In this episode of the Standard Sportsman podcast, hosts Brent Birch (also the editor of Greenhead) and Cason Short talk with Justin Reif about habitat management.
Reif is a self-taught habitat manager who, through years of trial and error, has learned how to consistently attract ducks to his family farm just west of Lake Erie in Ohio. Adapting to shifting migration patterns, changing landscapes and the realities of modern waterfowl management, Reif has refined his approach while navigating challenges ranging from unpredictable weather to competition from neighboring “corn club” operations.
His pursuit of maximizing duck energy days on the farm ultimately led him to develop Create the X, a mobile app designed to help landowners and managers track the many details involved in managing waterfowl habitat.
Reif also reflects on his service as an Army Paratrooper in Afghanistan and Iraq, and how those experiences shaped his perspective and deepened his commitment to improving his family’s property for ducks.
