In this episode of Maximize Your Hunt, Jon Teater reflects on his current hunting season and discusses land management and harvest strategies with guest Jake Ehlinger (Habitat Solutions 360). This episode follows a solo opening from Jon and an extended interview with Jake Ehlinger about habitat design, plant diversity, and a memorable archery buck. The conversation centers on how shrublands, rotation strategy, and thoughtful access shape deer movement and long-term hunting success. Jake also breaks down the season-long progression of a buck he followed from age 2 through harvest, plus practical management topics like rutabagas, companion crops, and post-season field cleanup.

Key topics

• Shrublands as the preferred vegetation type
• Designing for deer flow, not just food
• Companion crop combinations
• Why cover crops matter below ground
• Managing residue after heavy crops
• Rutabagas as a long-season deer food
• How he handles rutabaga residue
• Perennial crops as a scouting tool
• A four-year buck from first sighting to harvest
• Trails cameras used sparingly
• A successful shot and recovery
• Weight and maturity of the buck
• EHD concerns in the region
• Management goals after the buck
• Hunting as part of a larger life perspective

Action items

• Evaluate whether your property has enough shrubland or transition cover to hold deer year-round.
• Think in rotations, not single crops - pair annual food plots with soil-building companion plants.
• Limit trail camera pressure in core areas and use them strategically.
• Build habitat with deer flow in mind, not just food quantity.
• Plan post-season cleanup before planting so residue does not become a design dead end.

Social Links

http://habitatsolutions360.com/

https://www.facebook.com/HabitatSolutions360

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCetSptPTK0gmg0BE5oRnTTA

https://whitetaillandscapes.com/

https://www.facebook.com/whitetaillandscapes/

https://www.instagram.com/whitetail_landscapes/?hl=en

Tags: hunting, land management, habitat improvement, whitetail deer, food plots, crop rotation, hunting strategies, deer management, hunting success, wildlife habitat, food plots, deer hunting, no-till planting, soil health, cover crops, late season food sources, agricultural practices, wildlife management, hunting strategies, crop rotation

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This episode explores Jon Teater interviews Perry Battin about his successful deer hunting strategies, property management, and food plot techniques. They discuss how habitat improvements, food sources, and strategic planning contribute to big buck success.

Takeaways

• Deer habitat management and food plots
• Strategic use of camera data and deer census
• Property layout and layering for deer comfort
• Impact of weather and acorn cycles on deer movement
• Strategies for controlling deer herd size and quality

Social Links

https://whitetaillandscapes.com/

https://www.facebook.com/whitetaillandscapes/

https://www.instagram.com/whitetail_landscapes/?hl=en

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Ready to elevate your whitetail game? Join Jon Teater (Whitetail Landscapes), Steve Sherk (Sherk’s Guide Service), and Johnny Stewart as they break down what it really takes to pattern and kill mature bucks.

In this episode:

• How to evaluate a new hunting property and rank good vs. bad dirt
• Decoding daytime vs. nighttime buck movement through trail camera data
• Evolving your setup around heavy public land hunter pressure
• Why active scouting beats sitting in a tree—and how to hunt aggressively without blowing out deer
• Johnny’s top 3 advanced terrain tactics for finding big bucks

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