Spring and early summer are ideal times to begin habitat development projects, and you’ll be amazed how many ways you can improve your habitat for deer and other wildlife species. Quality Deer Management Association provides a comprehensive list of funding sources to assist you or your hunting club. How can you resist free money?

Managing land for wildlife can be an expensive endeavor. If you have any doubts, just take a look at the price of seed, fertilizer, lime, and herbicide. For most of us, however, managing our hunting land is a labor of love. It’s also an investment. The return is not measured in dollars and cents but in the satisfaction of knowing that the wildlife on our property is healthier and more abundant because of our efforts. That’s not to say, however, that a little financial help wouldn’t be much appreciated!

Fortunately, there are resources available for landowners that can provide assistance when it comes to improving habitat for wildlife. Before you get too excited, though, let me say up front that I am not aware of any programs that will pay for your favorite whitetail food plot. Instead, most of the state and federal landowner assistance programs focus on long-term habitat improvements or practices that benefit threatened or endangered species.  However, that doesn’t preclude those of us managing properties for whitetails from taking advantage of these same programs.