Land Management Resources

In the Idaho backcountry, Tom Schneider found a moose carcass last spring with antlers still velvet, belly torn open, scattered across a logging cut. It was wolves. He recognized their work, jaws like traps, and no meat wasted. He had seen this before too many times. But the radio out of Boise said wolves weren’t the problem. According to them, it was due to ticks and mild winters.

We’ve all heard the saying, “If it’s brown it’s down!” However, in recent years, it seem more common that hunters are preaching, “Let them go. Let them grow!” In fact, in 2001, for every 3½-year-old or older buck that was harvested nationally, hunters took two to three yearling bucks. As of 2019 the number of yearling bucks and 3½-year-old or older bucks taken were nearly identical. Much of this change can can be attributed to the prevalence of quality deer management (QDM) and has become generally understood and practiced in some form by the vast majority of deer hunters.

We’ve spent the last few weeks covering land management but there’s another side of the coin. Aside from the many ways to improve your land, herd management is critical for growing and keeping big old bucks on your property.

It’s the dream of nearly every whitetail hunter out there; owning your own piece of ground (or more of it) that you can shape into your personal whitetail hunting paradise. Let’s face it, purchasing hunting property is an enormous decision and an often overwhelming process, especially for a first-time buyer. If you’re thinking about purchasing your first piece of hunting property, we have put together an overview of the process including financials and land features to consider. Along with these considerations, the best recommendation we can make is to work with a reputable agent specializing specifically in hunting property. They will be able to guide you through the entire process with confidence and answer the many questions you may have along the way. Ultimately an educated buyer will make a smart land purchase.