 Most folks are familiar with Toxey Haas, the entrepreneur. He is the camouflage pioneer who turned a bag of dirt and leaves into a corporate enterprise. Fewer however, are familiar with his agrarian side. Haas grew up on the land, following his dad, Fox, around in the woods. “He was known as a great woodsman among his buddies,” says Toxey. And his buddies were no slouches either.
 “I love to hunt, but I’m most at peace when I’m on a tractor or dozer. I feel like an artist with the ultimate canvas.”
Citing specific management practices is of limited value because, as Toxey points out, “every piece of land is different. It’s that God-given part - each piece has certain things that can make it its best. It’s up to us to bring those out.”
While the management emphasis is on the big three, deer, turkeys and waterfowl, they’re not necessarily the first priority. "It's a lot of fun just building a fish pond," he says. “Then it can be enjoyed by family and friends.” Family is particularly important to Haas. “We always have cabins or camps on the properties too. Those are actually my first priorities.”
Waterfowl
Fishing is sometimes a positive side effect of waterfowl management. Toxey’s waterfowl management consists predominantly of creating impoundments and moist soil management. “We use various means of controlling water levels: dams and flashboard risers,” says Haas. Then they work to manage the land in and around the impoundments. “We may bring water in, and then drop it slowly to get preferred species of native plants.” Prioritizing native plants over exotics is a common theme throughout not only Toxey's management efforts but one of his other ventures, Mossy Oak's Native Nursery.
“We may not flood an area in its entirety until the season is over so there’s food all the way through winter. Then we leave the water so wintering waterfowl can get high-energy food before and during their return (northward) migration. Haas also says he commonly turns some of his larger impoundments into sanctuaries. “It provides a safe haven for the ducks where we never hunt. Instead we hunt other places in the area.”
That illustrates another common theme in his management philosophy - stewardship. “To me it’s much more about having the wildlife (on the land) than killing it. If I go out and see a bunch of ducks or hear turkeys gobbling, I've had a great morning. It’s so much deeper than patterning and hunting whitetails. The farming part is the stuff that attracts and holds more than just deer.”
 “The biggest corner (people) cut is not doing soil samples; but soil dictates what you can do with the land.”
Haas readily admits “my absolute favorite is the turkey hunting.” So it’s no surprise he does a lot of management for the birds. And much of his management is directed at the most critical time periods. “We work hard at nesting habitat and predator control,” he says - live trapping raccoons and skunks. “If you can get the poults through 14 days (of age), you’ve largely got the battle won.” Some things are as simple as creating openings where poults can catch bugs. The rapidly-growing youngsters require a diet high in protein, mostly in the form of insects and other invertebrates. Haas favors what he calls the “Natchez Trace effect” - long, narrow linear openings. “It can be as simple as cleaning out wider road bed,” he says. “That allows more sunlight to reach grassy areas.”
He notes however, that you need year-around habitat and food sources. “If you provide late winter feed it adds to nesting success by boosting winter protein.” The hens are healthier going into the nesting and brooding seasons. His prescription also includes a compartmentalized design, leaving some patchwork thickets for cover. “If you cut in a patchwork instead of over broad areas, you’ll always have some good nesting habitat,” he says. “Those three to five year-old pines are ideal for nesting.” Mature pines and undisturbed bottomland hardwoods, meanwhile, provide roost sites.
}Oh, Deer Toxey’s deer management philosophy is a little different. “Here,” he says, “harvest becomes more critical. First you have to balance your herd with what the land can support.” Then you can improve the habitat, and thus the carrying capacity of the land. This, according to Toxey, can be as simple as letting more sunlight hit ground.
The next step is improving the habitat, and thus the carrying capacity. Here again he stresses management for year-round habitat; not just for hunting. Summer food plots provide an important source of protein for does nursing fawns and bucks growing antlers. “Antlers are a luxury,” notes Haas. “If you want good horns, you’ve got to have a good summer food source.” Working with the folks at BioLogic he’s developed some great ones.
Food plots aren’t the only deer management Toxey promotes. “I’m a big proponent of trees,” he says, “for more long term management.” He recommends mast trees. “By planting soft mast (apples, persimmons) you’ll have fruit in two to three years.” Looking farther down the line there’s hard mast. Haas actually discovered a naturally occurring hybrid oak that produces acorns at a very young age. He’s propagating this variety at his Native Nursery and it should be available to consumers soon.
 Always Something Brewing
About the only place nothing ever grows on Haas’ properties is in the wheel ruts. There’s something to do year round,” he says. “In January and February we’re trapping and feeding. In March we’re hunting, and we start planting some areas in late March and April. Our mind set changes at the end of turkey season and all summer we’re planting things for wildlife.” They plant duck holes with Guide’s Choice and other mixes. Agricultural areas get corn, beans, milo and sorghum. In late June and early July they’re planting buckwheat, spraying and fertilizing. “Not long after that we’re turning dirt for food plots,” he adds.
The Right Mindset
Haas re-emphasizes that it’s not just the hunting. “It’s so much deeper,” he says. “There’s the joy in just owning a piece of land, all the great stuff, the miracles God created.” Then there’s the enhancement. “The farming part is the stuff that attracts and holds wildlife and it’s so rewarding knowing the wildlife has been treated well.” Finally, there’s the legacy. “A landowner grabs a fist full of dirt in his hand, tries to make it the best it can be, and then leaves it to his kids.” |
