It’s a great feeling to improve a property by making it a better place where whitetails can thrive. Sweat equity and sound management decisions make your land a place where they can live throughout the year, and amplify hunting experiences, come fall. This article discusses government programs that financially incentivize you to enhance native vegetation, soil conservation, and wildlife habitat; with emphasis on practices that particularly benefit whitetail deer.

The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers several programs to support American landowners in managing and improving their land. Three key USDA programs are the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). Each program offers financial incentives to on practices that result in enhanced wildlife habitat.

Conservation Reserve Program (CRP)

CRP encourages landowners to convert environmentally sensitive agricultural land into native habitats that conserve soil and water quality. Participants receive annual rental payments and cost-share assistance to establish long-term, resource-conserving vegetation.

CRP Enrollment

Landowners can enroll in CRP through competitive sign-up periods announced by the USDA. The program targets lands prone to erosion, with high water quality benefits, or critical wildlife habitat. By participating in CRP, you can transform marginal land into robust ecosystems that support diverse wildlife, while earning per-acre payments.

Initially, new planting is required. When vegetation matures, it needs to be maintained. Mid-contract management (MCM) is required during the middle years, involving burning, light disking, or treating fields with selective herbicides. Native grass and forb CRP prohibits trees within fields, but alternative tree-specific CRP incentivizes planting desirable shrubs, hardwood, softwood, and coniferous trees.

CRP Benefits for Whitetail Habitat

CRP lands are typically planted with native grasses, trees, or shrubs that provide excellent cover and potential forage for whitetail deer. These areas can serve as bedding areas and travel corridors, enhancing hunting quality. For example, my Old Pasture Farm in southern Iowa has 40 acres in CRP, transformed from tillable row-crop acres to fields of native grasses and forbs, earning $185/acre.

Some CRP contracts will allow a certain percentage of the fields to be planted in food plots. A hidden field of tall native grasses, with a couple acres of standing grain can make for incredibly rewarding hunting experiences in the fall/winter. Always discuss with your local USDA office before planting food plots on CRP acres.

Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP)

EQIP offers financial and technical assistance to landowners who implement conservation practices on their land. This program addresses natural resource concerns and improves environmental quality on active agricultural lands.

EQIP Enrollment

Landowners can apply for EQIP at any time, but applications are ranked and funded periodically. The program focuses on state-specific resource concerns, so working with your local USDA service center can help align your goals with EQIP priorities.

EQIP practices are usually paid on a custom per-acre basis upon project completion. For example, on my Blackjack Property, my local forester helped identify forest resource concerns. Specifically, most of the forest was too crowded, and shade-tolerant Ironwood was preventing oak regeneration. The Timber Stand Improvement practice (specifically crop tree release) within EQIP helped identify superior crop trees and eliminate competition from inferior ones and shade-tolerant invasive species, earning approximately $2,400 after I treated 20 acres.

EQIP Benefits for Whitetail Habitat

EQIP supports practices that benefit whitetail deer habitat, such as forest stand improvements and brush management. By felling, girdling, and hinge-cutting trees and brush on Blackjack, I opened the canopy where sunlight now reaches the forest floor, encouraging new plant and tree growth, which provides phenomenal food and cover for deer.

Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP)

CSP encourages landowners to build on existing conservation efforts by adopting additional practices and improving land management techniques. It’s a holistic approach that allows you to perform technical projects across the resource concerns of the entire property.

CSP Enrollment

Enrollment in CSP is competitive, with applications accepted continuously and evaluated during specific ranking periods. Having a comprehensive land management plan from an approved professional can improve your chances of acceptance.

CSP is administered over five years, with multiple practices or “enhancements” bundled into one annual payment that requires performance. These practices must be accomplished within specific deadlines, and signing up for too much work can burden the landowner if they are unprepared to do the work or hire help.

CSP Benefits for Whitetail Habitat

Active forest management, controlled burns, and native plantings create robust habitats for whitetail deer. CSP also financially rewards landowners who maintain high levels of environmental stewardship, leading to a productive hunting property rich in diverse habitats.

CSP enhancements for my Old Pasture Farm include brush management, forest stand improvement, and prescribed fire. These practices will pay me for a five year term to eliminate undesirable species and encourage diverse woodlands; which will result in ideal sanctuaries for deer with abundant food and newborn habitat at the forest floor. I’ll also sign up for shrub and tree plantings; which will restore travel corridors for all kinds of wildlife; especially cruising bucks.

Conclusion

Participating in USDA programs like CRP, EQIP, and CSP benefits landowners who are interested in improving their property for whitetails. These programs offer financial assistance, technical support, and the satisfaction of contributing to natural resource conservation. By leveraging these opportunities, you can enhance the ecological value of your land, improve hunting quality, and build a legacy of sustainable land stewardship. Engage with your local USDA service center to explore how these programs can be tailored to your property and start making impactful improvements today.

*Cost-share incentives through the USDA are administered with income-eligibility thresholds. Consult with your USDA office to determine if you qualify.

Ben Harshyne is a Land Specialist for Whitetail Properties Real Estate. His content aims to amplify the whitetail lifestyle through land ownership, property enhancement, and advanced hunting strategy.