Map My Ranch - Blog

New Partnership with HORIZON SMOKERS!

1/31/2023

Check out Horizon Smokers!

Map My Ranch is proud to announce our Partnership with Horizon Smokers - America's (Best) Barbecue Outfitter!

"At Horizon, we focus on quality design, construction and user experience. We're not worried about producing 300 smokers a day like the light weight smokers sold at most big box stores. Our goal is to make the absolute best smokers in the world and that is EXACTLY what we do. Horizon is the most trusted name in traditional smokers.

As a three time World Champion, with dozens of state level championships, Horizon owner and CEO Roger Davidson wants to help other aficionados reach the level he's achieved. Horizon seeks to equip people with the tools and the knowledge to become the best barbecue cook they can possibly be."

We highly suggest you check out Horizon Smokers! You've probably seen them displayed at your local Bass Pro Shops or Cabelas, but it's time to check one out in your backyard, hunting lease or your own ranch! You will not find a better smoker for the prices they offer.

To learn more about the best BBQ smokers on the market, visit: www.HorizonBBQSmokers.com

Map My Ranch has its best year, ever! Thank YOU!!!!

12/20/2022

2022 was a banner year for Map My Ranch!

Colin and I want to thank everyone for supporting our company, Map My Ranch, over the years! 2022 ended up being our best year ever and we can't wait to see what 2023 brings. We will be launching a few new products and we can't wait to tell you all about it.

Looking back on 2022, we feel incredible blessed to team up with Doug Duren, as Map My Ranch became a partner and sponsor of his Sharing The Land initiative. We joined the ranks of some other incredible partners with STL - OnX, Vortex Optics, Savage Arms, TroutRoutes, and Guidefitter.

If you are interested in getting map made for your favorite hunting spot, ranch, lease, or favorite lake or trout river, er even your own vineyard or commercial development, give us a call! We will have a free consultation and can walk you through all of your printed map options! In the meantime, visit www.MapMyRanch.com for learn more!

Thanks again for your support! And may 2023 be your best year, yet!

~George Blitch
Map My Ranch

George Blitch interviews Josh Smith, from Montana Knife Company

11/28/2022

George Blitch interviews Josh Smith from Montana Knife Company on the "Son of a Blitch" podcast

In this episode, George Blitch sits down with Josh Smith, from Montana Knife Company, to discuss his career as a knife maker. Josh was the youngest ever to become a Master Bladesmith at only 19 years old and he built custom knives for well over a decade before launching Montana Knife Company, which has grown to be one of the most recognizable high end knife making companies in America.
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"In the last two years, Montana Knife Company has been fortunate to grow beyond what I could have imagined, gaining recognition throughout the hunting community and the country. As a result, you may think we're a huge company with dozens of employees running a complicated operation. In reality, we're just a small group of hunters and fishermen creating American-made tools that help us do what we love. We design with hunting in mind, and we build reliable tools that last. We're passionate about making affordable, high-quality knives that serve the needs of real working people." ~Josh Smith (Co-founder & Master Bladesmith for Montana Knife Company)
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To learn more about Josh Smith and Montana Knife Company, visit: www.MontanaKnifeCompany.com and follow them and on IG: @MontanaKnifeCompany

To learn more about George Blitch. visit: www.SonofaBlitch.com www.MapMyRanch.com and follow him on IG: @thesonofablitch

"Son of a Blitch podcast, Ep. 11 - w/ Doug Duren (Sharing The Land, Duren Family Farm, MeatEater)

10/11/2022

Doug Duren is a passionate hunter, farmer, land manager and conservationist. He is the owner of Lone Oak Interests, LLC, specializing in site and land management consulting and contracting services throughout Wisconsin and the Driftless Area.

In addition to his consulting and contracting work, Doug manages the Duren Family Farm near Cazenovia, Wisconsin where he has been working and hunting for over 45 years. The farm has been in the Duren family for 115 years. Current management includes acres enrolled in CRP and other conservation programs, raising grass fed beef, timber management for forest health, wildlife habitat and financial goals, as well as a variety of hunting, aesthetic and recreation objectives.

In addition to his individual clients, Doug has worked on a variety of projects with several public and private conservation organizations including American Forest Foundation, Aldo Leopold Foundation, Pheasants Forever, Wisconsin DNR and Wisconsin DNR Forestry, My Wisconsin Woods/Driftless Forestry Network, NRCS and FSA.

Duren is a frequent contributor to the Meateater television show, the Meateater podcast and The Meateater Guide to Big Game Hunting. Duren has also been a guest on the Joe Rogan Experience discussing hunting, land ownership issues and Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). He has been featured in various regional and national publications for his work in conservation.

Sharing The Land is one of Doug's largest passion projects, and a remarkable legacy that he continues to build. Haring the Land is a Conservation Cooperators Network connecting landowners with hunters and private land access seekers.

"60 percent of land in the United States is privately owned. Nearly a quarter of that private land is owned primarily or leased for hunting. As access seeker numbers increase, so does the need to increase private land access. At the same time, the need for game and land management by communities is apparent. Land ownership requires a portfolio of labor, skills and knowledge. It's with this spirit that we invite landowners and access seekers to connect for the purpose of stewarding and enjoying healthier lands together." ~Doug Duren

In this episode, George Blitch and Matthew Mitchell sit down with Doug Duren to discuss a variety of topics, including Doug's "Sharing The Land" initiative, the Duren Family Farm, his contributions with MeatEater, and much more.

Sharing the Land is a Conservation Cooperators Network connecting landowners with hunters and private land access seekers. To learn more about the program, or to sign up as a Land Owner or Land Access Seeker, please visit:
www.SharingTheLand.com

George Blitch and Colin Williams co-own the company, Map My Ranch, which produces custom printed maps, using the highest quality aerial imagery available. They are also a sponsor for the Sharing The Land initiative, creating maps for the Land Owners. To learn more, visit:
www.MapMyRanch.com

To learn more about Doug Duren, visit:
www.DougDuren.com

To learn more about George Blitch and the "Son of a Blitch" podcast, visit:
www.SonofaBlitch.com

To learn more about Matthew Mitchell, visit:
www.MatthewMitchellArchitecture.com

To learn more about the MeatEater show and MeatEater podcast, visit:
www.TheMeatEater.com

Podcast with Map My Ranch owners!

9/14/2022

Colin joins the "Son of a Blitch" podcast to talk about MMR!

In this Episode, George Blitch and co-host Matthew Mitchell sit down for a quick chat with Colin Williams, who is the co-owner of Map My Ranch (George is the other co-owner). Colin tells us a bit about how he begins working on a client's map, some options that he can include on their custom maps, and the diverse styles of maps that Map My Ranch creates: ranch and farm maps, real estate, commercial, lakes and rivers, public lands maps, vineyards, and many more!

MAP MY RANCH
Map My Ranch designs, prints, and ships the highest quality maps available. We start by acquiring the latest aerial imagery for the area you want mapped. While the majority of our clients are here for farm and ranch maps, we also produce maps for public land hunts, realtors, vineyards, or even your favorite lake or river to fish on. We can layer your map(s) with just the outline of your property (Boundary Map) or fully customize it (Custom Map) with various labels and icons (hunting stands, food plots, feeders, game trail cameras, pastures, fishing holes, traps, etc.) We can also layer them with lat/long and topo lines, GPS points, or anything else you want highlighted. We can import your info from most GPS mapping/hunting apps, if you already have these marked. If not, that's all good...we've got an easy process we can walk you through.

After we acquire the best imagery available for your property, we develop a Draft Map for you to electronically review and finalize, before we print and ship your maps. We charge an initial Set Up Fee for our services and then you just pay for the cost of the prints. The initial Set Up Fee is 100% refundable if you are not happy with the imagery we have available. We do not charge a set up fee for any reprints! Boundary Map Set Up Fees cover the design of all sized maps. The Custom Map Set Up Fee covers the design of one large map and one smaller map. Additional sized Custom Maps will require additional set up costs - email or call to determine overall costs.

We primarily provide two types of prints: WeatherProof (water and tear resistant, foldable) and Laminated (dry erase, magnet, and sticker friendly). Our clients typically get a 36"x48" (Poster sized) print, and some of our smaller Field Maps (12x18", 18"x24", "24x36"). We can print much larger maps or customize them to your needs. Contact us for a price quote, if you have a particular size in mind. Not sure what print sizes you want right now? No problem. Just pay the Set Up Fee and we will begin the Draft Map process. You can pay for prints after you approve the Draft Map on our Products page. We also print Cooler Top Maps! When you buy a Bison Cooler from us, you'll get one printed for free! (if you are just purchasing a Cooler with a Cooler Map, a Set Up Fee is still required)

To learn more about George Blitch and the "Son of a Blitch" Podcast, please visit: www.SonofaBlitch.com

Steven Rinella's "Queen Mother Of All Jerkies" recipe

7/25/2022

The Meater Fish & Game Cookbook

Steven Rinella is the host of the Netflix Original series MeatEater and The MeatEater Podcast. He's also the author of six books dealing with wildlife, hunting, fishing and wild game cooking, including the bestselling MeatEater Fish and Game Cookbook: Recipes and Techniques for Every Hunter and Angler. My wife and I made some venison jerky, using a recipe from this book - the "Queen Mother Of All Jerkies" recipe. As my wife says, "it's deerlicious!" I highly recommend everyone take a look at this recipe, if you want to get your jerky on!

Doug Duren & "Sharing The Land"

6/20/2022

Meet Doug Duren...

Doug Duren is a passionate hunter, farmer, land manager and conservationist. He is the owner of Lone Oak Interests, LLC, specializing in site and land management consulting and contracting services throughout Wisconsin and the Driftless Area.

In addition to his consulting and contracting work, Doug manages the Duren Family Farm near Cazenovia, Wisconsin where he has been working and hunting for over 45 years. The farm has been in the Duren family for 115 years. Current management includes acres enrolled in CRP and other conservation programs, raising grass fed beef, timber management for forest health, wildlife habitat and financial goals, as well as a variety of hunting, aesthetic and recreation objectives.

In addition to his individual clients, Doug has worked on a variety of projects with several public and private conservation organizations including American Forest Foundation, Aldo Leopold Foundation, Pheasants Forever, Wisconsin DNR and Wisconsin DNR Forestry, My Wisconsin Woods/Driftless Forestry Network, NRCS and FSA.

Duren is a frequent contributor to the Meateater television show, the Meateater podcast and The Meateater Guide to Big Game Hunting. Duren has also been a guest on the Joe Rogan Experience discussing hunting, land ownership issues and Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD). He has been featured in various regional and national publications for his work in conservation.

Most recently, Doug has launched the "Sharing The Land" initiative.....

"Sharing The Land"

60 percent of land in the United States is privately owned. Nearly a quarter of that private land is owned primarily or leased for hunting. As access seeker numbers increase, so does the need to increase private land access. At the same time, the need for game and land management by communities is apparent. Land ownership requires a portfolio of labor, skills and knowledge. It's with this spirit that we invite landowners and access seekers to connect for the purpose of stewarding and enjoying healthier lands together.

If you ask Doug Duren about where Sharing The Land came from, it was born out of a need to prevent wear and tear on his soul. Attempts to restore historic oak stands had been faltering due to local deer herd sizes, given their browsing preference for oak saplings. This project, combined with local CWD prevalence (also population related), lead him to the conclusion that reductions were needed. After taking eight deer himself in a season, he felt more like an exterminator than a hunter.

A continual reader of Aldo Leopold, Doug was familiar with the Riley Game Cooperative, and its proximity to the farm along with its understudied historical nature, meant it was a quick leap to begin implementing similar processes for the benefit of the property.

By inviting hunters who had contributed to conservation practices, he not only improved the property, but engaged people about carrying that work forward elsewhere, while reaching harvest goals and sharing the value of that hunting experience. Watch this video below to learn more about Sharing the Land and the origin of the idea...

(If for some reason the YouTube video does not show up above, click here to view.)

Doug Duren & Steve Rinella

Doug Duren is often featured in episodes and podcasts of MeatEater.
To learn more about Doug and listen to his incredible contributions, please visit the links below.

Stars in the Sky: A Hunting Story

Doug Duren MeatEater Contributor

Doug Duren on MeatEater Available on Netflix

Back 40 Episode 5: Doug Duren Shows Up for Pre-Rut

Ep. 175: If Cabb ages Had Legs, I’d Hunt Them Too

Ep. 070: Chronic Wasting Disease

Episode 068: Steven Rinella talks with “Buckman” Doug Duren.

Ep. 340: Mark Kenyon talks, Land Management ,Wisdom and the Coronavirus with Doug Duren

Joe Rogan, Bryan Callen and Doug Duren Shoot the Sh*t on MeatEater with Steven Rinella

www.SharingTheLand.com
www.DougDuren.com

***Doug Duren will be an upcoming guest on the "Son of a Blitch" podcast, hosting by Map My Ranch's very own, George Blitch. If you have any questions for Doug, feel free to email them to gblitch@sonofablitch.com

Announcing the "Son of a Blitch" podcast

5/22/2022

"Son of a Blitch" podcast - hosted by George Bowe Blitch

George Bowe Blitch has been a Wildlife Manager, Texas Rancher, Professional Writer, Videographer, Photographer, Editor, Speaker, Brand Developer, Designer, Cartographer, Musician, Teacher, Coach, Entrepreneur, Finance Manager, and the list goes on.

George has met some wildly interesting people in his lifetime, and this "Son of a Blitch” is sure to share some impactful stories, interviews, and messages that will be informative, educational, and highly entertaining!

"I've met some incredible people in my life, and I want to share their stories!" ~GB

"I used to travel around and interview Indigenous Elders, Leaders of the Native American Indian Community, and many other interesting people working within these communities. Most of the time, I was traveling with my good friend and mentor, Harvey Arden (former National Geographic writer and best selling author). I was in charge of all the video and audio production, as well as running many interviews, myself. As I launch this podcast, it reminds me of those times, and the incredible people I met along the way. I decided, with this podcast, to expand my guest panels to include folks that I have met from all areas of my life. I will feature interviews with international acclaimed musicians, authors, speakers, inventors, leaders, teachers, other podcasters, and much more." ~GBB

Please subscribe to this podcast, by searching for "Son of a Blitch" wherever you listen to podcasts, to be notified when a new episode is announced.

If you are interested in joining the podcast, or if you have a guest suggestions, please let me know at: gblitch@sonofablitch.com

www.SonofaBlitch.com

Melanistic Mule Deer on video!

4/1/2022

Melanistic Mule Deer captured on video!

David Strege writes, "The desert mule deer is a common sight in the Trans-Pecos region of west Texas, but when wildlife biologists conducted surveys recently, they came across an extremely uncommon sight. In fact, it was what they called “the rarest of rare” animals.

What the Texas Parks and Wildlife—Trans-Pecos Wildlife District spotted from a helicopter and captured in video was a melanistic (black hair) mule deer fawn, “a one-in-a-million anomaly.”

Read the full article here...

Read George Blitch's very own Melanistic story, here...

Blitch got his buck!

1/11/2022

Blitch got his buck!

George had his eye on two different bucks this seaosn, after he filled his other coolers with some South Texas does and some smaller game. This tall brow tined buck was 5.5 yrs old, and made a brief appearance at just over 200 yards, while chasing some doe. George identified him as one that was "on the list" and sent a shot with his 280 A.I. into the heart of this unique buck.

You'll notice George is decked out in his new First Lite gear. George recently joined the The First Lite Pro Program. He will be writing a full article on his experience with his new First Lite gear, after the conclusion of the Spring turkey season in 2022. Stay Tuned!