Most hunters only think about enjoying their land in the spring, fall, and winter. After all, these are the seasons when hunting occurs. Oftentimes, those who don’t use their property during summer are missing out on incredible recreational land uses. Check out the following fun things to do outside during the warmer months. These uses for land are great ways to enjoy your land in the summer.
1. Old-Fashioned Pond Swimming (And Other Water Activities)
Scott Hicks, a broker and land specialist in east-central North Carolina, notes that pond swimming can be a fun way to enjoy summer. If the pond isn’t too deep, or being fouled from livestock use, this can be a fun summer day activity. Without question, a clean pond, creek, and or private lake can offer quite the fun.
Additionally, Michael Valliere, a land specialist in southwestern Michigan, notes how water features might be used for other activities. When and where possible, enjoy fun summer activities, including canoeing, kayaking, exploring, wading, and more. Water features can offer unique opportunities.
2. Summertime Creek, Pond, and Private Lake Fishing
Most serious fishermen focus on large public lakes and rivers. These are the places they find their biggest challenges and accolades. Of course, big-water adventures have their place, but don’t write off creek, pond, and private lake fishing opportunities on your own land. Oftentimes, these are some of our best memories, especially when shared with family and friends.
“Bass and bluegill fishing in the pond,” Hicks said. “Some of the most fun we have on our farm is fishing in the summer with the family. Top-water bass fishing is amazing in the late afternoons.”
3. Harvesting Fresh, Home-Grown Fruit
Some properties have wild fruit trees and shrubs. Others are planted. Regardless, Hicks enjoys picking fresh, home-grown fruit in summer through early fall. Apples, blackberries, pears, persimmons, plums, and more — these offer great opportunities to live off the land. While the bounty might vary based on the number of shrubs and trees you have, even a few berries can be fun to pick (and eat) with the family.
4. E-Scouting Hunting Properties and Then Scouting on Foot
Joe Sangimino, a broker, land specialist, and accredited land consultant in Montana, recommends e-scouting. He prefers to spend more time scouting than hunting, and situation depending, much of that scouting can take place in summer. That’s especially true for e-scouting.
E-scouting areas before going in on foot can cross off obvious spots to avoid, decrease time spent scouting in the field, and improve overall success. Additionally, e-scouting helps identify were game will likely be located.
Furthermore, for those hunting in hill country, it’s important to get in shape. Strap on your LaCrosse boots and spend some time in the field in areas you’ve e-scouted. Better understand the wind and thermals, and how wind flows throughout the lands you’ll be hunting.
While scouting in the field, look for key objectives. Search field edges for trail emergences and follow these back into cover. Chart these on a hunting app, and mark discovered bedding areas, staging areas, food sources, water sources, etc.
Drop scouting pins with notes for key sign discoveries. Some of these include beds, scat, tracks, trails, rubs, scrapes, and more. Don’t overlook the fine details. These can come in quite handy when trying to learn a hunting property, piece together a buck’s pattern, and more. Deer hunting isn’t easy, and it requires using all available information to place the odds more in our favor.
With all information in-hand, start making decisions. Decide the best possible direction for your hunt game plan. Draft some backup plans if plans A, B, and C fall through. This increases preparedness and odds of filling that coveted buck tag.
5. Monitoring Fawn Recruitment Rates, Turkey Poult Production, and Antler Velvet Growth
Summer is an excellent time to gauge deer and turkey numbers. It’s a good time to guestimate how well wildlife is doing. Keep an eye on the property via cellular trail cameras, glassing from afar, and other proven methods.
“Seeing fawns and poults running around, and seeing the new inventory of wildlife, can certainly excite you for the upcoming season,” Hicks said. “It can allow you to do an inventory for the fall harvest and know what animals you need to harvest based on numbers.”
6. Implementing the Latest Conservation Efforts
Valliere stresses the importance of conducting conservation efforts on the property. There are many ways to accomplish this. Oftentimes, it’s best to see what your property lacks, and make habitat additions and changes accordingly.
“Be a steward of the land and improve diversity of habitat,” Valliere said. “Typically, in summer, monitor and implement native grasses and forbs. Plant food plots and establish and maintain high-protein perennial plots.”
Summer is a great time to add new, fresh water sources, too. This effort is especially beneficial if water is a limiting factor on the property. Placing these in strategic locations, such as edges of bedding areas, in staging areas, and close to hunting blinds and treestand locations, can improve hunting opportunities, too.
7. Prepping for Fall Food Plot Planting
Hicks also notes that summer is the time to plan out fall food plots. It’s a great time to fire up the John Deere and clear ground for new food plots. Additionally, spray for weeds, prep soil, and more. It’s also good to measure acreage for seed, fertilizer, and lime.
When prepping food plots, do so with a plan in mind. First, think about whitetail lines of movement. Know where they bed, feed, and water. Connect the dots between these important locations. Then, locate food plots between bedding areas and destination food sources.
Generally, planting closer to bedding areas can turn these micro food plots into staging areas. Oftentimes, it increases the odds of deer making it to these areas during daylight hours. That’s good for increasing shot opportunities, especially if the goal is a mature buck.
When planting the food plot, create shapes that are suitable for hunting. Shot opportunities increase with certain food plot shapes. Some of these include J, L, T, U, V, hourglass, turkey foot, and more. The common denominator? Pinch-points that deer must travel through to see the remainder of the food plot. Orienting the food plot correctly on its north-south axis for prevailing wind directions, and placing treestands and hunting blinds at the bends of these food plots, bolsters shot opportunities.
Of course, planting screening cover around food plots makes deer feel more comfortable using these during daylight hours. Planting screening cover along access routes reduces the odds of whitetails seeing you come and go. Most screening cover species (i.e.: annual Egyptian wheat, perennial giant miscanthus, etc.) should be planted well in advance of hunting season. For example, Egyptian wheat should be planted in spring or early summer to maximize growth.
8. Completing General Farm Maintenance
It’s also important to remember general farm maintenance. While most landowners want to spend the fall and winter months leaving their property alone for hunting pressure purposes, spring and summer offer opportunities to complete projects you don’t want to work on during hunting seasons.
“Buildings, tractors, sprayers, etc. — this is the time before winter rolls around to get all your barns, sheds, and deer stands ready for the season,” Hicks said. “While it’s nice and warm outside, check your roofing and siding to make sure you are ready for winter.”
While these tasks might sound more like work than fun, you’ll be surprised just how much enjoyment you can get from completing projects on the farm. But remember, it’s hot out there, so don’t forget a cooler stocked with drinks.
9. Front Porch Sitting and General Country Living
When the work is done, don’t forget to sit down and relax. Enjoy the view from your front or back porch. Take time to enjoy the small things, such as a cup of coffee as the sun rises, glass of sweet tea after a hard day’s work, or just time in the rocking chair reflecting on all your blessings.
“Enjoy front-porch sitting late in the evenings with family and friends while the cool breeze blows through the porch,” Hicks said. “Most importantly, after that long, hot, and sweaty day working in the heat and dust, sit on the shaded front porch. Listen to the songbirds, quail, and turkeys go to roost. This moment in time is when we reflect on the day, the blessings we have as landowners, and enjoy the evening.”
Remember the days when your grandaddy whittled with a blade on the front porch? Yeah, that can be your thing, too.
10. Getting Family and Friends Engaged in Outdoor Activities
Finally, don’t forget to enjoy time in the outdoors with family. Regardless of the projects you work on, or hobbies you enjoy, bring family and friends along for the ride. After all, part of landownership is stewardship of resources. But it’s also about sharing resources with those around you.
“All these activities are enhanced when able to do them with family,” Valliere said. “You might not get as much done or be as efficient. But the memories made are worth the extra effort and are shaping the future. This world will be a better place if more youth get to experience the outdoors and God's great creation.”
Other Ways to Enjoy Your Land in the Summer
It goes without saying that the above aren’t the only options for enjoying your land in the summer. There are other uses for land and fun things to do outside. Other recreational land use options include growing a garden, growing neat flowers, metal detecting, shooting your bow, hiking trails, and more. Whatever your outdoor interests, summer can be a great time to enjoy nature.
Soon, summer will fade. Fall will arrive. And you’ll have a fresh slate of seasonal ways to enjoy your land. The benefits of land ownership are many. Get the most out of yours.
Don’t Miss: 10 Top Summer Fly Fishing Destinations in the American West
