Help with Managing Hunting Land

Managing Hunting Land
Bill, merry Christmas to you and your family. I really enjoyed you reading Luke 2 every year from the deer blinds. Also, the story on how you shot your buck this year was nothing short of amazing. I’m am thinking the whole time; seriously??? I bought 156 acres in the up of Michigan on thanksgiving weekend. Obviously that is a different planet than Iowa but it is within 2 miles of our cabin. I think you have some experience hunting up there. It has fields, cedar swamps and hard woods. I know you are really busy but I was wondering if you could give me some guidance on what to plant etc if I sent you some aerials? The guy who owned it before me had some sort of plan going and the fields have been planted in the past but it hasn’t been hunted in 4 or 5 years. Again have a merry Christmas and thanks for all you do for deer hunting!View post →

Late Season Nocturnal Bucks

Late Season Nocturnal Bucks
Hey Bill. Hope you're having a good holiday season. I'm sort of at a loss for one of my small hunting permissions (12 acres). After putting a camera up a couple weeks ago it is abundantly clear that our hunting spots are only getting activity between 12-4am. And very little during daylight. We are close to big ag as well. I was wondering if this might have something to do with the weather being is the 50s a lot of this winter. I'm just not sure why it is only used at night as we are maybe 300+ yards from thick typical bedding. I'd love to hear your thoughts on why this is the case.View post →

Buying Hunting Land

Bill Winke Consulting
Bill, I have always known based on your articles through the years that you purchased your first property of 13 acres for roughly $12K when you were 32. I’ll be 31 next year and have around $17K saved up in a mutual fund. I have always looked up to you and desire my own humble beginning of rural land. The only debt I carry is my current home mortgage. I will only buy acreage I can 100% cash flow. Am I a moron for wanting to emulate you and buy my first hunting land in the next few years? Thanks for the wisdom!View post →

Land Management Consulting Business

Land Management Consulting
Hello Mr. Bill first off I’m a big fan of yours. Your information with Midwest whitetail has helped me to learn a lot about hunting over the years!!I have a question. I’m thinking about getting into contracting out to people installing food plots and making people’s properties better for hunting and kind of starting it on the side.  Just curious if you could give me any tips or advice on ways to do it?? And if it’s a good thing to get into and in high demand??View post →

Late Season Public Land Strategies

Bill: Do you have any tips or advice for someone that will be hunting the late Muzzleloader season in Iowa for the very first time? My family and I relocated to Central Iowa this summer. With that, I lost all of my permission spots in the southwestern corner of the state. I don't have any private land permission spots currently and would only be looking at late season muzzleloader public land hunting. If it helps, I live in Pella and fortunately have access to an abundance of public land around the Lake Red Rock area. I'm just not very familiar with it and am unsure on how deer utilize food sources here. *Congrats on your monster bow buck!! Would you ever consider doing an interview with me about your hunt this year, and talk about strategies for hunting the rut? I'm a farm broadcaster with the Iowa Agribusiness Radio Network out of Des Moines and like to incorporate some hunting/wildlife interviews when I can. Stay safe and God Bless!View post →

Finding Mature Bucks

Finding Mature Bucks
Hi Bill, I am a young bow hunter consistently looking for new hunting ground because each property I gain access on I learn that mature bucks aren’t using those areas often. In order to make my time more efficient in looking for permission pieces, what main land features would you spend time looking for in order to find mature bucks? I hunt out of state as well, so I am looking for possible land features that transcend habit differences from state to state. Thank you for your time and all the effort you put in to help hunters gain more success!View post →

How to Deal with Bad Neighbors

Bad Neighbors
Hi Bill! Long time follower and supporter. Thanks for all the information and advice you pass along to your loyal following. We greatly appreciate it! Looking for your point of view on difficult land neighbors. I know its been awhile since you owned a smaller plot of land, but us 40-80-120 acre guys live it more than we'd like to admit. Lot line deer stands, four wheeler rides at prime time, target practice during turkey hunting. The list goes on and at times makes land ownership trying. I have read many POVs on how to deal with these neighbors, and ways to reconcile those relationships. Would appreciate your advice and approach. Thank you Bill! KevinView post →