Hunting strategist? Habitat consultant? Forester? Wildlife manager? All different titles with a similar goal. To enhance habitat to help land owners reach their goal. However it is vital that whoever you hire is proficient in all of these categories. Finding someone that can not only help you improve your habitat for whitetails and other wildlife, but someone that can help you set up your property for better hunting.
Each client that I visit has slightly different goals. Some want to strictly focus on hunting. Some want to improve timber production. Some use the property for hunting and other family activities. It is important that we can provide a plan that molds all the visions of each client for complete satisfaction. I always advise my clients that every choice that is made is going to impact the overall potential of a given property. If somebody wants to manage a property strictly for timber value, there wildlife value will diminish and vise versus. Finding a balance that fits the clients wants and making sure we adjust expectations accordingly is important.
For many of my clients like myself, they are predominantly focused on growing and holding mature bucks. This is on one side of the spectrum and it can be difficult to achieve. But it can also produce the highest reward. This is because mature bucks are at the pinnacle of the whitetail herd. They are the hardest to control and hold consistently on your property. They are stubborn and precise. Smart and majestic. They are by far the most prestigious and intelligent animal to target across North America. Therefore, by setting the bar high and managing your property for mature bucks, you will see an incredible improvement for all other calibers of whitetail and wildlife.
Conclusion: Make sure when hiring any land manager or habitat consultant you talk to them. Listen to their strategies and how they can help you. One of the most important aspects of any plan is strategy. How will the improvements flow across the land? How will you be able to hunt the property? Many can tell you how to plant a food plot. But can that person tell you the best location for that food source? What to plant based on surrounding habitat and deer density? How to access and build a network of bedding areas around that food source? There are a lot of other factors that go into a habitat report other than timber management and creating better whitetail habitat. Just like the saying goes when buying a home. Location is everything. Each improvement has a location that it will work best on your property. It is up to your consultant to choose that location. Choose wisely and you will reap many benefits in the future!
Here at Whitetails Of New York we take all factors into account to create a habitat plan based on your goals. We guarantee positive results the very first year. Reach out to us today to change your hunting experience. Your success is our success!