This week, we’re diving back into the Michigan Deer Initiative because the stakes have never been higher. If you want a balanced herd, more mature bucks, and a better hunting future for our state, April 8th is a date you cannot miss.

On April 8, 2026, the NRC will hold its final meeting at Lansing Community College West Campus (Rooms M119-121) before one of the most significant votes in Michigan hunting history. This is your chance to show up and be part of the movement.

We’re joined by Lincoln Rohn, owner of Packer Maxx and founder of "Let 'Em Go, Let 'Em Grow." After years of "fighting the good fight," Lincoln is coming out of retirement for one last battle. We’re talking about Michigan’s true potential and doing what’s right for our resources. It’s time to make Michigan hunting great—for once

This week, we are joined by Eric Seymore, the founder of Rise Turkey Hunting. Eric’s story is truly powerful. We dive deep into the origins of "The Rise" and the incredible journey God led him through along the way.

From battling cancer to navigating financial stress, Eric shares his raw and honest testimony of how God shaped him through life's hardest seasons to prepare him for a greater purpose.

We had the honor and privilege of being stationed next to the Rise booth at the NWTF (National Wild Turkey Federation) Convention in Nashville. Witnessing God’s work through Eric and his team firsthand was an incredible experience.

If you want to learn more, grab some high-quality and awesome swag, or become a part of this amazing story, please visit:www.riseturkeyhunting.com

As always, thank you for listening. If you are interested in getting a custom property map to level up your land management or hunting strategy, please visit:www.everlandoutdoors.com

Is your water hole a life-giver or a death trap? In this episode of the Everland Outdoors podcast, we sit down with Zach Haas from Creek Bottom Land Management to dive deep into the science of whitetail hydration.

Most hunters realize water is important, but few understand how stagnant, bacteria-filled water sources can become breeding grounds for Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD). Zach reveals the groundbreaking systems he has developed to transform "disease ponds" into nutrient-dense living ecosystems that actually improve the health of your herd.

In this episode, we cover:

• The EHD Connection: Why traditional water holes often fail and how to stop the spread of disease on your farm.

• Creating Living Ecosystems: The transition from stagnant water to a nutrient-rich resource.

• The Tech Behind the Water: Zach explains his proprietary methods for attracting and growing bigger whitetails through superior hydration.

• Strategic Placement: Where to put water to influence deer movement and improve your hunting success.

If you’re serious about land management and want to protect your investment from the next EHD outbreak, this is a must-watch episode.

Connect with Our Guest:

• Creek Bottom Land Management:

• Zach Haas on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/creekbottomlandmgmt?igsh=MW5qc3UwdDR3OGd3MQ==

Support Everland Outdoors:

• Subscribe for more

• Visit our Website: www.everlandoutdoors.com

• Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/everland__outdoors?igsh=MTA1OWFkdGhvbDcwYQ%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Habitat season is officially here, and this week we’re doing a deep dive into what it takes to build a true Michigan hunting paradise. We’re joining Mike on-site to break down a property that defines "strategic land management."

To give you the best seat in the house, we are utilizing Everland Outdoors drone imagery throughout the entire episode. This isn't just a bird's-eye view; we are using this high-definition aerial perspective to not only talk in detail but to actually see the detail of every transition, screen, and plot.

• The War on Multiflora Rose: Watch the transformation as forestry mulching clears the "thorny nightmares" to reset successional growth and allow native browse to thrive.

• Tactical Berm Strategy: Mike walks us through the logic behind his internal and external berms. We use the drone footage to show exactly how these structures hide hunter movement and create immediate security for bedded deer.

• Food Plot Architecture: From shape and orientation to specific seed blends, we look at what’s worked over the years and what Mike is trying new this season to increase "dwell time" on the property.

• Precision Blind Placement: Using Everland Outdoors imagery, we analyze the entry and exit routes for every blind to ensure you can hunt the wind without blowing out the sanctuary.

This episode is as visually engaging as it is informational. Whether you’re managing a small woodlot or a massive tract, Mike’s "trial and error" approach offers actionable ideas you can implement on your own ground this year.

God bless, click the Like and Subscribe button, and happy listening.

Don't leave your habitat strategy to guesswork. Visit Everland Outdoors online to book your property now before the spring green-up! This is the best window of the year to get the highest detailed map and the most up-to-date view of your land's topography and deer sign before the canopy fills in.

Everlandoutdoors.com

#MichiganHunting #HabitatManagement #EverlandOutdoors #WhitetailHabitat #FoodPlots #ForestryMulching #LandManagement #DeerHunting #HabitatSeason

Inside the Habitat Blueprint:Ready to Level Up Your Property?

This week Jay and Lee discuss their mindset and strategy as we get further into this habitat season.The guys are at two different stages of the journey: Jay is logging his property to improve the land, while Lee has his sights set on buying his first ever property. We get into a little controversy regarding habitat management, but for the most part, we just talk good old habitat and hunting strategy.In this episode:• Property Logging: Why Jay is cutting timber and the expected results.• Land Buying: Lee’s strategy for finding and closing on his first hunting tract.• Habitat Season: Getting the right mindset for spring and summer work.• The Controversy: Addressing the hot topics in the hunting community.Top Search Tags• Habitat Season• Logging for Deer• Buying Hunting Land• Whitetail Habitat Strategy• Land Management•Everland Outdoors • Timber Stand Improvement

It’s not just a harvest; it’s a strategy."In this episode, we sit down with Colin Koskinen to discuss a paradigm shift in how we view land ownership. Most people see logging as a one-time transaction. We see it as a holistic investment in the future of your property’s ecosystem and its ability to hold elite, older age-class whitetails.As landowners and stewards, we have to move past the "quick fix" and start looking at the bigger picture. Collin breaks down how to integrate low-grade timber removal with a deep understanding of deer biology—specifically the "breed and survive" instincts that dictate where mature bucks spend their time.In this episode, we cover:The Holistic Vision: Why every cut must serve a long-term habitat goal.The Survival Factor: How mature bucks pattern your movement (and how to flip the script).The Moisture Factor: The science behind trail management and hunter concealment.Timber as an Asset: Leveraging low-grade timber to create world-class bedding and browse.If you’re ready to stop "hunting" your property and start managing it, this episode is for you. Book your property for the highest detail property map available at Everlandoutdoors.com

Whether you're a seasoned land manager or just getting your hands dirty for the first time, this episode is a literal "dirt dive" into the foundation of every successful food plot: The Soil.

In this episode of the Everland Outdoors Podcast, we are joined by Al from Vitalize Seed for a masterclass on soil health. Al breaks down the science of what’s actually happening beneath your boots and provides a step-by-step roadmap for improving your ground to grow bigger, healthier deer.

What You’ll Learn in This Episode:Soil Masterclass: Why "dirt" isn't just dirt, and how to fix poor soil quality.

The Planting Blueprint: Proper steps and common mistakes to avoid when starting your next food plot.

Drone vs. Trail Cam: Al reveals the results of his recent drone survey and discusses why the data was a game-changer compared to traditional trail camera surveys.

Maximizing Tonnage: How Vitalize Seed approaches diversity and soil biology to keep your plots green through the late season.

Vitalize Seed Website: https://vitalizeseed.com/?srsltid=AfmBOooG7hSnJMLWJjovdSjrZzGcJASfC5owzSMRphyiwbizJj19nfos

Everland Outdoors: https://everlandoutdoors.com/

Also Listen on Spotify/Apple Podcasts

Is Michigan’s deer hunting in a state of crisis, or is it simply at a turning point? In this powerhouse episode of the Everland Podcast, we’ve assembled a "Mount Rushmore" of whitetail expertise to dissect the current state of Michigan’s deer management.We are joined by four industry titans, each bringing a unique philosophy on how to fix the "Michigan problem":Skip Sligh (Iowa Whitetail): The land management guru who brings the "Iowa perspective." Skip breaks down why Michigan is at a crossroads and what law changes—from APRs to season dates—are non-negotiable if we want to improve age structure.Mike Ketelaar (President, Michigan NDA): The man in the "arena." Mike pulls back the curtain on the Deer Management Initiative (DMI) and the Lower Peninsula Advisory Team, explaining how science must override emotion in the 2026-2028 regulation cycle.Dr. James Kroll (aka "Dr. Deer"): The legendary biologist delivers a masterclass on herd health. Dr. Kroll challenges the status quo, diving into the impact of doe harvests, the reality of CWD science, and why state-level management needs a radical shift.While our guests may differ on the how—whether it’s through strict legislative changes, biological mandates, or habitat-first strategies—they all land on one undeniable truth: The Michigan hunter must unite. For decades, infighting and "coffee shop biology" have stalled progress. This episode is a call to action. If we want a world-class resource, we have to move past the "me-first" harvest mentality and speak with one voice to the NRC and DNR.If you're interested more in learning about Everland Outdoors, please visit any of our social media platforms or our website at EverlandOutdoors.com To listen to any of these episodes in full: Skip - https://youtu.be/x8RdbAAO3k8?si=3Q83yWgPEsIITBRkMike Keelaar - https://youtu.be/IU7fp3WJxEw?si=VfR2SYf3utfSYRUPDr. Deer - https://youtu.be/o6JUkcuRxQ8?si=T0KYHxJlsn_mUwJQNorth American Big Game Model - The North American Model of Wildlife Conservation is a set of seven principles guiding sustainable, science-based management of fish and wildlife as a public trust in the US and Canada. Developed to reverse 19th-century overexploitation, it ensures wildlife is managed by government agencies, prohibits commercial markets for game, and democratizes access to hunting. Key Principles of the ModelWildlife as Public Trust Resource: Wildlife is managed by the government for the benefit of all people, not owned by individuals.Elimination of Markets for Game: Commercial trafficking in dead game is prohibited to prevent depletion.Allocation of Wildlife by Law: Access is regulated through democratic, law-based systems like hunting seasons and bag limits.Kill Only for Legitimate Purposes: Game is taken for food, fur, or self-defense, not wasted.International Resources: Migratory species are managed across borders.Science-Based Management: Policy is driven by scientific research rather than emotion.Democracy of Hunting: All citizens have access to hunting, regardless of social status or wealth.