b'Enjoying Your Preparing Your Land for theLand Responsibly FutureAutumn is also a good time to step back and assess the bigger picture. Fall brings a variety of outdoorWalk your property and look for opportunities, from hunting andareas that might need attention, hiking to wildlife observation andsuch as thinning dense forest, photography. These activities allowclearing debris, or addressing you to experience your land in a waydrainage issues. Taking a little time thats unique to this season. Deer andthis fall to care for your land can other game are more active, birds aremake a big difference next year. migrating, and forests are alive withFall also offers a quiet opportunity the sights and sounds of fall. to plan improvements for next year. Even as you enjoy these experiences,Whether its planting food plots its important to balance recreationfor wildlife, managing trails for with stewardship. Protecting yourhiking and ATV use, or installing propertys natural resources helpsconservation measures, small steps ensure that wildlife thrives, and yourtaken in the fall can make a big land remains healthy. Here are a fewdifference down the road.ways to do that: Leaving a Legacy of Respect wildlife habitats: StewardshipOwning land is more than a Avoid disturbing nesting areas, dens,recreational opportunity. Its a or seasonal feeding spots. Even smallchance to care for a natural resource disruptions can have a big impact onthat will outlast us. By balancing animals preparing for winter. recreation with conservation, youre Practice sustainable huntingcreating a legacy of stewardship. and harvesting: Every trail you hike, every hunt you enjoy, and every quiet walk through Follow local regulations, harvestthe woods becomes part of the story responsibly, and consider the long-termof your land.health of the game population. With thoughtful management, your Stick to trails and accessproperty will continue to provide points: enjoyment for years to come while This prevents soil erosion, protectssupporting healthy ecosystems vegetation, and keeps sensitive areasfor wildlife. Fall is a reminder that intact. the choices you make today not Plan seasonal improvements: only enhance your own experience but also protect the land for future Use fall to identify areas for plantinggenerations. Stewardship is not cover crops, restoring trails, or managingjust a responsibility. It is part of the invasive species. reward of owning recreational land.7'