking with a wildlife or habitat specialist is a good place to start, but trail cams are another excellent way to learn more about which species are wreaking havoc on the ecosystem.
Human deterrence methods for controlling predator populations include:
Habitat modification
Humane trapping and release
Minimizing attractants, such as salt licks and food plots
Legal harvesting of animals
Exclusion with fences, walls, or other natural migration deterrents
If you need to bring in reinforcements, look to professional wildlife removal services in your area.
Attracting Beneficial Wildlife
Promoting biodiversity on your property is a great way to contribute to long-term environmental health and conservation. Here are a few ways to create a wildlife sanctuary on your land:
Avoid pesticides or other additives that might affect plant growth and animal health
Plant native plants
Again, make sure animals have access to sufficient clean water
Incorporate nectar-rich flowers
Consider modifications to habitat, such as hinge cuts and trails, that invite animals onto your land
Build birdhouses, bat boxes, and pollinator gardens
Integrate seasonal prescribed burning if necessary
Thin overcrowded timber plots
A swarm of mayflies – a common food source for many freshwater fish.
Seasonal Wildlife Management Tips
Wildlife management ebbs and flows with the change of seasons. Establishing a year-round plan that addresses seasonal shifts is an excellent way to maximize your wildlife and conservation strategy.
In the spring and summer, add these tasks to your to-do list, being mindful not to stress mothers and babies who might be bedded down on your land:
Prescribe or control burn to allow for nutrient-rich regeneration
Incorporate native plants and shrubs into wildlife habitat
Check that water sources are still ample and clean
Resupply food plots
Replace batteries in trail cameras
As fall and winter approach, make sure to do the following:
Ensure animals have enough cover and bedding
Check food plots to make sure they’re properly prepped
Visit stands and blinds and make any necessary adjustments or repairs
Maximize accessibility throughout the ranch with trail management
For fowl and upland bird hunters and property owners, take extra care to facilitate migration corridors with food and water sources, wildlife-friendly fencing, and plenty of ground cover.
Trail cams play a critical role in wildlife management on properties.
Monitoring and Maintaining Your Wildlife Plan
Regular property assessments, necessary adjustments to management practices, detailed record keeping, and seeking expert advice are pillars for successful and on-going wildlife management. Chase summarizes:
“First and foremost, a property owner’s role in management is being observant toward the health and quality of the habitat and fisheries on the property. Has the fishery/habitat deteriorated? If so, then action may be necessary, such as allocating water differently, changing how you let livestock access the water and adjusting road paths to limit erosion. Frequently throughout the year, it’s important to ask, ‘Does a larger scale restoration need to be performed, etc.?’ Property owners have the opportunity to create stretches of pristine habitat, and they can take a lot of things into their own hands to enhance the landscape.”
Connecting to a Professional Network
Chase Higgs doing some field work and stream management on a property in Colorado.
Turning to experts like Justin and Chase can be an important step in maintaining your wildlife habitat over generations. Recreational real estate specialists and biologists who understand local waterways, regulations, migration patterns, permitting, hunting safety, and habitat are excellent allies in your conservation efforts.
Additionally, local, regional, and national organizations that focus on conversation are great resources. When it comes to waterway management, Chase recommends turning to Trout Unlimited for information. Justin is the president of the Nebraska Big Game Society, a regional organization that puts 100% of the money it raises toward the health of big game populations in Nebraska.
He encourages property owners getting involved with organizations like these in their area to learn more. “Hundreds of wildlife organizations throughout the country provide education, habitat management, projects, and studies.”
Aligning with like-minded agents and organizations bolsters your efforts, and it’s where Hayden Outdoors goes much further than most companies. Justin continues, “We donate a certain amount of every closing to the Corners for Conservation program in Colorado and the Corners for Wildlife program in Kansas.” This supports high-quality habitat on center pivot irrigation corners in the two states.
Get to Know Your Neighbors
Continue your collaboration efforts beyond organizations and agencies. Your neighbors can be some of your best allies in creating and maintaining healthy wildlife habitat. Working with neighboring property owners allows for greater movement and migration, more animal protection and safety, and cleaner, healthier water supplies.
While Justin points out that wildlife management is solely on the shoulders of the property owner, it can certainly be empowered by the community. “As the landowner, you are the steward of the land. You also have entities that assist in those efforts. Work to create a cohesive mix between all of them.”
Conclusion
Successful wildlife management goes well beyond hunting season. It’s an essential part of being a responsible contributor to the ecosystems. Chase parts with this wisdom, “Managing fish and wildlife on your land has a plethora of benefits. Aesthetically, property owners get the pleasure of seeing healthy numbers of fish and wildlife on their land. Well managed populations also allow for great recreational opportunities on the property, which is one of the main draws to fish and wildlife management. One of the biggest benefits – if not the biggest – is the rewarding feeling of contributing toward an overall thriving landscape.”
Justin Hertzel is an accomplished hunter, broker and land specialist at Hayden Outdoors.
What You Need To Know for a Safe Spring Prescribed Burn in the Southeast
Safe, controlled prescribed spring burns are essential to proper ecosystem management on your property. Why is that? Dr. Bill Palmer points to Mother Nature’s long established natural rhythms. The forestry expert and CEO of Tall Timbers notes, “The benefits of prescribed burning are many. Most ecosystems evolved with fire post glaciation. Burning helps improve primary productivity, insect diversity, food availability for foraging creatures, butterfly nectar production, flowering plants, carbon sequestration, clearing out the underbrow undergrowth, and finally, just reducing fuel loads to avoid the occasional wildfire that can wreak havoc on timber values and structures. The benefits are outweighed by any other management techniques.”
Hayden Outdoors recreational real estate expert, Heath Thompsonechoes these thoughts on prescribed burning, “There is no greater tool in the land management bag than prescribed burning.”
Prescribed burns, sometimes referred to as controlled burns, are just that – a calculated, strategic application of fire to land. In a good portion of the Southeast, February through mid-May is known as prime time burning. Whether you establish a new pattern, or you’ve done prescribed burns for decades, Bill offers his insight into their benefits. “Bottom line, you’re going to improve pretty much every metric you can imagine.”
Understanding the Basics
The United States Forest Services defines a prescribed fire as a planned fire used to meet management objectives. While the USFS manages large burns and prescribed fires, property owners can do the same, along with implementing other wildfire protection measures, to achieve similar ecosystem benefits on their land. These fires differ from uncontrolled fires by the strategy behind when, where, and how big they are allowed to burn. Bill puts a finer point on it, “Prescribed burns are kept at a minimum and that’s why it’s called a prescribed burn, because it’s under a prescription requiring certain conditions, a permit, and preparation.” Follow those guidelines and your prescribed burn can be an extremely safe practice.
It might seem like a harsh idea – intentionally igniting your land on fire. But the reality is, prescribed burns are a very practical way to facilitate natural rejuvenation and reforestation. “More frequent fires drive the ecosystem to generate a mix of grass, weeds or forbes, shrubs, and vines. That mix is needed for a lot of bird species, insect species, and rodents that are essential to a healthy food chain.”
Planning Your Controlled Burn
It’s important to think of planning your prescribed burn in two ways – legal considerations and weather conditions. Let’s break down both.
First, legal considerations. For those with little to no experience, it’s important to start your process with your local forest authorities. These agencies typically include the United States Forest Service (USFS), the NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service), and the DNRC (Department of Natural Resources and Conservation). Starting with your local forestry agency provides the proper pathway to securing the correct permits and following all necessary regulations.
Keeping Mindful of Smoke
Once you’ve talked to relevant agencies, look to your neighbors. Often, neighbors will get together and combine expertise, equipment, and efforts. And make sure you have all the appropriate certifications when applicable. “You want to make sure you check the box on certification that you’ve had the property training. So, if you imagine you’re getting into hunting for the first time, you’ve got to go through the training, get your license, buy your equipment, and then talk to the people who can teach you. Prescribed burns are similar – it’s a lot of common sense and once you’ve done it a few times, it gets easier and easier.”
Then there are weather conditions. The day you plan a prescribed burn is a day you want to pay very close attention to the weather. Bill notes the ideal weather ultimately depends on what your goal is. You want enough wind to push the fire to what it needs burn, but not so much that the fire gets out of control. Look for days when the wind is not forecasted to gust or shift. A little humidity is good for fire control, but too much humidity or a super cloudy day can cause a fire to smolder and smoke.
Heath Thompson, a Hayden Outdoors agent in the Southeast, plans a prescribed burn while filming Life on the Land TV show.
Safety Measures
Preparation is key to a successful prescribed burn. Once you’ve talked with your local forestry agencies, secured the proper permits, taken any necessary courses, and done a weather check, it’s important to make sure you have everything you need for the day you plan to burn. Here are a few essentials to consider before you start your prescribed burn:
Do you have the appropriate protective gear, including long-sleeved, non-flammable clothing, sturdy boots or shoes, eye protection, and a mask?
Do you have adequate water tanks to help control the burn?
Have you established fire breaks if needed?
Do you have an evacuation plan if the fire gets out of your control?
Is there an established communication tree in case of emergency?
Have you notified your neighbors of your burn?
Are those involved aware of the evacuation plan, safety zones, and escape routes?
Heath emphasizes the importance of holistic safety measures: “A burn plan, permit from the forestry commission, proper firebreaks, knowledge of humidity and wind direction/wind speed.”
Executing the Controlled Burn
The best time of year to do a controlled burn in your area will depend on seasonal factors, such as how long the days are, day- and night-time temperatures, and weather. On the day you plan to burn, make sure you start early enough in the day to maximize daylight should something go wrong or the burn (and extinguishing it) requires more time than expected.
Seasonal factors are another consideration. Spring is the optimum time to burn in the Southeast, when wind and humidity allow for effective and efficient burning. That might not be the case in your region. Some Western states require there to be snow on the ground before initiating a burn. Check with your local forestry agencies to determine the best time of year and the best time of day to initiate a prescribed burn in your area.
Have Equipment on Hand
Regarding any appropriate equipment you might need, Bill points to specifics in two scenarios. “If you have a pine stand surrounded by a pasture, you probably don’t need anything other than a four-wheeler, burn pot, and water tank to put out snags. A fire won’t burn across a crop field. But if you’re burning a pocosin that has not been burned for 15 years, it might put up 60-foot flames. Then you need your dozers and heavy equipment, including a tractor with a disc and a big type-two engine with water tanks to be prepared because if that fire gets out of control, it’s going to burn intensely.”
You should also consider doing some backburning before igniting the main prescribed fire. A backburn is a smaller fire intentionally lit along a fire’s desired boundary. It burns out and eliminates the fuel between the prescribed fire and the firebreak essentially suppressing the fire.
Heath talked with experts about prescribed burns in January 2024 on Season 5 of Life on the Land
Monitoring and Control
The number of people required to safely monitor and control a prescribed burn obviously depends on the type of fuel and size of the property. “A 50-acre burn can easily be pulled off by one or two people depending on the fuel situation. If you’re doing a 500-acre burn, you may need more like eight to ten people.”
Assess the size of the fire and how many hands on deck you feel you’ll need to keep it controlled before you begin. If you’re burning a larger property that hasn’t been maintained by prescribed burning over the years, talk with your local forest agencies and organizations to see if you need to involve any trained personnel. Once you’ve established your team, make sure everyone understands their roles and responsibilities
Throughout the burn, do regular assessments of its effectiveness and to ensure it’s not getting out of control. Adapt your burn plan as needed as the burn progresses, all the while keeping in mind that prescribed burning is typically a very safe and effective practice. Bill points out, “Roughly 99.7% of all burns stay within boundary. Most of the fires that jump the line are quickly contained. In the Southeast, escapes that cause damage are very, very rare.”
Post-burn Assessment
Bill can not underscore enough the benefits of controlled burning on your property. “You pretty much have to be paying no attention at all to miss the ecological benefits and how burns improve the value of land. Realtors tell us there’s a substantial increase in the value of frequently burned land versus land that goes unmanaged.”
Heath agrees, “It will increase the browse by several times over. In some cases in southern pine stands it will completely change the property. A pine plantation in which the entire forest floor is covered in pine straw – straw is a desert for wildlife. By burning, and with some sunlight, the native plants like greenbrier and partridge pea will take off along with tons of other small leafy plants and create a salad bar, so to speak, for deer and small game.”
Know Your Land
So in the days and weeks following your burn, pay attention to the land and how it reacts. More grasses and forbs typically shoot up after a burn. As Bill points out, in the Southeast, each successive burn keeps driving the ecosystem toward a pine-savannah, which was very normal in the region centuries ago. “As you drive the system toward a better and better habitat, you’re going to have more and more critters in that habitat.” It is important to plan for wildlife when you put together your prescribed burn strategy. Consider how long it will take the land to recover before animals can come back to it, including what type of nesting cover birds need. Animals and insects will typically inhabit burned areas again very quickly due to all of the free food (easily accessible seeds, nuts, and pollens) these burns generate.
As you walk your regenerating land, consider if the controlled burn met your goals. Learn from the experience and make sure to apply any teachings to future controlled burn plans.
Heath Thompson analyzes the burn and explains on Life on the Land TV the effects and benefits to the forest, wildlife and land.
Community Engagement
Controlled burns need to be a group effort, at least from a communications standpoint. This also offers an excellent opportunity to educate those around you about the benefits of regular prescribed burns. When informing your neighbors about your own controlled burn, talk with them about your safety plan, communication strategy, and address any of their concerns. You can even offer to help them with their burn next time around in an effort to increase the overall health and wellbeing of the surrounding area.
Look to your neighbors and your community for opportunities to workshop, connect, and reach out to others regarding the practice. If these resources don’t already exist in your neighborhood, consider establishing them yourself.
Conclusion
If you’re still wondering about the effectiveness of prescribed burning, consider this wild wildfire fact Bill imparted, “There’s more prescribed burning done in three states in the Southeast than all Western wildfires combined – three million acres per year, 84% of that on private land.”
In other words, prescribed burning is especially important where it can be done safely and effectively on a regular basis. Don’t forget to talk with your local forestry agency about best practices in your region, and secure the appropriate permits, help, and equipment before you begin. The more regularly you burn, the easier it becomes and the healthier the land is. When we asked Bill if prescribed burning becomes safer the more frequently you do it, he was unequivocal, “Absolutely, 100%, no doubt about it.”
Make this the year you establish your own prescribed burning strategy. Vastly improve the health and quality of your property for years to come.
The Benefits of Setting Up Trail Cams on Your Property
Trail cameras, or more commonly, trail cams, are a helpful tool when it comes to monitoring your property.
Scouting and glassing for this year’s hunt can be thrilling – catching a glimpse of the trophies that might be waiting there as the season nears. Adding some additional eyes to the effort, including late in the evening and at night when some animals become particularly active, can help your odds even more. Trail cams are providing this kind of visibility, and gaining popularity because of it. Those are only a few of the benefits of setting up trail cams.
Trail cams are discreet cameras people position throughout property – and sometimes on public lands – to get a complete picture of animal activity. These types of cameras are triggered by a motion sensor, capturing pictures as the animal moves through the field of vision. They range from relatively basic, taking pictures that are stored on a secure digital card and retrieved later, to much more high tech. REVEAL’s Cellular Cameras fall into the latter category, offering a mobile app that sends trail cam images to your device in real-time.
While the technology continues to get better and better, the strategy behind mounting and positioning trail cams is also important to consider. Three Hayden Outdoors recreational real estate experts recently chimed in on how they use trail cams for hunting, safety, and general wildlife management. As lifelong hunting guides and outdoor enthusiasts, Shad Sheldon, Heath Thompson, and Lonnie Gustin provided a brief master class in proper trail cam management. Hailing from the Plains, the South, and the Rocky Mountain West respectively, their insight spans a variety of purposes and touches nearly every corner of the country.
Trail Camera Basics
Quality and capabilities vary, but most cameras feature:
Power source
Make sure to see how long a camera’s battery lasts.
Detection circuit or PIR sensor
This piece detects both heat and motion, then triggers the camera.
Infrared LEDs
The small lights allows for night-vision pictures.
Protective casing
Make sure yours can stand up to the elements in your area.
Mounting apparatus
Choose a camera you can easily install
Types of Trail Cams
Modern trail cameras fall into two categories: cellular and non-cellular. Each has their benefits. Non-cellular cameras don’t allow for real-time viewing, but they are typically less expensive. Alternatively, cellular cameras allow you to keep an eye on animals without having to retrieve camera chips or disturb the area.
Shad Sheldon has been hunting since he was 7, and bagged his first deer at 10. He started bow hunting in his late teens, a passion ever since. He and his wife ran a hunting lodge in Goodland, KS until about 10 years ago, when they turned to Hayden Outdoors to help them sell it. Not long after he joined Hayden as an agent, specializing inhunting properties andfarmland.
These days, Shad and his wife spend their time in eastern Kansas, as close to the land and its rhythms as possible. He relies on trail cams for a variety of reasons, both personally and professionally when he’s helping clients list their land. We asked what he looks for in a good trail camera.
“I like good resolution and good pictures with true color. Most cameras will fire right away; you won’t get a lot of blurry moments. I like to put great pictures on our website to help clients sell property. And of course, it needs to be easy-to-use.”
Choosing a Trail Cam
Before you throw down a good chunk of change – trail cams can range from $50 – $600 – it’s good to know what you want to accomplish with your equipment. Talk with your local dealer about the features of the camera. Some important things to think about are:
Do you want a wireless camera, or will traditional work?
Do you need video capabilities as well as still shots?
What kind of image quality do you want?
What is the trigger time – the time between the animal moving across the field of vision and the picture being taken? Slower trigger times result in blurrier images.
What is the power supply and/or battery life?
Does the camera offer security features to help prevent theft?
Setting Up Trail Cams
Heath Thompson grew up on a farm in Georgia, and has a degree in Forestry. He’s been in the business a long time, hunting, guiding, and managing land. These days, Heath’s family owns 1,500 acres, row crops, and grows hay. He has a history in agricultural, hunting, timber, recreational, and farmland with Hayden Outdoors in the Southeast. He understands the importance ofthe perfect hunting property like no one else.
When it comes to trail cams, Heath doesn’t mess around. “I worry about additional scents on my cameras, so I’ll hang them outside at my house in the yard for a while to get the correct smell. When I go to place them on the property, I’ll wear rubber boots and gloves.”
Placing trail cams in the right spot is key. Our agents have some tips:
Set up near scrapes so you can see which bucks are scraping when.
Set up feeders year-round to see seasonal and yearly patterns.
If allowed, consider bait such as a mineral lick, soy, alfalfa, or scent.
Look for game trails. Mount your camera alongside them to track animal movement.
Look for water sources, and mount a camera nearby.
How many cameras you hang depends on the size of the land, your objective, and your budget. Heath offers these tips on trail cam height. “I hang mine three feet from the ground to the bottom of the camera to get a full view of the animal. I also keep the sun’s direction in mind, pointing cameras northeast or northwest to avoid over exposure.”
Look closely for nearby plants that might trigger the camera. There’s nothing worse than hoping for a great shot of that Boone-and-Crockett buck only to get hundreds of pictures of grain or a branch.
Using Trail Cams to Enhance Wildlife Observation
You might be using trail cams for hunting, or just to get an inside view of the wildlife. Lonnie Gustin is familiar with both. He’s been hunting and wandering the mountains of the West his whole life, but is quick to tell you he’s never been an outfitter. “I always said I liked hunting too much to be a guide.” Nowadays, he hunts with his boys along the Rocky Mountain Front throughout Wyoming and Colorado. He calls 4,000 acres along the Western Slope of Colorado and Wyoming home, and joined Hayden Outdoors “back in the day,” about 13 years ago. If you’re looking to buy or sell a farm, hunting property, or ranch land in the area, Lonnie is your guy.
He uses trail cams all the time, most commonly placing them near water sources where he might catch a glimpse of big game – typically elk or mule deer in his neck of the woods. And sometimes, a camera will capture something else – another big Western predator making its way across the land. Trail cams are an excellent way to learn more about the wildlife in the area. Bears, wolves, lynx, mountain lions, coyotes, fowl, and varmints – trail cams paint broad strokes of the wildlife living on your land. For Lonnie and others, trail cams also offer a unique way to understand the local wildlife population – how and where animals are moving; which water sources they rely on; and how land use shifts from one season to the next.
Using Trail Cams for a Better Hunting Experience
While trail cams can certainly enhance the hunting experience, Heath gives fair warning, “The worst thing you can do is look at trail cams. It’ll make you sick; big buck after big buck you might never see again.” And while he’s right – some of the biggest racks don’t make it onto the wall – having trail cams on the property can help you prepare.
He adds, “We use trail cams for animal counts. We count every deer we see. It lets us know what’s on the property.” Lonnie counts on trail cams for knowing the time of day animals are coming in. And Shad likes to use them to learn more about what comes after hunting season. “After last rifle season was over, we had about three to four 150-class bucks show up. We saw new deer move in.” Heath notes trail cams aren’t just for big game. “They’re great for turkey hunting, too. Trail cams let me see where the turkeys are, because down here, turkeys don’t gobble a lot. So we’re using trail cams to see where they’re traveling in and out.”
Using Trail Cams to Increase Property Value
Hayden Outdoors real estate agents are known for showcasing every aspect of a property when it comes to selling it, and cutting-edge cellular trail cams are a big part of the strategy. Shad sums it up this way: “The bigger bucks I pull off the property, the more it’s going to go for. The more good pictures I have of those bucks, the more money we can bring in.”
Lonnie agrees, “Trail cams are pretty damn important when I’m selling land. They let me prove the wildlife moving on the property. If I can actually show people some background and some shots and they can see where that huge elk was, it’s an important selling point.”
Heath goes so far as to compile entire albums for the properties he represents. “You need to have proof, and you can’t get it in just a week. Property trail cam capture takes a long time. Having historical timestamps on a lot of photos adds a lot more value than just having one good buck on a single trail cam shot.”
In addition to buying and selling, trail cams add additional value to the property by aiding in pest control and property security. Placing trail cams at a property entrance or lesser known access point is a great way to see if people are wandering in when they shouldn’t be.
Conclusion
Setting up trail cams on your property offers a variety of benefits, including:
Hunting preparation
Wildlife observation
Property security
Habitat conservation
Adding a trail cam system to your land can help bolster its value over time. It’s also an excellent way to learn the ins, outs, and animals who call your acres theirs, too. Chat with your local sporting goods dealer about the best setup for your land, or upgrade to trail cams that let you know which four-legged creatures are cruising though as soon as they’ve crossed the camera’s lens.
Best Practices for Wildlife Management on Western Ranches
Duncan Clark knows cattle ranching. Growing up in a ranching family in West Texas, he learned the life balance between the magic of wide open spaces and the work it takes to maintain them early on. These days, he lives along Colorado’s Front Range, just shy of the Wyoming border, a short drive from his family’s 6,500-acre cattle ranch where he spends much of his time.
After graduating from Colorado State University with a degree in finance and real estate, Duncan turned his love of the land into a full-time job as a recreational real estate agent for Hayden Outdoors. He’s gone on to help broker a number of notable ranch real estate transactions in the past decade. From summers spent mending fences to balancing the intricacies of maintaining forage in the extreme winter months for wildlife and stock alike, Duncan understands the rhythms of ranch land like few others do. At the heart of that connection is a passion for the intersection of wildlife and ranching. Duncan is an expert in managing and maintaining range and wildlife habitat in a way that elevates both.
“Wildlife management on a ranch is critical for a lot of reasons. The healthier the animal population, the more your ranch is going to be worth.” From guided hunting and fishing income to proper land and habitat management, Duncan dives into the key factors to consider when managing wildlife on ranches in the West.
Understanding Western Ranches and Wildlife
Ranches in the West provide ideal habitat for deer, elk, and antelope. Commonly, a ranch will be home to one or two of these species, but if you’re lucky enough to gain access to an expansive ranch in the western plains, you might come across all three. Additionally, ranches with viable water sources, including rivers, streams, ponds, or lakes can offer premier fishing. But as Duncan is quick to point out, you don’t have to be an avid hunter to want to manage the wildlife on your property. “The unique thing about land is that it’s an investment you can enjoy. Maybe you hunt; maybe you don’t. Regardless, driving around a ranch watching herds of elk and deer is a pretty special thing to see”
That said, hunting and fishing can be a viable income opportunity for ranchers in the West. Hunters and anglers spend an estimated $2 billion annually in Colorado alone. “Wildlife is big business in the West, and it provides incentives for landowners to manage this profitable resource, whether the focus is on cattle, farming, or recreation.” Guided elk hunts can garner anywhere from $5,000-$20,000 a hunt depending on trophy quality. If a rancher is able to work with a local outfitter or guide to lease the land for hunting, the revenue can offset a large portion of ranch expenses.
Planning and Implementing a Wildlife Management Plan
Before you begin building your wildlife management plan, it’s important to outline and understand your objectives. This includes the wildlife population objective that will dictate how many animals to harvest from the property each year in order to maintain healthy herd numbers. It’s also essential to work with an expert – local fish, wildlife, and land managers as well as nearby guides and outfitters – in order to optimize both wildlife and cattle health on the ranch. Start by evaluating how many animals you currently have on the property. Trail cams are an extremely useful tool for this. Additional considerations include the size of your property, any adjacent public lands or ranch sizes, and if there’s a well known hunting outfitter in the area. If so, how many animals are they harvesting?
Assess the habitat health, including water sources, food plots, vegetation, and landscape. From there, develop a management plan that balances your economic and conservation goals, working to maximize revenue while simultaneously catering to wildlife health and safety on the property. Manage and monitor progress throughout hunting seasons and year to year.
Wildlife Habitat Management Techniques
Duncan outlines the following guidelines for optimum wildlife habitat management on western ranches:
Water Sources:
Water is a key ingredient to any farm or ranch property and the leading factor in determining the value of the land and the quantity and variety of wildlife it can support. While many western ranches have multiple water sources, including springs, creeks, or rivers, these sources aren’t always accessible to animals and they’re susceptible to drought. “With a prolonged drought that affects groundwater sources encompassing much of the West, I’ve seen a number of different ways to maximize water resources. I’ve worked with clients to build ponds, develop spring water catchment systems, and even implement water guzzlers. If you want your ranch to maintain its value, paying close attention to the water sources on the land is step number one.”
Brush & Range Management:
Controlling the right blend of escape and bedding cover, along with the number of openings wildlife use to feed, is important for all species of wildlife. “Often, we see mountain ranches with dense deadfall of pine and aspen that provide little value to wildlife. If controlled burns are not an option – and they typically aren’t on a private ranch – a sound brush control strategy can maximize the wildlife value.”
Wildlife-friendly Fencing:
Duncan notes that this oft-overlooked aspect of wildlife management on ranches is an incredibly important one. While barbed wire might still line the perimeter of a ranch, it can be detrimental to healthy migration paths. You don’t have to pull out all of the barbed wire fencing in place, but Duncan does suggest modifying it to more modern standards. “By taking off the bottom and top strands of barbed wire and installing a smooth or high-visibility wire, you can drastically improve the viability of the fence. I recommend leaving an 18-inch space between the ground and the bottom strand of wire to allow animals to crawl underneath it.”
Rotational Grazing Strategies to Maximize Browse:
Another important tool for wildlife is balancing the grazing strategy. But as Duncan notes, this tip is particularly specific to each and every ranch. “If you were to ask a hundred different folks the best way to effectively run cattle on a property while also maximizing the hunting potential, you would likely get a hundred different answers.”
Food Plots that Attract More Animals:
Food plots have long been an important tool for farmers and ranchers in the South and Midwest who also lease the property for hunting. However, there just isn’t enough information or data available for western landowners trying to create food plots for elk and mule deer. Enter Duncan’s expertise. “I’ve done plenty of trial and error food plot tests and this is what I’ve found to work at an elevation of approximately 7,300 feet. With a disc and grain drill, we have successfully established food plots consisting of a blend of winter grain rye, annual clover, and sainfoin (a perennial drought-resistant legume). With ample rainfall and the right soil, I believe this can be done on most ranches in the western states. I’ve seen it work first-hand, especially when the native browse starts to go dormant and the winter rye and clover hold green browse late into the fall.”
Wildlife Population Management Techniques
Maintaining healthy populations, including cattle, deer, elk, and antelope, on your ranch is another pillar of ranch wildlife management. If overgrazing or overpopulation become an issue, you might need to manipulate habitat in order to draw one species to a different part of the ranch. Another important aspect of wildlife population management is the utilization of predator control. Predators are elemental to a healthy ecosystem – every ranch needs a sound predator control program to benefit both wildlife and cattle – but again, ranchers need to understand the ideal predator population for their land.
When opening your ranch land to hunting, fishing, and trapping, make sure you do so with best practices top of mind. Has everyone hunting the property taken any necessary hunter’s safety course? Know when to fish, and when doing so might stress fish populations. Talk with local outfitters, guides, and other experts about current trapping regulations. Doing so will help ensure your ranch is hunter- and angler-friendly for years to come.
Benefits of Wildlife Management
As Duncan will tell you, the primary financial goal of any ranch is to break even. Wildlife can be a key factor in doing so. “If you’re running a hunting outfitter on your ranch property, you can certainly offset a lot of your operational costs.” These regulations and opportunities vary state by state. Colorado and New Mexico are very land-owner friendly, for example. If you’re looking at ranches for sale in Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, or Arizona, it’s important to work with a ranch real estate specialist to learn more about the revenue opportunities for that particular property.
Of course, the benefits of having wildlife on your ranch go far beyond potential profits. Wildlife and cattle can pair perfectly when it comes to maintaining habitat health, with opposing grazing and range seasons. There’s the opportunity to watch out the truck window as herds of elk or deer or antelope make their way across your acres. Those who don’t have immediate access to wild spaces and species can find it on your land. Wildlife management on your ranch runs the right direction both ways, providing safe, healthy refuge for the animals and a balanced value-add for your property.
Conclusion
Wildlife management on western ranches is the future of this unique way of life. If you’re interested in buying ranch land where you can prioritize wildlife management, the recreational real estate agents at Hayden Outdoors are experts in the field. And if you simply want to learn more about how you can integrate healthier wildlife management practices into your ranch, give Duncan Clark a call. With a lifetime of ranching in his back pocket, he’s your guy.
What Really Makes the Best Turkey Hunting Land?
Here’s a challenge: talk with Brandon Pendergrass of Hayden Outdoors for more than two minutes and try your hardest not to fall in love with turkey hunting. And not just the idea of it, but the lifestyle of it – the actual interaction with the birds and the habitat and how it all comes together on one idyllic springtime day in Missouri. Or Nebraska. Or Tennessee. Or Texas. Take your pick of premier turkey hunting land in the US.
“Turkey hunting is a great gateway for anyone looking to learn more about hunting or just wanting to be outside, connecting with the land. It’s the perfect day because it happens in the spring, when the weather is warm. And it doesn’t take all day if you’re with someone who knows what they’re doing. So after hunting it’s time to fish in a nearby pond, river, lake, or creek where the fish will be hungry, because – again – it’s spring and all animals are. Then go scout for some mushrooms. Then fire up the grill and cook that fish or that turkey while you drink some sweet tea. Maybe in a field, maybe in a small stand of timber, maybe along some water. Sit in the sun and enjoy. That’s what it’s all about.”
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Meet Brandon
Brandon has been an expert on turkey hunting nearly his entire life, beginning with his morning chores on his family’s 500-acre farm in southern Missouri when he was a kid. “It was my job to feed the pigs before the bus came to take me to school, and the turkeys were always gobblin’ back there, so I spent a lot of time with them, watching them, listening to them.” From there, he started hunting turkeys with friends, became a devout turkey hunter by age 16, and he’s been all-in ever since, moving onto guiding, hunting show appearances, and competitions all over the country.
Brandon recently gave a rundown on what to consider when buying turkey hunting property. Here are some tips, including his expertise and insights.
What makes a good turkey hunting property?
When buying turkey hunting land, you should consider factors such as location, size, terrain and habitat. Look for land that has plenty of natural vegetation, water sources, and cover for turkeys. According to Brandon, a mixture of landscape is key, as is close proximity to water. “The perfect property would be 50% open space and 50% timberland. Big, mature timber will offer a lot of roost trees and food sources like acorns and berries. Look for some overgrown fields with native grasses and property that provides a variety of food sources. A majority of the time, turkeys will try to find roost sites that are close to water, so if you use the land year-round, it’s important to have a water source such as a spring, pond, lake, or other source that’s resistant to drought.”
Why is now a good time to invest in turkey hunting land in the Midwest?
Brandon cites one of the tenets and most important truths of real estate investment, “There’s never a bad time to invest in land, because there’s only so much of it.” This is particularly relevant to turkey hunting property. Luckily, the United States features a variety of states that offer premier turkey hunting land, such as Missouri, Nebraska, Tennessee, Texas, and Florida.
The time to buy is when the right property pops up, so the best thing you can do is be prepared. Make sure your financing is secured, and contact your local recreational land real estate expert. Hunting land can be a very valuable and lucrative investment – monetarily, personally, and generationally. Back to Brandon’s ideal spring day, owning your own turkey hunting land can be a great way to bond with friends and family, establishing the kinds of adventurous traditions that are harder and harder to come by in today’s busy world.
What are some ways owners can offset the cost of buying turkey hunting land?
Logging the timber on your property is a great way to generate income from the land. Selective logging can help open up food plots and create road systems. If the land is conducive to farming, you can lease the land to a producer, which is also great for turkey hunting habitat as it provides a consistent food source.
Another income opportunity to consider is leasing the land to other hunters, hunting outfits, or hunting guides. This can add to the value of your asset, demonstrating the property’s productivity and income possibilities.
What are the biggest differences between turkey hunting on private and public land?
The first part of the answer is probably the most obvious, “When you own a good piece of hunting ground, you control all of that,” says Brandon. No competing for spots on opening day, pressured birds, or other bird hunters. It also ensures your hunting experience is private, uninterrupted, and most importantly, safe. He adds, “Safety is a big point. There’s also the pressure put on the turkeys. You can control or better regulate the pressure on the flock when hunting private land. Public birds can be pressured making it harder to hear or locate them. It also allows you to better control the habitat.”
What are some effective ways to scout for quality turkey hunting land?
Start with mapping. Mapright, onX, and Google are all excellent sources of information as is aerial imagery. Look at the area as a whole to understand the location and surrounding properties. Talk with other local landowners and hunters to gain insights. Look at the habitat.
Pull on your best hiking boots and walk the property (with the current owner’s permission). This is particularly important to do right at daylight in the spring if possible. This is probably the most effective way to locate signs of turkey activity and learn more about the habitat.
Brandon’s pro tip? Bring binoculars so you can glass fields. This can help you scout and see the landscape and population or activities of the turkeys. Also consider calling the listing agent to ask about the history of the land as it relates to turkey hunting, including looking at any trail cam pictures or other documentation.
What kind of land maintenance should you consider to improve your chances of success in the field?
The beauty of owning the land is your ability and freedom to personalize it to your needs and preferences. You can design the property to attract turkeys by planting specific vegetation, building cover such as ground blinds, putting in roads or openings, and planting food plots. It’s important to understand how flocks have behaved in previous seasons, and customize the land to cater to those habits.
Brandon suggests establishing a road system and watering holes. “Turkeys rely a lot on their eyesight. They like spaces where they can feel comfortable coming out and strutting with their hens. Road systems allow you to slip around quietly as you’re turkey hunting.” He also suggests letting some old fields grow to become more dense with native grasses and flora, while cutting down other taller grasses. Consider planting chicory, clover, or other turkey-friendly food sources. In short, habitat variety is essential. And when you own the land, you can establish multiple hunting locations for cover and ground blinds based on previous flock activity for different scenarios.
What is the biggest benefit of having a turkey hunting land expert as your real estate agent?
Brandon points out that working with a recreational land real estate agent offers huge benefits. “You’re talking to someone who not only understands the business of real estate; they’re also passionate about the outdoors. As outdoorsmen and women, even if they’re not a turkey hunter, they will have been paying attention to the land, making note of when and where they see wildlife, and for how many days in a row. These details set the experience apart from working with a traditional residential or commercial agent.”
The Investment of a Lifetime
Brandon leaves us with this thought, “Purchasing turkey hunting property you can utilize in the springtime will be one of the best investments of your lifetime. It’s an all-inclusive experience that creates an immediate connection between you, the birds, the land, your friends, and your family.” It’s a pretty special thing – to have that kind of unlimited access to prime turkey hunting land, and to create the traditions and memories that come along with it.
If you’re looking to buy prime turkey hunting land, contact the recreational real estate specialists at Hayden Outdoors, where the reason you should is right there in the name. All of the agents are experts in the great outdoors. They know where to look and what to look for when it comes to buying an ideal hunting property in your neck of the woods.
Brandon Pendergrass photo below with fellow agent Jeff Lovan and Bree Lovan. Also pictured with hunters in Hawaii as a guide.
Pro Tips for Buying & Managing Duck Hunting Land
When it comes to vast swaths of land, it doesn’t seem like 300 yards affects if that land serves its purpose. Give a partial river bank here, take a slice of sand bar there. It’s all the same in the grand scheme, right? Not exactly, and according to professional recreational real estate agents, Jake Hyland and Taylor Dunnigan, definitely not when it comes to looking for prime waterfowl hunting land. Spend a moment talking with these two about finding the perfect property for duck hunting, and you’ll quickly learn how situational an effort it is. “Acre-to-acre, foot-to-foot,” according to Taylor.
Buying waterfowl hunting land for personal recreation or as an investment isn’t easy. Taylor says, “It might be once every five years that a duck hunting property in your budget comes up for sale. And you need to be ready.” It’s why Jake and Taylor are the people you want to talk to if you’re in the market for the waterfowl hunting property of your dreams. They’re both seasoned recreational real estate agents with a long history buying and selling this type of property. But their expertise extends well beyond that. Both grew up smack in the middle of some of the best duck hunting on Colorado’s Front Range. They went on to guide on some of the most coveted goose and duck hunting land in the country. Give these two a few minutes walking a potential property and they can tell you if it’s worth your time or not.
We spent some time with Jake and Taylor – goose and bird dog pictures mounted on the wall squarely behind them – to learn more about finding the ideal waterfowl property and getting their expert advice on buying duck or goose hunting land.
What are the primary attributes of quality duck hunting property?
These two agents have a four-point checklist when looking for prime duck hunting land: food, refuge, open water and location.
According to Jake and Taylor, water controls everything when you’re hunting waterfowl. It’s where birds take refuge – a spot where they can loaf and hang out. It’s why finding duck hunting land with an ideal water source is not only essential, it’s also important for the overall management and use of the property as it can affect other aspects such as flight paths and feed for waterfowl. If water doesn’t currently exist on the property, is there an opportunity to catch water and move it around? The abundance of duck- and goose-friendly water is what makes South Dakota, Nebraska and Arkansas so good for waterfowl hunting.
But there are other great regions for duck hunting property, if you’re working with a real estate agent who knows where to look and what to look for. Certain areas in the Midwest and along the Mississippi and Platte Rivers can also offer ideal waterfowl hunting land ownership opportunities.
How important are historical flyways for waterfowl land?
Very. Historical flyways are important for waterfowl hunting properties because they indicate the migration patterns of ducks and geese. And they can shift. Taylor points out that we’re starting to see shifts in the flyways wherein geese are moving much farther west. In fact, migration can shift 50 to 75 miles east or west of a particular zone. It’s why agent knowledge about the location and history of the property is so valuable in determining its potential for waterfowl hunting.
Taylor also looks at agriculture and other large bodies of water around the subject property. One of his biggest considerations on behalf of his clients is pressure. For example, 200 acres of hunting property that borders 2,000 acres of public land can be a catch 22. If you can find a collective of private landowners all managing for the same purpose – hunting waterfowl – you’ll do ten times better.
Jake notes the time of year.
“It’s easy to assume a property is ideal for duck hunting in the fall or early winter when you can see the ducks. But our knowledge shines when we visit a property mid-summer and need to paint the picture for a potential client. We might see three ducks during that time, and the client has to trust our knowledge and experience about the flyways and potential of the land.”
What are other ways owners can offset the cost of buying waterfowl land?
There are various ways to generate income from a hunting property, such as leasing it to farmers or conservation organizations. Taylor chimes in, “If you’re looking at a property that has everything – water, ag, etc. – you can rent that land out to a farmer and then reap some of the benefits of the harvest. I also know guys who will contact Denver University to put properties under conservation easements. If you’re solely a hunting property, these easements improve the habitat, which improves the hunting. These easements do come with some restrictions, so it’s important to understand those before going down this path.”
What kind of habitat maintenance do you need to attract waterfowl to your land year after year?
Habitat maintenance is important for fostering the property as a viable resource for wildlife. Land improvements such as fencing, hunting pits, ground blinds and other infrastructure also add value. Wildlife photography, videography and trail cams are an excellent way to document migration patterns and wildlife land use for future sales opportunities. Jake even tells us of a client who keeps a rolodex of duck kills, taking pictures of ducks on the property, which can come in handy when talking with potential buyers or guides.
Back to water, water management is another key way to improve the quality of your duck hunting investment or recreational property. This can include flooding or water capture that improve the habitat, but these measures will be regulated differently in different states. Colorado, for instance, can be a difficult place to move water due to irrigation restrictions, which is why it’s important to understand what it means to own land with water rights in Colorado. According to Jake and Taylor, if you can move water on your waterfowl hunting property, that’s huge. You’re maximizing improvements to your duck hunting land and what it can do.
How important is it to have a recreational agent advise you before buying waterfowl hunting land?
Very important. And Jake and Taylor can’t emphasize this enough, for good reason. Jake notes, “Duck hunting properties are the highest supply and demand right now when it comes to recreational or investment hunting land. There just aren’t that many of them per the factors we’ve talked about. There isn’t a surplus.”
Taylor adds, “There are properties that were good 20 years ago, and they’ll probably be good in 20 years. They’re just historically special properties. However, there are parts of the country where duck hunting is absolutely terrible. There are parts where it’s really good, but finding special properties comes down to working with a recreational land agent who is knowledgeable and has the expertise on waterfowl hunting in a specific regional flyway.”
If there’s still a question as to whether or not Jake and Taylor are experts on the subject of waterfowl hunting properties, Taylor puts those to rest. “We both grew up obsessing about this hobby and guiding all over the country. And now it gets to be our career. Jake and I have put in that time.”
Jake continues, “It’s a passion. It’s the pinnacle hunting property and inventory is slim. We know where to look and what to look for. We view ourselves more as advisors than traditional real estate agents when it comes to this type of property transaction. We’ll work with some clients for years finding them the right duck hunting property within their budget.”
It’s a relationship that goes beyond the exchange of cash and land. Jake and Taylor stay in touch with their clients, providing advice and counsel on how to better the land and optimize the hunting. “Reach out to us, even if it’s early on, so we can understand what you’re looking for. We have the inside track.”
Archery Hunting Tactics for both Public and Private Lands
Bowhunting combines unique appeal and unique challenges. On one hand, it honors a timeless tradition that requires a tremendous amount of skill. On the other, the physical demands of drawing a bow, the practice and the shorter shooting distances for hunting big game with a bow can create more barriers to entry. In anticipation of the upcoming archery season, here are a few pro tips to better prepare, practice and persevere – whether you’re hunting on public or private lands this season.
Spend Time on Pre-season Preparation
Choosing the right bow, correct draw length and draw weight is an important place to start – archery is definitely not a one-size-fits-all endeavor. If you’re new to it, head to your local sporting goods store to be properly fitted by an experienced bow tech. Beginners often benefit from learning with a compound bow – one that uses a cam system to make holding & aiming easier – versus a traditional recurve or longbow that doesn’t offer relief at full draw.
Given the risk of wounding an animal, practice is paramount when it comes to bowhunting. Buying a foam block or compressing enough bails of hay for target practice works well. Or you can take it to a more sophisticated level by setting up 3D Big Game Targets in real life scenarios across acres of your land or hike a 3D course on public land to practice.
Have the Right Equipment
Help ensure success by dressing the part and heading out with the proper equipment. Here are some key items for every bowhunter:
Trail or game cameras can be helpful in learning how deer and elk are moving through your property and the public lands you want to hunt. (Note: if installing game cams on public land, make sure to check your state’s regulations on when, how, where and if they can be used – these regulations vary from state to state.) Cams can help identify where game might bed or feed, giving you a better idea of where their location or general habits come opening day.
Pro Tip: Speaking of opening day, it’s best to keep human interaction minimal in the week or two leading up to it. During this time, leave the area alone to help foster an environment in which big game feel safe to bed and eat freely.
Scout – Both Digitally and In-person
It’s a good idea to begin with researching the area in which you’ll be hunting. For public lands, digital resources such as Google Earth, Google Maps, and apps such as Caltopo and onXmaps can be incredibly valuable. Invest time in understanding the greater region, neighboring properties, geological features, and areas of private land that might help you glean insight into the animals’ behavior.
Then take to the meadows, mountains, hills or basins to look for signs of big game or the animals themselves. Learn what to look for when you’re glassing, such as small sections of hide or antler, the twitchy movements of a tail or ear, and moving brush.
Mind the Wind
Even the most extensive preparation doesn’t matter if you’re battling unfavorable wind or weather conditions, so learn seasonal wind, daily thermals, and weather patterns for your public or private hunting land. Always having the wind in your favor is key to bowhunting success. Wind patterns help determine where you should stage to ensure breezes and gusts don’t blow your cover.
ProTip: It’s best to always have a wind checker to help confirm wind behavior in the field. In a pinch, tie on a short piece of yarn or thread to the bottom of your bow!
Know Where You Stand with a GPS with Hunting Map Layers
When hunting on private land, GPS mapping is less critical, however this can be a helpful tool for sharing info with your hunting party. For those venturing into public land, it’s a vital tool that helps inform your hunt from beginning to end. GPS mapping allows you to map the area and mark waypoints in the field – everything from the trailhead, to fresh sign, game trails, or where your shot was taken. Additionally, apps such as onX show private land boundaries and detailed owner information that can be critical information accessible right from your phone when needed.
Master the Art of Stealth
Being able to move through the field without creating dramatic disturbances helps ensure your bowhunting success. Learn how to be still, observant, and patient, moving low when needed, to lessen disturbances that might cause a ripple effect that pushes the herd out of the area. While this skill is not easily mastered, each time you venture into the woods – try to make it a goal to make as little disturbance as possible. Since, you cannot always guarantee that other hunters won’t disturb the game you are seeking on public lands – consider looking into the small steps you can make today to purchase the hunting property of your dreams!
Colorado’s Historic Year of Forest Fires
2020 was a historic year of wildland fires in our state. According to an article in 5280 Magazine, over 625,000 acres burned and three of the largest fires ever occurred last year (Carodine 2020). Total firefighting costs exceeded $266 million (gacc.nifc.gov). One of the blazes, the East Troublesome Creek (ETC) fire, scorched over 150,000 acres in only 1 day. That fire started and spread through forests comprised mostly of standing dead lodgepole pine trees from the bark beetle epidemic from earlier this century.
From a real estate perspective, 366 homes and 214 additional structures were damaged or a total loss in the ETC fire (cpr.org). According to a Larimer County Assessors Report, 243 buildings (of which 184 were homes) were damaged or lost in the Cameron Peak fire, affecting 469 privately owned properties (larimer.org). Total market value losses are approximately $6.4 million. The combined homeowner and auto insurance claims filed for both fires exceed $614 million, making 2020 the most expensive wildfire year ever recorded (rmiia.org).
Mountain and Rural Property Owner Resources
Wildfires across the western United States are becoming larger and more destructive and unfortunately, it may be the norm moving into the future (denverpost.com). Given the destructive nature of these large fires, it may seem that mountain and rural landowners cannot do anything to protect their investments. However, there are many steps that can be taken to improve safety while maintaining property values. These include doing mitigation work around homes and outbuildings to enrolling in a federal or state program that can help offset the cost of bringing in a contractor to do work on a property. There are a myriad of websites and articles on the internet available to landowners to help guide the decision-making process. Included here are a curated selection that may be valuable to readers of this article (Hayden Outdoors Real Estate does not endorse any specific organization or program, these are for information purposes only)
East Troublesome Creek and Cameron Peak Fires: A Photo Tour
In March 2021, Dr. Christopher Licata, a Forest Ecologist who recently joined the Hayden Outdoors team, did a driving tour of the area impacted by these two wildfires. His wife, Segrid, documented the damage to the forest and several of her photos are included here. Visit Dr. Licata’s Profile page to contact him for more info on this topic.
Hayden Outdoors National Sponsor Of Pheasants Forever
In an effort to support the preservation and growth of upland bird habitat on both private and public lands, Hayden Outdoors Real Estate has launched their National Sponsorship of Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever. Hayden Outdoors will market farm, ranch and recreational properties for sale to PF and QF members while making a significant gift commitment to upland wildlife.
Access to upland habitat for hunting with family and friends is a goal that Hayden Outdoors hopes to help sustain in the future. “As a real estate brokerage specializing in farmland and recreational property, Hayden Outdoors understands the importance of land stewardship and the value of quality wildlife habitat. When we decided that we wanted to do more for upland wildlife habitat, Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever was a natural partner,” stated Dax Hayden, Hayden Outdoors managing partner and Life Member of Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever. “Our family and passionate real estate agents recognize ‘The Habitat Organization’ as an effective and efficient conservation partner. When we learned more about PF’s vision for the future, it became clear that we needed to provide additional support to ensure an upland legacy for future generations.”
Just in the past year, Leo Hayden has helped with the “Build a Wildlife Area” program in coordinating Pheasants Forever’s acquisition of 1,080 acres of land in Sherman County, KS that was recently transferred to the Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism. The property, now called Veteran’s Wildlife Area, is now open to public hunting and being managed for sustained wildlife habitat.
In addition, Hayden Outdoors will work to bring together private landowners and PF wildlife biologists to help them create and conserve upland habitat by way of the “Private Lands Wildlife Habitat Assistance” program. Efforts to help maximize unused potential wildlife habitat, grow incremental income for private landowners from unused land, and enrolling more lands into existing management programs, such as Corners for Wildlife, are examples of Hayden Outdoors’ efforts to help landowners and the future of upland bird hunting.
“To create a high-level partnership with one of the premier land brokerage companies in the county is a giant step forward for the future of upland wildlife conservation and our hunting heritage,” said Chris Kalis, director of corporate partnerships for Pheasants Forever & Quail Forever. “Not only have they committed financially for increased wildlife habitat and public access, but the opportunities to assist private landowners with landscape-level habitat upgrades has major implications for private lands conservation.
Hayden Outdoors will be featured as a National Sponsor in many of PF and QF marketing mediums, in addition to being featured at the upcoming 2019 National Pheasant Fest & Quail Classic in Schaumburg, Illinois.
About Pheasants Forever
Pheasants Forever, including its quail conservation division, Quail Forever, is the nation’s largest nonprofit organization dedicated to upland habitat conservation. Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever have more than 140,000 members and 740 local chapters across the United States and Canada. Since creation in 1982, Pheasants Forever has spent $867 million on 540,000 habitat projects benefiting 18 million acres nationwide.
About Hayden Outdoors
Hayden Outdoors, LLC is a family-owned and operated real estate brokerage started in 1976 that is based in Windsor, Colorado. With over 100 licensed brokers, agents and staff, Hayden Outdoors is recognized as one of the largest land brokerage in the central United States and “Best Brokerages” every year since 2011 by The Land Report Magazine.
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