Land Management — Listener Q&A

Questions 121–261 of 305 in this category (page 2 of 3). ← previous · All listener questions · next →

Property & Habitat Management

Question: How do you make a makeshift utilization cage to gauge deer browse pressure on food plots? 7:44 — #330 - Can Supplemental Feeding Add 15”+ to a Buck? Don Higgins Answers

• Answer: Don explained that a utilization cage keeps deer off a small fenced area so you can compare growth and see exactly how much browse pressure your plot is really getting. 8:33

Question: A listener asks how to reclaim a south-facing 40-acre cedar thicket that deer have begun avoiding as a sanctuary. 45:20 — #329 | Why Don Higgins Gets More Excited About July Than Opening Day

• Answer: Don recommends using a skid loader with shears to pinch off cedar trees across an area rather than cutting each one. 45:48
• Answer: After cutting, Don lets the fallen cedars sit about a year, then burns the whole area the following spring to reset it. 46:10
• Answer: Terry uses a mini excavator with a shear attachment to grab and cut lightweight cedars on hillsides. 47:52

Question: Terry asks Don whether he’s added any new tree stand locations on his expanded farm. 18:47 — Why BIG BUCK Areas Often FAIL Deer Hunters | Chasing Giants 327

• Answer: Don says he wants to eventually shoot his next giant from a tree he personally planted on the farm. 19:39
• Answer: Don confirms he has three or four new locations picked out, some already with stands and others pending. 20:09

Question: Rich Eddington asks what impact it would have if someone with a lot of money bought adjoining land and used Don’s management practices. 41:43 — asked by Rich Eddington — Don Higgins Breaks Down His Favorite Properties of 2026 - Chasing Giants #320

• Answer: Don believes high-grading would occur since most people wouldn’t manage bucks as strictly as he does; the biggest impact on his farm is how he manages which bucks he lets walk. 43:17

Question: Jesse Fromm asked whether mature bucks take advantage of habitat improvements or big property changes right away, or if they wait for younger bucks to normalize new areas first. 35:48 — asked by Jesse Fromm from New Berlin, Illinois — Why Some Hunting Properties Work Instantly… And Others Fail - Chasing Giants Podcast #319

• Answer: Don said deer generally take advantage of new habitat changes right away, though maybe not within the very first week. 36:25
• Answer: Don gave an example of a five-acre woodlot he had timbered and TSI’d, where he had never found a shed before but found eight shed antlers there within about a year. 38:06

Question: Tim Henrich asked what property shape Don would consider ideal for an 80-100 acre bow-hunting property. 39:02 — asked by Tim Henrich from Sioux Center, Iowa — Why Some Hunting Properties Work Instantly… And Others Fail - Chasing Giants Podcast #319

• Answer: Don said without a doubt he’d recommend a long, narrow property. 39:12
• Answer: Don added that the key factor is isolation, wanting cover on the property to be separated from neighboring cover rather than connected to it. 40:06

Question: Mike Carey of Evans Mills, New York asked what Don would do if a drone started following him and disturbing deer while hunting his ag-country farm. 42:08 — asked by Mike Carey — INSANE Bedding Cover + 22 Bears on Camera?! | Chasing Giants #318

• Answer: Don says he has a plan to address drone intrusions that he’ll reveal in coming weeks. 42:50
• Answer: Don promises that if a drone flies over his own property, he’ll know about it and take action. 43:28

Question: Kevin Holm asks whether to start habitat work with bedding pockets and cover or with food plots first after an 80% timber reset. 36:59 — asked by Kevin Holm — Chasing Giants LIVE at the Midwest Sportsmen’s Classic | Shipshewana, IN | Presented by FAE

• Answer: Don says to create paths through the cut-over area so deer exit right past the hunter’s stand, letting the landowner dictate deer movement. 38:08

Question: Brandon Wolf asked Don whether, in his early farming years, he ever imagined building his property into what it is today. 54:47 — asked by Brandon Wolf — Snow, Sheds & Sorghum: Late-Season Deer Survival | Chasing Giants #311

• Answer: Don said he never envisioned achieving what his farm has become, calling it beyond his imagination at the time. 55:52

Question: Has Don’s Ohio property sold, and what did he learn from developing it? 28:26 — LIVE at 360 Blinds: No Script, No Filters — Just Real Questions | Chasing Giants 308

• Answer: Don still has two Ohio tracts for sale; his main lesson is that the specific property matters more than the county or state. 29:16

Question: Eric Phillips asks whether 10 acres of woods can be a decent hunting spot or if it’s too small a property. 43:10 — asked by Eric Phillips — Most Hunters Get This Wrong | The Hard Truth About Killing Mature Bucks | Chasing Giants #307

• Answer: Don says a 10-acre property can produce great bucks, largely because of the quality habitat surrounding it rather than the parcel’s size. 43:31

Question: Terry asks whether Don’s favorite hunting spots have changed after his farm expansion work with new crossings, blinds, food, and orchards. 26:49 — EPISODE 300! Don Changes His Mind on the Rut + Drone Debate Heats Up!

• Answer: Don says his favorite spots haven’t changed but have improved as the whole farm has gotten better through his management work. 27:00

Question: Jake Hall asks, when taking over a new farm with lots of cover but no food, whether to prioritize food or cover if forced to choose one. 53:17 — asked by Jake Hall — EPISODE 300! Don Changes His Mind on the Rut + Drone Debate Heats Up!

• Answer: Don says that if forced to choose, he’d take cover over food every time since killing big deer means hunting where they bed. 53:25

Question: Tyler Abernathy asks whether he should start habitat improvement projects now or wait until the season ends in mid-January. 55:57 — asked by Tyler Abernathy — EPISODE 300! Don Changes His Mind on the Rut + Drone Debate Heats Up!

• Answer: Don recommends not starting habitat projects until firearm season is over, then weighing personal availability. 56:11
• Answer: Don adds that once you start, finish quickly and get out rather than dragging the project out over the whole winter. 56:56

Question: Mario Casa Sola asked whether Don would support any of three sanctuary-timing options for a newly bought 100-acre property, or propose a different approach. 45:18 — asked by Mario Casa Sola — The Weirdest Rut Ever: Warm Temps, Barometers, and Big Bucks | Chasing Giants Ep #298

• Answer: Terry guessed Don would pick either option a (hunt the fringes) or option d, referencing prior podcast discussion. 46:02
• Answer: Don chose option d: use trail cameras only, and skip hunting entirely unless a target buck showed up, waiting until after season for habitat work. 47:46

Question: Duane Hopkins jokingly asked whether, as land consultants, Don and Terry foresee recommending a string of security lights through the timber to improve antler development. 55:14 — asked by Duane Hopkins — Faith, Hunting & Courage After Tragedy | Chasing Giants Podcast Ep. 290

• Answer: Don joked that if he ever encountered such lighting, he’d know he’d found his first ‘liberal deer hunter.’ 55:29
• Answer: Terry joked you’d need both lights and a fence, since he likes lights off to sleep and couldn’t stand seeing a deer lying under lights all day. 55:40

Question: Rob Byler asked Don to share real-world situations when erecting a deer fence makes sense for property management. 47:05 — asked by Rob Byler — Deer Velvet Shedding & Fall Buck Shifts: Don Higgins Responds to Rumors | Chasing Giants Ep. 289

• Answer: Don warned a fence on a property line can funnel deer onto a neighbor’s land, so landowners must be careful where fences end. 48:35
• Answer: Don argued fences will keep growing in popularity as long as state agencies refuse to manage deer herds for quality and balanced age structure. 49:16

Question: Evan asks how a typical whitetail hunter can adapt a rut-funnel approach across different terrain, and whether one or two factors like wind, access, or bedding matter most. 34:40 — asked by Evan Coleman — Episode #283 “Best Corn Ever? Don & Terry Reveal 2025 Plot Results + Fall Food Plot Timing Tips”

• Answer: Don says given 72 hours he would focus on hunting rut funnels like ridge saddles and ravine heads regardless of region. 35:10
• Answer: Don says a mature buck relies about 90% on his nose, so playing the wind is a critical factor everywhere. 36:48

Question: Chad asks whether one farm can satisfy both a deer hunting and cattle-raising passion, and if so how it should be divided. 55:50 — asked by Chad Kendrick — Episode #283 “Best Corn Ever? Don & Terry Reveal 2025 Plot Results + Fall Food Plot Timing Tips”

• Answer: Don says you can definitely do both cattle and deer hunting on the same property, citing examples like his own scent-blocking cow pasture. 58:17
• Answer: Don says needed deer acreage depends on goals—as little as 10 acres of cover for a shooter, more for higher-quality goals. 57:25

Question: Frank Mozingo asked how Don could prove his property is the best whitetail property in North America acre for acre. 43:23 — asked by Frank Mozingo — Thermal Drones, Trail Cameras & Big Buck Strategies | Chasing Giants Podcast #282

• Answer: Don proposed comparing properties by having owners submit their top five buck photos yearly for at least five years, then comparing results. 45:46

Question: Can a 190-acre property with five ponds, three creeks and three springs have too many water holes if two more are added? 41:22 — asked by Jason Patten — #279 - Live Hot Seat! Don Higgins Faces Tough Questions from Dealers | 2025 RWWP Summit

• Answer: Don says the property already has plenty of water and questions the need for more, suggesting other projects might be a better use of resources. 41:55

Question: Kirk Willard asks Don for his top three conifer species for whitetail habitat plantings. 35:44 — asked by Kirk Willard — Episode #267 - Spring Whitetail Habitat Projects - Is it Go Time?

• Answer: Don ranks eastern red cedar, Norway spruce, and white pine as his top three conifers, noting spruce resists deer browsing better than pine. 35:58

Question: Jordan Bashford asks how state-funded CRP and tree programs differ from taxpayer-funded wind and solar subsidies Don criticizes. 51:37 — asked by Jordan Bashford — Episode #267 - Spring Whitetail Habitat Projects - Is it Go Time?

• Answer: Don says he agrees completely with Jordan’s point. 52:12
• Answer: Don says he’d support eliminating CRP and every government subsidy, including his own. 55:04

Question: Higgins Stackpole asked whether he should stop investing in his home farm and buy property better suited to growing big deer instead. 45:18 — asked by Higgins Stackpole — Episode #264 - Big Rope Scrapes and Big Bucks!

• Answer: Don advises never to stop looking for other property opportunities and not to put all your eggs in one basket. 46:21

Question: Dennis asks what Don sees as the greatest threats to preserving whitetail hunting for future generations. 14:09 — asked by Dennis — Episode #263 - Live from the Iowa Deer Classic

• Answer: Don cites advancing technology, especially drones and modern cell cameras, as removing the challenge of pursuing mature deer. 14:21

Question: Philip Arnold asks whether Don waits for bucks to shed antlers before doing off-season habitat improvements, or just goes in and does the work regardless of timing. 31:56 — asked by Philip Arnold — Episode #261 - Does GMO Traits Reduce Deer Attraction?

• Answer: Don says he generally waits until bucks shed, doing projects earlier only if the area is away from the sanctuary and won’t push deer off the property. 32:14

Question: Brad Hunt asks how Don balances owning cattle with managing a hunting property for deer, and what habitat improvements work when cattle share the land. 40:45 — asked by Brad Hunt — Episode #261 - Does GMO Traits Reduce Deer Attraction?

• Answer: Don says on his farm the deer take priority over cattle in terms of acreage and management focus. 42:06
• Answer: Don doesn’t believe it’s possible to manage the same acreage well for both cattle and deer simultaneously. 42:45

Question: How do thermal deer surveys help a land manager assess their property? 41:52 — Episode #256 - Hard Winter and Early Buck Shed? Illinois CWD Announcement

• Answer: Don cites a 600-acre Eastern Kentucky property where a thermal survey found 119 total deer, only 13 of them bucks. 42:11
• Answer: Don recommends winter thermal surveys because they reveal more about overall property management than surveys at any other time of year. 44:17

Question: What’s the best process to terminate switchgrass on CRP ground for row crop or a food plot? 52:24 — Episode #256 - Hard Winter and Early Buck Shed? Illinois CWD Announcement

• Answer: Don recommends burning the switchgrass in early spring and letting it green up to about a foot of growth before spraying. 52:37
• Answer: He then advises spraying a heavy dose of glyphosate mixed with the maximum labeled dose of clethodim and a surfactant to kill the roots. 53:13

Question: Nolan Franken asked why Don leaves his pasture and about twenty acres of row crop undeveloped for deer despite favoring converting every acre to food or cover. 45:15 — asked by Nolan Franken — Episode #249 - Another Big Archery Buck! Terry Peer and Don Higgins Discuss

• Answer: Don said keeping the pasture undeveloped preserves huntability—adding more cover would let bucks stay on the farm but make them much harder to actually kill. 47:19

Question: Tyler Thompson asked whether any consulting properties were already well set up for hunting when Don arrived. 32:21 — asked by Tyler Thompson — Episode #245 - Halloween Hunting Should Be Great! Weather and Hunting Forecast from Don Higgins

• Answer: Don says he has never visited a property without finding at least some suggested changes to make. 32:38
• Answer: He adds he has never seen a property he didn’t believe could be improved somehow. 34:37

Question: Ben Lawrence asked whether to make minimally invasive habitat improvements on his 30-acre property before gun season or leave it alone. 56:16 — asked by Ben Lawrence — Episode #242 - Stop Hunting October Mornings

• Answer: Don recommended staying off the property entirely rather than doing improvements now, since disturbance could push away good bucks arriving in November. 56:53
• Answer: Terry agreed, adding to stay out, rest up, and be ready for all-day sits once November arrives. 58:08

Question: Drew Peterson, who has a Michigan property but lives in Del Mar, California, asks Don’s favorite ways to create soft edge along fence lines and field borders. 44:33 — asked by Drew Peterson — Podcast #241 - Don’s Target Buck Revealed - Non-Typical Giant!

• Answer: Don’s favorite method is to go about 50 feet along the edge and plant a native mix of shorter grasses like little bluestem and side oats grama, mixed with forbs such as partridge pea. 46:21
• Answer: Don emphasizes there’s a big difference between great whitetail habitat and a great whitetail hunting property, and you don’t need soft edges to have a good hunting farm. 47:44

Question: What does the term rut funnel mean, and how do you identify or create one? 45:10 — asked by Aaron Miller — Episode #239 - EHD Is Closing in on Don’s Farm!

• Answer: Don defined a rut funnel as a terrain feature that narrows and channels cruising bucks’ travel during the rut, though it sees little activity otherwise. 45:20

Question: Chris Marks asks how to keep a couple of 170-inch bucks on his newly leased Pennsylvania property. 34:00 — asked by Chris Marks — Episode #236 - Antler Genetics Follow Mother or Father?

• Answer: Don says there is no reliable way to keep a mature buck home once its pattern is established. 34:13

Question: Tony Schrader asks whether Don and Terry have also noticed apples ripening ahead of schedule this year after last year’s big acorn crop. 41:13 — asked by Tony Schrader — Episode 232 - We are starting a TV Show!

• Answer: Don says the white oak tree in his front yard is loaded with acorns this year, though he hasn’t checked others yet. 41:29
• Answer: Don says the apples are running about a week to ten days ahead of schedule this year due to an early spring. 41:48

Question: Mark Jackson asks whether it’s possible to graft a female limb onto a male persimmon tree that has never produced fruit. 45:19 — asked by Mark Jackson — Episode 232 - We are starting a TV Show!

• Answer: Don confirms grafting a female limb onto a male root will produce a female, fruit-bearing persimmon tree. 45:45

Question: Tony Lambrecht asked what advice Don has for dealing with reed canary grass on his 120-acre Northern Missouri property to improve deer habitat. 34:28 — asked by Tony Lambrecht — Episode #231 - Timing is Key: When to Plant Fall Plots

• Answer: Don recommended burning the reed canary grass in spring when dormant, then planting potted trees—especially pin oak, which withstands flooding and holds leaves through winter. 36:38
• Answer: He added the grass’s dense root system means new trees need surrounding areas sprayed with glyphosate repeatedly for the first three to five years to survive. 37:19

Question: Casey asks how Wes’s property, nicknamed Higgins two point o, is coming along. 27:59 — asked by Casey Larson — Episode #229 - Final Thoughts on the Buck Named Babe and Cameras are Out!

• Answer: Don says Wes now has a seven-year-old target buck on the property, a big eight-pointer Wes hopes will reach 160 inches. 30:33

Question: Justin Hughes asked why Don plants cedar trees when much of the hunting industry advocates cutting cedars down to improve habitat. 24:54 — asked by Justin Hughes — Ep. #226 - Mineral Site Placement and Predator Activity Special Memories of Fathers on Father’s Day

• Answer: Don explains he and many land managers plant cedars, and whether it makes sense depends heavily on the region and how aggressively cedars reproduce there. 25:15

Question: What difference does it make to only occasionally fill feeders versus a water hole? 47:01 — asked by Mylan Yoder — Episode 225 - Big Antlers this Spring Mean Big Decisions this Fall!

• Answer: Don believes water is way overrated as a limiting factor on most Midwest properties. 49:00
• Answer: Don clarified his real objection isn’t water sources themselves but the human intrusion caused by refilling them. 49:48

Question: Ryan Lawrence, hunting 70 acres surrounded by subdivisions near a large deer preserve, asks how to better attract and hold mature ‘city giant’ bucks. 53:46 — asked by Ryan Lawrence — Episode 224 - Saving Fawns and Farming for Nutrients: Insights from Don Higgins

• Answer: Don recommends devoting roughly 60 of the 70 acres to thick, undisturbed bedding sanctuary and only about 10 to food, hunting solely the edges. 57:20

Question: Kobe Curtis asks Don and Terry their thoughts on having lots of bucks visible in spring and summer despite a popular industry figure calling it a bad sign. 29:42 — asked by Kobe Curtis — Episode #221 - Crop Rotations for Food Plotters and Deer Water Holes

• Answer: Don’s approach is to build the best habitat possible — quality bedding cover free of human intrusion plus diverse, year-round food. 30:05
• Answer: Don doesn’t really care whether bucks show up on camera in summer, but he definitely wants them there in the fall. 33:56

Question: Kyle Wenger asked what to plant in leftover waterway and terrace acreage excluded from his family’s new monarch-butterfly CRP program. 38:38 — asked by Kyle Wenger — Episode #219 - The Most Important Aspect of Hunting Whitetails

• Answer: Don advised assessing the whole neighborhood, not just the property itself, to see whether food or cover is in shorter supply before deciding what to plant. 39:21
• Answer: Terry added he avoids planting food anywhere that can’t be hunted strategically, since it can spread deer out and hurt access elsewhere. 42:16

Question: Cody Malone asked whether an average hunter with access to Lee Lakosky’s, Mark Drury’s, or Don’s properties would kill the same big bucks. 38:20 — asked by Cody Malone — Episode #214 - Don says, “MAKE TURKEY HUNTING GREAT AGAIN!” Easter Sunday

• Answer: Don said past a certain skill level, hunting success is dictated by the property itself, not by skill. 39:18
• Answer: Don believes the average hunter given access to a top farm would ruin it within about two seasons. 41:56
• Answer: Terry added that Don’s own farm looked unremarkable thirty years ago and its success came from decades of building it up. 43:04

Question: Nelson Burkholder asked whether it’s beneficial to spray grasses on a regenerating cattle pasture hill to promote more broadleafs and briars. 42:09 — asked by Nelson Burkholder — Episode #213 - Turning old cow pasture in deer sanctuary

• Answer: Don recommended planting potted oak seedlings rather than bare-root stock, since bare-root seedlings won’t compete well against dense sod in an old cattle pasture. 43:33

Question: An audience member asks what percentage of acreage Don and Terry devote to food plots on their properties. 12:33 — Episode #211 - Live from RWWP Dealer Event - BINGO

• Answer: Don says there’s no hard and fast rule for food plot percentage because there are too many variables. 14:11

Question: Brandon McDaniel asks whether a timber harvest and dozer are his only options for a 20-acre woodlot overtaken by bush honeysuckle and locust. 17:54 — asked by Brandon McDaniel — Episode #210 - What to do with Bush Honeysuckle

• Answer: Don recommends cutting bush honeysuckle to the ground with a chainsaw, spraying stumps with Garlon 4 Ultra and diesel, and cutting paths so deer follow them past stands. 19:30

Question: Tyler Garrig asked whether Real World Wildlife Products offers a shorter grass blend suitable for walking through with kids while still holding bedding deer. 35:42 — asked by Tyler Garrig — Episode #207 - Was Don a Hippie?

• Answer: Don explained deer prefer bedding in taller grass, but Real World does offer a shorter CRP grass blend with shorter grasses. 35:48
• Answer: Don suggests adding a small amount of Real World Switchgrass, no more than about one pound per acre, to create bedding clumps while keeping it walkable. 37:17

Question: Wayne Gays asks what typically prompts Don to return to a property for a second consulting visit and whether it’s just to tweak the original plan. 56:30 — asked by Wayne Gays — Ep. 204 - Hinge Cutting - Don Critiques Specific Projects

• Answer: Don explains most repeat consulting visits happen because the client purchased a different property, not because they’re revisiting the same one. 56:39

Question: Edward Miller from Clyde, New York asked whether deer bed in standing corn, and whether cutting a trail through corn could funnel deer to a spot. 58:29 — asked by Edward Miller — Episode #202 - Strange Sponsorship Requests with Joe Miles

• Answer: Don confirmed deer do bed in standing corn, drawing on his own experience with a mature buck that bedded in corn before he shot it. 59:17
• Answer: Don said cutting a narrow path through standing corn is a great idea he’d never considered, and believes it would funnel deer right past a hunter’s stand. 59:59

Question: Norman Nestle asks whether Don would prefer owning a farm in a managed neighborhood versus an unmanaged one. 66:40 — asked by Norman Nestle — Episode 200 - Journey to 200

• Answer: Don says he’d rather own property in an unmanaged neighborhood, since it lets him easily set his land apart rather than competing with equally managed neighboring properties. 69:59

Question: Kyle from Oakland City, Indiana asks Terry what horsepower tractor is good for land management tasks like brush hogging, planting, and general farm work. 40:51 — asked by Kyle — Episode 199 - Dewormer in Deer Feed, Tractors, Screens, and Windmills

• Answer: Terry says his sweet spot is a 55-to-65-horsepower tractor for general land management and food plot work. 42:02
• Answer: Terry explains staying in the 55-65 horsepower range keeps you under DEF emissions requirements, allowing a simpler three-cylinder engine. 42:26
• Answer: Don recommends at least a 50-horsepower tractor if affordable, since smaller tractors struggle to handle implements like grain drills. 44:07

Question: Shay Meyer asked what habitat program his farm is in and how he can keep paying lower property taxes if he takes land out of agricultural use. 37:40 — asked by Shay Meyer — Episode #196 - Lock Down Breaking Loose as Weather Changes

• Answer: Don advised enrolling qualifying acreage in government programs like CRP to get the lower agricultural tax rate instead of the higher recreational rate. 39:03
• Answer: Don recommended visiting the local USDA office since program rules vary by state and county. 42:04

Question: A hunter on a new lease unhunted for 25 years, seeing only 120-145 inch bucks, asks what his goals should be. 38:09 — asked by John Coons — Episode #193 - Babe is Down!

• Answer: Don doubts the property truly went unhunted for 25 years, suspecting undisclosed pressure explains the modest buck sizes, and advises learning what the property can typically produce. 39:57
• Answer: Terry says the goal should be defined by the hunter’s own standards, not by what the property produces, since it’s about personal journey. 43:13

Question: Jake Justice asks how to approach managing a property in a neighborhood where surrounding farms are also heavily managed for whitetails. 55:52 — asked by Jake Justice — Episode #190 - Prep for Youth Season - Green Light on Babe

• Answer: Don explains that on his own farm, where few neighbors manage for big deer, it’s easy to differentiate his property from theirs. 56:36
• Answer: Don recommends taking every management factor—especially human intrusion and food diversity—to the maximum level when your property is in a heavily managed neighborhood. 58:47

Question: Jake Johnson asked whether having two large neighboring outfitters near his new 40-acre Ohio farm is good or bad, and how to draw deer to his property. 55:12 — Episode #188 - Apple Trees for Whitetails

• Answer: Don said the neighboring outfitters are probably having minimal impact, and a buck can’t realistically be drawn a mile and a half from its home range. 56:04
• Answer: Don explained every property has a ceiling on what it can produce, and small properties like this 46 acres have a lower ceiling. 57:13
• Answer: Don said the smaller the property, the more critical human intrusion becomes, and 46 acres is a small property. 57:51

Question: A listener beginning land management asks what priorities to focus on this summer and fall to set up next year’s success. 38:21 — asked by Alex Baines — Episode #182 - Don’s Buck Management Plan for 2023

• Answer: Don recommends listing every desired project, completing them all as fast as possible, then backing out and letting the property rest and mature. 39:41

Question: Jay Walls Jr. asks Don’s thoughts on transplanting wild saplings to help the deer herd. 54:09 — Episode #179 - Is Antler Growth Behind This Year?

• Answer: Don says he doesn’t recommend it, since transplanted wild trees establish far worse than nursery-grown trees bought outright. 57:29

Question: Justin Garber from Lebanon, Missouri asked how to get deer to cross a creek at a chosen spot where he can’t cut trees or alter banks. 55:55 — asked by Justin Garber — Episode #176 - Don’s Advice for Battery High Prices

• Answer: Don said the hunter must make one crossing spot easier than the rest and the other crossing points harder, since felling trees or altering banks isn’t allowed. 57:50

Question: Why isn’t Don’s annual switchgrass burn intrusive to his property, especially with a known target buck possibly living there? 47:35 — asked by Scott Thomas — Episode #169 - Don is Testing More Corn Seed. WHY?

• Answer: Don says the habitat benefits of burning switchgrass far outweigh the cons, since unburned patches get overtaken by weeds over time. 49:20

Question: How much talking is too much during off-season habitat or stand work—should hunters whisper or use sign language? 70:22 — asked by Caleb Vander Mail — Episode #169 - Don is Testing More Corn Seed. WHY?

• Answer: Don recommends making noise during off-season work so deer know a person is there and can choose to hold tight or leave. 71:39

Question: John McCoy asked whether an electric fence around soybean plots would permanently scare mature bucks off the property. 20:31 — asked by John McCoy — Episode #166 - Spring Herbicides

• Answer: Don said he has no direct experience but has never heard a negative report from clients using electric fences, and doesn’t think they permanently spook mature bucks. 21:31
• Answer: Don recommends doubling soybean seeding rates in areas with heavy browse pressure to help crops survive deer browsing. 24:56
• Answer: Terry said planting alfalfa draws heavy deer browsing away from nearby soybeans early in the season. 25:36

Question: Adam Smith asked what Don and Terry think about selling hunting rights separately from land, and whether the trend will grow. 28:24 — asked by Adam Smith — Episode #166 - Spring Herbicides

• Answer: Don called selling off hunting rights separately from land ridiculous, saying it permanently decreases property value and he would avoid such deals. 28:33

Question: What can be done to enhance certain areas within a large CRP planting to draw bucks to bed closer to stand sites? 53:55 — asked by Bruce Lovelace — Episode #157 Frost Seeding Clover - Soil Builder - Switchgrass

• Answer: Don recommends scattering pockets of Miscanthus rhizomes in target areas before drilling the CRP seed, since bucks like to bed at the base of the clumps. 55:39

Question: Chase Nicely asks whether a well-managed farm can consistently produce 200-inch bucks every few years, or whether such deer are simply genetic anomalies regardless of management. 50:12 — asked by Chase Nicely — Episode #156 - Looking for a Buck Bed…

• Answer: Don says his real goal isn’t specifically 200-inch deer but raising the best six-year-old bucks possible, with a big score simply a bonus if genetics allow. 53:01
• Answer: Don reveals his top six bucks came from five different properties—only two off his home farm—showing giants aren’t exclusive to his own managed land. 57:35

Question: An audience member asked the top three things Don did early on that had the biggest management impact on his farm. 83:09 — Chasing Giants #155 - Hilarious Episode Live from Middlefield, OH

• Answer: Don said creating cover through CRP tree plantings and switchgrass was his biggest early move since cover was his area’s weakest link. 83:25

Question: Jeremy Zimmerman asks whether it’s harmful to allow coyote hunters to run dogs through his property, including deer sanctuaries. 35:33 — asked by Jeremy Zimmerman — Episode #154 - Dogs Running Loose on Don’s Farm. HE IS NOT HAPPY!

• Answer: Don says dogs are the worst thing to allow on a property, worse than humans, and he would never allow coyote dogs on his land. 36:00

Question: Terry asks Don to describe how he does allow coyote hunters onto his property with minimal intrusion. 37:10 — asked by Terry — Episode #154 - Dogs Running Loose on Don’s Farm. HE IS NOT HAPPY!

• Answer: Don explains he allows night coyote hunting with thermal scopes only in open ag fields far from deer cover, which has minimal impact on deer. 37:26

Question: Ben Allgood asks why he was blocked after noting Giant Miscanthus was found wild in Indiana and listed as invasive in Idaho. 32:41 — asked by Ben Allgood — Episode #153 - What Should Buck Doe Ratio Be?

• Answer: Don says he found another source confirming Giant Miscanthus is not on the invasive species list in any state. 36:00
• Answer: Don argues native red cedar is far more invasive than giant Miscanthus. 36:23
• Answer: Terry commends Ben for the respectful, well-framed tone of his question. 38:16
• Answer: Terry says other commenters wished harm on him and Don’s families and were borderline threatening, unlike Ben’s respectful question. 38:25
• Answer: Don says anyone who feels wrongly blocked can email or message him and he’ll consider unblocking them. 40:52

Question: Terry asks whether a property’s fixed reputation as an early- or late-season-only spot can really be changed through management. 24:35 — Episode #148 - Are Bucks Shedding Antlers Early This Year?

• Answer: Don says a property’s character can absolutely be changed with extreme management, usually by fixing whichever ingredient—food or cover—is the weakest link. 25:08

Question: Sam asked whether his dad’s 10-acre dove field on their shared Georgia farm is a harmful intrusion for deer hunting. 59:35 — asked by Sam Lowe — Episode #147 - Winter Buck Inventory… More Important than Summer?

• Answer: Don said a dove field’s impact depends on timing and location, and should have minimal effect if it’s not in the middle of the deer sanctuary. 60:03

Question: Terry asked what strategies Don uses to avoid pushing deer off his property while doing late-season habitat work like clear cuts. 31:37 — Episode #144 - Where Did All The Bucks Go?

• Answer: Don explained he waits until after March 1 to do habitat work like clear cuts, avoiding disturbance during the stressful late-winter period. 32:22

Question: Colin Cole asks what Don and Terry would do differently on their properties if they were starting over, knowing what they know now. 57:06 — asked by Colin Cole — Chasing Giants Podcast #141 - Scrapes are hot… So is the weather!

• Answer: Don’s biggest regret is planting fast-growing ash trees on his CRP ground since emerald ash borer has killed most of them; he’d plant far more shingle oaks instead. 58:53
• Answer: Don’s other regret was placement — he originally put food plots in the center of the property, which deer used but made the property very difficult to hunt. 60:11

Question: A Missouri big-woods hunter asks for advice patterning big bucks and picking apart big woods to find where to hunt and where not to. 26:34 — asked by David Faith — Episode #139 - Plans Can Change… Goals Stay The Same!

• Answer: Don says success comes down to reading terrain features that funnel deer movement, since a mature buck uses the wind fully except where terrain forces a compromise. 27:24

Question: Terry asks Jay what type of tree is most popular among people managing their land for wildlife. 34:40 — asked by Terry — Episode #137 - Tree Season or Deer Season?

• Answer: Jay says cedar and oak trees for cover, then chestnuts and persimmons, are most popular, along with apple and pear trees for added food sources. 34:51

Question: Terry asks Jay to describe the other habitat-related services his tree business offers throughout the year. 54:37 — asked by Terry — Episode #137 - Tree Season or Deer Season?

• Answer: Jay says besides trees, they do Miscanthus and switchgrass planting, CRP projects, and pollinator programs, plus winter TSI work. 55:12

Question: Terry jokingly asked how much grief Don got for letting Wes Delks ride on the front of his four-wheeler without a seatbelt or helmet. 4:52 — asked by Terry — Episode #135 - Buck Dispersal - What does it mean?

• Answer: Don said there were a couple of comments about it, but not too many. 4:59

Question: Tristan Reed asked for a status update on the Ohio property Don acquired and discussed earlier this year. 33:55 — asked by Tristan Reed — Episode #128 - Watching Summer Velvet Giants!

• Answer: Don explains a delayed timber harvest on the property has stalled progress, but they still hope to get food plots in by fall. 35:36

Question: Drew Perkins asked how to prioritize food plots, trail cameras, and stand placement across 2,000 shared acres. 53:44 — asked by Drew Perkins — Episode #128 - Watching Summer Velvet Giants!

• Answer: Don advised Drew to divide the group’s acreage so each partner is responsible for their own section. 57:02
• Answer: Don told Drew to focus his own efforts on making his remaining piece of ground the best it can be with food plots and stands. 57:29
• Answer: Terry adds he’d rather manage 30 acres alone than 2,000 acres shared with six uncommitted partners. 59:40

Question: Drew Ramage also asks what Don thinks about deer cooperatives among neighboring landowners. 59:36 — Episode #113 Prepare Now… Results Come Later!!!!

• Answer: Don says the more advanced a deer manager becomes, the harder it is to get neighboring landowners aligned with the same goals in a cooperative. 61:02

Question: Jared asks Don’s thoughts on using Milorganite to help with browse pressure on young soybean plots. 69:38 — asked by Jared — Episode #106 - Don finds sheds of an 8-year-old buck!

• Answer: Don explains Milorganite is a fertilizer product made from human waste. 70:12

Question: A listener asked whether Bradford pears spreading in fence rows are a problem to cut or good for wildlife. 35:13 — Episode #105 Live from Shipshewana, IN - 2 Episodes in One!

• Answer: Don said callery/Bradford pears are invasive and choke out native vegetation. 35:52

Question: A listener asked the polite way to keep neighbors’ dogs off one’s property. 51:53 — Episode #105 Live from Shipshewana, IN - 2 Episodes in One!

• Answer: Don said there is no nice way to do it. 52:14
• Answer: Don said even without doing anything, if a dog goes missing you’ll be blamed. 52:29

Question: Ray Miller asked whether a land manager can do anything to attract and keep yearling bucks. 101:13 — asked by Ray Miller — Episode #105 Live from Shipshewana, IN - 2 Episodes in One!

• Answer: Don said quality habitat and food attracts the doe herd, which in turn attracts young bucks, though some just lock into a secure sanctuary. 101:30

Question: Ryan Elenbaas asks why Don said he wouldn’t burn on his farms in one episode, then said the next week he was planning to burn. 70:28 — asked by Ryan Elenbaas — Episode #102 - WE ARE GIVING AWAY A TRUCK IN THE LESTER’S FEET RAFFLE!

• Answer: Don clarifies his earlier comment about not burning referred specifically to timber, not to grass fields, which have different burning needs. 70:49

Question: Joel Smith asked why it’s important to avoid summer habitat work if mature bucks aren’t even on the property yet. 50:03 — asked by Joel Smith — Episode 101 - Mowing Corn, Dead Coyotes, and Working in the Hunting Industry

• Answer: Don explains summer work still undermines the year-round sanctuary effect for the whole deer herd, not just absent mature bucks. 50:50

Question: Is there a point where extensive micro-habitat projects on a small property become too much, or can experimenting continue indefinitely with minimal pressure? 60:35 — asked by Jacob Straubel — Episode #100 - Chasing Giants Episode 100 - Predator Control, Doe Factory, Moving Scrapes

• Answer: Don confirmed yes, a property can be over-habitated, especially a small one where human intrusion does disproportionate damage. 62:14
• Answer: Don said cutting out human intrusion is the single most beneficial thing a landowner can do, and it costs nothing. 63:40

Question: Mike Gruber asked how to turn 50 acres of mature timber with virtually no ground cover into a bedding sanctuary for deer. 38:06 — asked by Mike Gruber — Episode #96 - STAY OUT OF THE SANCTUARY!

• Answer: Don recommended hiring a logger to remove nearly every mature conifer, letting sunlight hit the ground so the property regrows into a thick bedding sanctuary within a couple years. 38:13

Question: Are farming for agricultural income and managing land for deer hunting opposing goals, or can they work together? 53:49 — Episode #95 - Live from Guthrie, KY

• Answer: Don said the two goals can be opposing, and often are, especially when the landowner’s primary interest is agricultural income rather than deer. 54:05

Question: Randall asked if a property hunted hard via deer drives for decades would deter Don from buying it, or could turn around in a year or two. 38:55 — Episode #93 - Don decides to take a break…

• Answer: Don said a property’s reputation with deer can be turned around fairly quickly, but it takes several years for the local herd to fully relate to it as a safe, sanctuary-like area. 39:11
• Answer: Don added hunters will notice a difference within a couple of years, but it truly takes several years for the local deer herd to view the property as the safest place around. 39:41

Question: Should land managers worry about down antler years as long as buck age structure stays intact, or push for change when circumstances shift? 19:49 — Episode #83 Don’s Buck Inventory shows 32 bucks over 150”

• Answer: Don says the decision is personal; for him it’s easy since not killing a deer this year isn’t a big deal. 20:25
• Answer: Don’s core advice is to stay the course rather than panic over a single down year. 22:35

Question: Why do land managers overcomplicate or abandon their habitat plans over short-term results instead of trusting a long-term strategy? 23:42 — Episode #83 Don’s Buck Inventory shows 32 bucks over 150”

• Answer: Don says the most satisfied clients are the ones who stick closest and longest to their plan without deviating. 24:18
• Answer: Don advises looking five years ahead rather than reacting to short-term ups and downs. 25:10

Question: Alex Dunker asks how to know when you’ve maximized a parcel’s potential, after years of extensive habitat work on two 60-acre Pike County farms with little big-buck success. 49:53 — asked by Alex Dunker from New London, Missouri — Episode #83 Don’s Buck Inventory shows 32 bucks over 150”

• Answer: Don calls Pike County the most overrated big-deer destination on the planet, now living on a fading reputation. 51:31
• Answer: Don says property improvements can’t help if the big bucks simply aren’t present in the area anymore. 52:41

Question: Before buying land, how can a hunter identify farms with true big-buck potential rather than risking wasted effort? 55:03 — Episode #83 Don’s Buck Inventory shows 32 bucks over 150”

• Answer: Don says the real question isn’t where big bucks want to be, but where they feel safe enough to survive. 55:49
• Answer: Don’s blunt advice to Alex is to sell his Pike County properties immediately, calling the county a sinking ship. 56:20

Question: Andrew Westcott, outside the Midwest, asks how to find and select a qualified whitetail habitat consultant in his region. 54:56 — asked by Andrew Justin Westcott — Episode #74 Don denied access to hunt and more velvet talk (how does weather affect growth?)

• Answer: Don advises that anyone hiring a whitetail consultant must first define their own goals, since the right consultant depends on whether the aim is more deer or mature bucks. 56:53

Question: Matt Gardner from Morton, Illinois asks whether to keep his 40-acre farm’s tillable ground in ag production or place it into a CRP program. 46:24 — asked by Matt Gardner — Episode #70 - Fathers Day Talk along with comparison of the Hunting Industry and the Drug Cartel

• Answer: Terry explains CRP’s advantage is guaranteed government payments for habitat over a 10-15 year contract, while the disadvantage is being locked into that government contract. 47:31
• Answer: Don adds that Matt should zoom out, look at an aerial view, and identify whether food or bedding is the weakest link to guide the CRP decision. 48:53

Question: Terry asks Don to elaborate on browse pressure and early soybean germination and what happens as soil temperatures warm and beans sprout. 14:54 — Episode #68 - Germination, Browse Pressure, When To Spray - DON PICKS IOWA UNIT…

• Answer: Don explains treated soybeans can sit safely in cool soil and will germinate once soil temperature reaches about 60 degrees. 16:37
• Answer: Don adds that if the cotyledon node is browsed off below that point the plant dies, but browsing above it allows the plant to recover and keep growing. 17:51

Question: Terry asks Don to explain utilization cages, why they’re useful, and how many to use and where to place them. 23:53 — Episode #68 - Germination, Browse Pressure, When To Spray - DON PICKS IOWA UNIT…

• Answer: Don says the number depends on plot size, but usually a couple of cages placed at each end of a plot is enough. 24:01
• Answer: Don explains plants inside a utilization cage are often much taller than those outside because the outside plants have been browsed, revealing true browse pressure. 24:42

Question: Terry asks Don for an update on the CRP switchgrass replant project. 21:07 — Episode #67 - WATCH OUT FOR FAWNS! Don and Terry both have a close call!

• Answer: Don says he sprayed the old CRP grass and then no-till drilled switchgrass right into it. 22:13

Question: Kenneth from Anamosa, Iowa asked which trees do well in a wet, nonfarmable CRP spot to help deer. 50:10 — asked by Kenneth — Episode #65 Spring Plot Herbicide Discussion and Fawns dropping

• Answer: Don recommends bald cypress trees for wet CRP areas since they’re hardy and adaptable, thriving in both extremely dry sites and standing water. 50:53

Question: Parker asks the best time of year to do woods work like food plots or bedding areas. 31:33 — asked by Parker — Episode #61 - Live from the Midwest Sportsman Show - TOUGH QUESTIONS FROM LIVE CROWD

• Answer: Don says he does his habitat work starting when deer season ends in January. 31:48
• Answer: Don continues habitat work until roughly now, stopping once the trees leaf out and turn green in spring. 31:56

Question: Marlon asks if it’s possible to make a small property too busy by cramming in too many stands, plots, and cameras. 43:52 — Episode #57 - Discussion about Ethics Continues as guest at the 2nd Master Class put Don on the spot with live questions.

• Answer: Don says human intrusion is the quickest way to ruin a property, and smaller properties need even less activity on them. 44:54

Question: Drew Sturma from Evansville, Illinois asks whether Russian olive is beneficial security cover on hunting property or something to remove. 37:47 — asked by Drew Sturma — Episode #44 - New Year’s Resolutions, Bedding Cover, Hunting Cold Temps, and Sharing Hunting Property with Family

• Answer: Don answers that Russian olive and similar exotics are so well established across the Midwest that removal is essentially an unwinnable battle. 38:42

Question: Do Don and Terry use prescribed fire to clear cedar thickets and enhance native growth? 40:18 — Episode #42 - Christmas Gift Ideas, Hanging Tree Stands in February, and Last Giveaway for 2020

• Answer: Don says he prescribed-burns his native grass fields to remove weeds and stimulate desirable plants. 44:22
• Answer: Terry says he avoids prescribed burns on his steep Kentucky hillsides, instead mechanically clearing thickets. 42:37

Question: Once Hayden buys a farm, what should be the first things he does with it, including possibly planting valuable timber? 46:25 — asked by Hayden Beagle — Episode #42 - Christmas Gift Ideas, Hanging Tree Stands in February, and Last Giveaway for 2020

• Answer: Don says a young buyer should plant a grove of walnut trees right away for a long-term retirement income payoff. 49:25

Question: Garrett McBride asks whether he should stop hunting his 20-acre home farm to start habitat/screening work, and whether that would hurt this or next year’s hunting. 45:46 — asked by Garrett McBride — Episode #37 - Understanding the Rut, Aerial Photos of Property, Bad Shot Angles and Broadheads Types

• Answer: Don says if there’s a target buck on the property, keep hunting him and save the habitat work for after the season. 46:13
• Answer: Don adds that without a target buck, Garrett should go ahead with the habitat work now and not worry about long-term negative effects. 46:58
• Answer: Terry agrees, saying if there’s a buck worth shooting, Garrett should hunt and enjoy it. 47:51

Question: Dylan Nicely asks how Don’s property holds so many mature bucks each fall when bucks on his own land don’t tolerate each other. 57:08 — asked by Dylan Nicely — Episode #37 - Understanding the Rut, Aerial Photos of Property, Bad Shot Angles and Broadheads Types

• Answer: Don says a mature buck’s top priority is security from human intrusion, so the most secure property in the area draws in and holds many bucks, including mature ones. 57:21
• Answer: Terry adds that cover, food, does, and disciplined low pressure will let a property hold far more bucks than expected. 59:47

Question: Sam Carrozza asks whether Don believes in the ‘doe factory’ phenomenon and what can be done to reverse it on his property. 63:45 — asked by Sam Carrozza — Episode #26 - Don tackles two controversial topics CULLING and AGING BUCKS

• Answer: Don says he does not believe in the doe factory concept at all. 64:26
• Answer: Don believes hunting pressure and human intrusion, not doe overpopulation, cause declining sightings of mature bucks. 64:42

Question: An audience member asked about the pros and cons of natural versus artificial water sources on a property. 53:12 — Episode #17 - Live from Don Higgins first Master Class of 2020

• Answer: Don said water is a concern the internet has overblown; in his part of the Midwest he doesn’t consider it a limiting factor. 53:20

Buying & Selecting Land

Question: Lance Fisher asks whether Don values a property’s past record of producing big bucks more than its overall physical layout when buying land. 33:33 — asked by Lance Fisher — Why BIG BUCK Areas Often FAIL Deer Hunters | Chasing Giants 327

• Answer: Don answers he’d take great property layout over a proven trophy-producing reputation any day. 34:29

Question: A Northern Wisconsin listener asked what else could make his state’s hunting worse, and whether Don would hesitate to invest heavily in a property there. 44:33 — Prayers, Peace & Planting Strategy | Spring Food Plot Advice | Chasing Giants 323

• Answer: Don joked that Wisconsin’s DNR should consult Illinois DNR about its sharpshooting program for CWD control. 45:33
• Answer: Don said if the goal is killing the biggest bucks possible, the listener would be better off looking at Southern Wisconsin or farther. 46:09

Question: Eric Sackett from Beaver Dam, Wisconsin asks what one thing on or around their farms or leases Don and Terry wish they could change but can’t. 57:05 — asked by Eric Sackett — CULLING BUCKS: Why Shooting 3½-Year-Old 8-Points Actually Works | Chasing Giants #310

• Answer: Don says he wishes he could own more land around him, but he can’t afford it. 57:18
• Answer: Terry’s one-word answer is ‘neighbors,’ reflecting the same wish for more control over surrounding land. 57:28

Question: What should you look for when buying a hunting property to manage for hunting? 40:51 — LIVE at 360 Blinds: No Script, No Filters — Just Real Questions | Chasing Giants 308

• Answer: What surrounds the property matters far more than what’s actually on it, since what’s on it can be changed. 41:20

Question: When will the 430 acres in Morgan County sell, as one property or in pieces, and what’s the progress? 34:27 — asked by Benjamin Mains — Late Season EXPLOSION! Why Giants Are Falling Everywhere | Chasing Giants #302

• Answer: Don says the Morgan County 430 acres already sold, but a 383-acre Jackson County property and a 75-acre Scioto County property are ready to sell. 34:40

Question: Jordan Bashford asked whether to buy a small affordable property now or keep saving for a bigger forever property later. 48:44 — asked by Jordan Bashford — The Magic of Late October | Cold Fronts, Big Bucks & Character in the Woods | Chasing Giants #295

• Answer: Don advised that if someone is struggling to afford land, they should save money rather than pay for a land consultation or farm tour. 49:22
• Answer: Don recommended buying whatever land you can afford now to get a foot in the door rather than waiting to save for a bigger property. 50:17
• Answer: Terry disagreed slightly, advising not to walk away from an employer’s 401k match since it’s free money. 52:46

Question: Ben Hurshberger asked what to do on a brand-new property before his winter consulting visit without wasting time or making mistakes. 60:10 — asked by Ben Hurshberger — Thermal Drones, Trail Cameras & Big Buck Strategies | Chasing Giants Podcast #282

• Answer: Don advised spending the first year learning the property, hunting with good wind and access, before committing to major clearing or permanent plots. 62:17

Question: What was the biggest risk Don ever took, both in hunting and in business, to get where he is today? 34:03 — #279 - Live Hot Seat! Don Higgins Faces Tough Questions from Dealers | 2025 RWWP Summit

• Answer: Don says his hunting success wasn’t about risk but about being more passionate than the average hunter. 34:29
• Answer: Don’s biggest recent business risk was buying another 140 acres of tillable ag ground, which wasn’t cheap and required bank financing. 34:58

Question: What is the first thing Don looks for when considering a piece of ground to purchase? 43:49 — Episode #262 - The Controlled Burn on Switchgrass GONE BAD!

• Answer: Don says he looks first at what surrounds the property, not what’s on it, since neighboring land can’t be controlled. 43:56

Question: An anonymous listener asks how to balance buying and developing a dream Illinois hunting property now against his wife’s concern that it’s not the right stage of life. 45:05 — Episode #261 - Does GMO Traits Reduce Deer Attraction?

• Answer: Don argues a spouse can be either a key to your success or a barrier to it, urging respect for her input but pushing back on excessive deference. 46:31
• Answer: Don states land is, in his opinion, the best investment available, unlike a volatile stock market. 47:56
• Answer: Terry says he’s deeply blessed by a supportive wife, crediting her with enabling both his hunting hobby and his professional career. 49:26
• Answer: Terry reasons that if you can afford a farm, you can afford to invest, and frames the real question as what the best investment actually is. 50:29

Question: Miller asked what advice Don and Terry would give their twenty-something selves about deer hunting and life. 32:24 — asked by Miller — Episode #244 - October Lull? Don and Terry See Bucks Moving in Mid October

• Answer: Don said his top advice would be to buy as much land as possible, calling it the best investment regardless of the economy. 32:52
• Answer: Terry said his advice would be that his career only took off once he stopped climbing the ladder for himself and started practicing servant leadership. 34:04

Question: Can Don elaborate on what happened with the potted trees he had to remove after a property deal fell through? 47:28 — asked by Ben Sweeney — Episode #227 - Science Behind Summer Solstice and Whitetail

• Answer: Don explains that after planting trees on the property that fall, the land deal fell through, forcing him to dig up all the newly planted trees the following spring. 51:44

Question: Aidan Miller of Clyde, New York asked what the single most important aspect of successful whitetail hunting is and at what age a buck becomes fully mature. 44:29 — asked by Aidan Miller — Episode #219 - The Most Important Aspect of Hunting Whitetails

• Answer: Don said a buck isn’t mature until age five, comparing four-year-olds to a 35-year-old man and five-year-olds to a man in his mid-forties. 44:59
• Answer: Don said the single most important factor for hunting success is the property itself, since great habitat with no deer or poor habitat with deer both determine your odds. 45:58

Question: Jeff Morris asks what top improvements make a recreational property more saleable after a three-to-five year hold. 54:23 — asked by Jeff Morris — Episode #217 - Now Don wants to go fishing!

• Answer: Don says the first step is buying the property right, since you can’t make money back if you overpay. 55:40
• Answer: Don recommends creating strategic access paths or roads, not through the property’s heart, so hunters can access the land more effectively. 56:46

Question: An anonymous listener asked whether to buy a subpar second hunting property now or hold out for a more ideal one. 8:18 — Episode #214 - Don says, “MAKE TURKEY HUNTING GREAT AGAIN!” Easter Sunday

• Answer: Don warned that settling for a subpar property ties up buying power right before the ideal property comes along. 8:52
• Answer: Terry said Wes Delks patiently kept researching and sending letters until he found the right property. 10:23
• Answer: Don added he’s seen multiple people buy properties that didn’t meet expectations and end up stuck with them. 10:38

Question: Michael asked what to do on 600 newly-accessed acres where bucks are young with poor antlers and there are three or four does per buck. 58:42 — asked by Michael Carlson — Episode#203 - Post Season Scouting and Project Advice

• Answer: Don advises against heavy hunting pressure since it would educate the property’s young bucks to stand locations before a shooter buck arrives. 59:49
• Answer: Don recommends immediately flooding the new 600-acre property with trail cameras to inventory every buck using it before hunting begins. 58:58

Question: Jay Brandenberger asked whether a smaller parcel in Ohio or Illinois beats a larger, cheaper parcel in Minnesota or Wisconsin for growing mature bucks. 19:55 — asked by Jay Brandenberger — Episode #187 - Do Trail Camera’s Spook Mature Bucks?

• Answer: Don explained that it’s not the property’s size or state that determines potential, but the specific property and what surrounds it. 20:50

Question: Jack Bowers asked what property aspects Don prioritizes most when searching for land to grow and hold mature deer. 39:44 — asked by Jack Bowers — Episode #187 - Do Trail Camera’s Spook Mature Bucks?

• Answer: Don said isolation is huge — a property surrounded by non-hunted land protects deer from being educated by other hunters. 40:22
• Answer: Don added that property layout is the single most critical, unchangeable ingredient determining a property’s potential. 42:23

Question: Mark Dunn asked for advice on buying old strip-mine hunting ground with little topsoil, planting switchgrass, and running cattle for income. 61:16 — asked by Mark Dunn — Episode #167 - Turkey Season Is Here! Terry Still Hates Turkeys!

• Answer: Don said cattle rarely turn a profit, and simply breaking even by year’s end is usually considered doing well. 62:05
• Answer: Don warned that cutting switchgrass for cattle hay or bedding sacrifices it as deer cover, so he wouldn’t count on it for income. 62:19
• Answer: Don advised waiting for the right property instead of buying on price, since a good 20 acres beats the wrong 200 acres. 63:55

Question: Ty Sullivan asks whether it’s worth spending money on land improvements under a year-to-year hunting lease, or if it’s throwing good money after bad. 22:05 — asked by Ty Sullivan — Episode #164 - CRP Programs - Know Facts!

• Answer: Don advises Ty to avoid leasing and instead purchase property when possible, since improvements on leased land ultimately benefit only the landowner. 25:08

Question: Ryan Danbocker asks whether to buy an unexceptional but close-to-home property for habitat projects and family time, versus waiting for a farther, better hunting property. 51:55 — asked by Ryan Danbocker — Chasing Giants Podcast #141 - Scrapes are hot… So is the weather!

• Answer: Don’s first reaction is to ask why Ryan couldn’t build his house on a different property with better deer potential, adding it’s ultimately Ryan’s own call. 53:20

Question: Drew Ramage asks whether to buy a marginal property with great cover in a good hunting neighborhood or a better, more diverse property in an unknown neighborhood. 59:07 — Episode #113 Prepare Now… Results Come Later!!!!

• Answer: Don says he’d choose the mediocre property in a good neighborhood, since he can improve his own land but can’t change the surrounding neighborhood’s influence. 60:03

Question: Gavin Olinger asks how Don targets a big mature buck he has no prior history with on a brand-new hunting property. 83:45 — asked by Gavin Olinger — Episode #102 - WE ARE GIVING AWAY A TRUCK IN THE LESTER’S FEET RAFFLE!

• Answer: Don says the key is minimizing human intrusion: hunt cautiously enough to avoid bumping the target buck, hunt the edges, and always play the wind. 86:10

Question: What made the farm Don posted about on Facebook one of the best whitetail properties he’d ever seen? 15:10 — asked by Derek Ford — Episode #95 - Live from Guthrie, KY

• Answer: Don said the property was isolated—surrounded by open ag ground—so mature bucks weren’t pressured by neighboring hunters shooting little bucks. 16:28

Question: When buying a hunting property, how much does acreage matter compared to other factors? 43:29 — Episode #95 - Live from Guthrie, KY

• Answer: Don said the number one thing to evaluate isn’t the property itself but everything surrounding it, since what’s on it can be changed. 43:55

Question: If you acquire a new property to hunt, is there a point where you should not go in and scout it before hunting? 35:54 — asked by Cody Walker — Episode #80 - Don’s 2021 Buck Forecast

• Answer: Don would hang a stand and camera right away, then stay out until camera intel confirmed a buck was using the area before hunting it. 36:49

Question: Terry asks Don why he questioned the true story behind a buck photo with the hunter’s face blurred out. 7:34 — asked by Terry — Episode #71 - Trail Cam Deployment, Giant Bucks of Social Media Misused, Raffle Closing Soon!

• Answer: Don explains a real estate client wanted him to evaluate a property, and another agent sent bogus-looking deer photos, including one with a blurred hunter’s face. 8:04
• Answer: Don confirmed with the actual hunter, photographer, and taxidermist that the pictured buck was shot two hours away from the property in question, proving the photos were phony. 10:17

Question: A listener asks what it means for a BuyAFarm listing to include mineral rights. 25:10 — Episode #45 - Lessons Learned from Captive Research Deer

• Answer: Terry explains mineral rights cover resources like coal and oil below the surface, which sellers sometimes retain or have already sold separately. 25:22
• Answer: Terry adds that if mineral rights transfer to the new owner, they would receive income from any oil, gas, or coal extraction. 26:13

Question: Starting over with a clean slate, where would Don buy land, and would he buy one big farm or multiple smaller farms? 46:10 — asked by Hayden Beagle — Episode #42 - Christmas Gift Ideas, Hanging Tree Stands in February, and Last Giveaway for 2020

• Answer: Don says he would buy close to home rather than out of state for more usable time on the property. 47:51
• Answer: Don says he prefers several smaller farms so target bucks are easier to pattern and kill than scattered over one large farm. 49:01
• Answer: Terry adds that producing world-class bucks every year off a single property is rare, favoring multiple properties. 51:07

Question: Eric Woodside asks what approach to take when gaining permission on a new property in mid-to-late October without being able to walk the whole property first. 45:42 — asked by Eric Woodside — Episode #34 - Late October Check in - Buck Activity Slower Than Expected - Why?

• Answer: Don says he’d start scouting a new October property using Google Earth to spot obvious features rather than walking the whole tract, since stomping it around could push off a mature target buck. 46:09

Question: Wes Delks asked what aerial-view characteristics make an ideal property to buy or lease. 3:39 — asked by Wes Delks — Episode #17 - Live from Don Higgins first Master Class of 2020

• Answer: Don said he prefers an isolated property that sits apart from other cover rather than connecting to neighboring land. 3:52

Unofficial fan project. AI-synthesized from public episodes; may contain errors.