Wildlife management is a large and diverse subject that is individualized in conjuncture with the species being managed for. It is so much more than putting in a food plot and monitoring it with trail cameras like the photos above show. I dive deep in the area of wildlife management and I look into all aspects of a property to make sure I can achieve its potential but trying not to exceed its carrying capacity.

I want to work with all types of wildlife enthusiasts to help transform any piece of property they wish into something they can enjoy for years to come. It may be working with property owners who have 5 acres and increasing the number of snag trees on their property so more song birds will call it home because they are avid bird watchers. It may be creating a new stand of aspen trees on a property in conjunction with creating edge cover along a hardwood stand to increase ruffed grouse numbers on a property. Creating such habitat could be perfect for a father and son who can sneak in some upland bird hunting after school.

I will work with land owners to determine what their goals are and then assess their property for its potential. I will identify tree, shrub and plant species. I take soil samples and identify property features (valleys, 300' hills, ridges). Once the land assessment has been documented then a management plan can be created in short (>12 months) or long term (<12 months) time frames. 

One of the toughest aspects of wildlife management can be conveying realistic expectations of a properties potential to a landowner or the timeline it will take to get the property to the place the owner wants or expects. Many land owners or individuals who lease property may want to have high numbers of deer and many mature bucks. Carrying capacity is a factor of a property that won't allow a property to have high deer numbers and many mature bucks. Once the deer carrying capacity exceeds the habitat then deer will leave or die off and their won't be enough nutrition to go around. Then the whole plan of managing for mature bucks won't happen because without proper nutrition then bucks that reach maturity won't have the right amount of nutrition to reach their potential antler size. The bucks will be so undersized for their age class they won't be as desirable to harvest. There are many scenarios like this one described above so a realistic goal must be set, then owners and managers should work together to achieve those goals.