A Conversation about habitat with Jim Ward. Part 10: Pollinator field, cool season grass, oak trees

This is the 10th in a series of videos comprising a discussion between Jim Brauker and Jim Ward while walking Jim Ward's 137 acre south central Indiana whitetail property. We will be releasing these videos in sequence during 2022-24. We were joined on this day by a young habitat consultant named Colin Koskinen.

This video continues the series with a discussion about Jim's PERFECT FOOD PLOT and pollinator field that contains layers of perennials and massive amounts of cover. So many books, magazines, and consultants focus on food plots as a central theme in deer property management but they are NOT the most important thing. In order to have an optimal deer hunting property, cover and the associated browse are the most important thing. Food plots are useful but not necessary. Cover is absolutely necessary to good habitat. But food plots are useful for attracting deer and so we discuss how to properly design food plots for maximal daytime use.

We further discuss the management of oak trees. Too many landowners avoid cutting oak tress but to gtrrow good acorn producers the trees must be spread out so they have side branches that get plenty of light. The ideal is an oak savanna. Trees growing close together in a canopied woods do not produce good oak timber er and they do not produce good oacorn crops. Tor grow oak trees and acorns you must cut oak trees.

Jim Brauker is the author of the book "Extreme Deer Habitat" and the web and YouTube sites of the same name. Jim focuses on education of hunters to improve their habitat on their hunting property. extremedeerhabitat.com.

Jim Ward is an expert trophy buck hunter and one of the leading deer habitat specialists in the country. Jim has spent many years traveling around the country and helping people develop their deer habitat plans and properties. Jim is no longer taking on clients but instead is focusing on his own property, the properties of his long term clients, and spending more time educating landowners. jimwardwhitetailacademy.com

Colin Koskinen was behind the camera for these videos and is the owner of a whitetail habitat consulting company called Legendary Habitat. He has worked in the field with both Jim Brauker and Jim Ward and they both recommend him for your habitat plans. www.legendaryhabitat.com

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