As hunters, we know that every successful harvest is the culmination of preparation, strategy, and understanding wildlife patterns. In this interview, we dive into the recent Missouri hunt of LandGuys broker Jesse Stay, who successfully harvested a remarkable 5+ year-old, 160-inch and 5/8ths whitetail deer. Join us as Jesse shares his insights on property management, hunting strategies, and what brought the entire chase to a successful close.
How long have you been managing this particular property?
I didn't really start managing it until this year after we had a pretty big deer get killed on it last year without anybody knowing about it. After that, we figured we’d probably pay a little more attention to the piece.
As a landowner yourself, how does managing someone else's property differ from managing your own? Does your approach or mindset change at all?
Not at all. Everything's big deer focused. The end goal is always the same, whether it's on a piece of mine or somebody else's.
Tell us about this deer, his behaviors, patterns, and what goes through your mind when deciding a target buck like this. What made him stand out?
I didn't really have a particular target for this hunt. It was a different style of hunting than I usually do, so I didn't have any goal in mind. I was honestly going to be happy with a mature deer, around 135-140 inches. I wasn't necessarily focused on this particular deer, although I knew he was there. There were a couple of other deer there that if they had walked out first, I would have shot.
What kind of preparation went into this hunt? Can you walk us through your process from setting up food plots and trail cameras to finally deciding this was the right time to make your move?
The food plot situation wasn't like a standard farm where you have multiple options. It was really only this spot that made sense. It is such a big tillable farm that it didn't have a lot of terrain change or structure other than in this one particular corner. However, it was a good spot. It was in low ground with good dirt, so I didn't have to fertilize or anything. It only took one or two rains to get it going.
The cameras didn't have a specific strategy to them, other than ensuring I could cover at least 80% of the food plot with one camera. I didn’t want to sacrifice all my cameras taking pictures of the same deer on the same food plot. I also didn’t want to miss getting photos of other deer. We set up one camera that covered about 80% of the food plot, which worked really well. It was a Reconyx Hyperfire two cell camera, so it was very sensitive and only took high quality pictures of deer.
The strategy going into it was to put the plot in a spot with river access. The farm doesn't have the best access, especially when all the crops are up, because a lot of the deer are living in the corn. Walking around the corners and edges of the fields to get to the food plot would blow up the farm. The deer you're hunting—not necessarily the deer I killed, but others—would end up in the big block of woods that the deer I ended up killing came from. So, the river made the most sense. It was about a 1.25-mile walk in, but it was relatively easy, aside from being knee to waist-deep in some spots. It was basically the only thing that made sense in my mind.
What was going through your mind when you finally spotted the buck in range? Did you have a particular plan, or was it all instinct at the moment?
Yeah, there’s a group of us who are really into what we call “killing.” We have this killer instinct that we refer to as the kill switch. Initially, the rain had just cut off, and I hadn't seen any deer yet. When I looked through the weeds, I didn't have a clear shooting lane to this part of the plot, but I figured that's probably where they would come from. I thought, "Oh, no way. He's actually here." There were a couple of deer I would have shot, but then I realized there was the bigger one of the group. As soon as that connection was made, the kill switch was flipped, and we were in kill mode. It was basically instinctual at that point. He was dead as soon as he got in range.
As both a landowner and land manager, do you think your experience in both roles has shaped your understanding of wildlife management differently than someone who just hunts?
I don't think it's shaped it any differently, but I take a more detailed approach compared to what I would consider a weekend warrior or someone who hunts more as a hobby.
So, if hunting is not a hobby for you, what is it?
A lifestyle.
How does it feel to manage a property, see it develop, and then experience the payoff of a successful hunt? Does it add an extra layer of satisfaction, knowing that your work made it all possible?
The satisfaction is always there. But there's also somewhat of a sadness to it. The completion of the hunt is over, and the chase for that particular animal is also over for the entirety of your life. It's like the chess match you played with him, even though it wasn't long in this particular hunt and it was relatively easy to figure out, based purely on early season patterns, it's exciting, and the satisfaction is there, but there's also a certain solemnness to it.
What advice would you give to other landowners or recreational land managers who are just starting to implement things like food plots, managing trails, and planning their hunts for success?
Food plots are not that hard. There are a lot of forums you can read, and people make it seem like a 50-step process. It's not. You just need the right fertilizer, timing with rain, and good seed-to-soil contact with the correct seed rate, and you'll be fine. Honestly, I've never done a soil test in my life. I have a system for the fertilizer that I feel is a good basis for the year, and it's never failed me. My seed rate is important—not to overpopulate or under populate the plot. Just those three main things: a reasonable amount of fertilizer, good seed rate, and rain, and I've never had a problem. I don't think too deeply into the actual process of planting food plots.
Looking ahead, how do you plan to manage this property for the next season? Are there any adjustments or improvements you're considering based on this years’ experience?
My mind's always turning on stuff like that. This property isn't even a lease of mine; it's a permission piece. After working and talking with the landowner, I have 15 different routes that I'd love to take the farm. However, it’s a larger income-producing farm, being that it’s mostly tillable. It's hard to mess with somebody's return on a piece like that when it's bought for a specific reason. But taking some tillable out and turning it into a recreational farm puts it into a different category that can be sold. There are pluses and minuses to what I would do with it, but it's all preference at the end of the day.
How does your passion for land management and hunting translate into your work at LandGuys? Do you think your personal experiences give you a unique perspective when working with clients who are buying or selling recreational land?
Oh, yeah, absolutely. It goes hand in hand. Being able to talk about what you're selling or relate based on past experiences with certain farms that look or lay out similarly is key. It's ideal to paint a picture for someone when they get on a piece of ground that is raw or maybe overdeveloped. Being able to lay out a different vision is very important. I feel it adds another level to being able to understand the ground.
You've grown up in the hunting industry. What advice would you give to someone who wants to get involved in the outdoors in this aspect but may be scared or unsure where to start?
You know, we have three or four different styles of hunting. Whether it's leasing or buying, or in this case with this deer, it was a permission piece that I was able to get based on a connection. There are plenty of routes you can go. You don’t necessarily need thousands of dollars to start. If you can get yourself a bow and have a good mouth on you, you can find a pretty good spot to hunt. Not to mention, there’s plenty of public land if you want to get your woodsmanship skills up. There are plenty of options out there.
WATCH JESSE'S HUNT HERE
GET TO KNOW JESSE STAY - West Central IL Land Broker & Southeast IA Land Agent
As a landowner himself, Jesse knows firsthand the value of owning property. However, he also understands the strategic opportunities that selling land can offer in today’s dynamic market. As a salesperson at LandGuys, Jesse brings this unique perspective to landowners, helping them navigate the property market to maximize their investment—whether they’re looking to list, develop, or transition their land to new ownership. With a straightforward and honest approach, Jesse ensures a smooth and profitable experience from start to finish.
Jesse’s passion for land management was cultivated from a young age, growing up in a hunting lodge run by his father, Toby Stay, a specialist in trophy deer hunting. This environment instilled in him a deep love for the outdoors and hands-on experience in deer hunting, leading to his own success as a trophy hunter. But his true calling emerged in land management, particularly in producing trophy Whitetails, which led him to found “Stay’N Outdoors,” where he managed and enhanced over 20 properties to support mature Whitetail bucks.
After years of helping others, Jesse became a landowner himself, further deepening his understanding of the rewards and challenges that come with property ownership. Today, he continues to manage one of the finest trophy deer hunting properties in the nation. At LandGuys, Jesse leverages his extensive experience to guide clients through the complexities of the property market, ensuring they achieve their goals—whether selling, buying, or developing their land.
Stay connected with Jesse. Be sure to follow him on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok.
