What Do After Buying a Farm! Here's the Full Checklist with Skip Sligh!

Whether you're a seasoned hunter or a beginner, owning your own deer hunting farm can be a dream come true. But before you start setting up blinds and baiting areas, it's essential to ensure that your land is properly prepared for hunting. That's why we sit down with a veteran deer hunting farm owner, Skip Sligh, to discuss the top things you need to do before opening up your farm to hunting. 

In this conversation, we dive into the importance of timber sampling, the benefits of planting food plots for deer, and the ideal forests to grow for optimal hunting conditions. So, if you're looking to maximize your chances of a successful and rewarding hunting experience, Skip shares essential steps to take on a scenario of a 50-acre deer hunting farm. Skip is the owner of Iowa Whitetail. He purchased his first land when he was 22 years and what he has done over the last 20 years is interesting and inspiring. He has bought and sold over 200 farms and built a special track in Iowa. 

Now, let’s jump in!

Key Highlights from the Show

[00:01] Episode intro and what is in for you today

[04:19] The greatest habitat mistake farm owners make

[07:14] A 50-acre parcel case scenario

[08:37] Why the first thing Skip would do after purchasing the land is timber sampling

[16:04] How you can handle the bush hunting circles

[19:53] Third priority: growing food

[28:14] A quick recap of what you should do to your parcel in the first year

[32:09] What you should do in your second year: planting trees

[40:30] A quick list of fruit trees you can plant in the Mid-West

[47:36] More things you can do in year two

[52:52] Other projects you can do alongside optimizing your farm

[55:47] Episode wrap-up and calls to action

Notable Quotes 

• Just because your farm is for hunting deer does not mean you should skip any steps of farming on the land.
• Food abundance and variety are keys in deer habitat. You should spend the entire first year in your new land focusing on growing food.
• Good quality timber will hold more deer and have vastly more benefits than anything you will do with native grasses. 

Connect with Skip:

Website - Iowa Whitetail

IG - Iowa Whitetail

YT - Iowa Whitetail

Exodus Upgrade Program: https://bit.ly/ExodusUpgrade

Connect:

•  https://linktr.ee/TheLandPodcast
• https://linktr.ee/exodustrailcamera
• https://bit.ly/TheDeerGearPodcast