BAK40 Series: Difficult Acres w/ Jake Polk |Two Bucks Podcast #135

In this BAK40 Episode of the Two Bucks Podcast, Brian Krebs is joined by Jake Polk of Polk Whitetail Management to kick off the series with a deep dive into managing "difficult acres"—the kind of small, tough, imperfect properties most hunters actually own. They explore how to turn C- or D-tier land into productive deer habitat, despite limited time, equipment, or budget. The conversation covers real-world habitat improvements like creating bedding mounds in cattails, designing diverse “turkey foot” food plots, choosing between white pines and cedars for bedding cover, and planting persistent crabapples for year-round attraction. Brian and Jake also discuss the difference between trying to "hold" deer vs. building a buck hotel, balancing shed hunting with fall success, and the value of rotating diverse food sources over monoculture. This is a practical, relatable conversation packed with takeaways for anyone working with the land they’ve got and dreaming of what it could become.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Managing C- and D-tier hunting properties with limited time and budget

• Creative strategies for building bedding and food in cattail swamps

• Designing effective “turkey foot” food plots and maximizing small acreage

• Pine vs. cedar for thermal bedding, screening, and long-term habitat

• The “buck hotel” mindset vs. trying to hold deer year-round

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