Wildlife
Articles, advice and resources for managing wildlife on your land, including habitat management, deer control and harvesting and wildlife conservation.
COVID-19 Challenges & Silver Linings
Domestically, there are no hunting operations in the U.S. that are fully immune to the impacts of C-19 and a hammered economy. One could surmise that things could have been worse if this C-19 crisis would have hit during the Fall hunting seasons, but none the less, there are some hunting operations that had a large volume of business on their calendar for March, April and May. My business, Wildlife Systems, Inc. (WSI), had roughly ...
Wildlife Management 101
I’m extremely fortunate to own, manage and control a respectable tract of leased and deeded ground in the Pacific Northwest. Taken with a laugh, my personal experience hasn’t been learned easily, nor done inexpensively via traditional venues. Private land wildlife management practices are commonly dominated by whitetail deer, a little waterfowl and an occasional fish or upland bird topic.
Chasing Blues Through the Texas Chaparral
Blue quail do not observe the finer gamebird principles as bobwhites; rather, they are more rogue and prone to run like members of a gang who are scattering from law dogs.
“Mi Casa Es Su Casa”: 5 Keys to Managing Wildlife in Backyard Habitats
When we think of wildlife management in Texas, we tend to think of large areas, such as ranches and state parks, generally involving charismatic game species such as whitetails, wild turkey, bobwhites and mule deer. However, for those folks who live in the concrete jungles of urban Texas, and even for those who have homes in the more open landscapes of rural Texas, managing wildlife on a micro-scale basis in the backyard of a house ...
Looking Out For Our Fine-Feathered Flyers
Every August, Nancy and John Merrill flood a hay field on their ranch so that flocks of Rocky Mountain Greater Sandhill cranes can eat and rest during their staging season.
Black Beauty
“When I look at the mount of Black Beauty on the wall, I see all the hard work we’ve put into the ranch and all the ways we have improved the habitat for wildlife.”
Drought-Proofing Mule Deer Herds In Texas
Is it actually possible to insulate mule deer herds in arid environments, such as the Chihuahuan Desert of West Texas, against the extreme pressures that can be delivered by harsh droughts? The answer is yes, to an extent.
The Wild Side of Business: Dealing With Difficult Clients
As part of Greg Simons’ regular quarterly column, he takes a look at strategies, conflict resolution, expectation setting and more when it comes to the difficult guest or client in your hunting party.
Blue Bulls & Black Beards: A Guide to Hunting Nilgai Antelope
Until recently few hunters knew much, if anything, about nilgai. The cat’s been out of the bag for a number of years now, however, and the popularity of hunting these big, exotic antelope has soared.
Keys to Success in the Hunting Business
What are the most important aspects for making your hunting business a success? Our wildlife expert Greg Simons shares his advice based on his decades of experience.
Survival 101: How to Use Bear Spray Effectively
Aggressive confrontations with bears are rare, but in that event, your best defense is bear spray. Here's what you need to know in case you do have a tangle with a bear on the trail.
Survival 101: How to Survive a Snake Encounter on the Trail
Snake encounters are uncommon, and snake bites even more so, but it’s always important to read up on snake safety on the trail, just in case you come across one of these slithery creatures.
The Wild Side of Business: Adding Flavor to the Outdoor Experience
A mile-high look at a few cornerstone considerations for enhancing the outdoor enterprise through the culinary compartment.
The Wild Side of Business: Top 10 Customer-Service Strategies
There are few industries that offer as much of an opportunity to profoundly impact client satisfaction through basic customer-service strategies as what you find in wildlife-based recreational enterprises. Our regular columnist outlines his ten tips for customer-service success.
Hunters Helping Farmers: On the Hunt for Feral Pigs with Hog Carl
Feral pigs, also called wild hogs, can pose a problem to landowners growing valuable crops. Join the author as she rides along on a South Carolina hog hunt to learn more about the connection between hunters and farmers to control this destructive species.
The Wild Side of Business: Risk Management 101
Greg Simons’ quarterly column focuses on the enterprise aspects of wildlife-based recreation that takes place on private lands across the country.
A View from the Field: Understanding the Effectiveness of Aerial Wildlife Surveys
The inconsistencies and inaccuracies associated with aerial surveys as a wildlife management tool can be confounding. Wildlife expert Greg Simons shines a light on the practice.
Don’t Shoot!: How Small Critters Improve the Country Lifestyle
Few people feel that small mammals like skunk, opossum and armadillo improve country lifestyle; but before you load the shotgun or set the trap, let’s look at what these animals contribute.
The Wild Side of Business: Tips & Tools to Photograph Your Game Harvest
Greg Simons’ quarterly column focuses on the enterprise aspects of wildlife-based recreation that takes place on private lands across the country.
How to Create Artificial Cover for Bats, Birds & Bass on Your Land
Food, cover, water, and space are the basic habitat components that are central to the health of all wildlife species. Though perhaps not as sexy as food or water, cover requirements for wildlife are often the weak links in the habitat equation for various wildlife.
