Huntin' Land Podcast

Great Days Outdoors

Stay up to date on Hunting Tactics, Land Management, Land Values, and Land Market dynamics with hosts Joe Baya, Butch Thierry, and Clint Flowers.

  1. 4d ago

    Lessons From Drone Surveying 192,000 Acres of Deer Habitat

    This week on Huntin’ Land, Joe Baya and Butch Thierry talk with Justin Ballard of Paragon Aerial Solutions about what he has learned after drone surveying roughly 192,000 acres of deer habitat in one season. Justin breaks down several major lessons from the drone survey data, including how often mature bucks and high deer concentrations show up in thinned, burned pine plantations with good understory rather than in the places many hunters assume deer should be. He also explains why landowners often overestimate their deer numbers, why buck-to-doe ratios are commonly more out of balance than people realize, and why properties that shoot more deer and keep the herd within the land’s carrying capacity tend to produce better mature bucks. The episode also covers the importance of sanctuary areas, low-pressure access, bedding cover, food, and overall stress reduction. Justin explains that true sanctuaries—areas landowners rarely or never enter—consistently hold relaxed deer, and that even small or unintentional sanctuaries can make a noticeable difference. The group also discusses predator pressure, rut behavior, neighboring landowners working together, mature bucks with small home ranges, and how drone surveys can help confirm whether a target buck is still using a property. To close the show, Justin explains how Paragon is also using lidar mapping for duck properties, flooded timber, levee planning, pond work, and water-control decisions. By creating bare-earth models and flood simulations, landowners can see where water will go, how deep it will be, and where levees or duck holes should be placed before spending money on construction. The episode is ultimately a practical look at how better data can help landowners stop guessing, make better management decisions, and leave their property better than they found it. Sponsors First South Farm Credit Southern Seed and Feed Deep South Crane Rentals Dixie Building Supply / Baker Metal Works Chemical Warehouse Texas Hunter Farm Credit of Northwest Florida Black Buffalo National Land Realty

  2. Sep 9

    If I Sell Inherited Land, Is It Taxable?

    Inherited land can come with emotional weight, family pressure, and a lot of confusion about taxes. In this episode of Huntin’ Land, Joe Baya and Clint Flowers of National Land Realty break down what actually happens when someone inherits land and decides to sell it. The key question is simple: If you sell inherited land, do you owe taxes? The answer depends on your basis, how the land was transferred, and whether the sale price exceeds that basis. Clint explains the difference between land gifted before death and land inherited after death, including why a stepped-up basis can save heirs from paying taxes on value that existed at the time they inherited the property. He also explains why waiting years to sell can create taxable gain only on the appreciation after inheritance, not the full sale price. Joe and Clint also cover common mistakes heirs make, including assuming they have zero basis because they didn’t personally pay for the land, failing to establish an accurate historical value, neglecting the property while delaying a sale, and overlooking expenses that may reduce taxable gain. They also discuss when a 1031 exchange can help heirs sell inherited land and roll the proceeds into another investment property, such as a different farm, commercial property, or even a beach condo. This episode is especially useful for families trying to decide whether to keep inherited property, sell it, or turn it into something that better fits their lives. As Clint points out, good communication, proper valuation, and early conversations with tax and land professionals can make a major difference in how much money families keep and how smoothly the process goes. Sponsors First South Farm Credit Southern Seed and Feed Deep South Crane Rentals Dixie Building Supply / Baker Metal Works Chemical Warehouse Texas Hunter Farm Credit of Northwest Florida Black Buffalo National Land Realty

    If I Sell Inherited Land, Is It Taxable?
  3. Sep 2

    The Tax Advantages of Owning Land

    This week on Huntin’ Land, Joe Baya and Clint Flowers of National Land Realty break down the tax advantages of owning land, with a focus on timberland, farm property, recreational land, conservation easements, equipment deductions, and long-term estate planning. The episode is not meant as legal or tax advice, but as a practical guide to the questions landowners should be asking their CPA, attorney, forester, and land professional before tax season. Joe and Clint start with one of the biggest overlooked advantages of timberland ownership: timber basis. Clint explains why timber income may not be taxable until a landowner has depleted the basis established when the property was purchased, and why a timber cruise, basis letter, or historical appraisal can help landowners avoid paying taxes they may not actually owe. They also discuss how consulting forester fees, property taxes, mileage, farm expenses, equipment, UTVs, tractors, roads, gates, culverts, food plots, cameras, and other legitimate land-management costs may fit into a landowner’s tax picture. The conversation also covers larger planning tools, including Section 179 equipment deductions, Section 180 soil fertility deductions, cost-share income from programs like EQIP, carbon credit income, conservation easements, working forest easements, 1031 exchanges, reverse 1031 exchanges, and step-up in basis for inherited land. Clint explains how these tools can help landowners reduce taxable income, protect family land, reinvest into better property, or transition from large recreational acreage into other income-producing real estate. The episode closes with a reminder that good tax planning starts before year-end, and that landowners should work with professionals who understand both real estate investment and the specific tax issues tied to timber, farms, and recreational property. Sponsors First South Farm Credit Southern Seed and Feed Deep South Crane Rentals Dixie Building Supply / Baker Metal Works Chemical Warehouse Texas Hunter Farm Credit of Northwest Florida Black Buffalo National Land Realty

    The Tax Advantages of Owning Land
  4. Apr 16

    Less Trees, More Deer: How Smart Timber Stand Improvement Changes Everything

    This episode of Huntin' Land Podcast takes a hard look at one of the most misunderstood ideas in land management: sometimes the best way to grow more wildlife is to have fewer trees. Dr. Richard Cristan of Auburn University College of Forestry Wildlife and Environment breaks down timber stand improvement in plain terms, showing how thinning, clear cuts, and targeted tree removal can dramatically increase habitat quality without sacrificing long-term timber value. The conversation challenges that gut reaction a lot of landowners have—walking into a thick, beautiful stand of timber and thinking it’s perfect as-is. In reality, those closed-canopy woods are often biological deserts, with little food or cover for wildlife. Cristan explains how sunlight is the real driver of habitat, and how practices like thinning and crop tree release create the kind of understory that deer, turkeys, and other species actually need. Along the way, the episode gets practical. There’s a clear breakdown of what timber stand improvement actually is, how it differs from commercial thinning, and how landowners can start making decisions without overcomplicating things. They dig into real-world tactics like hack-and-squirt, herbicide selection, and managing hardwood stands without wrecking future value. The big takeaway is that timber and wildlife goals don’t have to compete—you just have to manage with intention instead of assumption. SPONSORS First South Farm Credit Deep South Cranes Dixie Supply/Baker Metalworks Chemical Warehouse Texas Hunter Black Buffalo National Land Realty

  5. Apr 16

    Healing 200 Years of Worn-Out Cotton Ground - Portia Fulford’s Journey Towards Stewardship

    This episode of Huntin' Land Podcast sits down with Dr. Portia Fulford for a deeply personal look at what it really means to own and steward land over the long term. Her journey starts with a 250-acre worn-out cotton farm in Alabama’s Black Belt and evolves into something much bigger—a shift from production-focused agriculture to a relationship-driven approach centered on restoration, sustainability, and generational impact. Fulford talks openly about early mistakes, including chasing conventional “expert” advice that prioritized output over stewardship, and the hard lessons that followed. What emerges is a philosophy rooted in listening—to the land, to those who knew it before her, and to the deeper rhythms that govern it. She explains how that shift led her toward long-term forestry, carbon programs, and a more holistic model where profit becomes a byproduct of doing things right, not the sole objective. Along the way, the conversation explores the tension between modern economic pressures and traditional land-based values, the importance of mentorship over expertise, and the challenge of building a life that is both financially viable and deeply connected to place. At its core, this episode isn’t just about land ownership—it’s about redefining success, prioritizing family, and thinking in terms of decades instead of seasons. SPONSORS First South Farm Credit Deep South Cranes Dixie Supply/Baker Metalworks Chemical Warehouse Texas Hunter Black Buffalo National Land Realty

  6. Apr 10

    Spray Smarter: How Hunters Can Control Weeds Without Killing Their Food Plots

    This episode of the Huntin’ Land Podcast zeroes in on a question most landowners eventually face: how to control weeds without constantly starting over on food plots. Joe Baya and Clint Flowers set the stage with real-world problems—like battling dog fennel and managing clover stands—before bringing in weed science expert David Russell to help make sense of it all. Russell reframes the conversation early by challenging the idea that all weeds are bad. Instead, he emphasizes that a “weed” is just a plant out of place, and whether it needs to be controlled depends entirely on your goals for the property. From there, the discussion walks through the main options—mechanical methods like mowing and disking versus chemical control—and why herbicides, when used correctly, can offer a more precise way to remove problem plants without wiping out everything else . The most practical takeaway is learning how to think about herbicides as tools rather than something to avoid. The group breaks down the difference between selective and non-selective options and highlights common use cases, like using clethodim to remove grasses from clover or 2,4-DB to target certain broadleaf weeds. Timing and plant biology come up repeatedly as critical factors—getting those wrong can make even the right product ineffective . By the end, the message is clear: food plots don’t need to look perfect to be effective, and you don’t have to start from scratch every season. With the right approach—and a little help from local experts—landowners can manage weeds more efficiently while improving habitat over time. SPONSORS First South Farm Credit Deep South Cranes Dixie Supply/Baker Metalworks Chemical Warehouse Texas Hunter Black Buffalo National Land Realty

5
out of 5
56 Ratings

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Stay up to date on Hunting Tactics, Land Management, Land Values, and Land Market dynamics with hosts Joe Baya, Butch Thierry, and Clint Flowers.

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