If you’re on the journey to buying your first or next piece of recreational land, this episode is going to light a fire under you. I sat down with one of the most influential mentors in my life, Tanner—a lifelong hunter, seasoned land investor, and fellow West Virginia native—to talk about what really makes a hunting property valuable. We dug deep into the mind of a man who’s mastered reading topography like a book and knows exactly what to look for when you’re trying to find that hidden gem of a farm.

Bryan shares his journey from hunting squirrels in Clay County to harvesting trophy-class bucks and even chasing oryx in South Texas. But the real gold is in the practical advice he gives on analyzing land, how to avoid common buying mistakes, and why the right 50 acres can outperform a mediocre 500. We even walk through a real-life case study of a property I almost passed on—spoiler alert: I was wrong, and Bryan was right.

[0:00] - Introduction

[2:22] - Why Bryan Tanner’s story and experience make him one of my most trusted mentors

[4:56] - A dream listing: 50 acres in Albany, Ohio with unbelievable genetics and value

[6:51] - Lessons from a long nine-month land deal in Baltimore, Ohio

[8:38] - A scouting day with Bryan’s son, ticks and all, and what we learned on a new farm

[10:07] - The biggest shed of my life… found from the truck, no less

[11:21] - Why Bryan is the cheat sheet for so many successful hunters (myself included)

[16:22] - Bryan’s roots in Clay County, WV, and how squirrel hunting taught him the art of woodsmanship

[21:00] - The first deer he ever killed—with a bow—at just 11 years old

[29:38] - Chuck Adams and the early spark that pushed Bryan to hunt every species, everywhere

[36:07] - What separates luck from mastery when it comes to consistently killing mature bucks

[38:12] - Why Bryan chose Ohio and why you might want to think about doing the same

[46:15] - The real process of analyzing a property for its recreational potential

[50:19] - A case study: the Muskingum County farm deal that proved him right and me wrong

[54:44] - The concept of “buy once, cry once”—how to get it right the first time

[1:01:35] - Positioning your land properly when it’s time to sell

1. You don’t need 500 acres to be successful – Small properties, when chosen wisely, can produce big results year after year.

2. Learn to read the land like a hunter, not a realtor – Elevation, access, cover, and habitat diversity matter more than polish.

3. The best deals are often hiding in plain sight – Just because a property’s been sitting doesn’t mean it’s not valuable.

4. Be intentional and informed – Whether you’re investing, hunting, or stewarding land, results come from strategy, not luck.

5. Buy once, cry once – Get it right the first time by partnering with people who truly understand land and what you’re trying to build.

• http://legacyacresland.com/

• Connect with Bryan: https://www.instagram.com/themuskieexperience/

Thanks for listening to the Legacy Through Land Podcast. If this episode helped you level up your thinking, please share it with a friend, leave a rating, and follow the show. We’re just getting started—and your legacy is waiting to be written, one acre at a time.