Join us for a Day in the Field with Dr. Craig Harper. This is an exciting opportunity to learn from a true Master Practitioner in the area of wildlife management and conservation. The event is hosted by Jason Hewett, Owner of Private Land Management, who will also be presenting.
April 7, 2026
Pecan Hill Dr., Tillman, SC
8:00 AM – Registration & Coffee Check in, grab a coffee, and prepare for a day in the field.
8:30 AM – Welcome & Opening Remarks An introduction to the day’s goals and a brief overview of the landscape.
8:40 AM – The Foundation: Creating Nesting Success Why proximity matters. We’ll dive into cover types and the management techniques that ensure high-quality nesting sites.
9:25 AM – Raising the Next Generation: Brooding Habitat A look at the essential "living floor." Exploring plant communities, structure, and how fire and herbicide treatments shape brooding success.
10:10 AM – Fire as a Tool: The Art of the Burn Moving beyond the basics. We’ll discuss the strategic distribution and timing of prescribed fire to maximize habitat impact.
10:55 AM – Predators & The Night Shift: Trapping and Roosting Does trapping intensity really move the needle? Plus, a look at the "why" behind roosting site selection: why do they pick the same trees year after year?
11:40 AM – The Great Debate: Food Plots vs. Native Fallow Fields Are supplemental plots worth it? We’ll weigh the benefits and drawbacks of food plots against the power of managed native vegetation.
12:25 PM – Shaping the Woods: Forestry for Wildlife Transforming timber into habitat through Timber Stand Improvement (TSI), strategic thinning, and clear cuts.
1:00 PM – Lunch & Networking Wrap up the morning’s lessons over a meal with Dr. Harper and fellow land owners and managers.
Note: Pesticide and Forestry CE credits have been applied for. Please ensure you sign the roster at the registration desk to receive credit.
About Dr. Craig Harper – A nationally-known authority on deer and turkey habitat, Dr. Craig Harper holds a PhD from Clemson and is the recipient of the 2024 Deer Management Career Achievement Award. He is the author of over 200 scientific papers in prestigious journals like the Journal of Wildlife Management and Forest Ecology and Management, as well as the seminal book "Wildlife Food Plots and Early Successional Plants," widely considered the definitive guide for landowners and conservationists across the country.
Join us for a Day in the Field with Dr. Craig Harper. This is an exciting opportunity to learn from a true Master Practitioner in the area of wildlife management and conservation. The event is hosted by Jason Hewett, Owner of Private Land Management, who will also be presenting.
April 7, 2026
Pecan Hill Dr., Tillman, SC
8:00 AM – Registration & Coffee Check in, grab a coffee, and prepare for a day in the field.
8:30 AM – Welcome & Opening Remarks An introduction to the day’s goals and a brief overview of the landscape.
8:40 AM – The Foundation: Creating Nesting Success Why proximity matters. We’ll dive into cover types and the management techniques that ensure high-quality nesting sites.
9:25 AM – Raising the Next Generation: Brooding Habitat A look at the essential "living floor." Exploring plant communities, structure, and how fire and herbicide treatments shape brooding success.
10:10 AM – Fire as a Tool: The Art of the Burn Moving beyond the basics. We’ll discuss the strategic distribution and timing of prescribed fire to maximize habitat impact.
10:55 AM – Predators & The Night Shift: Trapping and Roosting Does trapping intensity really move the needle? Plus, a look at the "why" behind roosting site selection: why do they pick the same trees year after year?
11:40 AM – The Great Debate: Food Plots vs. Native Fallow Fields Are supplemental plots worth it? We’ll weigh the benefits and drawbacks of food plots against the power of managed native vegetation.
12:25 PM – Shaping the Woods: Forestry for Wildlife Transforming timber into habitat through Timber Stand Improvement (TSI), strategic thinning, and clear cuts.
1:00 PM – Lunch & Networking Wrap up the morning’s lessons over a meal with Dr. Harper and fellow land owners and managers.
Note: Pesticide and Forestry CE credits have been applied for. Please ensure you sign the roster at the registration desk to receive credit.
About Dr. Craig Harper – A nationally-known authority on deer and turkey habitat, Dr. Craig Harper holds a PhD from Clemson and is the recipient of the 2024 Deer Management Career Achievement Award. He is the author of over 200 scientific papers in prestigious journals like the Journal of Wildlife Management and Forest Ecology and Management, as well as the seminal book "Wildlife Food Plots and Early Successional Plants," widely considered the definitive guide for landowners and conservationists across the country.
