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Speaker 1: Welcome to the Wired to Hunt podcast, home of the

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Speaker 1: modern white tail hunter, and now your host Mark Kenyon.

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Speaker 1: Welcome to the Wired to Hunt podcast. I'm your host

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Speaker 1: Mark Kenyan and taying the show. We're discussing why, where,

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Speaker 1: and how to plant native grass habitat. And joining me

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Speaker 1: to discuss this is Pheasants Forever VP of Conservation Delivery

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Speaker 1: Chris mc leland. All right, welcome to the Wired to

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Speaker 1: Hunt podcast, brought to you by First Light, and we're

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Speaker 1: talking grass today, grass land habitat, grasses, forbes, pollinator habitat,

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Speaker 1: all that good stuff. This is our last episode of

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Speaker 1: our Habitat series. We've covered everything from southern whitetail habit

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Speaker 1: improvement to how to get started if you're new to

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Speaker 1: this kind of stuff. Last week we talked trees and

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Speaker 1: today we're talking grass. And if you tune into our episode,

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Speaker 1: like a month and a half ago or so, we

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Speaker 1: spoke with another person from Pheasants and Forever, that was

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Speaker 1: Bethany Herb and we were talking about kind of large

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Speaker 1: scale grassland habitat issues, the importance of grass habitat, prairie habitat,

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Speaker 1: grassland habitat across the country, and the fact that we've

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Speaker 1: lost I think something like fifty three million acres of

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Speaker 1: this ground in just a little over the last decade. Uh.

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Speaker 1: This is tremendously important habitat for deer and birds, bugs,

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Speaker 1: all sorts of stuff, and we're losing it. So in

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Speaker 1: that episode back then, we discussed high level ideas for how,

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Speaker 1: you know, we could work to advocate for new legislation

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Speaker 1: that will hopefully get more grassland habitat on the ground.

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Speaker 1: But today I want to talk about what we can

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Speaker 1: do as individuals if we own land, if we have

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Speaker 1: access to land where we have permission to improve the ground,

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Speaker 1: what can we do to get grassland habitat out there?

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Speaker 1: And why should we do that? You know, I think

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Speaker 1: that I don't think. I know that doing that is

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Speaker 1: not only gonna be good for the earth and the animals,

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Speaker 1: but it's actually gonna be really good for your hunting too.

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Speaker 1: So that's what we discussed today with Chris mcleland. Chris

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Speaker 1: is the VP of Conservation Delivery for Pheasants Forever, so

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Speaker 1: he does this thing for a career. His job is

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Speaker 1: working with people to help get better habitat out there.

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Speaker 1: But he's not just a pheasant guy. He actually has

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Speaker 1: a long history as a deer hunter too, so he

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Speaker 1: can speak to us from a white tailor's perspective on

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Speaker 1: how this can actually help us with our deer, with

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Speaker 1: our deer hunting, and with the good times we want

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Speaker 1: to have out on our ground. And that's our plan. Today.

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Speaker 1: We cover a lot about why this stuff matters. We

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Speaker 1: cover a lot about how to make decisions around what

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Speaker 1: to plant, where to planet, when to planet, how much

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Speaker 1: should we plant, all that kind of stuff, and then

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Speaker 1: we spend a good amount of time then discussing how

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Speaker 1: to actually do it. You know, do you need a

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Speaker 1: broadcaster or a cedar or a drill? You know, do

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Speaker 1: you need to spray? Do you need to burn? How

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Speaker 1: to do all those different things We covered all today.

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Speaker 1: So if you've ever wanted to put something in your ground,

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Speaker 1: something like CRP type habitat that you see, you know

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Speaker 1: on TV that looks so great and you see these

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Speaker 1: antlers rise out of the grass and come walking over

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Speaker 1: the hill, you know that that dream scenario. If you've

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Speaker 1: ever wanted to live that yourself, you want to listen

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Speaker 1: today's episode as well. So I think, without any further ado,

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Speaker 1: let's get into this chat with Chris mc leland. All right,

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Speaker 1: I am here now with Chris McK leland. Chris, welcome

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Speaker 1: to the show. Hey, thank you very much for having me.

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Speaker 1: Excited to be here. Yeah, I'm excited too. I'm excited

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Speaker 1: to have you. This is gonna be no pressure, but

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Speaker 1: this is the the finale of our Habitat series. Month.

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Speaker 1: We've we've covered I think this is our fifth week

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Speaker 1: of episodes and we're ending with this one. So we

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Speaker 1: gotta end on a high note. All right, Chris, can

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Speaker 1: you do that for me? I got Hey, I got

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Speaker 1: you covered. I'll do my I'll do my absolute best.

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Speaker 1: No pressure, exactly right. I got you covered though. Well.

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Speaker 1: Speaking of pressure, though, I gotta ask you this to

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Speaker 1: kick things off. Your title at PF is VP of

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Speaker 1: Conservation Delivery. At least that's the latest title I've seen

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Speaker 1: for you. Is that first off? Is that accurate? VP

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Speaker 1: of Conservation Delivery? Yeah, that's that's that's accurate. I've been

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Speaker 1: in I've been in this role for it'll be a

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Speaker 1: year in July, so it's a new kind of a

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Speaker 1: new position within the organization. And uh, that's uh, that's

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Speaker 1: the seat that I sit in. Okay, So the vice

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Speaker 1: President of Conservation Delivery. That sounds really really importantly. It

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Speaker 1: almost sounds like you, yourself alone, are responsible for the

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Speaker 1: entirety of what Pheasants Forever is about, because the Pheasants

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Speaker 1: Forever is conservation and you're in charge of delivering conservation.

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Speaker 1: A do you feel that pressure and be what does

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Speaker 1: that mean? What do you actually do? Chris? Yeah, I

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Speaker 1: appreciate that. To answer your question, yes, I do. I

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Speaker 1: do feel that pressure. But thankfully it's uh, it's I

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Speaker 1: have an incredible team UM out there across the country

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Speaker 1: that are that are are doing the real heavy heavy lift.

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Speaker 1: And UM, you know, really what my role here is

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Speaker 1: is UM within Pheasants Forever Quell Forever, is is to

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Speaker 1: put habitat on the ground. Uh, you know, no if

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Speaker 1: and ors or, but that's what that's what we're about. UM.

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Speaker 1: We strive to be a force multiplier for conservation across

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Speaker 1: the country, UM, public lands, private lands, working with a

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Speaker 1: just a diversity of state and federal partners. And my

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Speaker 1: my role is really too make sure that our field

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Speaker 1: biologists and our our state and regional leadership across the

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Speaker 1: country they have what they need UM to do their

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Speaker 1: job to the best of their abilities and put as

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Speaker 1: much habitat on the ground and and service those partners

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Speaker 1: and landours we work with to the best of their ability.

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Speaker 1: So um, my job is to to make sure our

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Speaker 1: team has the tools they need and then just get

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Speaker 1: out of the way and let them do what they

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Speaker 1: do best. So there's pressure in that only because I uh,

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Speaker 1: I've got such incredible staff and and we have such

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Speaker 1: incredible biologists here that um, you know, I never want

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Speaker 1: to be the bottleneck or the pinch point or have

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Speaker 1: anybody waiting on me. So um, as far as getting

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Speaker 1: good work done and putting high quality habitat on the

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Speaker 1: ground I have, I'm just so proud of our team

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Speaker 1: and and and just him thankful to work alongside them.

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Speaker 1: But but yeah, this, this position, this role is um

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Speaker 1: is never dull, and I really like that, so um

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Speaker 1: so yeah, it's it's pretty pretty rewarding. So so you know,

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Speaker 1: obviously our audiences is mostly white tail focused, so there

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Speaker 1: might be a decent chunk of people listening that don't

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Speaker 1: really have a clear idea of how Pheasants Forever and

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Speaker 1: Quail Forever works. Can you give us a little more

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Speaker 1: clarity on exactly, like, how does PF put habitat on

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Speaker 1: the ground. As you said, like, what what does that

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Speaker 1: actually mean an action? How do you guys make those

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Speaker 1: things happen? Yeah, it's a great question. It's it's been

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Speaker 1: an evolution to be honest with you, and we're kind

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Speaker 1: of UM, you know, continue into to ride to ride

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Speaker 1: that way. You know. Organizations started in UM. You know,

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Speaker 1: we're grassroots, volunteer based five oh one C three UM

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Speaker 1: Conservation not for profit UM. And we started very similarly

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Speaker 1: to M you know, we have a very similar story

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Speaker 1: too many conservation NGOs. Our organizations UM was started in

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Speaker 1: a basement UM and and really grew, UM, you know,

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Speaker 1: grew from there and for many, many many years, the

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Speaker 1: way that Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever delivered its mission

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Speaker 1: to put a cat on the ground was through our volunteers.

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Speaker 1: There are you know, men and women you know, giving

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Speaker 1: their time to go out and turn the dirt and

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Speaker 1: UH put a wildlife have a tat on the ground.

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Speaker 1: Primarily on public lands at that time, UM, some private

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Speaker 1: land projects. But as our organization grew and our our

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Speaker 1: volunteer base grew, UM, we started UH just asking some

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Speaker 1: tough questions. So how can we do this, How can

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Speaker 1: we do this better? How can we impact the landscape

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Speaker 1: and and as UH you know, a beneficial and positive

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Speaker 1: way to the fullest extent. Again being a forced multiplier

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Speaker 1: for all the good things going on out there, how

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Speaker 1: can we help lift that boat a little higher? And

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Speaker 1: in two thousand and four we had the opportunity to

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Speaker 1: partner UM to put the first private land biologists through

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Speaker 1: Pheasants Forever, Quill Forever on the Ground and and UM.

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Speaker 1: And since that time that program has has continued to

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Speaker 1: grow along side our chapter volunteers. UH, we have UH

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Speaker 1: an army of men and women out there UM that

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Speaker 1: are working one on one with landowners providing conservation technical

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Speaker 1: assistance on on any private land habitat project they have,

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Speaker 1: you know, peasants and quail. That's great, But we do

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Speaker 1: so much habitat work for UM. You know, where the

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Speaker 1: objective is white tails or it's wild turkey or it's waterfowl.

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Speaker 1: You know, we don't we don't you know. We we

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Speaker 1: we go where the landowner goes, and so we want

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Speaker 1: to help them achieve their objective. And so we have UM.

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Speaker 1: We have an entire workforce of of AS our CEO

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Speaker 1: refers to them as as fire eaters. You know, men

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Speaker 1: and women out there just eager and hungry to put

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Speaker 1: habitat on the ground. And uh and UM, you know,

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Speaker 1: we've we've partnered with you know, as I mentioned, state

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Speaker 1: and federal organizations to help make those things happen our

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Speaker 1: chapters as well. UM and uh we've kind of expanded

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Speaker 1: now into the public um public land phase of this.

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Speaker 1: So now we have we're starting to grow an arm

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Speaker 1: of our organization that's providing boots on the ground on

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Speaker 1: those w M A s UM to help resource managers

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Speaker 1: do a little more there and fill some holes and

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Speaker 1: um and also provide additional public access. We have staff

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Speaker 1: out there across the country that are working to create

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Speaker 1: more public land for folks to uh, to enjoy and

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Speaker 1: recreate on. So so it's been an evolution, I mean,

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Speaker 1: it really has been. And and but we you know,

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Speaker 1: the way we get work done is is not by ourselves.

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Speaker 1: I mean, I think that's the biggest take home as

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Speaker 1: it takes willing partners, willing volunteers, willing landowners and and

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Speaker 1: we're there's genuine interest and desire to do good things

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Speaker 1: for wildlife. We're gonna be there and do everything we

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Speaker 1: can to make it happen for him. So, UM, it's

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Speaker 1: a blessing to be here, and we're very thankful and

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Speaker 1: fortunate to you know, have made it this far. Sure,

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Speaker 1: that's awesome. Uh it sounds like a lot of work though,

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Speaker 1: there's a lot of moving pieces. You put it in

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Speaker 1: a lot of years doing this. Uh, I'm sure investing

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Speaker 1: a ton of time and energy and blood and sweat

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Speaker 1: and tears, all those cliche things. Right. Uh yeah, why

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Speaker 1: do you do it? Why? Why did you choose to

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Speaker 1: make a career and a life revolved around conservation. Yeah,

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Speaker 1: that's a that's a good question. I So I'm from

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Speaker 1: central Missouri, grew up in a really rural community, great community, UM,

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Speaker 1: agricultural community. Um, most of my family is still there,

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Speaker 1: and and uh, you know, it was just one of

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Speaker 1: those things where you know, I loved I loved you know,

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Speaker 1: being in a rural landscape. I grew up hunting and

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Speaker 1: fishing with my grandfather's and my dad and my uncle's

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Speaker 1: and you know, I just, for whatever reason, just developed

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Speaker 1: a passion to be outside. You know this, this majesty, Um,

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Speaker 1: you know that there's still can be unknowns out there.

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Speaker 1: You know that there's still wild things, um out there

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Speaker 1: just always you know, appealed to me. And it was

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Speaker 1: something that just was a calling for me. And and

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Speaker 1: I've never it's a very hard, uh feel too to

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Speaker 1: stick with because it it can be it can be challenging,

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Speaker 1: but um, there was never an alternative for me. I

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Speaker 1: wanted to to make a difference, um and and make

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Speaker 1: sure that you know, there was healthy landscapes and and

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Speaker 1: plenty of wildlife out there on those landscapes, and and um,

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Speaker 1: you know, I was gonna make this work one way

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Speaker 1: or the other. And it's definitely been hard, um at times,

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Speaker 1: but it's been the most rewarding thing I think I

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Speaker 1: could have ever been involved with. And I'm just very

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Speaker 1: thankful to have found my way to to the seat

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Speaker 1: that I'm in today. And um and you know, even

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Speaker 1: on the artist days, there's still there's still some so

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Speaker 1: many positives to be thankful for and so um, yeah,

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Speaker 1: I just can't imagine doing anything else, honestly, Yeah, I

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Speaker 1: love that. So what about what about on the actual

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Speaker 1: land work side. You know, I I see that you've

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Speaker 1: got a family property where you're doing work on your

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Speaker 1: own land, and you know, improving, improving the ground yourself

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Speaker 1: and all that kind of stuff. I'm sure that is

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Speaker 1: helping you with your hunting goals, right, but but but

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Speaker 1: why do you do that? What is it about actually

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Speaker 1: work in the ground yourself and trying to make that

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Speaker 1: place specifically better? What's what is it about that? Because

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Speaker 1: this whole you know, last month we've been talking about

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Speaker 1: it's been you know, diving into a should you you know,

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Speaker 1: should you try to improve the habitat that you have

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Speaker 1: influence over and then how to do it? But I'm

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Speaker 1: curious for you, like why, what's your pitch for why

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Speaker 1: or what it is? What is it for you? Yeah? Yeah, absolutely, Well,

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Speaker 1: for one thing, it's um, you know it. It's like anything,

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Speaker 1: you know it nothing stays the same. You know when

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Speaker 1: one of the first things you learned UM, you know

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Speaker 1: when you're when you're in you know you can chasing

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Speaker 1: this this career is UM the term succession. What that

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Speaker 1: simply means is, you know, as the clock ticks things

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Speaker 1: things change. And so when you think about you know,

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Speaker 1: your property and you think about habitat and the quality

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Speaker 1: of habitat, UM. You know, if you don't stay active

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Speaker 1: and in the wildlife habitat world, disturbance is a good thing.

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Speaker 1: You want. You want disturbance because that's constantly setting succession back.

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Speaker 1: And generally what that equates to is is it increases

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Speaker 1: the quality of the habitat that you have. And so

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Speaker 1: you know, from from simply a recreational habitat standpoint, you know,

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Speaker 1: I want to ensure that I have the highest quality habitats,

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Speaker 1: you know, for for the species I'm interested in on

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Speaker 1: my property as possible. In order to do that, I

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Speaker 1: gotta get I gotta get active. And um, one of

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Speaker 1: the most common I guess misconceptions that many have is,

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Speaker 1: UM that you can overdo it. And you certainly can.

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Speaker 1: But most of the time, you know, you're you're not

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Speaker 1: going to be as active as you probably should be

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Speaker 1: with your management right out of the gate, because it's

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Speaker 1: just gonna seem like it's a it's a bit too much.

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Speaker 1: But you know, so for for those reasons, I just

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Speaker 1: want to ensure that I have the highest quality habitat

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Speaker 1: that I that I can have on my property. I also,

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Speaker 1: you know that for me personally, there's a legacy component

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Speaker 1: to it. You know, I like to I like to

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Speaker 1: know that, UM, you know that this property whenever I

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Speaker 1: whenever I leave, whenever that may be, is is better

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Speaker 1: than it was when I acquired it. And you know,

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Speaker 1: and and you start as you get out and you

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Speaker 1: start turning the dirt, you start putting a little fire

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Speaker 1: on the landscape, and you start seeing these changes. I

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Speaker 1: think naturally there's this desire to want to learn more

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Speaker 1: about what you're seeing. And I've seen that so many

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Speaker 1: times with landowners I've been privileged to work with over

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Speaker 1: the years. Is you know, you talk about what you

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Speaker 1: could expect to see if they do practice A, B

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Speaker 1: and C. And if they do that and they see

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Speaker 1: those changes that you sort of predicted, there's always this

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Speaker 1: They become very inquisitive. Okay, now what's this flower or

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Speaker 1: what you know? Why did that happen here? But we've

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Speaker 1: got a different response over here. And then the more

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Speaker 1: they learn and the more you know, exciting, they get excited,

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Speaker 1: they get um the more that passion for you know,

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Speaker 1: not just that the animal that they're chasing, you know,

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Speaker 1: it's it's the land itself. You know, it's the it's

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Speaker 1: the ecology that's going behind it, that's driving the bus

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Speaker 1: behind it. That it starts really lighting the fire there,

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Speaker 1: and and and that fire has been burning bright for

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Speaker 1: me for a really long time, and so, um, you

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Speaker 1: know that's that's kind of that's kind of why I

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Speaker 1: get to do it, and um, you know, it helps

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Speaker 1: make me feel connected to what I'm trying to accomplish. Yeah,

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Speaker 1: you know, as you were just describing that, it made

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Speaker 1: me think of an analogy that I think helps describe

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Speaker 1: something I've tried saying in the past, which is, you know,

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Speaker 1: once I started working on habitat projects myself, kind of

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Speaker 1: like you, you start seeing so much more around it.

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Speaker 1: You start connecting to the landscape in so many different ways,

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Speaker 1: and it like opens your eyes to a whole world

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Speaker 1: that was around you you just never really realized it. Um.

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Speaker 1: It's kind of like, and I don't I think you

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Speaker 1: do some fishing, it's kind of like putting on polarized sunglasses.

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Speaker 1: If you don't have those polarized glasses and you look

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Speaker 1: at the water, you just see glass reflecting up at you, right,

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Speaker 1: But you throw those polaroids on, all of a sudden,

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Speaker 1: you can see the fish, you can see the rocks,

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Speaker 1: you can see the algae, you can see the wood,

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Speaker 1: you can see everything underneath the surface. And I feel

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Speaker 1: like as soon as you start working with the land,

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Speaker 1: it's the same kind of thing. It's not no longer

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Speaker 1: am I just passing through the woods trying to find

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Speaker 1: a deer. I am passing through a landscape, which I'm

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Speaker 1: seeing all these different moving pieces and parts. Now that

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Speaker 1: I that I get, that, I that I understand to

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Speaker 1: some degree that I just never would have before. That's

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Speaker 1: a that's an incredible analogy. I'm gonna to feel that one.

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Speaker 1: That's that's that's that's a really good one. I It's

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Speaker 1: exactly right, you know, and you you just have much

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Speaker 1: more depth and perspective to um, you know, to to

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Speaker 1: what you're trying to accomplish, you know, and UM and

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Speaker 1: what it helps you understand at times, and we're talking

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Speaker 1: about diversity and habitat structure, and it it gives anyone

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Speaker 1: the understanding that whether they have forty acres or four hundreds, UM,

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Speaker 1: there's always more that can be done. And you can

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Speaker 1: also make an incredible impact, um, you know on your forty,

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Speaker 1: just like you can on your four hundred. I mean,

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Speaker 1: it's it is, um, you know, it's just a matter

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Speaker 1: of understanding what's going on and understanding what the limiting

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Speaker 1: factors are. Um, you know, the healthier that that property is,

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Speaker 1: that landscape is, UM, the more diverse it is, you know,

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Speaker 1: the more wildlife you're gonna have, and UM, you know,

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Speaker 1: all creators, but definitely a species you're looking for to um.

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Speaker 1: You know. So it's it's just a better deeper perspective

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Speaker 1: and and uh you know that's that's sort of the

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Speaker 1: end goal. Yeah, all right, so let's let's talk about

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Speaker 1: then how we do it. You've got me sold on

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Speaker 1: the fact that I should keep doing it, but let's

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Speaker 1: talk about how to do it now. You Chris have

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Speaker 1: been drafted as the grass guy. Okay, because you know

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Speaker 1: when we talk, when we talk white tail habitat, a

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Speaker 1: lot of the time, like food plots get a ton

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Speaker 1: of press. They're very sexy. Everybody wants to talk about

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Speaker 1: food plots. If I were to go down the line

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Speaker 1: a little bit more, maybe we're going to talk about,

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Speaker 1: you know, chain cell work. People get pretty excited about

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Speaker 1: cutting trees or planting trees. To right. We just last

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Speaker 1: week talked with some folks about plant ning trees, you know,

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Speaker 1: putting trees in the ground, getting apples out there, all

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Speaker 1: that kind of stuff that seems pretty obvious. Um, something

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Speaker 1: that doesn't get a ton of play. It's been talked

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Speaker 1: about more, but still nothing like food plots or timber management.

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Speaker 1: Is grassland type habitat. If we were in an elevator, Chris,

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Speaker 1: and you had like thirty seconds or a minute to

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Speaker 1: pitch me on why a white tail hunter should be

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Speaker 1: thinking about grasses and forbes and that kind of early

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Speaker 1: successional grassland type habitat, why they should put that on

359
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Speaker 1: their property. Pitch me on what your what your angle

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Speaker 1: would be. Convince me absolutely well. To me, it's it's

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Speaker 1: about usable habitat. So if I look out my window

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Speaker 1: right here in my office right now, Um, I'm looking

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Speaker 1: at and I worked, I'm working out of my house.

364
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Speaker 1: So I'm looking at my yard. And I've got a

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Speaker 1: all about a quarter acre yard that I maintained, and

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Speaker 1: it's it's short, and it's a lot of screen. It

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Speaker 1: looks good. But beyond that, I've got eighty acres of

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Speaker 1: native warm season grass. And if you look at the

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Speaker 1: structural differences, and you look at that the heights and

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Speaker 1: the density and the diversity in those natives as opposed

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Speaker 1: to what I'm maintaining in my yard doesn't take heart,

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Speaker 1: doesn't take long to see that's had eighty acres of

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Speaker 1: of tall, lush native prairie is much more usable at

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Speaker 1: many more times of the year than you know, say,

375
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Speaker 1: say my yard. So for me, it all boils down

376
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Speaker 1: to that. It's from a white tail standpoint, I'm looking

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Speaker 1: for a cover uh in the winter. I'm looking for

378
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Speaker 1: um uh fawning cover in the spring. I'm looking for

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Speaker 1: forage diversity which these grasses can provide at different times

380
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Speaker 1: of the year. And I'm looking to create more usable

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Speaker 1: space um all my property. You know, I live in

382
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Speaker 1: central Missouri. You know we're blessed with some some great

383
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Speaker 1: some great timber tracks. But you know, the landscapes open

384
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Speaker 1: in a lot of cases as well. And so when

385
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Speaker 1: you put that grass on that landscape, you know, if

386
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Speaker 1: you don't have um, you know, a forest or a

387
00:22:14,080 --> 00:22:16,880
Speaker 1: woodlot nearby, and you've got native grass on the landscape,

388
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Speaker 1: you still have incredible diversity and structure, and you're gonna

389
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Speaker 1: have white tails and all kinds of other wildlife using

390
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Speaker 1: those um you know, using that habitat, using those acres,

391
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Speaker 1: whereas um if it wasn't there, you know, it would

392
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Speaker 1: be it would be much less. So so yeah, you

393
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Speaker 1: know you're improving the habitat quality by adding these natives,

394
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Speaker 1: but you're also creating usable space, um in huntable space

395
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Speaker 1: as well. So um, it's a benefit in in many

396
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Speaker 1: many ways to incorporate natives, uh where and when you can,

397
00:22:50,160 --> 00:22:54,879
Speaker 1: um and uh it's one of those things to me. Um,

398
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Speaker 1: I've never met a white tail hunter that that has

399
00:22:57,640 --> 00:23:02,240
Speaker 1: installed native grasses that have and disappointed by the use

400
00:23:02,520 --> 00:23:06,919
Speaker 1: and and and how much deer, how much deer are

401
00:23:06,960 --> 00:23:11,680
Speaker 1: attracted to those habitat types for sure. So UM, you know,

402
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Speaker 1: I I think there are a positive in many many ways.

403
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Speaker 1: So I want to run a I guess a hypothesis

404
00:23:20,080 --> 00:23:22,200
Speaker 1: by you. It's a little bit of the theory, I guess.

405
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Speaker 1: So I anywhere I've ever hunted deer, you know, let's

406
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Speaker 1: let's say like the Great Plain States don't come, so

407
00:23:29,000 --> 00:23:32,159
Speaker 1: we're gonna stay, Like in an area that's not all grasslands,

408
00:23:32,160 --> 00:23:36,480
Speaker 1: So in an area that's mostly timber, an egg or

409
00:23:36,560 --> 00:23:40,560
Speaker 1: some mixture or interface of those two things. Anywhere I've

410
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Speaker 1: hunted like that, where I find a patch that does

411
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Speaker 1: have grassland type habitat, Let's say one field got put

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Speaker 1: into CRP or there is a CRP in this property

413
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Speaker 1: on this side and there's a regular agg and timber

414
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Speaker 1: on the other. Every time I go into an area

415
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Speaker 1: like that that has some kind of grassy component like that,

416
00:24:00,040 --> 00:24:03,960
Speaker 1: that grassy area is the hub of activity almost always.

417
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Speaker 1: That is like the hot spot for stuff coming in

418
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Speaker 1: and out. And I mean I always gravitate towards those locations.

419
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Speaker 1: Is that just me? Or is that happening? No, it's

420
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Speaker 1: it's to me. I that those have been my experiences,

421
00:24:17,320 --> 00:24:20,679
Speaker 1: and UM, it's you know, for lots of reasons. You know,

422
00:24:20,760 --> 00:24:24,840
Speaker 1: I have a on on my property. I have actually

423
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Speaker 1: a what we were referred to as a remnant prairie

424
00:24:29,680 --> 00:24:33,680
Speaker 1: UM on it. So it was it's full of natives.

425
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Speaker 1: But I didn't I didn't see anything originally. UM, it

426
00:24:37,680 --> 00:24:39,480
Speaker 1: was just there. And so through a little bit of

427
00:24:39,520 --> 00:24:42,600
Speaker 1: management and prescribed fire and UM, I did do some

428
00:24:42,640 --> 00:24:45,000
Speaker 1: interceeding later on, but it was it was always great

429
00:24:45,000 --> 00:24:48,080
Speaker 1: white tail hunting. And UM, you know, they feel they

430
00:24:48,080 --> 00:24:51,480
Speaker 1: feel protected because they can get in there. It's tall. Um,

431
00:24:51,520 --> 00:24:53,879
Speaker 1: you know, they can they can get the wind in

432
00:24:53,920 --> 00:24:57,480
Speaker 1: their favor. So UM, you know, for lots of reasons

433
00:24:57,480 --> 00:25:00,640
Speaker 1: they can. You know, they just feel protected. Um, it's

434
00:25:00,640 --> 00:25:04,560
Speaker 1: an opportunity for them to um. Uh like I said,

435
00:25:04,600 --> 00:25:08,119
Speaker 1: for him, you know, for the for fawning, it's uh,

436
00:25:08,320 --> 00:25:10,280
Speaker 1: you know, same reasons. It's just one of those areas

437
00:25:10,320 --> 00:25:13,840
Speaker 1: that they they'll key in on. Um. But when I'm hunting,

438
00:25:14,119 --> 00:25:15,920
Speaker 1: you can bet I'm gonna be looking on the map

439
00:25:16,000 --> 00:25:19,880
Speaker 1: to see, okay, where you know, where is the prairie

440
00:25:20,520 --> 00:25:23,080
Speaker 1: the natives, whether it's you know, remnant or CRP or

441
00:25:23,080 --> 00:25:26,280
Speaker 1: whatever it might be, you know where's the grass and

442
00:25:26,440 --> 00:25:28,919
Speaker 1: where's the way in and out? And I'm keying in

443
00:25:28,960 --> 00:25:32,240
Speaker 1: on that and uh, because i know at some point

444
00:25:32,240 --> 00:25:35,680
Speaker 1: in time they're gonna be there. Um. And I can

445
00:25:35,720 --> 00:25:38,800
Speaker 1: tell you just on my place, a little bit of

446
00:25:38,840 --> 00:25:41,040
Speaker 1: TLC and that remnant prairie, getting that's kind of whip

447
00:25:41,119 --> 00:25:44,800
Speaker 1: back up into shape. Um made a world of difference

448
00:25:44,920 --> 00:25:47,280
Speaker 1: on the number of deer. Uh in the quality of

449
00:25:47,320 --> 00:25:51,360
Speaker 1: dear that I started seeing just within a year. Um,

450
00:25:51,440 --> 00:25:55,600
Speaker 1: and and the uses is only increased. And uh. One

451
00:25:55,600 --> 00:25:57,679
Speaker 1: of my favorite things to do actually in the spring

452
00:25:57,760 --> 00:26:00,280
Speaker 1: is when we we burn a third of that old

453
00:26:00,280 --> 00:26:03,800
Speaker 1: a year. And uh, you know, there's nothing cooler than

454
00:26:03,840 --> 00:26:06,919
Speaker 1: seeing a set of sheds glowing right after you right

455
00:26:06,960 --> 00:26:09,600
Speaker 1: a fire through there, it's pretty it's pretty cool. And

456
00:26:09,840 --> 00:26:15,080
Speaker 1: uh so yeah, they they're they're definitely a dear magnet. Now,

457
00:26:15,119 --> 00:26:18,640
Speaker 1: what about stuff outside the deer? I mean you come

458
00:26:18,720 --> 00:26:22,920
Speaker 1: from PF and QF. I mean obviously grassland type habitat

459
00:26:22,960 --> 00:26:27,760
Speaker 1: is great for pheasants or other upland birds. But what

460
00:26:27,760 --> 00:26:30,640
Speaker 1: what other types of wildlife and animal life or bug

461
00:26:30,680 --> 00:26:35,440
Speaker 1: life do these habitats support? Yeah? Absolutely, so you know,

462
00:26:35,480 --> 00:26:39,080
Speaker 1: if you think about you know, the the United States,

463
00:26:39,800 --> 00:26:44,000
Speaker 1: we had uh millions and millions of acres of native prairie,

464
00:26:44,040 --> 00:26:48,840
Speaker 1: so uh many many many species adapted to live on

465
00:26:48,960 --> 00:26:52,760
Speaker 1: these landscapes and then these environments so um, you know,

466
00:26:53,440 --> 00:26:58,200
Speaker 1: multiples many species of grassland birds UM outside of bob

467
00:26:58,280 --> 00:27:03,720
Speaker 1: white quail UM that utilize these habitats that you know

468
00:27:03,760 --> 00:27:08,720
Speaker 1: either are ground nesting or UM or uh you will

469
00:27:08,760 --> 00:27:13,800
Speaker 1: nest in shrub shrub habitat adjacent to these grasslands UM.

470
00:27:13,840 --> 00:27:17,360
Speaker 1: And native pollinators you know, far too many to name

471
00:27:17,960 --> 00:27:22,159
Speaker 1: the uh the forbes of wildflowers that generally accompany these

472
00:27:22,240 --> 00:27:27,520
Speaker 1: landscapes UM and are in these restorations, are are necessary

473
00:27:28,720 --> 00:27:32,199
Speaker 1: hosts and forge sources for for the pollinators that we

474
00:27:32,280 --> 00:27:35,919
Speaker 1: need Uh, to keep the diversity moving across uh, not

475
00:27:36,000 --> 00:27:39,280
Speaker 1: just the country, but the world and um and so

476
00:27:39,359 --> 00:27:41,879
Speaker 1: you you name it. I mean these there isn't hardly

477
00:27:41,920 --> 00:27:44,520
Speaker 1: a specie in in you know, the northern grade plains

478
00:27:44,520 --> 00:27:49,360
Speaker 1: of the central part of the country that isn't adapted um,

479
00:27:49,400 --> 00:27:53,160
Speaker 1: you know, to survive or needs you know, native grasses

480
00:27:53,200 --> 00:27:58,159
Speaker 1: and some form or fashion and so. Um they're critically important, um,

481
00:27:58,200 --> 00:28:01,879
Speaker 1: you know, for for sex and and wildlife species alike.

482
00:28:15,560 --> 00:28:18,439
Speaker 1: Here's one more fancy term, I guess I want you

483
00:28:18,480 --> 00:28:20,960
Speaker 1: to break down for me to help us understand. You

484
00:28:21,000 --> 00:28:25,640
Speaker 1: hear about ecosystem services. So not only does a grassy

485
00:28:25,720 --> 00:28:28,280
Speaker 1: landscape like this support a lot of birds and bugs

486
00:28:28,280 --> 00:28:31,879
Speaker 1: and animals, but it does other good stuff for the

487
00:28:32,040 --> 00:28:35,280
Speaker 1: land to write. Um, can you talk to me a

488
00:28:35,320 --> 00:28:36,920
Speaker 1: little bit about what that looks like in the case

489
00:28:36,920 --> 00:28:39,840
Speaker 1: of grass, because last week we talked about the ecosystems

490
00:28:40,000 --> 00:28:43,880
Speaker 1: services of trees. Uh what what how to grass is

491
00:28:43,920 --> 00:28:51,160
Speaker 1: stack up? Oh? Yeah, so it's it's kind of it's

492
00:28:51,200 --> 00:28:53,520
Speaker 1: nothing short of amazing really when you when you get

493
00:28:53,560 --> 00:28:58,200
Speaker 1: into it. So, UM, if you take your typical let's

494
00:28:58,240 --> 00:29:01,160
Speaker 1: say you're you know, the grass us in my yard

495
00:29:01,200 --> 00:29:03,760
Speaker 1: out back here. So you know, I'm looking at I'm

496
00:29:03,800 --> 00:29:07,800
Speaker 1: looking at fescue, I'm looking at um um, a little

497
00:29:07,840 --> 00:29:11,160
Speaker 1: bit of clover, but by and large those grasses are

498
00:29:11,280 --> 00:29:15,960
Speaker 1: very shallow rooted. Okay, so you're talking. You can take

499
00:29:15,960 --> 00:29:19,520
Speaker 1: your scoop shovel, put in the ground, flip clump a

500
00:29:19,560 --> 00:29:21,360
Speaker 1: fescue over, and you're gonna have the majority of the

501
00:29:21,400 --> 00:29:24,400
Speaker 1: root mass is gonna be right there, just under the surface.

502
00:29:25,000 --> 00:29:27,360
Speaker 1: And you know, it's pretty sod forming, which is if

503
00:29:27,360 --> 00:29:29,000
Speaker 1: you think about it's a little bit like a carpet.

504
00:29:30,160 --> 00:29:33,600
Speaker 1: When you know, a three inch rain comes in Missouri,

505
00:29:34,360 --> 00:29:37,920
Speaker 1: comes through here, what happens is is it hits that

506
00:29:38,360 --> 00:29:42,600
Speaker 1: fescue sod and most of that water runs off and

507
00:29:42,640 --> 00:29:44,600
Speaker 1: where does that go. Well, even it will find its

508
00:29:44,600 --> 00:29:47,360
Speaker 1: way to the nearest stream. That stream will find its

509
00:29:47,360 --> 00:29:49,560
Speaker 1: way to the next stream, and a lot of that

510
00:29:49,680 --> 00:29:54,360
Speaker 1: water that typically would infiltrate into the ground UH sheds

511
00:29:54,760 --> 00:29:59,080
Speaker 1: and runs off that does not happen uh in a

512
00:29:59,200 --> 00:30:04,400
Speaker 1: native restorations or on remnant native prairie. Native warm season

513
00:30:04,440 --> 00:30:10,000
Speaker 1: grasses and forbes are so deeply rooted that most of

514
00:30:10,000 --> 00:30:12,920
Speaker 1: the water when a three inch rain comes and and

515
00:30:12,920 --> 00:30:15,840
Speaker 1: it hits the ground goes into the ground and so

516
00:30:15,920 --> 00:30:19,200
Speaker 1: it's reabsorbed where it's supposed to go. UM. That's one

517
00:30:19,240 --> 00:30:23,000
Speaker 1: of the primary reasons why you know, it's highly recommended

518
00:30:23,040 --> 00:30:28,240
Speaker 1: that you know, these natives are planted in in areas

519
00:30:28,240 --> 00:30:31,800
Speaker 1: where you know, like on CRP, where maybe it's a

520
00:30:31,840 --> 00:30:34,800
Speaker 1: little bit more erotable, UM, maybe there is some more

521
00:30:34,840 --> 00:30:39,920
Speaker 1: water um erosion concerns. These these species can can withstand

522
00:30:40,000 --> 00:30:43,160
Speaker 1: that and can can protect that soil, can armor that

523
00:30:43,200 --> 00:30:47,360
Speaker 1: soil and helping sure that that water goes into the

524
00:30:47,400 --> 00:30:51,440
Speaker 1: ground and doesn't shed off and UM. And likewise, just

525
00:30:52,120 --> 00:30:56,440
Speaker 1: carbon sequestration, you know, warm season grasses, Native prairie do

526
00:30:56,520 --> 00:31:00,680
Speaker 1: an ex exceptional job of capturing and storing carbon and

527
00:31:00,760 --> 00:31:04,400
Speaker 1: so UM. You know, the and I'm sure in the

528
00:31:04,440 --> 00:31:07,200
Speaker 1: next you know, two years, five years, ten years, we're

529
00:31:07,200 --> 00:31:09,520
Speaker 1: going to continue to learn more and more about all

530
00:31:09,560 --> 00:31:12,280
Speaker 1: the other services that they provide. But uh, you know,

531
00:31:12,280 --> 00:31:16,000
Speaker 1: when it comes to protecting the soil, increasing water infiltration,

532
00:31:16,120 --> 00:31:20,160
Speaker 1: storing carbon um. You know, the list goes on these

533
00:31:20,440 --> 00:31:23,920
Speaker 1: you know, Native prairie just continues to impress and never

534
00:31:23,960 --> 00:31:26,880
Speaker 1: disappoints in that in that fashion, so it's good for

535
00:31:26,880 --> 00:31:28,960
Speaker 1: the land, it's good for the air. It's good for

536
00:31:29,000 --> 00:31:31,640
Speaker 1: the water, it's good for our deer hunting, it's good

537
00:31:31,680 --> 00:31:34,240
Speaker 1: for any other kind of honey who want to do. Uh,

538
00:31:34,320 --> 00:31:36,240
Speaker 1: it sounds like we should put grasses in the ground

539
00:31:36,360 --> 00:31:39,120
Speaker 1: or help keep them healthy if they're already there. My

540
00:31:39,280 --> 00:31:43,360
Speaker 1: question then to you is is how can we as

541
00:31:43,480 --> 00:31:48,600
Speaker 1: landowners and hunters think about you know, grass type habitat

542
00:31:48,720 --> 00:31:51,040
Speaker 1: being a part of the larger picture. Let's let's just say,

543
00:31:51,960 --> 00:31:56,760
Speaker 1: maybe we'll try to create the generic hypothetical property that

544
00:31:56,840 --> 00:31:58,960
Speaker 1: most people have to work with. They've got, you know,

545
00:31:59,120 --> 00:32:01,480
Speaker 1: a small piece of g own we'll say, a lesson

546
00:32:01,560 --> 00:32:04,480
Speaker 1: hundred acres or somewhere in that ballpark, and it has

547
00:32:04,920 --> 00:32:08,200
Speaker 1: a mixture of some kind of timber type cover and

548
00:32:08,200 --> 00:32:10,960
Speaker 1: then some kind of openings maybe their farm fields or

549
00:32:11,000 --> 00:32:13,760
Speaker 1: old farm fields or pasture something like that. So that's

550
00:32:13,760 --> 00:32:17,479
Speaker 1: a mixture of those two things. Um, how would you

551
00:32:17,520 --> 00:32:20,360
Speaker 1: recommend we think about adding grass as a part of

552
00:32:20,360 --> 00:32:24,560
Speaker 1: that component? Um? You know, right to my mind, I'm thinking, well,

553
00:32:24,600 --> 00:32:26,600
Speaker 1: maybe I would if I want to get better betting

554
00:32:26,600 --> 00:32:28,240
Speaker 1: on the cover, that'd be an obvious way and make

555
00:32:28,280 --> 00:32:30,440
Speaker 1: some kind of grassy area for that. Or maybe I

556
00:32:30,480 --> 00:32:33,440
Speaker 1: would plant strips of grass to act as screening cover

557
00:32:33,520 --> 00:32:36,800
Speaker 1: to block off areas and stuff like that. Um, but

558
00:32:37,240 --> 00:32:39,720
Speaker 1: in your mind, what are what are the some of

559
00:32:39,760 --> 00:32:42,600
Speaker 1: the ideas that you've either done yourself or you've seen

560
00:32:42,640 --> 00:32:45,920
Speaker 1: other people, or how should we think about like how

561
00:32:45,960 --> 00:32:48,920
Speaker 1: this is a part of the mix. Yeah, that's great,

562
00:32:49,000 --> 00:32:51,920
Speaker 1: that's a great question. This is really where the river

563
00:32:52,040 --> 00:32:54,400
Speaker 1: meets the road. And and honestly, when you're working with

564
00:32:54,400 --> 00:32:58,480
Speaker 1: private landowners, the fun really starts, um. You know. And

565
00:32:58,480 --> 00:33:00,240
Speaker 1: and I was gonna make a comment earlier. You know,

566
00:33:00,240 --> 00:33:03,760
Speaker 1: I mentioned c RP a lot of times. Uh, you'll

567
00:33:03,840 --> 00:33:07,200
Speaker 1: hear that. You know, CRP referred to is a way

568
00:33:07,240 --> 00:33:09,480
Speaker 1: to refer to native graphses, even if it's not a

569
00:33:11,920 --> 00:33:14,920
Speaker 1: clinics of things. That's right, and there's nothing wrong with

570
00:33:14,960 --> 00:33:17,120
Speaker 1: that at all. But but the reason I wanted to

571
00:33:17,120 --> 00:33:19,680
Speaker 1: bring that up is, you know, as it relates to

572
00:33:20,760 --> 00:33:24,080
Speaker 1: you know, a landowner getting assistance to do work like

573
00:33:24,160 --> 00:33:27,880
Speaker 1: this there no matter what states you live in. Um,

574
00:33:27,920 --> 00:33:31,640
Speaker 1: there's a number of opportunities for you know, financial assistance,

575
00:33:31,760 --> 00:33:35,200
Speaker 1: definitely technical assistance to help you get a management plan

576
00:33:35,920 --> 00:33:39,520
Speaker 1: and get the step by step instructions and the guidance

577
00:33:39,560 --> 00:33:41,640
Speaker 1: on you know, how best to do this work and

578
00:33:41,680 --> 00:33:45,560
Speaker 1: install these practices and um, but it all starts with

579
00:33:45,560 --> 00:33:48,800
Speaker 1: an idea and and that starts with a conversation. And

580
00:33:48,880 --> 00:33:51,880
Speaker 1: so in my mind, you know, the scenario you laid out,

581
00:33:52,800 --> 00:33:54,400
Speaker 1: it kind of makes a difference on if it's an

582
00:33:54,400 --> 00:33:57,120
Speaker 1: agricultural if if the fields that you have available to

583
00:33:57,160 --> 00:33:59,840
Speaker 1: your act fields or if they're old pasture. That kind

584
00:33:59,840 --> 00:34:03,560
Speaker 1: of to me it it it's sort of there's a

585
00:34:03,600 --> 00:34:07,360
Speaker 1: decision tree there. So if it's if it's agriculture, you know,

586
00:34:07,440 --> 00:34:09,600
Speaker 1: old food plots or something that you're looking to maybe

587
00:34:09,600 --> 00:34:14,680
Speaker 1: put some warm season grass into. Um, my immediate thought is,

588
00:34:14,760 --> 00:34:16,799
Speaker 1: and what I've had a lot of success within the

589
00:34:16,840 --> 00:34:19,160
Speaker 1: past is Okay, let's take a look at the field borders.

590
00:34:19,239 --> 00:34:23,400
Speaker 1: You know, do we want to do we want to um,

591
00:34:23,440 --> 00:34:26,399
Speaker 1: you know installed native grasses and a percent of those

592
00:34:26,400 --> 00:34:29,680
Speaker 1: acres or you know, should we maintain some of those

593
00:34:29,719 --> 00:34:33,440
Speaker 1: acres and and border those fields. Now, keep in mind

594
00:34:33,440 --> 00:34:36,600
Speaker 1: that a lot of wildlife, you know, white tails included,

595
00:34:37,080 --> 00:34:39,600
Speaker 1: really like edge, so their edge species. So the more

596
00:34:39,719 --> 00:34:43,920
Speaker 1: edge you can create, especially alongside uh, you know block September,

597
00:34:45,360 --> 00:34:48,040
Speaker 1: they tend to you know, be utilized more. Not to

598
00:34:48,080 --> 00:34:50,880
Speaker 1: buy just white tails, but bob white quail or you know,

599
00:34:50,920 --> 00:34:54,760
Speaker 1: bring next pheasants whatever may be, UM, because they feel safer.

600
00:34:54,840 --> 00:34:56,799
Speaker 1: You know, they can hop out into that food plot

601
00:34:56,920 --> 00:34:59,399
Speaker 1: or into that agg field at any point along that edge,

602
00:34:59,400 --> 00:35:01,520
Speaker 1: and then you know, the first sign of danger, they

603
00:35:01,520 --> 00:35:04,560
Speaker 1: can hop back in and be be gone. So I

604
00:35:04,640 --> 00:35:07,000
Speaker 1: look at that, how can I create and increase my

605
00:35:07,200 --> 00:35:10,840
Speaker 1: edge um in more of an agg land setting. And

606
00:35:11,000 --> 00:35:13,719
Speaker 1: in many in many cases you know there are little

607
00:35:13,719 --> 00:35:17,400
Speaker 1: pockets and things like that. We may go ahead and consider,

608
00:35:17,960 --> 00:35:20,800
Speaker 1: you know, squaring those fields off a bit and filling

609
00:35:20,800 --> 00:35:24,000
Speaker 1: those pockets in with native grass. UM. But that's how

610
00:35:24,040 --> 00:35:27,040
Speaker 1: I kind of take a look at that, uh scenario.

611
00:35:27,160 --> 00:35:31,279
Speaker 1: If it's old field and we're gonna be converting um. Yeah,

612
00:35:31,320 --> 00:35:34,839
Speaker 1: let's say an old pasture to two natives to take

613
00:35:34,840 --> 00:35:38,080
Speaker 1: a similar approach, but I'm likely a little more heavy handed.

614
00:35:38,120 --> 00:35:40,279
Speaker 1: I always like to err on the side or on

615
00:35:40,320 --> 00:35:44,239
Speaker 1: the side of more grass is better because the more

616
00:35:44,280 --> 00:35:47,840
Speaker 1: grass you have, as I mentioned earlier, you're increasing the

617
00:35:47,960 --> 00:35:51,560
Speaker 1: usable space um, and you're increasing the amount of habitat

618
00:35:51,640 --> 00:35:54,600
Speaker 1: you have on overall on the property. So I want

619
00:35:54,600 --> 00:35:58,720
Speaker 1: to err on the side of of of more is better, uh. There,

620
00:35:59,080 --> 00:36:02,640
Speaker 1: And and also you kind of get an opportunity to

621
00:36:02,680 --> 00:36:05,560
Speaker 1: take a look at how you you know, especially in

622
00:36:05,560 --> 00:36:08,360
Speaker 1: a scenario where you might have old field or or

623
00:36:08,360 --> 00:36:12,680
Speaker 1: a field next to next September. Okay, how can we

624
00:36:12,760 --> 00:36:17,439
Speaker 1: create some advantageous um food plot scenarios where we can

625
00:36:17,560 --> 00:36:20,840
Speaker 1: we can lay this native grass out um in a

626
00:36:20,880 --> 00:36:24,160
Speaker 1: way that's beneficial for you and and create some opportunities

627
00:36:24,200 --> 00:36:26,480
Speaker 1: for some some killed plots or things like that, and

628
00:36:26,520 --> 00:36:30,120
Speaker 1: so um. You know. Again that's that's the fun part

629
00:36:30,160 --> 00:36:31,520
Speaker 1: where you kind of get to look at the map

630
00:36:31,560 --> 00:36:35,200
Speaker 1: and you get your ideas out and and um and

631
00:36:35,280 --> 00:36:38,920
Speaker 1: work with those landowners too to be ultimately land on

632
00:36:38,960 --> 00:36:42,239
Speaker 1: something that they really like and and and go and

633
00:36:42,320 --> 00:36:44,840
Speaker 1: go that direction. But to take home here is um,

634
00:36:44,880 --> 00:36:47,319
Speaker 1: there's a thousand you know, no matter what the scenario is,

635
00:36:47,920 --> 00:36:50,440
Speaker 1: there's multiple options that that you can look at and

636
00:36:50,440 --> 00:36:53,080
Speaker 1: all of them will be beneficial. Yeah, all right, let's

637
00:36:53,120 --> 00:36:56,560
Speaker 1: let's uh, let's do some like hypotheticals. Then I'm curious

638
00:36:56,560 --> 00:36:58,680
Speaker 1: what your thoughts would be on some specifics. Let's say,

639
00:36:59,400 --> 00:37:03,680
Speaker 1: you know, we've got I don't know our property is

640
00:37:03,719 --> 00:37:06,560
Speaker 1: this kind of mixture, and I don't have any crops

641
00:37:06,600 --> 00:37:10,160
Speaker 1: on my property. But it's in an agricultural type area,

642
00:37:10,200 --> 00:37:12,840
Speaker 1: so there are you know, corn and beans and stuff

643
00:37:12,880 --> 00:37:16,440
Speaker 1: in the general region. I've got timber, and I've got

644
00:37:16,480 --> 00:37:18,920
Speaker 1: what used to be farm fields, but the owner stopped,

645
00:37:19,000 --> 00:37:21,520
Speaker 1: you know, the previous landowners stopped farming a year ago.

646
00:37:21,560 --> 00:37:24,319
Speaker 1: So they're starting to go um, you know, you know,

647
00:37:24,480 --> 00:37:27,399
Speaker 1: weeds and stuff are growing up in them whatnot. And

648
00:37:27,440 --> 00:37:29,399
Speaker 1: I've got a decision to make. I need to decide, well,

649
00:37:29,440 --> 00:37:31,600
Speaker 1: do I want to put food on the ground. Do

650
00:37:31,640 --> 00:37:33,319
Speaker 1: I want to put food plots in with my you know,

651
00:37:33,400 --> 00:37:35,719
Speaker 1: my openings here I've got I don't know, let's just

652
00:37:35,760 --> 00:37:39,520
Speaker 1: say forty acres and a third of it or sorry,

653
00:37:39,480 --> 00:37:41,680
Speaker 1: a quarter of it is open. So we've got, you know,

654
00:37:41,880 --> 00:37:45,400
Speaker 1: thirty acres of timber and ten acres of openings. And

655
00:37:45,440 --> 00:37:49,200
Speaker 1: I'm thinking, all right, everyone plants really sexy green clover

656
00:37:49,239 --> 00:37:51,600
Speaker 1: food plots, and big giant bucks come walking into them

657
00:37:51,600 --> 00:37:52,840
Speaker 1: and they stand there and just wait for you to

658
00:37:52,840 --> 00:37:56,000
Speaker 1: shoot them. That seems like the easy thing to do. Uh,

659
00:37:56,200 --> 00:37:59,200
Speaker 1: So that temptation might be to plant a big old

660
00:37:59,200 --> 00:38:01,799
Speaker 1: food plot or bunch of food plots and all those

661
00:38:01,800 --> 00:38:06,920
Speaker 1: openings and things. If you had this scenario forty acres timber,

662
00:38:07,880 --> 00:38:10,840
Speaker 1: ten acres of openings, and you were going to decide

663
00:38:10,880 --> 00:38:15,120
Speaker 1: how you would mix it up, how you would mixed

664
00:38:15,200 --> 00:38:18,560
Speaker 1: grasses with food or no food in all grasses or what?

665
00:38:18,920 --> 00:38:22,600
Speaker 1: Give me you know, in this very specific hypothetical, walk

666
00:38:22,719 --> 00:38:29,040
Speaker 1: me through how you would try to balance things and mad, Yeah,

667
00:38:29,080 --> 00:38:33,560
Speaker 1: you bet so. My first step is, and you kind

668
00:38:33,560 --> 00:38:35,120
Speaker 1: of alluded to it right out of the gate, is

669
00:38:35,200 --> 00:38:38,160
Speaker 1: I take a look at what's around me, so you know,

670
00:38:38,200 --> 00:38:42,720
Speaker 1: what is the limiting factor, you know, within that section

671
00:38:43,160 --> 00:38:45,920
Speaker 1: that you're in. Let's say, you know, so to me,

672
00:38:45,960 --> 00:38:49,440
Speaker 1: it sounds like food probably is not a limiting factor,

673
00:38:50,040 --> 00:38:53,319
Speaker 1: but diverse cover might be. So you know, if that

674
00:38:53,880 --> 00:38:55,759
Speaker 1: ends up being the case, and for this scenario, will

675
00:38:55,760 --> 00:38:59,960
Speaker 1: say that it is. Um. Yeah, I'm I'm leaning pretty

676
00:39:00,040 --> 00:39:04,279
Speaker 1: heavy on you know, putting most of those openings in

677
00:39:05,000 --> 00:39:08,000
Speaker 1: diverse native grasses. You know, something with you know, like

678
00:39:08,040 --> 00:39:11,160
Speaker 1: big blue stem in Indian grass, something that's tall that

679
00:39:11,200 --> 00:39:15,759
Speaker 1: gives me some structure, um and in high quality cover.

680
00:39:16,440 --> 00:39:20,239
Speaker 1: But also you know, ten species of wildflowers in the mix.

681
00:39:20,320 --> 00:39:23,560
Speaker 1: So um, so there's some forage based just not only

682
00:39:23,560 --> 00:39:26,840
Speaker 1: for white tails, but many other species as well. Um.

683
00:39:26,880 --> 00:39:29,799
Speaker 1: It's hard to get away from And I agree with you.

684
00:39:29,880 --> 00:39:33,000
Speaker 1: Those those lush ladno clover food plots are pretty sex

685
00:39:33,040 --> 00:39:35,799
Speaker 1: and they look good. UM, and I would I would

686
00:39:35,840 --> 00:39:39,160
Speaker 1: consider that. I mean, there, there's definitely gonna be um

687
00:39:39,239 --> 00:39:44,280
Speaker 1: some opportunities most likely for um, you know, to include

688
00:39:44,680 --> 00:39:47,440
Speaker 1: a micro plot here or there, you know, just something

689
00:39:47,880 --> 00:39:50,959
Speaker 1: along the border. In fact, most of the time when

690
00:39:51,000 --> 00:39:57,080
Speaker 1: we are you know, planning native restaurant native grass restorations,

691
00:39:57,680 --> 00:40:00,840
Speaker 1: you know the best way to maintain those seatings is

692
00:40:00,880 --> 00:40:04,680
Speaker 1: with prescribed fire. And so as part of our typically

693
00:40:04,760 --> 00:40:08,560
Speaker 1: as part of our our management plan, will encourage you know,

694
00:40:08,600 --> 00:40:13,479
Speaker 1: green fire breaks, which typically consists of clovers and and

695
00:40:13,640 --> 00:40:16,840
Speaker 1: um and other perennials of that nature that can go around.

696
00:40:16,840 --> 00:40:18,800
Speaker 1: So we'll incorporate a little bit of that. And that

697
00:40:18,960 --> 00:40:21,400
Speaker 1: would be something that I would look at. But you know,

698
00:40:21,440 --> 00:40:27,600
Speaker 1: if if diverse cover, especially betting cover, is limiting, I'm

699
00:40:27,680 --> 00:40:31,280
Speaker 1: going I'm putting the majority of my open acres into

700
00:40:31,680 --> 00:40:36,440
Speaker 1: into native grasses with either relying on the fire breaks

701
00:40:36,480 --> 00:40:39,839
Speaker 1: for my perennial food source there for white tails, or

702
00:40:40,080 --> 00:40:44,239
Speaker 1: potentially a micro plot somewhere in a corner. Um, you know,

703
00:40:44,280 --> 00:40:46,319
Speaker 1: where I can I can slip in and slip out

704
00:40:47,040 --> 00:40:50,960
Speaker 1: with the wind in my favor, and and and especially

705
00:40:51,000 --> 00:40:53,680
Speaker 1: during the rut. These are these are areas that are

706
00:40:54,560 --> 00:40:58,040
Speaker 1: that are there are some of my favorite areas the hunt.

707
00:40:58,600 --> 00:41:00,839
Speaker 1: So that's that's how I'm lean and I'm looking at

708
00:41:00,880 --> 00:41:04,960
Speaker 1: the landscape and you know, in totality, determining what I

709
00:41:05,000 --> 00:41:09,359
Speaker 1: think is the most limiting factor um and and using

710
00:41:09,360 --> 00:41:11,640
Speaker 1: that to help kind of set my compass arrow with

711
00:41:11,719 --> 00:41:14,239
Speaker 1: where I go from there. Yeah, I want to take

712
00:41:14,280 --> 00:41:17,279
Speaker 1: things to the extreme. So what if we kind of

713
00:41:17,320 --> 00:41:20,399
Speaker 1: look at the example you mentioned, which was where where

714
00:41:20,440 --> 00:41:23,600
Speaker 1: food is not the limiting factor, but diverse covers the

715
00:41:23,640 --> 00:41:26,919
Speaker 1: limiting limiting factor. What if we went to the far

716
00:41:27,000 --> 00:41:30,120
Speaker 1: far far side of that spectrum where let's say it's

717
00:41:30,960 --> 00:41:35,200
Speaker 1: it's northern Ohio, like northeast Ohio, which I'm pretty close to.

718
00:41:35,280 --> 00:41:37,560
Speaker 1: There's stretches where you go around there where it's just

719
00:41:38,640 --> 00:41:41,600
Speaker 1: section after section with no timber at all. It's just,

720
00:41:42,000 --> 00:41:44,320
Speaker 1: you know, after crops are harvest, is a flat, barren

721
00:41:44,360 --> 00:41:47,160
Speaker 1: waste land with nothing, you have no cover. What if

722
00:41:47,200 --> 00:41:50,800
Speaker 1: you inherit a property out there and you think yourself, well, gosh,

723
00:41:50,840 --> 00:41:54,680
Speaker 1: I have zero trees or very few trees. Uh, it's all,

724
00:41:54,760 --> 00:41:57,480
Speaker 1: you know, it's a jungle of corn and bean fields

725
00:41:57,520 --> 00:42:00,799
Speaker 1: in August, but come you know October, and no, there's

726
00:42:00,880 --> 00:42:03,520
Speaker 1: nothing I need to start from ground zero. What if

727
00:42:03,560 --> 00:42:06,319
Speaker 1: I was trying to create all the cover I would

728
00:42:06,360 --> 00:42:09,719
Speaker 1: have with grasses or newly planted tree as if that

729
00:42:09,760 --> 00:42:11,439
Speaker 1: was an option, what would you do in that case?

730
00:42:11,480 --> 00:42:13,520
Speaker 1: Would it be the exact same thing, just plant the

731
00:42:13,560 --> 00:42:15,919
Speaker 1: same kind of blend and then add some pots in there,

732
00:42:16,239 --> 00:42:18,439
Speaker 1: or is there a different species or a different mix

733
00:42:18,560 --> 00:42:21,479
Speaker 1: or something else you would use when you have that

734
00:42:21,640 --> 00:42:25,759
Speaker 1: limited of cover. Yeah, great question. So it's you know,

735
00:42:26,000 --> 00:42:29,839
Speaker 1: it does kind of depend on what your objectives are.

736
00:42:29,920 --> 00:42:33,800
Speaker 1: So if you're UM as far as mixes go, UM,

737
00:42:34,000 --> 00:42:38,080
Speaker 1: definitely multiple options that you can choose from. If I'm

738
00:42:38,200 --> 00:42:41,480
Speaker 1: if I'm looking at you know, white tails is my primary,

739
00:42:41,600 --> 00:42:43,960
Speaker 1: my primary objective. That's what I like to chase. That's

740
00:42:43,960 --> 00:42:46,640
Speaker 1: what I'm looking for, and I'm in that part of

741
00:42:46,640 --> 00:42:50,320
Speaker 1: the state, I'm sticking with. You know what I mentioned before,

742
00:42:50,360 --> 00:42:54,279
Speaker 1: you know, big blue indian uh, little blue stem as

743
00:42:54,280 --> 00:42:58,000
Speaker 1: my grass component. Um, you know, ten to fifteen species

744
00:42:58,000 --> 00:43:02,239
Speaker 1: of forbes, and I'm I'm putting as many acres in

745
00:43:02,360 --> 00:43:06,200
Speaker 1: on the ground in grass as I can um definitely

746
00:43:06,200 --> 00:43:10,360
Speaker 1: going to you know, have some sort of a perennial

747
00:43:10,360 --> 00:43:12,920
Speaker 1: food source incorporated in there. You know, like I mentioned,

748
00:43:12,920 --> 00:43:15,520
Speaker 1: I'm a fan of clover um, you know, and whether

749
00:43:15,560 --> 00:43:18,080
Speaker 1: that's my fire breaks or you know, a food plot

750
00:43:18,320 --> 00:43:21,040
Speaker 1: kind of snuck in the back corner in the middle

751
00:43:21,719 --> 00:43:26,520
Speaker 1: of of you know this, uh, this grass seating. Either way,

752
00:43:26,600 --> 00:43:30,680
Speaker 1: it's gonna be it's gonna be advantageous for you. And

753
00:43:30,800 --> 00:43:33,319
Speaker 1: uh and you know I've seen scenarios just like this

754
00:43:34,120 --> 00:43:38,399
Speaker 1: and those those uh, you know, those those properties tend

755
00:43:38,400 --> 00:43:41,239
Speaker 1: to tend to start loading up about harvest. You know,

756
00:43:41,440 --> 00:43:45,440
Speaker 1: they'll start seeing more and more more dear activity and

757
00:43:45,440 --> 00:43:49,759
Speaker 1: and uh and it peaks doing during rutt generally, and

758
00:43:50,520 --> 00:43:52,600
Speaker 1: you know, and stays that way all through the winter.

759
00:43:52,680 --> 00:43:55,319
Speaker 1: You know, this is you know, we didn't really mention

760
00:43:55,360 --> 00:43:59,239
Speaker 1: it before, but you know, native grasses as far as

761
00:43:59,280 --> 00:44:03,200
Speaker 1: thermal cover goes, you know, for grassland birds and ground

762
00:44:03,239 --> 00:44:05,680
Speaker 1: nesting birds as well as white tails, you know, being

763
00:44:05,719 --> 00:44:10,520
Speaker 1: able to to withstand the cold, break the wind. Um.

764
00:44:10,600 --> 00:44:14,600
Speaker 1: You know, they they provide a lot of those resources

765
00:44:14,600 --> 00:44:17,320
Speaker 1: that creators need. And um, when you get up in

766
00:44:17,360 --> 00:44:20,520
Speaker 1: those landscapes like that where there isn't much in that,

767
00:44:20,880 --> 00:44:24,120
Speaker 1: you know, much cover at all, and winners can be harsh.

768
00:44:24,200 --> 00:44:26,680
Speaker 1: You know, this is this is an important habitat for

769
00:44:26,760 --> 00:44:30,160
Speaker 1: a lot of species, especially white tails, but um, many

770
00:44:30,200 --> 00:44:33,160
Speaker 1: many other species. So I'm going I'm going heavy and

771
00:44:33,160 --> 00:44:36,600
Speaker 1: I'm going with tall and uh yeah, like I said,

772
00:44:36,600 --> 00:44:39,640
Speaker 1: I'm putting as many acres in as I can. What

773
00:44:39,680 --> 00:44:43,640
Speaker 1: are your thoughts on monoculture plantings. There's some people that

774
00:44:43,760 --> 00:44:47,080
Speaker 1: advocate for like a straight planting of switch grass or

775
00:44:47,120 --> 00:44:50,920
Speaker 1: something like that. Um, and I know there's reasons for

776
00:44:50,960 --> 00:44:52,799
Speaker 1: that on one hand, but what's your take on that?

777
00:44:52,960 --> 00:44:55,719
Speaker 1: Is that problematic in anyway? Is that's why are you

778
00:44:55,719 --> 00:44:59,600
Speaker 1: recommending a blend versus that? Yeah? Great, great question. You

779
00:44:59,640 --> 00:45:04,560
Speaker 1: know there's there's definitely scenarios and situations out there where, um,

780
00:45:04,640 --> 00:45:08,160
Speaker 1: you know, for one reason or another, mono monocultural monoculture

781
00:45:08,160 --> 00:45:11,600
Speaker 1: planning would would make some sense. But by and large,

782
00:45:11,880 --> 00:45:15,560
Speaker 1: you can you know, you want diversity, you want um

783
00:45:15,560 --> 00:45:19,360
Speaker 1: as many species as you can in your mix, and

784
00:45:19,360 --> 00:45:23,359
Speaker 1: and there's many reasons for that. You know, there's for one,

785
00:45:23,520 --> 00:45:28,120
Speaker 1: on one hand, um, you know the the so we

786
00:45:28,160 --> 00:45:32,120
Speaker 1: mentioned ecological goods and services earlier. You know those are

787
00:45:32,360 --> 00:45:35,239
Speaker 1: multiplied by the number of species that you have in

788
00:45:35,280 --> 00:45:40,560
Speaker 1: your mix. UM. Some species can can tolerate conditions a

789
00:45:40,560 --> 00:45:43,319
Speaker 1: little bit better than others. And so you know, if

790
00:45:43,360 --> 00:45:47,400
Speaker 1: you have a you know, a monocultural stand of of

791
00:45:47,440 --> 00:45:51,399
Speaker 1: grass that's not very drought tolerant, let's say, and and

792
00:45:52,480 --> 00:45:55,120
Speaker 1: neo needs it to be a bit wet, and you

793
00:45:55,160 --> 00:45:57,440
Speaker 1: have a drought year, UM, and you don't have other

794
00:45:57,440 --> 00:46:00,400
Speaker 1: species in that mix that can can taller rate that

795
00:46:01,480 --> 00:46:03,440
Speaker 1: you could have a you know, your planning could be

796
00:46:03,440 --> 00:46:05,560
Speaker 1: in in rough shape for a couple of years UM.

797
00:46:05,640 --> 00:46:07,760
Speaker 1: And so you're just kind of getting some added insurance

798
00:46:07,800 --> 00:46:11,480
Speaker 1: there as well. UM. But also from a wildlife standpoint,

799
00:46:11,520 --> 00:46:15,400
Speaker 1: as I mentioned before, you know, wildlife key in on diversity.

800
00:46:15,440 --> 00:46:19,680
Speaker 1: They need uh, multiple species doing what they do at

801
00:46:19,760 --> 00:46:23,719
Speaker 1: different times of the year, UM, providing the necessary habitat

802
00:46:23,880 --> 00:46:27,560
Speaker 1: and forage basis that they need throughout the year. And

803
00:46:27,640 --> 00:46:31,640
Speaker 1: so the more species you have in your mix, UM,

804
00:46:32,239 --> 00:46:35,879
Speaker 1: the more that you can offer you know, not only

805
00:46:35,920 --> 00:46:39,719
Speaker 1: the wildlife, but you know the services on the landscape

806
00:46:39,719 --> 00:46:43,680
Speaker 1: as well. So so I'm always a fan of diversity. UM.

807
00:46:43,680 --> 00:46:46,239
Speaker 1: You know, the more diverse, the better UM. And you

808
00:46:46,239 --> 00:46:48,480
Speaker 1: can always go back in later that's something to you know,

809
00:46:48,520 --> 00:46:53,239
Speaker 1: I mentioned the typical you know, native grass mix, if

810
00:46:53,280 --> 00:46:56,040
Speaker 1: there is such a thing, is generally you know, three

811
00:46:56,080 --> 00:47:01,400
Speaker 1: species of grass, ten species of forbes uh uh, occasionally

812
00:47:01,719 --> 00:47:04,920
Speaker 1: a lagoon in there. Um. But you can always come

813
00:47:04,960 --> 00:47:08,600
Speaker 1: back in later and add additional species down the road too.

814
00:47:08,640 --> 00:47:11,400
Speaker 1: So you know, starting with a three tin mix is

815
00:47:11,440 --> 00:47:14,640
Speaker 1: a good start. Um. And as you get your seating

816
00:47:14,680 --> 00:47:16,640
Speaker 1: kind of in the shape and you like what you're saying,

817
00:47:16,680 --> 00:47:19,720
Speaker 1: you want to come back in and add additional forbes

818
00:47:19,800 --> 00:47:23,000
Speaker 1: or wildflowers, you can so. But I'm I'm a proponent

819
00:47:23,000 --> 00:47:26,640
Speaker 1: of of diversity where I can get it, Okay. So

820
00:47:27,280 --> 00:47:30,960
Speaker 1: I go to Walmart or Tractor Supply or bass Pro

821
00:47:31,040 --> 00:47:35,600
Speaker 1: shops and there's row after row of food plot seed

822
00:47:35,600 --> 00:47:38,040
Speaker 1: bags of the you know, the clover plot that's gonna

823
00:47:38,040 --> 00:47:41,040
Speaker 1: send big bucks my way in the Brassica big buck

824
00:47:41,120 --> 00:47:44,680
Speaker 1: slammer mix that will give me big bucks in December.

825
00:47:44,719 --> 00:47:47,520
Speaker 1: And then there's the you know, the the forage sore

826
00:47:47,640 --> 00:47:50,560
Speaker 1: beans from heaven. Like. There's a thousand different food plot

827
00:47:50,560 --> 00:47:54,000
Speaker 1: options that are marketed to me, and they're easy to find,

828
00:47:54,239 --> 00:47:56,120
Speaker 1: and they tell me exactly what they're gonna do and

829
00:47:56,120 --> 00:47:59,000
Speaker 1: how they're gonna do it. I don't owe many tractor

830
00:47:59,040 --> 00:48:02,200
Speaker 1: supplies or or walmarts. I can walk into where I'm

831
00:48:02,200 --> 00:48:05,160
Speaker 1: going to find a three and ten blend of native

832
00:48:05,200 --> 00:48:07,759
Speaker 1: grasses that are just right for what I'm trying to do.

833
00:48:08,400 --> 00:48:12,680
Speaker 1: How does someone go about finding this seed or the

834
00:48:12,840 --> 00:48:15,000
Speaker 1: right blend. You know, someone doesn't really know what they're

835
00:48:15,040 --> 00:48:17,560
Speaker 1: doing yet and wants a little bit of a handholder

836
00:48:17,680 --> 00:48:21,040
Speaker 1: or want some direction. Where can people get this stuff

837
00:48:21,040 --> 00:48:25,200
Speaker 1: if they're not already tapped into the community. Yeah, great questions.

838
00:48:25,239 --> 00:48:28,799
Speaker 1: So you know, it all starts with who, getting you know,

839
00:48:28,840 --> 00:48:31,600
Speaker 1: making contact with you know, either your your state Fish

840
00:48:31,640 --> 00:48:35,920
Speaker 1: and Wildlife Agency, private lands biologists, match or Resources Conservation

841
00:48:35,960 --> 00:48:41,040
Speaker 1: Service um UH office or you know Pheasants Forever Quill

842
00:48:41,120 --> 00:48:44,200
Speaker 1: Forever farm Bill Wildlife Biologists if you have one in

843
00:48:44,239 --> 00:48:48,200
Speaker 1: your area, and getting that site visits set up and

844
00:48:48,600 --> 00:48:53,280
Speaker 1: walking through um your goals and your objectives on the property,

845
00:48:54,239 --> 00:48:57,400
Speaker 1: because you know every site is different and UM like

846
00:48:57,520 --> 00:48:59,399
Speaker 1: we've just been discussed and you know there's a lot

847
00:48:59,400 --> 00:49:03,040
Speaker 1: of opportunity these for UH for strategy here and so

848
00:49:03,120 --> 00:49:05,800
Speaker 1: it's always good to get you know, that sound technical

849
00:49:05,840 --> 00:49:09,600
Speaker 1: advice on you know what to do and how to

850
00:49:09,680 --> 00:49:14,520
Speaker 1: do it and a sorry, Chris, I'm gonna I'm gonna

851
00:49:14,600 --> 00:49:16,600
Speaker 1: I'm gonna hit time out in that and ask you

852
00:49:16,640 --> 00:49:19,280
Speaker 1: to expand on this part a little bit before going further,

853
00:49:19,920 --> 00:49:25,000
Speaker 1: because I think there's probably people listening that don't know

854
00:49:25,120 --> 00:49:27,520
Speaker 1: how to find that person, or they assume that this

855
00:49:27,520 --> 00:49:29,520
Speaker 1: person is going to cost them money to pay for

856
00:49:29,560 --> 00:49:32,360
Speaker 1: them as a consultant or something. Can you give me

857
00:49:32,440 --> 00:49:36,000
Speaker 1: some specifics like how how do I literally who do

858
00:49:36,080 --> 00:49:37,879
Speaker 1: I call or what office do I get in touch

859
00:49:37,960 --> 00:49:40,000
Speaker 1: with to get a person to come out and walk

860
00:49:40,040 --> 00:49:43,440
Speaker 1: my property with me to do this? Yeah? Great, I

861
00:49:43,480 --> 00:49:46,600
Speaker 1: appreciate you stopping. I well, first and foremost, if if

862
00:49:46,600 --> 00:49:50,480
Speaker 1: you go to U Doesn't Forever and Quill Forever's website

863
00:49:50,640 --> 00:49:54,120
Speaker 1: Www dot Doesn't forever dot org. At the bottom of

864
00:49:54,160 --> 00:49:56,520
Speaker 1: the page, there's a link that says find a biologist

865
00:49:56,680 --> 00:49:59,640
Speaker 1: and you can UM. You can click that link and

866
00:50:00,040 --> 00:50:03,880
Speaker 1: go through our directory and see if there is a

867
00:50:03,960 --> 00:50:06,200
Speaker 1: biologist near you, in which case you can you can

868
00:50:06,239 --> 00:50:10,640
Speaker 1: make a request for service. Otherwise, you can reach out

869
00:50:10,640 --> 00:50:14,759
Speaker 1: to your state Fish and Wildlife agency contacts UM. You

870
00:50:14,800 --> 00:50:19,040
Speaker 1: know whether it's in my state Missouri Department of Conservation, UM,

871
00:50:19,480 --> 00:50:23,759
Speaker 1: Texas parks and wildlife and you know whoever, whatever the

872
00:50:23,800 --> 00:50:25,560
Speaker 1: state is you you're in, reach out to the state

873
00:50:25,560 --> 00:50:30,759
Speaker 1: Fish and Wildlife Agency UM and enquire about private lands assistance.

874
00:50:30,800 --> 00:50:35,640
Speaker 1: And every state has a private lands program UM that

875
00:50:35,680 --> 00:50:38,680
Speaker 1: can reach out and provides you with the technical assistance

876
00:50:38,719 --> 00:50:41,439
Speaker 1: you need, set up a site, visit. It's all free

877
00:50:41,440 --> 00:50:45,280
Speaker 1: of charge. UM you know, it's it's it's service provided

878
00:50:45,560 --> 00:50:48,440
Speaker 1: UM to you. And so UM you know, there's a

879
00:50:48,520 --> 00:50:51,520
Speaker 1: number of different organizations that can help. And if UM

880
00:50:52,040 --> 00:50:55,080
Speaker 1: and if you UM you know you need uh need

881
00:50:55,080 --> 00:50:57,560
Speaker 1: technical assistance, or you have questions about how to better

882
00:50:57,640 --> 00:51:00,279
Speaker 1: manage your property for you know, whatever your interests, then

883
00:51:00,320 --> 00:51:03,680
Speaker 1: white tails, while wild turkey, quail, pheasants. We can help

884
00:51:03,719 --> 00:51:05,919
Speaker 1: you get to where you want to go and see

885
00:51:06,040 --> 00:51:09,640
Speaker 1: achieve your objectives. So UM you know, and that's that

886
00:51:09,800 --> 00:51:13,960
Speaker 1: is a tough That is a tough sometimes a question

887
00:51:14,000 --> 00:51:16,880
Speaker 1: to answer from Landoer's point of view is how do

888
00:51:16,920 --> 00:51:20,000
Speaker 1: I get started? You know? And and in some areas

889
00:51:20,000 --> 00:51:24,080
Speaker 1: it's not as highly you know, understood or publicized as

890
00:51:24,120 --> 00:51:26,040
Speaker 1: far as you know where to go to get this

891
00:51:26,160 --> 00:51:30,000
Speaker 1: help UM as it as it may be in other places.

892
00:51:30,000 --> 00:51:33,520
Speaker 1: So UM, I can tell you that you know our staff.

893
00:51:33,680 --> 00:51:39,200
Speaker 1: We have staff and in um just just under forty states. UM,

894
00:51:39,239 --> 00:51:42,240
Speaker 1: if you can get in contact with someone from Pheasants forever,

895
00:51:42,360 --> 00:51:45,480
Speaker 1: Quail forever, UM. If we can't, if we don't have

896
00:51:45,560 --> 00:51:48,800
Speaker 1: someone close by, we can definitely get you in contact

897
00:51:48,840 --> 00:51:52,040
Speaker 1: with with folks who can help you. UM. So that

898
00:51:52,120 --> 00:51:53,640
Speaker 1: might be just as good a place to start as

899
00:51:53,680 --> 00:51:56,640
Speaker 1: any awesome. Okay, So then from there start to interrupting,

900
00:51:56,760 --> 00:52:01,040
Speaker 1: You're you're starting to building where where we go from there? Then? Yeah,

901
00:52:01,160 --> 00:52:04,160
Speaker 1: so so you've got your you've got your you've got

902
00:52:04,280 --> 00:52:07,640
Speaker 1: your you've major contact, and you've got your private lands

903
00:52:07,680 --> 00:52:11,160
Speaker 1: biologists at your door. What you're gonna do next is

904
00:52:11,600 --> 00:52:13,520
Speaker 1: you're just gonna take a walk around. You're gonna look

905
00:52:13,520 --> 00:52:15,759
Speaker 1: at the property, if you're gonna see what opportunities are there.

906
00:52:16,080 --> 00:52:17,960
Speaker 1: They're gonna be talking with you about, you know, what

907
00:52:18,160 --> 00:52:20,239
Speaker 1: your goals and your objectives are. You know, I would

908
00:52:20,320 --> 00:52:23,040
Speaker 1: love to see more dear or you know I heard

909
00:52:23,120 --> 00:52:26,239
Speaker 1: Quail five years ago. I don't hear him as much

910
00:52:26,280 --> 00:52:28,000
Speaker 1: as I used to. I sure would love to hear

911
00:52:28,719 --> 00:52:32,120
Speaker 1: uh more Bob White singing or um. You know, hey,

912
00:52:32,160 --> 00:52:34,880
Speaker 1: I enjoy seeing monarch butterflies when they passed through. What

913
00:52:34,960 --> 00:52:38,640
Speaker 1: can I do to um, you know, to to see

914
00:52:38,680 --> 00:52:41,760
Speaker 1: more monarchs and whatever that might be. We can provide

915
00:52:41,760 --> 00:52:44,640
Speaker 1: you with the technical assistance that you need. Along with

916
00:52:44,920 --> 00:52:49,840
Speaker 1: that comes a conversation about native grasslands and grasses that

917
00:52:49,920 --> 00:52:52,560
Speaker 1: you want to um that you might want to install,

918
00:52:53,360 --> 00:52:57,200
Speaker 1: and with that generally comes in management plan. And along

919
00:52:57,280 --> 00:52:59,880
Speaker 1: with that management plan comes your you know, your wrecking

920
00:53:00,080 --> 00:53:03,520
Speaker 1: ended seed mix. So that that technic, that technical service

921
00:53:03,600 --> 00:53:06,600
Speaker 1: provider is gonna take a look at your where you're

922
00:53:06,719 --> 00:53:10,279
Speaker 1: physically located at, what state, Where in that state are

923
00:53:10,280 --> 00:53:14,360
Speaker 1: you located, what species were historically prevalent in the in

924
00:53:14,480 --> 00:53:18,040
Speaker 1: that particular area, and then take a look at your

925
00:53:18,080 --> 00:53:20,399
Speaker 1: goals and objectives and they're going to develop your seed mix.

926
00:53:21,160 --> 00:53:23,880
Speaker 1: With that, you generally get a list of vendors and

927
00:53:24,000 --> 00:53:27,960
Speaker 1: there's native seed vendors all over the country depending upon

928
00:53:28,040 --> 00:53:31,919
Speaker 1: where you're at, and generally you're provided with a list

929
00:53:32,480 --> 00:53:34,200
Speaker 1: and you can go down that list and make your

930
00:53:34,239 --> 00:53:37,480
Speaker 1: to make your selection based on um you know, who

931
00:53:37,560 --> 00:53:39,080
Speaker 1: you want to who you want to work with, and

932
00:53:39,200 --> 00:53:43,480
Speaker 1: so um you know, there there is uh you know,

933
00:53:43,560 --> 00:53:45,600
Speaker 1: like I said, a number of great opportunities out there

934
00:53:45,640 --> 00:53:48,799
Speaker 1: for folks to get their hands on on the seed

935
00:53:48,880 --> 00:53:51,719
Speaker 1: that they need and and those vendors also provide a

936
00:53:52,040 --> 00:53:56,280
Speaker 1: uh an exceptional service and and can answer technical questions

937
00:53:56,360 --> 00:54:00,040
Speaker 1: as well, and and you know, help help folks it

938
00:54:00,080 --> 00:54:05,960
Speaker 1: to where they want to go. Also awesome. Uh Here's

939
00:54:06,080 --> 00:54:08,759
Speaker 1: here's another kind of I guess this is kind of

940
00:54:08,800 --> 00:54:11,000
Speaker 1: related to this type of question, like understanding what the

941
00:54:11,200 --> 00:54:15,319
Speaker 1: right grasses are for your area for your situation. UM,

942
00:54:15,760 --> 00:54:19,080
Speaker 1: I'm curious about how you would handle analyzing a current

943
00:54:20,719 --> 00:54:23,800
Speaker 1: like a current old field, like something that you haven't planted,

944
00:54:23,880 --> 00:54:26,759
Speaker 1: you haven't done anything with, but you arrive on the

945
00:54:26,840 --> 00:54:30,240
Speaker 1: scene way. Maybe it's because you're brand new to the property,

946
00:54:30,480 --> 00:54:33,640
Speaker 1: or maybe it's because, well, there's a here's here's a

947
00:54:33,640 --> 00:54:36,840
Speaker 1: great perfect example. I think I saw you post a

948
00:54:36,960 --> 00:54:39,520
Speaker 1: video I don't know last year or something where you

949
00:54:39,560 --> 00:54:43,279
Speaker 1: were driving around your property the spring after doing a

950
00:54:43,360 --> 00:54:46,240
Speaker 1: burn and you said, you're heading down to this area

951
00:54:46,360 --> 00:54:48,520
Speaker 1: that you burned and you were gonna go put a

952
00:54:48,560 --> 00:54:51,640
Speaker 1: food plot down there. And you get down to this area,

953
00:54:52,200 --> 00:54:54,360
Speaker 1: you arrived on the scene where you thought you were

954
00:54:54,400 --> 00:54:56,239
Speaker 1: going to carve out this grass and put in a

955
00:54:56,280 --> 00:54:59,440
Speaker 1: food plot, and then you said, oh, whoa change the

956
00:54:59,480 --> 00:55:02,560
Speaker 1: plans I see milkweed, and I say, I see this stuff,

957
00:55:02,560 --> 00:55:04,200
Speaker 1: and I see this stuff, and I see this stuff.

958
00:55:04,520 --> 00:55:06,040
Speaker 1: There's no way I'm going to get rid of this.

959
00:55:06,320 --> 00:55:10,600
Speaker 1: I've got to keep this. How how do you go

960
00:55:10,680 --> 00:55:12,719
Speaker 1: about making that decision? What did you see there that

961
00:55:12,800 --> 00:55:15,480
Speaker 1: made you realize, oh, this is worth keeping, We're not

962
00:55:15,520 --> 00:55:18,000
Speaker 1: going to get rid of this, or you know, more generically,

963
00:55:18,120 --> 00:55:20,600
Speaker 1: if someone's looking at an old field or a new field,

964
00:55:20,600 --> 00:55:23,400
Speaker 1: there's something that they don't know about, how they how

965
00:55:23,480 --> 00:55:27,240
Speaker 1: can they go about judging how high quality of habitat

966
00:55:27,320 --> 00:55:29,480
Speaker 1: that is or how important that is, and if they

967
00:55:29,560 --> 00:55:33,520
Speaker 1: need to change it or just nurture it. Yeah, great questions.

968
00:55:33,560 --> 00:55:35,759
Speaker 1: So you know, one thing to keep in mind is

969
00:55:36,840 --> 00:55:39,520
Speaker 1: and in that that video that you saw, so that

970
00:55:39,760 --> 00:55:43,200
Speaker 1: was that was an old field originally when I bought

971
00:55:43,239 --> 00:55:47,720
Speaker 1: that property, that had some had some remnant native prairie

972
00:55:47,800 --> 00:55:50,600
Speaker 1: in it. So when I bought it, one of the

973
00:55:50,640 --> 00:55:53,120
Speaker 1: first things I did was kind of take a look around,

974
00:55:53,239 --> 00:55:55,960
Speaker 1: and you know, it was old pasture at one time,

975
00:55:56,880 --> 00:55:59,719
Speaker 1: and so there was you know, there was some cool

976
00:55:59,760 --> 00:56:02,120
Speaker 1: seeds grasses in there and sayings that you know, it

977
00:56:02,200 --> 00:56:05,520
Speaker 1: was providing some habitat. But I would see you know,

978
00:56:05,560 --> 00:56:08,880
Speaker 1: a clump of big blue stem over here, and you know,

979
00:56:09,000 --> 00:56:14,320
Speaker 1: maybe a wild flower over there, and you know, the

980
00:56:14,480 --> 00:56:18,160
Speaker 1: seed bank. No matter where you live, there are natives

981
00:56:18,239 --> 00:56:21,520
Speaker 1: in the seed bank. Those seeds are there, and it's

982
00:56:21,600 --> 00:56:25,799
Speaker 1: kind of a it all really depends on how degraded

983
00:56:26,960 --> 00:56:30,919
Speaker 1: that system might be, as to, Okay, can I bring

984
00:56:31,080 --> 00:56:34,080
Speaker 1: this back with a little bit of fire in her beside,

985
00:56:34,920 --> 00:56:36,880
Speaker 1: or do I need to go down the road of

986
00:56:37,680 --> 00:56:40,239
Speaker 1: putting a native you know, going in and prepping it

987
00:56:40,400 --> 00:56:43,400
Speaker 1: and just doing a restoration and do do a seating.

988
00:56:43,480 --> 00:56:46,320
Speaker 1: And so so I'm looking for I'm looking for keys.

989
00:56:46,520 --> 00:56:50,800
Speaker 1: And in that particular case, you know, milkweed is a

990
00:56:52,239 --> 00:56:57,759
Speaker 1: is uh very very important to monarch butterflies and and

991
00:56:57,840 --> 00:57:01,040
Speaker 1: it's also you know, something that you believe it or not,

992
00:57:01,800 --> 00:57:04,960
Speaker 1: sort of limited on the landscape these days. And so

993
00:57:05,520 --> 00:57:08,120
Speaker 1: um so yeah, I was, I was going down there.

994
00:57:08,239 --> 00:57:10,560
Speaker 1: I was gonna put in a perennial plot along this

995
00:57:10,840 --> 00:57:14,960
Speaker 1: uh along the stream. And we had just done some

996
00:57:15,040 --> 00:57:18,160
Speaker 1: burning earlier in the year and came back and sure

997
00:57:18,280 --> 00:57:20,280
Speaker 1: enough there there was a whole bunch of milk weed there.

998
00:57:20,320 --> 00:57:22,680
Speaker 1: And so I always air on the side of diversity,

999
00:57:22,760 --> 00:57:26,680
Speaker 1: like I said earlier, so that's that was not something

1000
00:57:26,760 --> 00:57:31,160
Speaker 1: I planted in that particular spot there, but it was there,

1001
00:57:31,760 --> 00:57:35,840
Speaker 1: and it my property is going to be better the

1002
00:57:35,920 --> 00:57:38,720
Speaker 1: more diverse it is. So for me to have rhado

1003
00:57:38,840 --> 00:57:42,280
Speaker 1: tilt that and prepped it and went in with with

1004
00:57:42,440 --> 00:57:46,200
Speaker 1: clover in that particular spot, um, I wasn't going to

1005
00:57:46,320 --> 00:57:49,080
Speaker 1: maximize everything that my you know, my property could be

1006
00:57:49,320 --> 00:57:53,000
Speaker 1: so um, so I pivoted and moved and went to

1007
00:57:53,120 --> 00:57:55,160
Speaker 1: a went to a different spot and all worked out,

1008
00:57:55,760 --> 00:57:58,120
Speaker 1: um for the better. But you know, looking at those

1009
00:57:58,160 --> 00:58:01,640
Speaker 1: old field situations, you can kind of all based on

1010
00:58:02,480 --> 00:58:07,760
Speaker 1: if you're seeing remnant natives present versus none at all.

1011
00:58:08,000 --> 00:58:10,720
Speaker 1: That kind of tells you, okay, whether you've got something

1012
00:58:10,760 --> 00:58:13,760
Speaker 1: to work with here, or whether you're looking at a

1013
00:58:13,840 --> 00:58:17,840
Speaker 1: complete burned down and and then receding. And in this

1014
00:58:18,000 --> 00:58:22,160
Speaker 1: particular case, I did both. I I had a kind

1015
00:58:22,200 --> 00:58:24,880
Speaker 1: of had the field split in half. I had a

1016
00:58:24,920 --> 00:58:27,640
Speaker 1: little bit more remnant on one half, a lot less

1017
00:58:27,760 --> 00:58:29,959
Speaker 1: on the other. I did a restoration on one half

1018
00:58:30,000 --> 00:58:34,120
Speaker 1: and I did some some burning and some herbside application

1019
00:58:34,160 --> 00:58:37,360
Speaker 1: at the right time and brought the other half back

1020
00:58:37,520 --> 00:58:41,880
Speaker 1: and so um, you know, it's it isn't an exact science.

1021
00:58:42,040 --> 00:58:46,920
Speaker 1: But again it's it's it's working the land, you know,

1022
00:58:47,080 --> 00:58:49,360
Speaker 1: and it's it's working with what you have and making

1023
00:58:49,680 --> 00:58:53,600
Speaker 1: making management decisions that you think ultimately you're gonna healthy

1024
00:58:53,640 --> 00:58:57,120
Speaker 1: get to where you want to go, and um, and

1025
00:58:57,240 --> 00:58:59,480
Speaker 1: it's it's a it's a really fun process along the way.

1026
00:58:59,520 --> 00:59:00,960
Speaker 1: And you know, the thing I would say too, is,

1027
00:59:02,360 --> 00:59:07,080
Speaker 1: you know habitat management that there was Bob Ross said,

1028
00:59:07,120 --> 00:59:09,880
Speaker 1: you know, there's no mistakes, only happy accidents. It's very

1029
00:59:09,960 --> 00:59:13,400
Speaker 1: much like that. You know, it's you know, you you

1030
00:59:13,560 --> 00:59:16,840
Speaker 1: are afforded the opportunity to learn as you go, and um,

1031
00:59:17,280 --> 00:59:19,600
Speaker 1: you know, there's nothing generally that's too bad that you

1032
00:59:19,680 --> 00:59:22,880
Speaker 1: can't go back and and learn from and and and

1033
00:59:23,800 --> 00:59:29,480
Speaker 1: and incorrect later. So it's really a it's it's low risk,

1034
00:59:29,920 --> 00:59:47,280
Speaker 1: high reward, you know kind of activity stuff. Yeah, let's

1035
00:59:47,320 --> 00:59:51,919
Speaker 1: say we've we've either discovered an opening that we want

1036
00:59:52,000 --> 00:59:54,560
Speaker 1: to improve and manage or well, I guess this is

1037
00:59:54,600 --> 00:59:57,840
Speaker 1: probably to two separate tracks. I suppose there's probably one track,

1038
00:59:57,920 --> 01:00:01,320
Speaker 1: which is how do I plant something that is not

1039
01:00:01,520 --> 01:00:04,280
Speaker 1: currently in grasses? It's it's either an old crop field

1040
01:00:04,440 --> 01:00:08,440
Speaker 1: or an old pasture or something or timber. And now

1041
01:00:08,520 --> 01:00:11,840
Speaker 1: it's open um. So I guess part one is I'd

1042
01:00:11,880 --> 01:00:13,520
Speaker 1: love to talk to you about how do we go

1043
01:00:13,600 --> 01:00:16,800
Speaker 1: about planting new grass as a new blend. And then

1044
01:00:17,040 --> 01:00:20,000
Speaker 1: the second avenue will be then what if we have

1045
01:00:20,240 --> 01:00:22,920
Speaker 1: something old, some remnant and we want to manage it

1046
01:00:22,960 --> 01:00:25,760
Speaker 1: and improve it? Um, can you walk me through the

1047
01:00:25,880 --> 01:00:28,840
Speaker 1: step by step you know, how do we prep and

1048
01:00:29,080 --> 01:00:31,600
Speaker 1: and actually do this stuff? Because it's I mean, is

1049
01:00:31,640 --> 01:00:33,320
Speaker 1: it is it just like planning a food plot or

1050
01:00:33,320 --> 01:00:37,400
Speaker 1: would you say it's different? It's different? It is? And um,

1051
01:00:38,800 --> 01:00:41,440
Speaker 1: you know the thing I would say too is is uh,

1052
01:00:42,040 --> 01:00:44,960
Speaker 1: the techniques are the same, but the way that you

1053
01:00:45,080 --> 01:00:48,760
Speaker 1: do it is takes a little bit more finesse. So

1054
01:00:49,240 --> 01:00:52,360
Speaker 1: let's take the scenario that you have a crop field

1055
01:00:52,640 --> 01:00:54,480
Speaker 1: and you're going to be decided that you're going to

1056
01:00:55,280 --> 01:00:59,320
Speaker 1: put native grasses or field borders into into this crop field.

1057
01:01:00,040 --> 01:01:02,360
Speaker 1: In my opinion, that's the best case scenario. If you're

1058
01:01:02,400 --> 01:01:05,720
Speaker 1: doing a uh you know you're actually going to do

1059
01:01:05,840 --> 01:01:08,919
Speaker 1: a seating. The reason for that is, like anything else,

1060
01:01:09,000 --> 01:01:11,600
Speaker 1: this is where it's similar to putting a food plot

1061
01:01:11,680 --> 01:01:15,320
Speaker 1: in It all starts with your your site prep. If

1062
01:01:15,400 --> 01:01:21,480
Speaker 1: you if you do not go uh in all in

1063
01:01:21,920 --> 01:01:24,480
Speaker 1: on your side prep, you could have some chat. You

1064
01:01:24,520 --> 01:01:28,200
Speaker 1: almost will always have some challenges with your seating. So

1065
01:01:28,280 --> 01:01:33,720
Speaker 1: side prep is incredibly important. And you know, typically if

1066
01:01:33,800 --> 01:01:38,640
Speaker 1: I had a landowner that let's say they had an

1067
01:01:38,680 --> 01:01:41,439
Speaker 1: old fescuwed pasture, it wasn't being farmed at the moment,

1068
01:01:42,320 --> 01:01:45,120
Speaker 1: but they wanted to go do a native restoration on

1069
01:01:45,280 --> 01:01:49,720
Speaker 1: those acres, I would encourage them to to plant let's say,

1070
01:01:49,720 --> 01:01:52,800
Speaker 1: soy beans for two years something. Round up, ready, you know,

1071
01:01:53,000 --> 01:02:00,160
Speaker 1: get beans there, get that that cool season competition under control. Um,

1072
01:02:00,360 --> 01:02:06,080
Speaker 1: that's really really important. So um going into a you bet,

1073
01:02:06,160 --> 01:02:10,520
Speaker 1: go ahead real quick. You've mentioned the cool season competition

1074
01:02:11,400 --> 01:02:14,040
Speaker 1: and and something that I've heard over the years and

1075
01:02:14,080 --> 01:02:16,040
Speaker 1: have had to pick up on my own. But I

1076
01:02:16,080 --> 01:02:17,920
Speaker 1: think a lot of people that aren't really savoy and

1077
01:02:17,960 --> 01:02:20,919
Speaker 1: this stuff won't really understand the difference between like cool

1078
01:02:20,960 --> 01:02:25,120
Speaker 1: season grasses and warm season grasses or something like that.

1079
01:02:25,360 --> 01:02:27,720
Speaker 1: Can you can you just explain that a little bit?

1080
01:02:28,760 --> 01:02:30,760
Speaker 1: You bet? Yeah, I appreciate you stopping me there. I

1081
01:02:30,760 --> 01:02:33,360
Speaker 1: should have done that early. I So cool season and

1082
01:02:33,440 --> 01:02:38,120
Speaker 1: warm season grasses. So there um native varieties and non

1083
01:02:38,240 --> 01:02:41,320
Speaker 1: native varieties of both that exist on the landscape today.

1084
01:02:41,720 --> 01:02:45,640
Speaker 1: Warm season grasses grow when the soul temperatures are warmer,

1085
01:02:46,160 --> 01:02:49,120
Speaker 1: reach a certain degree level of kind of various depending

1086
01:02:49,200 --> 01:02:53,240
Speaker 1: upon the species, but they're actively growing during the warm

1087
01:02:53,760 --> 01:02:56,560
Speaker 1: part of the year. Cool season grasses are growing during

1088
01:02:56,600 --> 01:03:00,480
Speaker 1: the spring and the falls typically dormant during this summer.

1089
01:03:00,960 --> 01:03:03,760
Speaker 1: So for example, right now, we're in April, you know,

1090
01:03:03,840 --> 01:03:06,520
Speaker 1: looking out my window here, looking at my yard, you'll

1091
01:03:06,560 --> 01:03:09,480
Speaker 1: get fescue and and some brom out there. It's lush

1092
01:03:09,520 --> 01:03:12,160
Speaker 1: and it's green. It's a growing right now. So that's

1093
01:03:12,240 --> 01:03:16,400
Speaker 1: that's a cool season, cool season grass as opposed to

1094
01:03:16,400 --> 01:03:19,120
Speaker 1: the warm season, which is um, you know, starting to

1095
01:03:19,160 --> 01:03:21,200
Speaker 1: green up here around here when we're especially if they've

1096
01:03:21,320 --> 01:03:24,280
Speaker 1: if they've burned. But that's the difference, okay, And is

1097
01:03:24,320 --> 01:03:28,360
Speaker 1: it typically those cool season grasses that are trouble for

1098
01:03:28,520 --> 01:03:32,480
Speaker 1: some of our more preferred plantings because they start going early.

1099
01:03:33,000 --> 01:03:36,680
Speaker 1: I'll compete whatever you planted and then you get this

1100
01:03:37,040 --> 01:03:39,720
Speaker 1: really patchy or poor growth of what you actually want.

1101
01:03:39,800 --> 01:03:43,000
Speaker 1: Is that? Yeah, that's right. So the you know, especially

1102
01:03:43,040 --> 01:03:46,160
Speaker 1: on a new seating, the first three years are the

1103
01:03:46,240 --> 01:03:50,080
Speaker 1: most critical for a native warm season grass seating. So

1104
01:03:50,480 --> 01:03:54,680
Speaker 1: when you've got cool season competition, um, you know, those

1105
01:03:55,440 --> 01:03:59,720
Speaker 1: they're competing for the same resources, and so especially something

1106
01:03:59,760 --> 01:04:03,520
Speaker 1: like askue that sod forming as of native seedlings are

1107
01:04:03,560 --> 01:04:07,120
Speaker 1: coming up through the ground um that bescue, you can

1108
01:04:07,160 --> 01:04:09,640
Speaker 1: really overtake them and shade them out and out compete them.

1109
01:04:09,680 --> 01:04:11,920
Speaker 1: So you want to really make sure that you're you're

1110
01:04:11,960 --> 01:04:15,200
Speaker 1: staying on top of that and you're diligent. But if

1111
01:04:15,280 --> 01:04:18,800
Speaker 1: you do a very good job of your you know,

1112
01:04:18,920 --> 01:04:22,919
Speaker 1: to site prep, you're pretty well got the battle one

1113
01:04:23,520 --> 01:04:26,320
Speaker 1: right away. So that's kind of where I come back to.

1114
01:04:26,480 --> 01:04:29,120
Speaker 1: If you had, in the best case scenario, you're going

1115
01:04:29,200 --> 01:04:33,160
Speaker 1: into a uh an area that's you know, had multiple

1116
01:04:33,200 --> 01:04:36,560
Speaker 1: applications of Glypha state or round up applied, whether that

1117
01:04:36,760 --> 01:04:40,120
Speaker 1: is just your chemical burned down. You know, you've come

1118
01:04:40,160 --> 01:04:44,560
Speaker 1: you've mowed your fescue off, you've sprayed it twice the

1119
01:04:45,200 --> 01:04:49,920
Speaker 1: previous fall, burn that residue off, come back with one

1120
01:04:49,960 --> 01:04:54,360
Speaker 1: more application in the spring. Or you're going into an

1121
01:04:54,400 --> 01:04:58,280
Speaker 1: area that has been routinely cropped every year. You've got

1122
01:04:58,360 --> 01:05:02,040
Speaker 1: a great seedbed prepped, there's no weed competition, You're you've

1123
01:05:02,080 --> 01:05:05,120
Speaker 1: got plenty of bare soil. Now you're ready to put

1124
01:05:05,160 --> 01:05:08,680
Speaker 1: your seed down. There's two ways to do that UM,

1125
01:05:08,920 --> 01:05:12,120
Speaker 1: you can either broadcast seed your natives with a with

1126
01:05:12,240 --> 01:05:16,320
Speaker 1: a carrier of some type UM, you know, whether that's

1127
01:05:16,480 --> 01:05:20,440
Speaker 1: um vermiculite or something that you can put into the

1128
01:05:21,440 --> 01:05:25,479
Speaker 1: your broadcast seater that can that can agitate and also

1129
01:05:25,600 --> 01:05:29,200
Speaker 1: carry that seed. The native seed is incredibly light, very

1130
01:05:29,320 --> 01:05:33,600
Speaker 1: very fluffy. UM. It's adapted to be spread by wind,

1131
01:05:34,000 --> 01:05:36,760
Speaker 1: so you know, it's it's can be tough to get

1132
01:05:36,800 --> 01:05:39,560
Speaker 1: out the back of a seater. But UM, a seed

1133
01:05:39,600 --> 01:05:41,680
Speaker 1: you know, a spreader like a vicon that has a

1134
01:05:42,560 --> 01:05:46,000
Speaker 1: a dogtail on the back that that can really agitate.

1135
01:05:46,120 --> 01:05:50,200
Speaker 1: That's that's a great tool to use. UM. You want

1136
01:05:50,240 --> 01:05:53,600
Speaker 1: to see and it's actually Broadcast seating is my preferred

1137
01:05:53,680 --> 01:05:58,520
Speaker 1: method of seeding natives. I like to go in as

1138
01:05:58,560 --> 01:06:00,400
Speaker 1: long as the site prep has been done very well.

1139
01:06:00,440 --> 01:06:03,400
Speaker 1: I got plenty of bare ground. UM. I like to

1140
01:06:03,480 --> 01:06:07,120
Speaker 1: go in during the winter months, you know, January February,

1141
01:06:07,560 --> 01:06:11,320
Speaker 1: right before snow in my areas is ideal. Go in

1142
01:06:11,480 --> 01:06:14,680
Speaker 1: and broadcast seed. UM let that snow get on top

1143
01:06:14,760 --> 01:06:17,640
Speaker 1: of it, and then the free stall on the spring

1144
01:06:18,080 --> 01:06:23,200
Speaker 1: that that motion just works at seed in into the ground.

1145
01:06:23,320 --> 01:06:27,960
Speaker 1: Just just just perfect. And I really like broadcast seeding

1146
01:06:28,040 --> 01:06:29,320
Speaker 1: but the other way you can do it is with

1147
01:06:29,360 --> 01:06:31,960
Speaker 1: the warm season grass drill. So it looks a lot

1148
01:06:32,080 --> 01:06:36,320
Speaker 1: like a grain drill um, only it has agitators inside

1149
01:06:36,360 --> 01:06:40,640
Speaker 1: the hopper that can help seed the native seed. And

1150
01:06:40,720 --> 01:06:42,920
Speaker 1: what you're really trying to do, and this is again

1151
01:06:43,200 --> 01:06:45,600
Speaker 1: a situation where the technique is similar to plan a

1152
01:06:45,640 --> 01:06:50,560
Speaker 1: food plot, but it is different. You only need that

1153
01:06:50,760 --> 01:06:54,520
Speaker 1: native seed to be in I mean about half as

1154
01:06:54,600 --> 01:06:59,120
Speaker 1: deep as your thumbnail is long. It just needs a

1155
01:06:59,280 --> 01:07:03,880
Speaker 1: little bit of coverage. It doesn't need a lot. If you, uh,

1156
01:07:04,240 --> 01:07:06,680
Speaker 1: you plant that seed too deep, it's not gonna it's

1157
01:07:06,720 --> 01:07:09,120
Speaker 1: not gonna grow. So if you use the drill, you

1158
01:07:09,320 --> 01:07:12,040
Speaker 1: just wanted to have those cultures scratching the surface. That's

1159
01:07:12,200 --> 01:07:16,280
Speaker 1: just deep enough. But you know, you you get good

1160
01:07:16,320 --> 01:07:19,760
Speaker 1: seed to soil contact that way. It's another great method

1161
01:07:19,880 --> 01:07:24,240
Speaker 1: for um for planning your grasses. So so you've got

1162
01:07:24,320 --> 01:07:27,280
Speaker 1: the seed on the ground, you've either broadcast seeded it,

1163
01:07:27,880 --> 01:07:31,200
Speaker 1: or you have drilled it. Now comes the fun part,

1164
01:07:31,240 --> 01:07:32,680
Speaker 1: and that's when you get to kind of just sit

1165
01:07:32,760 --> 01:07:37,440
Speaker 1: back and and watch. So year one, don't expect a

1166
01:07:37,560 --> 01:07:42,480
Speaker 1: lot those natives are putting their growing, but they're growing underground,

1167
01:07:42,760 --> 01:07:45,000
Speaker 1: so that first year, they're putting their roots down. Remember

1168
01:07:45,040 --> 01:07:49,040
Speaker 1: I mentioned compass plant for example, is a very very

1169
01:07:49,120 --> 01:07:53,640
Speaker 1: tall native native plant, but it can have a root,

1170
01:07:54,080 --> 01:07:58,480
Speaker 1: a tap root um as deep as as twenty So

1171
01:07:58,680 --> 01:08:03,560
Speaker 1: it's it's it's putting, it's it's putting its roots down.

1172
01:08:03,680 --> 01:08:08,200
Speaker 1: So don't don't be expecting, you know, lush, big crp

1173
01:08:08,640 --> 01:08:12,240
Speaker 1: looking fields the first year, it's coming, trust me, it's coming.

1174
01:08:12,560 --> 01:08:14,840
Speaker 1: But that first year they're putting their roots down. What

1175
01:08:15,000 --> 01:08:18,040
Speaker 1: you're really looking at that first year is competition. So

1176
01:08:18,600 --> 01:08:22,120
Speaker 1: this is where anyone who's gonna do this work, whether

1177
01:08:22,200 --> 01:08:25,160
Speaker 1: there whether they think they will, you know this is

1178
01:08:25,200 --> 01:08:27,920
Speaker 1: gonna happen to them or not, they'll kind of become um,

1179
01:08:28,960 --> 01:08:32,120
Speaker 1: very proficient in plan identification because they're gonna be out

1180
01:08:32,120 --> 01:08:35,559
Speaker 1: there looking and they're gonna be they're gonna learn how

1181
01:08:35,600 --> 01:08:40,400
Speaker 1: to identify natives versus unwanted species. And so you're looking

1182
01:08:40,439 --> 01:08:42,560
Speaker 1: out there, you're just kind of seeing what you have.

1183
01:08:42,720 --> 01:08:45,680
Speaker 1: It's gonna be weedy, that's okay. Those there's gonna be

1184
01:08:45,760 --> 01:08:49,320
Speaker 1: annuals that come up in it. That's gonna be just fine.

1185
01:08:49,640 --> 01:08:53,719
Speaker 1: It's uh, it's actually providing some habitat for some annual

1186
01:08:53,760 --> 01:08:57,519
Speaker 1: habitat for wildlife. Um, this is where you need to

1187
01:08:57,600 --> 01:09:02,120
Speaker 1: have a mower handy, So it's okay, and we highly

1188
01:09:02,240 --> 01:09:05,880
Speaker 1: recommend at least twice a year in most areas to

1189
01:09:05,960 --> 01:09:09,000
Speaker 1: come in and clip that seating down. What you're doing

1190
01:09:09,080 --> 01:09:11,080
Speaker 1: is you're just keep in the playing field level at

1191
01:09:11,160 --> 01:09:13,960
Speaker 1: that point, so there will be a little bit of competition.

1192
01:09:14,000 --> 01:09:16,360
Speaker 1: No matter how good your site prep is, you'll have

1193
01:09:16,720 --> 01:09:19,519
Speaker 1: you know, you'll have some so through mo and a

1194
01:09:19,560 --> 01:09:22,160
Speaker 1: couple of times a year, you're just kind of keeping

1195
01:09:22,240 --> 01:09:25,800
Speaker 1: everything controlled while those natives are putting the roots down.

1196
01:09:26,640 --> 01:09:31,960
Speaker 1: Second year, second growing season, you're gonna start seeing wildflowers.

1197
01:09:32,040 --> 01:09:34,599
Speaker 1: At this point, you're gonna start seeing bunches of big

1198
01:09:34,640 --> 01:09:39,360
Speaker 1: blue in Indian grass and whatever you know, bunch grasses

1199
01:09:39,439 --> 01:09:41,160
Speaker 1: you have in your mix. You're gonna start seeing these

1200
01:09:41,840 --> 01:09:45,760
Speaker 1: start to really show themselves and you might be ready

1201
01:09:45,840 --> 01:09:47,880
Speaker 1: to rock and roll at this point. It just kind

1202
01:09:47,920 --> 01:09:50,719
Speaker 1: of depends on weather conditions and a number of things.

1203
01:09:51,320 --> 01:09:54,800
Speaker 1: I've seen second year plannings take off and look incredible,

1204
01:09:54,880 --> 01:09:57,679
Speaker 1: and you're you're up and running most of the time.

1205
01:09:58,439 --> 01:10:02,200
Speaker 1: You're looking to the it. You know, to mow at

1206
01:10:02,280 --> 01:10:06,000
Speaker 1: least once during year two and so that's kind of

1207
01:10:06,280 --> 01:10:08,639
Speaker 1: a judgment call, and you can work with your private

1208
01:10:08,720 --> 01:10:10,840
Speaker 1: lands biologists that you've worked with on the on the

1209
01:10:10,920 --> 01:10:14,320
Speaker 1: project to kind of determine when to make that call.

1210
01:10:14,439 --> 01:10:16,560
Speaker 1: But generally, as a rule of thumb, I'm looking to

1211
01:10:16,640 --> 01:10:21,280
Speaker 1: mow once that second year. By year three, you should

1212
01:10:21,280 --> 01:10:27,519
Speaker 1: have an established, fully established grassland restoration project on your hands,

1213
01:10:28,600 --> 01:10:31,120
Speaker 1: and you're you're up and off to the races at

1214
01:10:31,160 --> 01:10:35,360
Speaker 1: that point. And by then, once it's established and ready

1215
01:10:35,400 --> 01:10:39,120
Speaker 1: to go, prescribed fire is going to be your your friend.

1216
01:10:39,800 --> 01:10:44,280
Speaker 1: You know, this work is it's fun, you know it

1217
01:10:45,600 --> 01:10:50,240
Speaker 1: is Uh, it does require some patients, um, but there's

1218
01:10:50,240 --> 01:10:54,639
Speaker 1: a lot of there's a lot of benefit that comes

1219
01:10:54,720 --> 01:10:58,519
Speaker 1: from you know, getting some some expertise around learning how

1220
01:10:58,560 --> 01:11:01,760
Speaker 1: to use prescribed fire and the best management tool you're

1221
01:11:01,760 --> 01:11:06,240
Speaker 1: ever gonna have to manage your grasses. And so by

1222
01:11:06,320 --> 01:11:10,280
Speaker 1: your three you gotta be looking at okay about time

1223
01:11:10,360 --> 01:11:14,879
Speaker 1: for burn um And when you burns kind of depends

1224
01:11:14,960 --> 01:11:17,840
Speaker 1: on what your objectives are. So you know, you can

1225
01:11:18,240 --> 01:11:22,120
Speaker 1: burn your natives anytime during the dormant season, and if

1226
01:11:22,200 --> 01:11:25,280
Speaker 1: you burn them you know early, let's say January February,

1227
01:11:25,800 --> 01:11:29,599
Speaker 1: that tends to favor wildflowers, more diversity, you burn them

1228
01:11:29,600 --> 01:11:31,920
Speaker 1: a little bit later. It tends to favorite grasses a

1229
01:11:31,960 --> 01:11:34,400
Speaker 1: little bit more cover. All are things that you can

1230
01:11:34,479 --> 01:11:38,040
Speaker 1: work with your you know, your local point of contact

1231
01:11:38,160 --> 01:11:41,400
Speaker 1: on to make the determination that's best for you. But

1232
01:11:42,240 --> 01:11:45,680
Speaker 1: but that's that's sort of the the timeline really for

1233
01:11:46,560 --> 01:11:49,120
Speaker 1: for putting this work on the ground and getting a

1234
01:11:49,160 --> 01:11:53,040
Speaker 1: project from start to finish. Okay, So then what about

1235
01:11:53,240 --> 01:11:58,400
Speaker 1: scenario two where I've got an old field or something

1236
01:11:58,600 --> 01:12:00,880
Speaker 1: that I think that I've got something to work with,

1237
01:12:01,120 --> 01:12:04,560
Speaker 1: but I don't exactly know what, and I want to

1238
01:12:04,600 --> 01:12:08,240
Speaker 1: try to turn this thing into something worthwhile? What then

1239
01:12:08,680 --> 01:12:11,439
Speaker 1: you bet? You bet? So these are these are a

1240
01:12:11,520 --> 01:12:13,639
Speaker 1: lot of fun actually, and they're very they're very common.

1241
01:12:14,080 --> 01:12:17,840
Speaker 1: So scenario to you go into an old field, You're

1242
01:12:17,880 --> 01:12:20,400
Speaker 1: walking around with your private lands biologists and you're identifying

1243
01:12:21,400 --> 01:12:24,160
Speaker 1: you know, they make the decision, hey, we've got we

1244
01:12:24,280 --> 01:12:26,000
Speaker 1: might have something to work with here. You know, I'm

1245
01:12:26,000 --> 01:12:29,280
Speaker 1: seeing some rimnant. You've got a lot of unwanted cool

1246
01:12:29,320 --> 01:12:34,680
Speaker 1: seasons in here, but this is this is probably salvageable.

1247
01:12:35,920 --> 01:12:38,720
Speaker 1: Your two primary go to practices are going to be

1248
01:12:38,800 --> 01:12:43,280
Speaker 1: her poside and fire, So you're gonna look at that situation,

1249
01:12:44,320 --> 01:12:47,559
Speaker 1: and based on the recommendations of your of your point

1250
01:12:47,600 --> 01:12:52,720
Speaker 1: of contact there, you're gonna have likely an opportunity or

1251
01:12:52,880 --> 01:12:56,639
Speaker 1: a recommendation rather to apply some form of herbose side

1252
01:12:56,680 --> 01:13:01,559
Speaker 1: in the fall. Now this can be um, this can

1253
01:13:01,680 --> 01:13:04,280
Speaker 1: change depending upon you know, what they see out there,

1254
01:13:04,320 --> 01:13:08,360
Speaker 1: but generally you're gonna be putting a grass selective herbicide

1255
01:13:09,320 --> 01:13:12,120
Speaker 1: down in the fall. So something that's gonna be targeting

1256
01:13:13,080 --> 01:13:15,920
Speaker 1: those cool seasons that's in there, um and some of

1257
01:13:15,960 --> 01:13:19,880
Speaker 1: those unwanted species that are in there. Um, your natives

1258
01:13:19,920 --> 01:13:24,360
Speaker 1: are gonna be dormant, especially if you wait, um until

1259
01:13:24,400 --> 01:13:27,880
Speaker 1: after the first hard frost, your natives will almost always

1260
01:13:27,920 --> 01:13:31,240
Speaker 1: be dormant any time after that. If you're working with

1261
01:13:31,360 --> 01:13:35,800
Speaker 1: an unwanted cool season like fescue, you can spray that

1262
01:13:36,640 --> 01:13:41,120
Speaker 1: almost any time if the the ambient air temperature is

1263
01:13:41,600 --> 01:13:44,160
Speaker 1: somewhere in that fifties degree mark. I've had some great

1264
01:13:44,240 --> 01:13:47,800
Speaker 1: results spray in fescue out of remnant native stands in

1265
01:13:47,800 --> 01:13:51,280
Speaker 1: the middle of December in central Missouri when we've had

1266
01:13:51,640 --> 01:13:54,280
Speaker 1: you know, a couple of day warm shot there where

1267
01:13:54,320 --> 01:13:57,160
Speaker 1: we're in the fifties and so um, So you're gonna

1268
01:13:57,160 --> 01:14:01,519
Speaker 1: go in in October into October. If you're in the

1269
01:14:01,560 --> 01:14:05,240
Speaker 1: central part of the US and you're gonna apply you know,

1270
01:14:05,320 --> 01:14:08,360
Speaker 1: either a grass selective herbicide or some something. This is

1271
01:14:08,439 --> 01:14:11,679
Speaker 1: just a light application of round up and starts setting

1272
01:14:11,760 --> 01:14:16,720
Speaker 1: that unwanted cool season back. You're gonna watch that over

1273
01:14:16,760 --> 01:14:20,639
Speaker 1: the winter, see how it progresses. Generally, in most cases,

1274
01:14:20,720 --> 01:14:23,439
Speaker 1: come you're gonna come back the next spring with a

1275
01:14:23,479 --> 01:14:26,800
Speaker 1: prescribed fire and you're gonna run fires through there. That's

1276
01:14:26,800 --> 01:14:29,280
Speaker 1: going to continue to work on those unwanted cool season,

1277
01:14:29,360 --> 01:14:31,800
Speaker 1: set them back a little bit more, while at the

1278
01:14:31,880 --> 01:14:36,080
Speaker 1: same time that fire generates a response from the natives.

1279
01:14:36,680 --> 01:14:39,920
Speaker 1: So between the the application of the herbicide and the

1280
01:14:40,040 --> 01:14:43,120
Speaker 1: incorporation of the fire, you're really knocking back the cool

1281
01:14:43,160 --> 01:14:47,920
Speaker 1: season and you're giving those natives a kick start. And

1282
01:14:48,240 --> 01:14:52,000
Speaker 1: again it's about succession and competition, so you can get

1283
01:14:52,080 --> 01:14:55,280
Speaker 1: that cool season set back just enough to where those

1284
01:14:55,360 --> 01:14:58,920
Speaker 1: natives are or or kick started enough to where they're

1285
01:14:58,960 --> 01:15:02,160
Speaker 1: up over the top. Um generally you're off, you're off

1286
01:15:02,240 --> 01:15:05,599
Speaker 1: to the races, and and you might have to repeat

1287
01:15:05,680 --> 01:15:09,360
Speaker 1: that process the following fall, but generally in a couple

1288
01:15:09,400 --> 01:15:11,519
Speaker 1: of years, especially if you have a really good seed

1289
01:15:11,600 --> 01:15:15,840
Speaker 1: bank that has uh, you know, diverse native seeds in there,

1290
01:15:16,720 --> 01:15:19,599
Speaker 1: you'll you'll be in good shape. And the best part

1291
01:15:19,680 --> 01:15:23,679
Speaker 1: about that particular situation where you're going into a remnant

1292
01:15:23,720 --> 01:15:27,400
Speaker 1: scenario is it's incredibly cost effective. You know, a little

1293
01:15:27,400 --> 01:15:32,040
Speaker 1: bit of herbicide, you know, eighty jug of of glass

1294
01:15:32,080 --> 01:15:35,920
Speaker 1: to sade or or select or something like that, and uh,

1295
01:15:36,040 --> 01:15:38,720
Speaker 1: a little bit of deesel on gasoline in a drip

1296
01:15:38,800 --> 01:15:42,680
Speaker 1: torch and you can you can have, um, you know,

1297
01:15:42,800 --> 01:15:46,120
Speaker 1: some incredibly beneficial, high quality ABTA on your hands and

1298
01:15:46,400 --> 01:15:49,840
Speaker 1: in just a couple of years. M Now what about

1299
01:15:50,560 --> 01:15:54,240
Speaker 1: long term management? And in both scenarios, Let's say you've

1300
01:15:54,280 --> 01:15:58,040
Speaker 1: got your great stand of native grasses like you want them. Um,

1301
01:15:58,800 --> 01:16:03,520
Speaker 1: is it then just applying fire at some interval for perpetuity?

1302
01:16:04,280 --> 01:16:06,920
Speaker 1: Or is mowing ever a tool you would use at

1303
01:16:06,960 --> 01:16:11,799
Speaker 1: that point? Ever? Again, Um, any selective spraying of shrubs

1304
01:16:11,920 --> 01:16:15,800
Speaker 1: or something popping up anything else like that. Yeah, it's

1305
01:16:15,920 --> 01:16:18,280
Speaker 1: it's actually it's all three. So you know you kind

1306
01:16:18,320 --> 01:16:21,440
Speaker 1: of want to you know, I guess first and foremost,

1307
01:16:21,600 --> 01:16:23,760
Speaker 1: you know, once you have your once you have your

1308
01:16:23,800 --> 01:16:28,000
Speaker 1: grass established, you're really looking at you're not just your

1309
01:16:28,040 --> 01:16:30,400
Speaker 1: grasslands at that point, But how does that all fit

1310
01:16:30,520 --> 01:16:34,679
Speaker 1: within your property? And so you're really wanting to manage

1311
01:16:35,520 --> 01:16:38,879
Speaker 1: you know, on sort of a a one third rotation.

1312
01:16:39,080 --> 01:16:42,519
Speaker 1: So you want to see some sort of active management

1313
01:16:43,040 --> 01:16:46,519
Speaker 1: on your one third of your property a year. And UM,

1314
01:16:46,640 --> 01:16:49,800
Speaker 1: you know, if it's all grassland, that's great. Um, you're

1315
01:16:49,800 --> 01:16:54,120
Speaker 1: gonna be burning or disking or mowing a third a

1316
01:16:54,240 --> 01:16:58,360
Speaker 1: year if it's kind of a in my case, you know,

1317
01:16:58,439 --> 01:17:03,440
Speaker 1: in my property, I've got mixed woods and and grassland habitats,

1318
01:17:03,479 --> 01:17:06,680
Speaker 1: and so I'm using a lot of prescribed fire um

1319
01:17:07,560 --> 01:17:10,519
Speaker 1: part and both my woodlands and my grasslands about a

1320
01:17:10,600 --> 01:17:13,360
Speaker 1: thirty years. So but for the purposes of you know,

1321
01:17:13,479 --> 01:17:17,920
Speaker 1: grassland management, you're really looking at disking, mowing, prescribed fire,

1322
01:17:18,680 --> 01:17:22,320
Speaker 1: or herb desides. You have four uh, primary tools at

1323
01:17:22,360 --> 01:17:27,200
Speaker 1: your disposal. All are great. Um, they all have their

1324
01:17:27,240 --> 01:17:31,519
Speaker 1: benefits and uh and they're definitely scenarios where some favorite

1325
01:17:31,680 --> 01:17:35,240
Speaker 1: or more favorable than the other. But I always lean

1326
01:17:35,600 --> 01:17:38,360
Speaker 1: heavily on fire. Um. You know, it's like I said,

1327
01:17:38,400 --> 01:17:43,080
Speaker 1: it's inexpensive, it's a it's a very impactful management tool

1328
01:17:43,120 --> 01:17:46,800
Speaker 1: for a number of reasons. UM. And it's it's something

1329
01:17:46,880 --> 01:17:50,880
Speaker 1: that's um, you know that when done correctly is is uh,

1330
01:17:51,840 --> 01:17:54,599
Speaker 1: you can really give your your best benefits, your best

1331
01:17:54,680 --> 01:17:57,800
Speaker 1: bang for your buck there um. But there are definitely

1332
01:17:57,840 --> 01:18:00,800
Speaker 1: are instances where you know, mowing is gonna it's gonna

1333
01:18:00,880 --> 01:18:05,200
Speaker 1: make some sense disking, especially if you have old, older

1334
01:18:05,400 --> 01:18:09,400
Speaker 1: plantings that maybe are very grass dominated and you're wanting

1335
01:18:09,439 --> 01:18:13,160
Speaker 1: to improve some diversity. You get some diversity back back

1336
01:18:13,200 --> 01:18:15,800
Speaker 1: into that stand. You know, disking can be a very

1337
01:18:15,840 --> 01:18:19,360
Speaker 1: effective tool in that uh in that case, same with

1338
01:18:19,520 --> 01:18:24,080
Speaker 1: prescribed with herbicide application to So it just kind of

1339
01:18:24,120 --> 01:18:25,800
Speaker 1: all depends. But those are going to be your four

1340
01:18:25,880 --> 01:18:28,640
Speaker 1: primary management tools that you're gonna want to have it

1341
01:18:28,880 --> 01:18:31,640
Speaker 1: at the ready is uh. You know, good mower, a

1342
01:18:32,600 --> 01:18:36,960
Speaker 1: you know sprayer, a drip torch and um and a

1343
01:18:37,080 --> 01:18:41,680
Speaker 1: desk and you're gonna be set all right. So the

1344
01:18:41,840 --> 01:18:45,360
Speaker 1: one roadblock, I don't know if this is a roadblock,

1345
01:18:45,520 --> 01:18:48,920
Speaker 1: but this is like a potential red flag for me

1346
01:18:49,560 --> 01:18:51,599
Speaker 1: as I'm working through this for myself, was like, man,

1347
01:18:51,680 --> 01:18:56,280
Speaker 1: this sounds like uh a lot of kind of energy

1348
01:18:56,360 --> 01:18:58,800
Speaker 1: and time and maybe money getting put into this. I've

1349
01:18:58,800 --> 01:19:00,640
Speaker 1: got to figure out a way to rent ceeder. I've

1350
01:19:00,640 --> 01:19:02,440
Speaker 1: got to figure out a way to buy this herbicide,

1351
01:19:02,479 --> 01:19:06,400
Speaker 1: I've gotta you know, get this thing and that thing. Um,

1352
01:19:06,920 --> 01:19:09,240
Speaker 1: if there's someone worrying about that kind of thing. I

1353
01:19:09,400 --> 01:19:13,920
Speaker 1: imagine that the government programs out there to help fund

1354
01:19:14,080 --> 01:19:17,080
Speaker 1: some of this stuff might be helpful, like the CRP

1355
01:19:17,280 --> 01:19:21,280
Speaker 1: program or others. Can you can you dive further than

1356
01:19:21,280 --> 01:19:23,040
Speaker 1: than that, because we talked a little bit about how

1357
01:19:23,120 --> 01:19:27,280
Speaker 1: there's there's free consultation services sometimes, but there's also programs

1358
01:19:27,840 --> 01:19:31,640
Speaker 1: where you know, the government is incentivizing private landowners to

1359
01:19:31,720 --> 01:19:34,720
Speaker 1: do work like this and even sometimes compensating you for it.

1360
01:19:34,800 --> 01:19:36,840
Speaker 1: Can you can you give us the cliff notes on

1361
01:19:37,040 --> 01:19:39,400
Speaker 1: what kind of programs we should look for specifically and

1362
01:19:39,600 --> 01:19:43,400
Speaker 1: how to do that. Absolutely absolutely, and uh, you know,

1363
01:19:43,439 --> 01:19:47,040
Speaker 1: I just started by saying that the you know, it's

1364
01:19:47,120 --> 01:19:53,639
Speaker 1: it's really been. UM it's it's been, uh pretty incredible

1365
01:19:53,680 --> 01:19:58,120
Speaker 1: to see the amount of horsepower and emphasis being placed

1366
01:19:58,200 --> 01:20:03,479
Speaker 1: on grassland habitat restoration across the country, UM and in

1367
01:20:03,560 --> 01:20:06,560
Speaker 1: the interest that's out there in voluntary conservation practices to

1368
01:20:06,960 --> 01:20:10,360
Speaker 1: put grasslands on the on the landscape and and uh

1369
01:20:10,680 --> 01:20:14,680
Speaker 1: to help landowners make that happen and achieve their objectives.

1370
01:20:14,720 --> 01:20:19,280
Speaker 1: There's been significant resources put into UM both state and

1371
01:20:19,439 --> 01:20:23,479
Speaker 1: federal programs to help offset UM, you know, the costs

1372
01:20:23,720 --> 01:20:26,240
Speaker 1: of of a number of this war or a lot

1373
01:20:26,320 --> 01:20:28,800
Speaker 1: of this work. So you know, to start right out

1374
01:20:29,600 --> 01:20:32,160
Speaker 1: with with the program that most folks are familiar with,

1375
01:20:32,280 --> 01:20:36,400
Speaker 1: the Conservation Reserve Programs c RP. You know that is

1376
01:20:37,000 --> 01:20:42,960
Speaker 1: continues to be a very very impactful and um in

1377
01:20:43,120 --> 01:20:47,120
Speaker 1: popular program for for landowners to participate in. You know,

1378
01:20:47,200 --> 01:20:52,880
Speaker 1: it's completely voluntary. UM. It provides the landowner with an

1379
01:20:52,920 --> 01:20:57,600
Speaker 1: annual rental payment UM for for those acres that go

1380
01:20:57,720 --> 01:21:02,439
Speaker 1: into the program. UM. There's a sational funding available UM

1381
01:21:02,640 --> 01:21:07,679
Speaker 1: in most cases to offset you know, the restoration costs,

1382
01:21:07,760 --> 01:21:10,960
Speaker 1: so like the drill rental and the seed UH costs

1383
01:21:11,040 --> 01:21:13,920
Speaker 1: and things along those lines. And UM. You know that

1384
01:21:14,040 --> 01:21:18,360
Speaker 1: program is a US Department of AGG administered program both

1385
01:21:18,520 --> 01:21:22,400
Speaker 1: Natural Resources and Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Farm

1386
01:21:22,479 --> 01:21:28,240
Speaker 1: Service Agency UM. Helping delivering that program are Pheasants Forever

1387
01:21:28,320 --> 01:21:32,120
Speaker 1: and Quill Forever, farm Bill wildiffiologists do as well and

1388
01:21:32,520 --> 01:21:36,519
Speaker 1: m and you know, that's a very uh user friendly

1389
01:21:37,160 --> 01:21:41,360
Speaker 1: opportunity for folks to get grassland work on the ground.

1390
01:21:41,479 --> 01:21:45,200
Speaker 1: The CRP program, however, it does require or some eligibility

1391
01:21:45,240 --> 01:21:47,240
Speaker 1: requirements so for example, you would have had to have

1392
01:21:47,360 --> 01:21:51,040
Speaker 1: had UM you know, cropping history on the acres that

1393
01:21:51,120 --> 01:21:54,000
Speaker 1: are enrolled in the program. There has to be what

1394
01:21:54,080 --> 01:21:58,240
Speaker 1: they refer to as UM UM UH. Well, there's a

1395
01:21:58,320 --> 01:22:03,920
Speaker 1: score that's taken biological index that's UM kind of helps

1396
01:22:04,040 --> 01:22:08,760
Speaker 1: determine eligibility as well. So that's that's one option. The

1397
01:22:09,520 --> 01:22:12,760
Speaker 1: second option, again a U s D A opportunity is

1398
01:22:12,800 --> 01:22:17,800
Speaker 1: the Environmental Quality and Sentenced Program UM EQUIPPED for short UH.

1399
01:22:17,920 --> 01:22:21,400
Speaker 1: This program is administered by the Natural Resources Conservation Service.

1400
01:22:21,920 --> 01:22:27,800
Speaker 1: They have specific practices in in equipped for grassland restoration

1401
01:22:27,960 --> 01:22:31,679
Speaker 1: for wildlife UM while you know, and they can provide

1402
01:22:31,720 --> 01:22:35,679
Speaker 1: financial assistance to landowners interested and in doing this work.

1403
01:22:35,800 --> 01:22:38,840
Speaker 1: So it's it's cost share. There's not an annual rental

1404
01:22:38,960 --> 01:22:42,400
Speaker 1: payment per se with this, but they're definitely available funds

1405
01:22:42,439 --> 01:22:47,040
Speaker 1: available to help offset the cost of the restoration, putting

1406
01:22:47,040 --> 01:22:49,400
Speaker 1: the grass on the ground, getting getting the drill rented,

1407
01:22:49,439 --> 01:22:53,040
Speaker 1: buying the herbicide. It's all available for folks. UM. You know,

1408
01:22:53,120 --> 01:22:57,040
Speaker 1: it's a there is an application process as well, and

1409
01:22:57,200 --> 01:22:59,800
Speaker 1: there is a ranking and scoring. But you know, you're

1410
01:22:59,800 --> 01:23:04,400
Speaker 1: not to Resources Conservation Service UH staff or peasants forever

1411
01:23:04,520 --> 01:23:08,479
Speaker 1: quil Forever, Farm Build Wildlife biologists can help you through that, UM,

1412
01:23:08,800 --> 01:23:11,960
Speaker 1: and help you navigate those programs as well. So UM,

1413
01:23:12,200 --> 01:23:14,920
Speaker 1: you know those are two of of of many. But

1414
01:23:15,479 --> 01:23:19,439
Speaker 1: you know, if folks are interested in doing this work, UM,

1415
01:23:20,400 --> 01:23:23,160
Speaker 1: you know, I would highly encourage encourage them to reach

1416
01:23:23,240 --> 01:23:25,800
Speaker 1: out and and just ask the question. You know, if

1417
01:23:25,800 --> 01:23:28,120
Speaker 1: they want to reach out to us as Pheasants Forever,

1418
01:23:28,200 --> 01:23:31,760
Speaker 1: quil Forever, We're happy to help them get started, point

1419
01:23:31,840 --> 01:23:34,360
Speaker 1: them in the right direction. If we can't take them

1420
01:23:34,400 --> 01:23:37,680
Speaker 1: all the way. UM. You know, these these programs can

1421
01:23:37,760 --> 01:23:41,080
Speaker 1: be a little bit confusing, UM, and we definitely don't

1422
01:23:41,080 --> 01:23:43,280
Speaker 1: want to see that be a barrier to anyone that's

1423
01:23:43,320 --> 01:23:46,200
Speaker 1: interested in putting grassland habitats on the ground. So we'll

1424
01:23:46,240 --> 01:23:47,840
Speaker 1: help you in any way that we can and and

1425
01:23:48,560 --> 01:23:51,400
Speaker 1: and help find the program that best fits your your

1426
01:23:51,439 --> 01:23:56,439
Speaker 1: goals and objectives. So I gotta say I have not

1427
01:23:57,400 --> 01:24:02,280
Speaker 1: hunted pheasants in twenty years. Chris, Well, that's ridiculous. We gotta.

1428
01:24:02,840 --> 01:24:07,320
Speaker 1: I know that is bad, um, But despite that, I

1429
01:24:07,479 --> 01:24:10,200
Speaker 1: became a Pheasants Forever re member a few years ago

1430
01:24:10,439 --> 01:24:13,439
Speaker 1: and have stuck with it because of the work, like

1431
01:24:13,520 --> 01:24:16,000
Speaker 1: what you're describing their having biologists that are helping out

1432
01:24:16,000 --> 01:24:18,320
Speaker 1: all these things in the the way you guys are

1433
01:24:18,560 --> 01:24:22,840
Speaker 1: positively impacting grassland habitat across the country. Which despite not

1434
01:24:22,960 --> 01:24:25,680
Speaker 1: being a pheasant hunter, I love the grasslands and the

1435
01:24:25,760 --> 01:24:28,640
Speaker 1: great plains and have had some incredible deer hunting experiences

1436
01:24:28,680 --> 01:24:31,200
Speaker 1: in those types of habitats. So I'm a big fan

1437
01:24:31,280 --> 01:24:34,680
Speaker 1: of the work you guys are doing. Um So I

1438
01:24:34,720 --> 01:24:38,960
Speaker 1: would tell everyone that they should strongly considering supporting the

1439
01:24:39,040 --> 01:24:41,120
Speaker 1: work you guys are doing. A Pheasants Forever. You guys

1440
01:24:41,160 --> 01:24:43,439
Speaker 1: have a great magazine to which your members get, which

1441
01:24:43,479 --> 01:24:46,439
Speaker 1: I which even not, you know, even though the pheasant

1442
01:24:46,520 --> 01:24:48,599
Speaker 1: hunting part isn't what's drawing me in, I'm really interesting

1443
01:24:48,680 --> 01:24:50,400
Speaker 1: like the habitat stuff you guys talk about in there,

1444
01:24:50,479 --> 01:24:53,240
Speaker 1: so so good stuff across the board. That's that's my pitch.

1445
01:24:53,680 --> 01:24:56,120
Speaker 1: What would your pitch be? Two folks listening for why

1446
01:24:56,240 --> 01:24:59,800
Speaker 1: maybe they should check out uh PF and Quail Forever

1447
01:25:00,000 --> 01:25:01,680
Speaker 1: and any of the other work you guys have got

1448
01:25:01,760 --> 01:25:05,800
Speaker 1: going on. Yeah, well, I appreciate that, you know, I

1449
01:25:06,000 --> 01:25:09,680
Speaker 1: guess you know, I came to work here because of

1450
01:25:09,800 --> 01:25:12,360
Speaker 1: the habitat, you know, because of the mission. You know,

1451
01:25:12,439 --> 01:25:15,880
Speaker 1: this organization is is as grassroots as as they as

1452
01:25:15,920 --> 01:25:19,880
Speaker 1: they get. Um, we are we do our best to

1453
01:25:20,760 --> 01:25:23,439
Speaker 1: to do all we can to make a difference on

1454
01:25:23,520 --> 01:25:27,479
Speaker 1: the landscape for for quail, for pheasants, for pollinators, for

1455
01:25:27,560 --> 01:25:32,000
Speaker 1: all kinds of wildlife species. And you know, we're we're

1456
01:25:32,040 --> 01:25:35,519
Speaker 1: here to to make that landscape level change and you

1457
01:25:35,600 --> 01:25:38,800
Speaker 1: know we'll continue to continue to do that and and

1458
01:25:39,320 --> 01:25:42,720
Speaker 1: we want to, uh, we want to continue to be

1459
01:25:42,920 --> 01:25:45,639
Speaker 1: in a position to make those impacts for a really

1460
01:25:45,720 --> 01:25:48,960
Speaker 1: long time. And so I encourage anyone that's uh that's

1461
01:25:49,000 --> 01:25:53,000
Speaker 1: interested in learning more about peasants from every forever to

1462
01:25:53,240 --> 01:25:57,040
Speaker 1: to check us out on our website, uh www dot

1463
01:25:57,160 --> 01:26:00,920
Speaker 1: Pheasants Forever dot org or w e W Don't Fail

1464
01:26:01,000 --> 01:26:04,799
Speaker 1: Forever dot org. Uh, we're active on and all social

1465
01:26:04,880 --> 01:26:08,519
Speaker 1: media platforms. Check us out, and you know, give us

1466
01:26:08,520 --> 01:26:11,639
Speaker 1: a look. And uh and uh, you know, we hope,

1467
01:26:11,920 --> 01:26:14,200
Speaker 1: we hope be coming be part of our family here.

1468
01:26:15,160 --> 01:26:18,120
Speaker 1: And I think it's a good idea, I really do. Chris,

1469
01:26:18,439 --> 01:26:22,680
Speaker 1: is there if if there was someone who had been

1470
01:26:22,760 --> 01:26:25,880
Speaker 1: stuck on this hypothetical Elevator mentioned it at the beginning

1471
01:26:25,920 --> 01:26:28,240
Speaker 1: when you pitched us on Grassland Habitat. What if we

1472
01:26:28,320 --> 01:26:31,240
Speaker 1: had been stuck on an elevator this entire time. The

1473
01:26:31,320 --> 01:26:34,720
Speaker 1: elevator broken down. We've been stuck here. You've covered all

1474
01:26:34,800 --> 01:26:37,360
Speaker 1: this ground. You've talked about why grasses are great. You've

1475
01:26:37,400 --> 01:26:40,680
Speaker 1: talked about how they benefit deer and other critters and

1476
01:26:40,800 --> 01:26:43,680
Speaker 1: the land. We've talked through where to plant it, when

1477
01:26:43,760 --> 01:26:46,760
Speaker 1: to plant it, how to plant it. The elevator door

1478
01:26:46,920 --> 01:26:51,160
Speaker 1: finally is opening. Now we're about to walk off. If

1479
01:26:51,200 --> 01:26:54,840
Speaker 1: you had any final parting thought you could share with

1480
01:26:55,000 --> 01:26:56,960
Speaker 1: this person who is now about to head to their

1481
01:26:57,040 --> 01:27:00,439
Speaker 1: car and get off of this blasted elevator, Is there

1482
01:27:00,439 --> 01:27:03,160
Speaker 1: anything else you'd say to them? Well, for one thing,

1483
01:27:03,200 --> 01:27:05,320
Speaker 1: I'd have their name and their number, and I'd be

1484
01:27:05,400 --> 01:27:09,000
Speaker 1: following back up with them and uh and and making

1485
01:27:09,040 --> 01:27:12,240
Speaker 1: sure that that they didn't forget that we talked. But

1486
01:27:12,280 --> 01:27:14,840
Speaker 1: I would tell them this is a game changer. This

1487
01:27:15,040 --> 01:27:17,720
Speaker 1: is uh, this, this really is these You know, these

1488
01:27:17,760 --> 01:27:21,519
Speaker 1: habitats are were meant to be there. Um and you

1489
01:27:21,600 --> 01:27:23,680
Speaker 1: know we we use this cliche all the time. You know,

1490
01:27:23,760 --> 01:27:26,600
Speaker 1: build it and they will come. That's a fact with this.

1491
01:27:27,080 --> 01:27:29,880
Speaker 1: And UM, you know you're never gonna go wrong, um

1492
01:27:30,120 --> 01:27:34,880
Speaker 1: making the investment and UM and you know putting grasslands

1493
01:27:34,920 --> 01:27:38,120
Speaker 1: on on the landscape, putting grasslands on your farm. Um,

1494
01:27:38,960 --> 01:27:41,360
Speaker 1: you know they're they're gonna change how They're gonna change

1495
01:27:41,400 --> 01:27:44,400
Speaker 1: how you hunt, They're gonna change how you think about

1496
01:27:44,479 --> 01:27:47,000
Speaker 1: your property. They're gonna change about change with you know,

1497
01:27:47,080 --> 01:27:50,600
Speaker 1: how you think about the landscape. So don't overlook it.

1498
01:27:50,800 --> 01:27:55,000
Speaker 1: It is a game changer. Awesome, Chris. Well, you've got

1499
01:27:55,040 --> 01:27:57,000
Speaker 1: my name and number, so feel free to reach back

1500
01:27:57,080 --> 01:27:58,680
Speaker 1: up to me and check and see how I'm doing

1501
01:27:58,720 --> 01:28:01,280
Speaker 1: on this. Some of these things, I've got some I've

1502
01:28:01,320 --> 01:28:04,800
Speaker 1: got some old nasty like fescue kind of habitat on

1503
01:28:04,880 --> 01:28:08,280
Speaker 1: a proper to have permission on that. For for years now,

1504
01:28:08,560 --> 01:28:10,559
Speaker 1: I've known I've I've got to try to do something

1505
01:28:10,600 --> 01:28:13,200
Speaker 1: about it to convert it to something more useful, and uh,

1506
01:28:13,360 --> 01:28:14,960
Speaker 1: this might be the kick in the tail to finally

1507
01:28:15,040 --> 01:28:16,960
Speaker 1: do it. So so thank you for that, Chris, and

1508
01:28:17,360 --> 01:28:20,720
Speaker 1: thanks for all for all of this has been super helpful. Yeah,

1509
01:28:20,760 --> 01:28:23,800
Speaker 1: I really appreciate the opportunity and and again happy to

1510
01:28:23,840 --> 01:28:26,920
Speaker 1: answer any questions that come come our way. I could

1511
01:28:26,920 --> 01:28:28,960
Speaker 1: talk about this stuff all day and I'll be uh,

1512
01:28:29,320 --> 01:28:31,080
Speaker 1: I'll be following up with you to see if you've

1513
01:28:31,320 --> 01:28:34,080
Speaker 1: you've gotten active there and then uh, get started on

1514
01:28:34,120 --> 01:28:37,360
Speaker 1: your project. Don't worry about that, all right. It sounds good, Chris,

1515
01:28:37,880 --> 01:28:42,000
Speaker 1: thank you, You're welcome, all right, and that is it

1516
01:28:42,200 --> 01:28:45,840
Speaker 1: for us today. Appreciate you tuning in. I'll let you

1517
01:28:45,920 --> 01:28:51,000
Speaker 1: go with just a final couple updates. Number one, we've

1518
01:28:51,080 --> 01:28:54,720
Speaker 1: got a sale from first Light. If you're listening to

1519
01:28:54,800 --> 01:28:56,800
Speaker 1: this just when it came out, there's a sale that

1520
01:28:56,920 --> 01:29:01,080
Speaker 1: started on April two thousand twenty two from our pals

1521
01:29:01,120 --> 01:29:04,040
Speaker 1: over at First Light up to off a whole lot

1522
01:29:04,080 --> 01:29:05,640
Speaker 1: of their stuff, So check it out at first light

1523
01:29:05,720 --> 01:29:08,360
Speaker 1: dot com. Again. That's you know, if you're listening to

1524
01:29:08,439 --> 01:29:12,680
Speaker 1: this just a few days after April. Sorry, if you're

1525
01:29:12,720 --> 01:29:16,560
Speaker 1: listening to this, it's probably still not going. But I

1526
01:29:16,680 --> 01:29:19,360
Speaker 1: do hope you're still listening because that would be good

1527
01:29:19,479 --> 01:29:22,280
Speaker 1: if this podcast is still running and helping people at

1528
01:29:22,320 --> 01:29:25,720
Speaker 1: that point. So fingers crossed. Other news, make sure you're

1529
01:29:25,760 --> 01:29:28,360
Speaker 1: signed up to the Wired Hunt weekly newsletter. That's where

1530
01:29:28,439 --> 01:29:31,000
Speaker 1: me and Tony Peterson and all the other folks on

1531
01:29:31,080 --> 01:29:34,280
Speaker 1: our white Tail team are sharing our updates. Are articles,

1532
01:29:34,560 --> 01:29:36,960
Speaker 1: are how to videos, different things to help you on

1533
01:29:37,120 --> 01:29:40,320
Speaker 1: your deer hunting journey as well. So check those things out.

1534
01:29:40,760 --> 01:29:43,840
Speaker 1: I appreciate you, I hope you enjoyed this conversation, and

1535
01:29:43,920 --> 01:29:46,519
Speaker 1: until next time, stay wired.