Maximizing Your Hunting Property

Maximizing Your Hunting Property

A SIT DOWN WITH DR. GRANT WOODS

Sitting down with Dr. Grant Woods and discussing land improvements for hunting is like being fed by a firehose. Dr. Woods is a wildlife biologist specializing in deer management and is capable of sharing more knowledge in an hour than most landowners or hunters will accumulate in a lifetime.

STORY BY MAC CHRISTIAN | CMO, NATIONAL LAND REALTY

WILDLIFE

blends that compliment each other rather than concentrate on a single forage species. Planting blends and managing for quality native habitat will provide high-quality forage throughout the year in variable weather conditions.

Cover: Cover is defined as an area where wildlife goes to avoid danger - a refuge if you will. This does not mean that the land should not be used. We routinely see deer walking around in broad daylight on golf courses andthis is because deer have learned they rarely are threatened there. If you count on using the land, do so consistently so that the animals view this area as safe cover. In the case of livestock, try to fence off when possible so that livestock do not impact the wildlife in the area.

Water: Water is self-explanatory, but the type of water does need some consideration. The water source for wild game should not be disturbed by livestock and should not be too large. Prey species such as deer seem to prefer smaller water sources so predators can’t force them into the water. Dr. Woods advises making water source no larger than two pickup trucks. The water sources should not be loud. Flowing rivers are challenging because they obscure the sound of predators and are not seen as safe by wildlife.

Step 1: Concentrate on the Least Provided Resource

Game animals need three things: food, cover, and water. If one of these three things is lacking, the wildlife populations in the area won’t express their potential. Because it’s rare for anyone to own enough land to include all of a deer or turkey's home range, it’s important to observe

neighboring properties. Learn what resources, such as food, cover, and water are available on neighboring properties. Once you have made these observations, identify which of these three resources is least available in the neighborhood. Your first task will be to provide the resource that’s least available to wildlife. This is the best method to help and attract wildlife.

Step 2: Build All of The Resources Needed for Wild Game

Now that you have maximized the availability of the least available resource in the area, its time to build up all of the resources that wildlife needs. You will want to establish the remaining two resources and hopefully do it better than your neighbors on adjoining land. By taking this approach to resources you are increasing the chances of having higher numbers of game animals on your land at any point in time. Over time, if managed correctly, this will also have a higher chance of producing more consistently large game animals.

Step 3: Plan Your Access

As mentioned above, cover is seen by animals as a safe space. Cover does not require thick foliage or the absence of people “Remember deer frequent golf courses in broad daylight while golfers cruise the greens in their carts.” If you plan on using it, do so consistently so that your activity is not seen as a threat. This might be seen as counterintuitive, but as Dr. Woods puts it, “The biggest problem with hunters is that they think like humans. To be a successful hunter, you have to think like a deer.” If game animals see your UTV often but remain undisturbed, it will be seen as anon-threat and won’t alert the deer. As Dr. Woodssays, “The worst thing you can do is not use your land and then cause a lot of disturbance just before season. This happens to my clients all the time. The property remains unused until hunting season and then hunters buzz the roads and trails and alert the critters!”

We’ve mentioned above that the management practices of your neighbors will influence the quantity and quality of critters and hunting experiences on your land. If the practices on neighboring properties are counterproductive to your goals, consider developing a game management co-op among your neighbors. Doing so will get all adjoining landowners on the same page and greatly increase the chances of success during the hunting season.

Dr. Grant Woods provides consultancy for habitat improvement and hunting strategies throughout the United States. The ideas expressed in this article are only the tip of the iceberg. The actual tactics vary around geography and terrain, which requires an expert like Dr.Woods. You can find his contact information and educational videos at GrowingDeer.tv.

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