State Fish and Wildlife Agencies

[BenAllgood]

I know state wildlife agencies get a bad wrap sometimes, but I wanted to put a plug in for one state in particular. Specifically, I'd like to put in a plug for this state's private lands biologists. Kentucky has really impressed me. The way they manage their deer herd is a big part of why I bought land in the state. But, I've really been impressed with their private lands biologist in my area, Chris Mason. I realize helping private landowners is their job, but Chris has gone above and beyond in my opinion. He walked a lot of my property with me, pointing out plants that I wasn't familiar with. He helped liaison with the appropriate people and programs that would help achieve my goals. One of the biggest helps was deciding on what to do with my hay fields to transition them to something more wildlife friendly. He pointed out some government programs, but didn't stop there. I was really concerned with having food and cover there. I wanted to do a pollinator planting, but was concerned about the cover aspect. On his own, he went to several properties that had different types of plantings done, including some pollinator plantings. He brought a 3D deer target to those fields and took photos of how it looked at the end of winter in each scenario. I really couldn't believe the effort he went to. Some may say he just did his job, but I believe he went well beyond that. State agencies do get a bad wrap sometimes, but I've really been impressed with Kentucky and Chris Mason in particular.

Kentucky also has a lot of information available to private landowners. Some of those publications are available here: https://fw.ky.gov/Wildlife/Pages/Habitat-How-To's.aspx

 

[Mennoniteman]

That's a great shoutout, and it's important to recognize those individuals who are doing their job plus going above and beyond. In Pennsylvania the Game Commission is focused on issuing citations, however, NRCS has people who are doing a fine job working with landowners. Since you started a thread on this theme, there's one NRCS forester in particular that I'd like to mention, Chris Shook, who has been the kind of professional and also very helpful kind of person that you just described.

 

[deer patch]

That’s great that he goes above and beyond. If you still have the pictures he sent you, would you mind posting them here? I’ve been kicking around the ideal of planting some pollinator planting myself.

 

[Paradise725]

I know state wildlife agencies get a bad wrap sometimes, but I wanted to put a plug in for one state in particular. Specifically, I'd like to put in a plug for this state's private lands biologists. Kentucky has really impressed me. The way they manage their deer herd is a big part of why I bought land in the state. But, I've really been impressed with their private lands biologist in my area, Chris Mason. I realize helping private landowners is their job, but Chris has gone above and beyond in my opinion. He walked a lot of my property with me, pointing out plants that I wasn't familiar with. He helped liaison with the appropriate people and programs that would help achieve my goals. One of the biggest helps was deciding on what to do with my hay fields to transition them to something more wildlife friendly. He pointed out some government programs, but didn't stop there. I was really concerned with having food and cover there. I wanted to do a pollinator planting, but was concerned about the cover aspect. On his own, he went to several properties that had different types of plantings done, including some pollinator plantings. He brought a 3D deer target to those fields and took photos of how it looked at the end of winter in each scenario. I really couldn't believe the effort he went to. Some may say he just did his job, but I believe he went well beyond that. State agencies do get a bad wrap sometimes, but I've really been impressed with Kentucky and Chris Mason in particular.

Kentucky also has a lot of information available to private landowners. Some of those publications are available here: https://fw.ky.gov/Wildlife/Pages/Habitat-How-To's.aspx

I met Chris one time while stuck in traffic on the side of I-65 one time. Super nice guy. I have worked with Thomas Young in my area, and he has been great to work with. He came and toured my entire farm, made some observations and then wrote up a plan for me to get funding for various projects through the Wildlife Habitat Improvement Program (WHIP). That was many years ago, and I emailed him out of the blue last year asking for help with prescribed fire planning. He offered to meet me on a weekend to investigate the area and provide some recommendations.

I agree. KDFWR has some great assets and does a great job as a whole. I’m lucky to be a resident landowner in this state!


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[BenAllgood]

That’s great that he goes above and beyond. If you still have the pictures he sent you, would you mind posting them here? I’ve been kicking around the ideal of planting some pollinator planting myself.

“2 year old stand of mixed native grasses and forbs (wildflowers). This planting was basically a grab bag habitat blend from Roundstone Native Seed, the tall grasses are switchgrass, big bluestem, and Indiangrass. There is also little bluestem in the stand. Booth pictures are from the same stand. Basically what you would be looking at if you added a pound or two per acre of tall natives to a pollinator mix.”




“2 yr. old pollinator planting on the same farm as the first two pictures about 50 yds. away. The planting is, I am pretty sure, the USDA Pollinator Mix 3. It has little bluestem, side-oats gramma, and Virginia wild rye in the way of grasses and 9 different wildflowers. There is also a little foxtail in the stand.”




"These last two pictures are about a 15 year old rank stands of Indiangrass with a little sumac and blackberry briars. The stand has been managed with prescribed fire and mowing."

 

[Jeff H]

I had a great forester in Francis Main with MDOC. She had such a good relationship with the loggers in the area. They knew if she wrote a plan it would be good for the landowner but also good for the logger. In doing so the loggers were able to pay a higher price. Francis would also keep me posted on potential benefits that would serve me and my goals. I never once had to call her and ask what programs were available, she always called me with the options and deadlines. She retired about four years ago and I've not heard from the MDOC since. Big shoes..little feet.

 

[weekender21]

We have a great mountain region biologist in NC and our extension forester has been helpful as well. So far so good!


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