When Dan Brunk started as the Director of Marketing for Hayden Outdoors back in 2010, the marketing department was a one-man show. These days, the team is now 15 people large, focusing on a variety of real estate marketing strategies on behalf of Hayden Outdoors’ clients. One of the categories they market properties through is trade shows and special events. Dan and his team spend a good part of the year at different regional and national trade shows, talking to all sorts of people about all types of land ownership. One subject that comes up this time of year – essential winter prep for landowners.
“I like to attend a dozen or trade shows a year to stay in touch with landowners to see what they’re seeing and what’s important to them when it comes to marketing their properties. When it comes to various channels of marketing, it can be easy to get stuck in the office, but I grew up in the outdoors and out on the land; I’m a hunter and a fisherman. I like to get back onto the farms and ranches to stay in touch with my roots.” Dan recently offered some insight and wisdom regarding winter prep for landowners, including attending trade shows. While winter might render much of your property dormant for weeks or months, Dan outlines why it’s a great time to put in some work preparing for summer and checking common landowner boxes.
Winter planning matters!
According to Dan, “Winter planning is important for land owners in most of the country. Shorter days give you time to get your homework done.” To Dan’s point, many folks across the country are probably not actively working their land during the winter. The obvious exception here is cattle ranchers, as Dan is quick to point out, “Their work a never-ending job, and they don’t get enough credit for the amount of work they put in.” But even cattle ranchers need to spend some time focusing on the future. So, what are some of the landowner homework assignments Dan recommends tackling in the long evenings of winter? Here are a few to add to your to-do list:
- Winter is a great time to get farm, cattle, or recreational equipment serviced!
- The doldrums of winter are an excellent time to figure out what you’re going to do with your real estate investments in the coming 12 – 18 months, e.g. deciding whether or not to sell if that is part of your long-term real estate plan.
- If you’re operating your recreational land as a business for sporting, hunting, or fishing, winter is a good time to assess if you need to relocate, add land, gain permits and hire for the summer months.
- Farmers considering selling their land should make that decision in the winter before spring arrives and resources are used for spring planting.
- Cattle ranchers and recreational property owners can use the winter months to review new strategies for cattle management as well as new products for the hunting and sporting industries.
Common Strategies for Land Management in the Winter
Dan’s number one piece of advice when it comes to your best strategy for land management in the winter? “Bring in someone who specializes in the category.” The team at Hayden Outdoors leads the industry in recreational real estate agents who specialize in large land real estate sales, but their expertise is not purely transactional.
“At Hayden Outdoors, our agents are available to walk landowners through issues that are specific to both their property type and their state and region.” Cattle ranchers might want to reach out to a cattle ranching property specialist, such as Jim Digby, to learn more about how they can manage their herd better. Farmers could contact John Herrity or Gene Bock about USDA planning and any new regulations. John Tate is happy to provide his two cents when it comes to food plots in the Southeast and Shad Sheldon can talk Midwest mineral mixture for maximizing wildlife health on your hunting property. Chase Higgs is a fishery biologist on staff at Hayden Outdoors. He’s an excellent resource for those looking to optimize fishery management and work with biologists during the winter to maximize your fishing property during the summer.
Other strategies for winter land management
In addition to the common things cited above, you may need to add to your to-do list:
- Exploring new cattle management strategies and rotational grazing trends
- Establishing goals for the next four months for sporting properties
- Working on habitat management for both recreational and hunting properties
- Writing grant requests for funding to help with habitat improvement projects
- Finding a local or regional trade show in your area to learn more about new products, current industry issues, and international guidelines
Common Pitfalls Landowners Succumb to During the Winter
When it comes to doing the most with your winter months, it can be easy to bite off more than you can chew. Dan cautions against this, instead focussing on realistic, attainable, affordable goals. Avoid the following when performing essential winter prep for landowners:
- If you’re a new buyer, try not to do it all at once. This can lead to overblown budgets and unfinished projects. As Dan puts it, “You might want to focus on finishing that brand new entry way, when the thing that really needs to get done before summer is finishing your property’s fencing.”
- Don’t procrastinate annual budgeting, and don’t limit your budgeting to dollars and cents. Make sure to account for time and intangible resources as well.
- Don’t be afraid to call in the experts. Work with a professional biologist or agronomist to develop a good plan.
- Start with what’s most important and ensure you’ve budgeted appropriately and set realistic timelines.
- Look at priorities for value rather than flash or aesthetics.
Break Down the Summer Preparation Process by Climate, Type, and Region
Calendars are a large landowners best friend. Dan examines the different cycles by land type and area.
- Farming: “On the farming side of things, once harvest is done in late fall, most farmers can enjoy some downtime. It’s a great time to get budgets and planning done, and take a look at any properties they want to invest in.” This is also an important time for farmers to establish leasing agreements for the following year, if applicable to their property.
- Cattle Ranching: Calving typically takes place January – April, which is when cattle ranchers are all-hands-on-deck to make sure calves are healthy, the feed is good, and animals aren’t sick or stuck in blizzards. Summertime can be a big budgeting time for cattle ranchers, after calving has happened, they’ve prepared to audit their herd population, and they can see what hay looks like based on summer months of rainfall.
- Hunting: For most of North America, hunting seasons will be in the fall through January, with the exception of spring turkey season. This means the steps hunting property owners take in the winter, spring and summer months will directly affect what happens in the fall. Dan offers these additional timelines and tips for specific hunting regions:
- In the South East, it’s common to plan to burn understory for weeds and fallen limbs in the spring to allow native grasses to grow.
- For whitetail deer hunting, use the winter to budget for food plots and minerals, and then start placing them from February thru May.
- Set trail cams in the spring to gain trail cam surveys for deer population and herd health.
Managing Water Levels in Winter
Water is an elemental part of all land management. How you get water, where you store it, and whether or not you can modify your property to capture more of it are all very specific to state and region. Make sure to check with local planning authorities and commissions before making any changes to your property that directly affect water sources. With that in mind, here are some guidelines to follow when it comes to managing the water on your property:
- Private land owners who own river bottom properties will need to secure proper flood insurance if available.
- Examine bordering properties or improvements that might be affected by large flooding.
- Work with a professional to ensure you’re following proper regulations.
- In arid states, make sure your wildlife, cattle, and livestock have enough water, food, and shelter. Keep in mind that water can be the hardest thing to acquire.
- Establish plenty of stock tanks throughout your property and ensure they’re properly equipped to not freeze during the winter.
- In states with less strict water regulations, consider putting in additional water sources, keeping in mind that legalities and costs vary.
- Look at water catch systems and purchasable water rights for your property.
- Make sure you can keep water open during the winter for waterfowl when applicable.
- Use the winter months to apply for any relevant water permits or grants.
Winter Prep Budget Considerations
Again, budget considerations will vary by property type, property size, and state. Generally, make sure to include the following line items in your landowner budget:
- Any public land use fees, BLM leases etc.
- Fertilizer
- Fuel
- Hay / Feed / Food Plots / Minerals
- Infrastructure, such as out buildings and fencing
- Labor
- Licensing fees
- Machinery and equipment
- Maintenance
- Net project returns if applicable
- Propane
- Property insurance
- Property taxes
- Supplies
- Utilities
- Veterinary expenses and animal vaccinations
- Water rights fees
Regional-Specific Considerations
Perhaps the biggest regional consideration when it comes to winter property management is water, including how much of it you have access to, how much of it you might need to capture, water use rights and fees, and keeping water accessible to wintering wildlife. Additionally, you might want to consider the following when it comes to regional-specific winter tasks:
- Any applicable burning your property requires
- Fire mitigation around property boundaries and building envelopes
- Setting food plots and minerals
- Setting trail cams
- Managing for winter wildlife migrations, shelter, food, and water
Considerations to Prepare Equipment for the Summer
Winter is a great time to make sure all of your recreational, farming, ranching, and hunting property is properly maintained, oiled, and ready to go come spring. Here are some things to consider when it comes to preparing your equipment for the summer:
- Budgeting – Make sure to set aside enough of your annual budget for this essential task.
- Repairs – Does any equipment need fixing, new tires, a new battery, etc.?
- New equipment – Take stock of your current equipment and assess whether or not you need to add anything for the upcoming season.
- Regular maintenance – Take your equipment into the local shop or dealer for annual maintenance.
- Selling equipment – Winter is a good time to sell or auction equipment you no longer need.
Winter Events to Help Landowners Prepare for Summer
Dan encourages landowners to visit local, regional, and even national trade shows and events to learn more about industry trends. Hayden Outdoors provides a running list of upcoming farming, ranching, and recreational trade shows, updated four months in advance. Here are a few Dan recommends considering if you’re in the area:
- Sporting and Hunting
- Safari Club International Convention
- Dallas Safari Club Convention
- Southeast Wildlife Expo (SEWE)
- International Sportsman’s Expos
- Great Alaska Sportsman Show
- Hunt & Fish Expo
- Pheasant Fest
- Nebraska Deer & Game Expo
- Dixie Deer Classic
- Look for your local trade show!
- Cattle and Ranching
- National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
- Black Hills Stock Show
- Red Bluff Bull & Gelding Trade Show
- National Western Stock Show
- Farming
- World Ag Expo in California
- Colorado Farm Show
- Husker Harvest Days
- 3i Show
- Cattle U
- Soil Health U
- Equine
- National Finals Rodeo (NFR)
- NCHA Futurity
- NRHA Futurity
- NRCHA Snaffle Bit Futurity
- Arabian Horse Show
Experts and Agency Resources for Landowners Preparing for Summer
Turning to your local agencies and chapters – and even attending a banquet or two! – can substantially add to your knowledge of large land ownership and management. Dan points out that regional trade shows will promote relevant local groups and non-profit organizations while local chapters host banquets to promote funding habitat management. Make sure to know when these events pop up in your area or region. Here are a few key resources to keep in mind:
- Regional trade shows
- Local chapter banquet and fundraisers
- Hunting organizations and resources:
- Farming
- Ranching
- National Cattlemen’s Beef Association
- Your State-level Beef Associations
- Equine
- American Quarter Horse Association
- American Paint Horse Association
- Arabian Horse Association
- American Horse Council
- NCHA
- NRHA
- NRCHA
- Magazines and Online Resources
- High Plains Journal
- Western Livestock Journal
- American Cattlemen
- Gray’s Sporting Journal
- Other niche magazines and websites
Conclusion
“We’ve seen a lot of people become first-time rural landowners in recent years,” concludes Dan. “Whether you’re a new landowner, or your property has been in your family for generations and you simply want to improve it for sale, I recommend working with one of our Hayden Outdoors agents. Most of them own land – farms, cattle ranches, hunting properties – and they can offer a lot of support on how to be a successful rural land owner.”
Unlike most real estate agencies, the rural real estate professionals at Hayden Outdoors speak the language and walk the walk. They can discuss vaccines and help you find a local farrier. They know soil types, seasons, rotation grazing, and crop cycles. If you’re buying the kind of land that requires a tractor (and all of the tractor implements) rather than a lawn mower, they’re your guys and gals. As Dan puts it, when it comes to staying on top of owning and managing your land year-round, education is key!
Talk with a Hayden Outdoors real estate agent in your state today to learn more.
866-741-8323
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