Natural Resources University

Forest inventory and timber cruising provide the information landowners and foresters need to understand what is growing on a property, how much timber is present, and how that timber should be managed or valued. In this episode of Timber University, Dr. Josh Granger from Mississippi State University joins us to discuss the different methods used to measure forests and why a well-designed inventor...

Dr. Mark Turner joins us to discuss his newly accepted, peer-reviewed study examining how vegetation around wild turkey nests impacts both nest success and hen survival during incubation.   Resources: Turner, M.A., et al. (2026). Vegetation composition and structure influences female wild turkey survival during incubation. Journal of Wildlife Management. Butler, N., et al. (2025). Vital rates and...

Raccoons are smart, adaptable omnivores that can be challenging to manage, because they are very resourceful. Drew and Joe share some insights into solving common problems with raccoons. Drew also shares some valuable insight into the kinds of traps that work best based on location, and why relocating raccoons isn't best for them.   Dr. Joe Gerken and Dr. Drew Ricketts are extension specialists an...

Will walks us through a recent study assessing the effects of predator removal on a ground nesting bird - the Pigeon Gullimot - and how this translates to managing predators for wild turkey.   Resources: Cherry, M. J., et al. (2015). Effects of predation risk and group dynamics on white-tailed deer foraging behavior in a longleaf pine savanna. Behavioral Ecology, 26(4), 1091-1099. Conner, L. M., e...

Grizzly bears are making a comeback – and their return is one of North America's greatest conservation success stories. But as bears expand into places they haven't occupied in generations, new questions emerge. Where do bears belong in the modern West? What does it actually take to share a landscape with a large carnivore? And who bears the costs and responsibilities of recovery? This season on W...

Jacob and Eric sit down with Sam Overfors, a recent Deer Lab graduate, to discuss his work evaluating antipredator behavior in fawns. Sam used thermal drones and GPS collars to investigate how fawns move across the landscape.   Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series ( here ) and select the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop-down menu. You will need to create an account t...

In this episode, we discuss our go-to herbicides for various land management scenarios.   Resources: Herbicides | Ep 102   Get your tickets to our 2nd Annual UF Game Lab Banquet here: https://tinyurl.com/UFGameLabBanquet   Can't attend the banquet but still want to support us? Please donate here: http://UFgive.to/UFGameLab . Thank you in advance for your support!   We've launched our second online...

Catfish are among the most popular fish to catch in the Great Plains. Kansas is home to 12 species of catfish including small madtoms and record setting Flathead Catfish. Join Joe and Drew as they discuss catfish diets, habitats, and much more. Dr. Joe Gerken and Dr. Drew Ricketts are extension specialists and faculty members in the Wildlife and Outdoor Enterprise Management Program at Kansas Stat...

Dr. Andy Little, Associate Professor of Landscape Ecology and Habitat Management and Extension Specialist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, stops by to discuss how deer alter their behavior in response to hunters. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series ( here ) and select the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop-down menu. You will need to create an account to view th...

Marcus sits down with Tes Randle Jolly - award-winning professional wildlife and turkey photographer extraordinaire - who shares insights from her time spent as a poult mama with our captive turkeys.  Tes Randle Jolly @jovtes https://www.instagram.com/jovtes/?hl=en   Get your tickets to our 2nd Annual UF Game Lab Banquet here:  https://tinyurl.com/UFGameLabBanquet Can't attend the banquet but stil...

Can forest landowners deduct residual soil fertility as some farmers do? In this episode, Shaun and Brady examine the growing interest in the residual fertility tax deduction, explain the relevant IRS tax provisions, and discuss why these strategies may apply to agriculture but generally not to forestry. They also cover the legal uncertainty surrounding aggressive soil nutrient deductions and what...

In this episode, we chat with Josh Murman and Colton Rathman to explore how PTx Ag is bringing autonomous technology to the farm by transforming compatible tractors into self-operating machines. We discuss how the system works and how it helps farmers tackle labor shortages, improve efficiency, and complete critical fieldwork on time. But we also look beyond productivity, exploring how autonomy co...

In this episode, we dig into raccoon population densities across the literature, uncovering how food subsidization can push numbers from under 10 to over 300 per square kilometer.   Resources: Boone, W. W., et al. (2024). Frequent prescribed burns reduce mammalian species richness and occurrence in longleaf pine sandhills. Forest Ecology and Management, 553, 121596.   Prange, S., Gehrt, S. D., & W...

Stocking rate sounds simple, but this episode shows why it is one of the most misunderstood and important decisions in grazing management. John Weir, Laura Goodman, Ph. D., and Mark Turner, Ph. D. explain that stocking rate is not just the number of cattle on a pasture. It is the number of animals on a set number of acres for a specific length of time. Leaving out the time component can lead to ba...

Bronson and Steve take time out of their busy schedules to jump back on the podcast. They chat with Jacob and Eric about everything from how they created the Deer University Podcast to what it's been like to work together for decades. They also fill the guys in on what they're up to now, including how they're still working together to help landowners and what they're up to in their free time.  Che...

Many diseases can be transmitted from wildlife to humans, and one in particular has been making headlines recently. Join Drew and Joe as they discuss what Hantavirus is, how it is transmitted, the wildlife species most commonly associated with it, the habitats where exposure is most likely to occur, and how to avoid infection. Dr. Joe Gerken and Dr. Drew Ricketts are extension specialists and facu...

In this episode, Marcus sits down with the UF Game Lab communications team   – Charlotte and Dot – to share insights into the communication and fundraising efforts for a research lab that reaches the public.    Get your tickets to our 2nd Annual UF Game Lab Banquet here: https://tinyurl.com/UFGameLabBanquet   Can't attend the banquet but still want to support us? Please donate here: http://UFgive....

This episode is made possible by support from the Oklahoma Conservation Commissio n . Wild turkey numbers rise and fall for a lot of reasons, but better brood habitat may be one of the most practical things landowners can influence right now. In this episode of Blazin' Grazin' and Other Wild Things, Dr. Mark Turner, Oklahoma State University Extension Wildlife Specialist, joins John Weir and Dr. L...

Join us as we explore the life and legacy of Tom Kelly through his daughter Laura Bates.    Tom Kelly, Inc. ( Website ) ( Facebook Page ) ( Instagram )   Resources: No Place to Hide Tenth Legion: Bootleg Revival The Colonel and the Fox The Evolution of Turkey Calling: From bone to box | #177 The T.H. Kelly Handbook Wild Turkey Archives   Our lab is primarily funded by donations. If you would like...

The term Extension is often used when discussing the mission of Land Grant Institutions, but we rarely take time to explain what Extension means. Join Joe and Drew as they discuss what it means to be a Land Grant Institution, their approach to reaching a wide array of stakeholders, and their views of what success in Extension looks like. Dr. Joe Gerken and Dr. Drew Ricketts are extension specialis...

We're bringing back our episode where we dig into what the scientific literature actually says about what eats turkeys at every life stage.   Resources from the episode: Chitwood, M. C., et al. (2020). Raccoon vigilance and activity patterns when sympatric with coyotes. Diversity, 12(9), 341. Gulsby, W. D., et al. (2017). Landscape heterogeneity reduces coyote predation on white‐tailed deer fawns....

In this Q&A episode, Brady and Shaun answer listener and landowner questions on three practical forestry topics: whether diesel or dish soap should be used as surfactants in herbicide applications, what landowners should consider before converting industrial timberland into recreational or early successional habitat, and how soil properties influence which tree species can successfully grow on a s...

We're bringing back our episode with Dr. Chris Moorman on the use of prescribed fire during the nesting season.    Resources: Kilburg, Eric L., et al. "Wild turkey nest survival and nest‐site selection in the presence of growing‐season prescribed fire." The Journal of Wildlife Management 78.6 (2014): 1033-1039. Kilburg, Eric L., et al. "Wild turkey prenesting-resource selection in a landscape mana...

Invasive species are an issue for many stakeholders across the Great Plains but there are simple steps everyone can take to help limit their spread. Join Joe and Drew as they discuss some of the most common aquatic invasive species, their impact on aquatic ecosystemsz and the best ways to prevent spreading them. Dr. Joe Gerken and Dr. Drew Ricketts are extension specialists and faculty members in...

Mr. Rainer Nichols, National Training Academy Instructor and Founder of Five Cents Fire and Land Management, joins Jacob and Eric to discuss working with landowners to achieve their habitat management goals. Check out the MSU Deer Lab's online seminar series ( here ) and select the Natural Resources option from the Categories drop-down menu. You will need to create an account to view the seminars....