Nothing excites me more than receiving a grip and grin or, in this case, a FaceTime from a client. Saturday night, I looked at my vibrating phone to see an incoming video call from my buddy, Lee. Before I could say, “There better be a trophy buck on the other end of the camera..” he swung his phone around to expose the deer I had been receiving text messages from for two years, hanging in his garage. The story of “Butterknife” had a happy ending.

While the initial phone call was brief, his excitement and energy were tangible through the virtual interface. This deer (we will fondly refer to as “Butter”) wasn’t the result of blind luck. No. Butter was the product of years of dedication and commitment to practicing the principles and practices laid out in the Habitat Management Plan I wrote for Lee several years prior. (I’m still awaiting a 20” Stihl Bar replacement, Lee 🤪.)

Lee is managing 31 acres in Eastern Pennsylvania. Anyone who knows anything about PA whitetail deer hunting knows that the Orange Army is in full force every Thanksgiving weekend. Deer drives. Pushes. You name it- everyone swears “the neighbors are doing it.” While PA has done a tremendous job with its deer herd and point restrictions, it is still one of the most challenging states to manage for quality deer on small acreages. Everybody in the neighborhood hunts, and everybody wants to shoot a buck. What am I getting at? Mr. Strohe has done a fantastic job adhering to the framework I laid out for him, and the result was a gorgeous deer to hang over the fireplace of his new home!

His parcel is wedge-shaped, like a pizza. With his new house towards the main road, I created a management plan that would embellish the shape and contours of the property to allow better access to stand placements. I heavily emphasized treating nonnative invasive plant species observed on site. Coupled with some mid-story timber stand improvements, the result has been a much heavier understory layer boasting desirable deer-favored native species like ragweed, ninebark, and goldenrod that will provide nourishment. The woody species and stump sprouts (a result of the TSI projects) have provided security for hiding fawns and a nutritious winter food source for the deer. In other words, we took a dime-a-dozen woodlot compared to the neighboring parcels, added a few Bedding Thickets in areas that allowed for successful hunter access, and could capitalize on the predictable movements created.

My client and his neighbor started seeing pictures of this deer in the summer of 2022 while he was in velvet. The two of them have been losing sleep over this deer they named “Butterknife” after the bladed G-2 on his right side. A G-2, which looks like what kitchen utensil?

“What is a butterknife?”

Correct!

With the assistance of a well-timed information swap between neighbors delivered in a BIG way when Mr. Butters stepped into the open, precisely where my client needed him to. The rest is history. Congratulations to Lee on a hard-earned deer!

In April 2023, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) introduced the "Conservation and Landscape Health" rule, a potential game-changer for hunting on public lands. As a wildlife biologist deeply committed to creating better wildlife habitats, my initial excitement about the rule has evolved into skepticism, as the devil appears to be in the details.

On the surface, the rule seems like a positive step forward, allowing the BLM to lease public land to non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and private companies for habitat restoration. This could fund crucial projects like habitat connectivity, wildlife guzzler construction, prescribed fires, and prairie restoration across the Western US, where much of the BLM lands are located.

However, my concern lies in the rule's language, which leaves the door open for leaseholders to influence what uses are compatible with conservation on their parcels. The worry is that some NGOs, with a preservationist approach that often opposes hunting and other recreational activities, might restrict access to public lands for hunters. The BLM is still seeking feedback on the specifics of the proposed conservation leasing rules, underscoring the need for proper safeguards.

Having worked as a biologist for the United States Forest Service, I understand the dire state of many public lands' habitats. The proposed rule change could be a significant leap forward. Still, it must be executed with guardrails to preserve our hunting heritage and the tradition of multiple uses on public lands.

As someone who owns a business dedicated to restoring wildlife habitat, I stand to benefit financially from the rule. However, even with potential financial gains, I find it uncomfortable to support the rule without explicit provisions ensuring the right to hunt. The North American Model for Wildlife Conservation emphasizes hunters' crucial role in sustainably managing wildlife populations.

The phrase "hunting is conservation" is not hyperbole; it's a central tenet of the North American model. Hunting helps balance wildlife populations, prevents overpopulation, generates revenue through licenses and permits, and fosters a sense of stewardship and connection to nature. If leaseholders can restrict hunting access, hunters are vulnerable to losing access to tens of thousands of acres of currently public land.

Financial disparities between pro-hunting and anti-hunting organizations add another layer of concern. Pro-hunting groups like the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the National Deer Association rely on grassroots efforts and local fundraisers. At the same time, anti-hunting organizations often receive support from wealthy donors. This financial gap makes it challenging for pro-hunting organizations to outbid their competitors.

Despite potential benefits for my business, I'm still deciding about the rule change. I worry about losing public hunting opportunities to conservation leases. With more than 18,000 public comments mentioning "hunting" out of 33,432, it's evident that this issue resonates with many. What's crucial now is common sense and transparency in the rule-making process to ensure a balance between conservation efforts and preserving our hunting traditions on public lands.

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