The LandTrust Podcast

Are hunting apps about to get replaced by AI agents?
In this Outside's Insiders episode of the LandTrust Podcast, LandTrust Founder & CEO Nic De Castro sits down with Matt Habiger, CEO of Basemap, for his second appearance on the show. Two CEOs who are all in on AI get into how agents are changing the hunting business, who actually owns the hunter, and why every company in the outdoor space should be asking how it would disrupt itself.
From fifteen new outdoor apps launching every week, to Basemap's developer platform and agent-first approach, to LandTrust's new text-based assistant Hank for landowners (recorded Oct 21, 2026; Hank had launched the day before), Nic and Matt trade notes on building with tiny teams, why data moats get drained, and the one thing AI can't replace: trust between hunters and landowners.
🎯 What You'll Learn:- Why AI agents could change how hunters plan, research and book hunts- How to think about disrupting your own business before someone else does- Why the old hunting map business model is under pressure- How text messaging is becoming a real distribution channel- What satellite connectivity means for offline maps- How tiny teams are shipping faster than ever- Why landowner trust is something AI can't replace
👇 Find your next hunt:https://landtrust.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=ep48-matt-habiger
🗺️ Check out Basemap:https://www.basemap.com/
🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations about hunting, conservation, land access, and the people shaping the future of the outdoors.
#LandTrust #Basemap #HuntingApps #AIAgents #HuntingTech #OutdoorIndustry #PrivateLandHunting #HuntingPodcast #HuntPlanning #OutdoorPodcast #OutsidesInsiders
Chapters00:00 Cold Open: Never Log Into LandTrust Again00:18 Meet Matt Habiger, CEO of Basemap03:16 Fifteen New Outdoor Apps a Week05:52 How Would You Put Your Own Business Out of Business?10:33 The Old Business Model of Hunting Maps11:53 Anyone Can Build a Mapping App: Basemap's Developer Platform18:11 Jobs to Be Done, and Why Nic Doesn't Want You to Download an App19:45 Hank Launches for LandTrust Landowners, Plus Buck21:39 Building LandTrust So AI Agents Can Find It22:38 Agentic Work for a Non-Technical CEO27:52 From Individual Contributor to Manager of Agents30:40 Hunt Research and the Data Moat33:16 Basemap Goes Agent-First37:44 Connectors and Big-Platform Lock-In40:34 Text Messaging as a Distribution Channel43:02 CarPlay, Android Auto and the App Store Gatekeepers44:19 Satellite Connectivity and the End of Offline Maps46:50 Rec Tech: Making Limited Time Outdoors Count49:14 Consumer Comfort With AI, and Earning Trust52:08 What AI Can't Replace: Landowner Trust53:52 Tiny Teams Shipping Everything55:20 Is the Hunting Industry Consolidation Thesis Still True?1:02:26 What's Shipping at Basemap and LandTrust
🔗 Follow Us On Social:Instagram: instagram.com/landtrust_huntFacebook: facebook.com/landtrusthuntLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/landtrustinc

What does a first spring turkey hunt in Wyoming look like when you bring your dad and brother?
In this episode of the LandTrust Podcast, LandTrust Founder & CEO Nic De Castro sits down with LandTrust customer Caleb Barber to relive a spring Merriam's turkey hunt at Laurel Leaf Land Co. East near Gillette, Wyoming, hosted by landowners Stasi & Brian.
Caleb, his dad and his brother traded backcountry elk camps for an off-grid cabin on a regenerative ranch. A tom came in to 15 yards on the very first morning, Caleb's dad took his first spring turkey a day later, and three hunters went home with two birds and a trip they called awesome.
🎯 What You'll Learn:- What hunting Merriam's turkeys in Wyoming's rolling hills and pine pockets is like- Why less calling worked when a tom was coming in- How landowners like Stasi & Brian steward their ground and limit hunts- The ammo mix-up that nearly ended the trip early- Why a family trip on private land is about experiences over outcomes- Caleb's advice for hunters booking their first LandTrust trip
👇 Book this hunt:Laurel Leaf Land Co. East | Elk & Turkey: https://landtrust.com/l/laurel-leaf-land-co-east-elk-turkey/67e5ceae-ecef-47c2-9f9f-8a105cdf06df?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=ep47-caleb-barberSpring Merriam's turkey package: https://landtrust.com/l/laurel-leaf-land-co-east-elk-turkey/67e5ceae-ecef-47c2-9f9f-8a105cdf06df/package/05a6cdd1-2cd5-4855-8fa7-14e8283be4df?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=ep47-caleb-barberFind your next hunt: https://landtrust.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=show_notes&utm_campaign=ep47-caleb-barber
🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations about hunting, conservation, land access, and the people shaping the future of the outdoors.
#TurkeyHunting #MerriamsTurkey #WyomingHunting #LandTrust #PrivateLandHunting #SpringTurkey #TurkeySeason #HuntingPodcast #DIYHunting #HuntPrivateLand #OutdoorPodcast
Chapters00:00 Cold Open: First-Morning Tom00:18 Five-Star Stories Intro01:00 Meet Caleb Barber02:37 Wyoming Hills and a Regenerative Ranch03:21 Landowners as Stewards04:33 Getting There: Rapid City to Gillette05:25 Meeting Stasi and the Off-Grid Cabin06:20 First Morning: A Tom at 15 Yards12:33 Dad's First Spring Turkey15:13 A Miss, an Ammo Mix-Up and a Windy Last Day17:46 Advice for First-Time LandTrust Hunters19:41 Experiences Over Outcomes20:35 How Caleb Found LandTrust22:03 Thanks and Wrap
🔗 Follow Us On Social:Instagram: instagram.com/landtrust_huntFacebook: facebook.com/landtrusthuntLinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/landtrustinc

What happens when a Hollywood music video director who had never spent time in the woods decides to learn to hunt California's toughest deer zone?
 
On this episode of the LandTrust Podcast, Nic De Castro sits down with Clark Jackson, a Hollywood music video and commercial director who started hunting three years ago after a health wake-up call and an elk dinner from a coworker. After 50 days chasing a public land blacktail in California's A Zone without getting near a buck, Clark booked a DIY hunt at Avina Ranch on LandTrust and walked into a bedded group of shooters on day one.
 
Clark talks through the blown stalks, the wind lesson he'll never forget and the fork buck he took on his last day. He also explains why he extended his trip, how he thinks about leases and guides, and how hunting has rippled through his family, from his daughter's fishing to a 250-pound halibut in Alaska.
 
About the property: Avina Ranch is a privately owned, 323-acre property in Lake County, California, just outside Cobb, with rolling meadows, oak and pine woodland and chaparral that hold resident Columbian black-tailed deer. It's a day-hunt property with no lodging, water or facilities on site.
 
What You'll Learn:
- Why California's A Zone is one of the hardest over-the-counter deer hunts in the country
- What 50 days on crowded public land taught Clark, and what changed on day one at Avina Ranch
- Why more time around animals makes you a better hunter than more time at the range
- Why public land hunting isn't free once you add gas, time and days in the field
- Where DIY private land fits between backcountry public land and guided hunts
- How LandTrust landowners differ from outfitters and year-long leases
- How hunting changed Clark's health, his family and his conversations with non-hunters in Hollywood
 
Clark, at the end of the episode: "it's been the place where I felt the most comfortable to fail, and in doing that, I found my most success."
 
Hunt Avina Ranch: https://landtrust.com/l/avina-ranch/5d8caa84-43c5-4b86-ba68-8cd0f61899d2?utm_source=podbean&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep45_clark_jackson
How to book: open the Avina Ranch page (or search "Avina Ranch" on landtrust.com), pick a package under Available Packages, choose your dates and book.
Create a free LandTrust account and get alerts when new properties and hunts list: https://landtrust.com/?utm_source=podbean&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep45_clark_jackson
LandTrust+ (early access to new properties, sweepstakes entries, booking liability coverage): https://landtrust.com/plus?utm_source=podbean&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=ep45_clark_jackson
Have a Five-Star Story? Email podcasts@landtrust.com
 
Chapters
00:00 Cold Open: Shooters on Day One
00:17 Welcome to The LandTrust Podcast
00:55 Meet Clark Jackson: From Hollywood to Hunting
01:14 A Health Wake-Up Call and a First Elk Dinner
04:06 First Hunt: Blacktail Deer and the Unicorn Buck
05:27 Why California's A Zone Is So Hard
07:27 Finding Avina Ranch on LandTrust
10:57 Day One at Avina Ranch: Beating 50 Days of Public Land
14:15 Learning the Wind the Hard Way
16:20 DIY Private Land: Opportunity, Not Outcome
18:20 Why Stalking Beats Range Time
20:41 Hunting, Fitness and Losing 115 Pounds
25:55 Public Land Isn't Free: The Real Cost of Hunting
28:26 Making a Short LandTrust Trip Count
32:33 Talking With Landowners Before You Hunt
34:52 Guides, Outfitters and Rec Tech
36:58 Trailhead Crowds and Opening-Day Traffic Jams
38:55 Leases vs. DIY Private Land
43:22 Why LandTrust Landowners Aren't in the Hunting Business
48:42 How Hunting Rippled Through Clark's Family
54:26 Catching the Turkey Bug
58:43 Being a Hunter in Hollywood
1:01:13 Why Clark Eats Less Meat as a Hunter
1:04:33 LandTrust for Anglers, Overlanders and Birders
1:05:27 Wrap-Up and What's Next for Clark
1:06:51 Outro: Avina Ranch, Free Account and LandTrust+
 
Follow LandTrust
Instagram: instagram.com/landtrust_hunt
Facebook: facebook.com/landtrusthunt
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/landtrustinc
Site: landtrust.com

What happens to the land we love when farming stops making financial sense?
 
On this episode of the LandTrust Podcast, Nic sits down with Jace Young, founder and CEO of Legacy Farmer, to take a deeper look at the economics behind America’s farms and ranches, and why sportsmen should care.
 
Jace grew up on a large family farm in Western Kansas before working in agricultural banking. After seeing firsthand how financial stress, debt, and a lack of succession planning can threaten multi-generational farms, he eventually founded Legacy Farmer to help farmers and ranchers better understand the financial side of their operations.
 
In this episode:
- Why owning thousands of acres doesn't necessarily mean a farm or ranch is profitable- The financial realities facing modern farmers and ranchers- Why succession planning is one of the biggest challenges facing rural America- What happens to land when the next generation isn't prepared to take over- Why hunters and outdoor enthusiasts should care about the economic health of working lands- How development and changing land ownership can impact rural communities and hunting access- Whether hunting and outdoor recreation can help make keeping land intact more economically viable
 
Jace shares some powerful stories from his time in agricultural banking, including what he witnessed when a fourth-generation Kansas farm ultimately filed bankruptcy.
 
For sportsmen, understanding that side of the equation may be just as important as understanding the wildlife and habitat on the other side of the fence.
 
#LandTrust #LandTrustPodcast #Hunting #FarmLand #Farmland #Agriculture #RuralAmerica #LandManagement #HuntingAccess #LegacyFarmer
 
 
Chapters
00:00 – Intro: Why Hunters Should Care About Farmland01:18 – Jace Young’s Story & Legacy Farmer02:00 – Growing Up on a Multi-Generational Kansas Farm05:00 – What Happens When Farm Economics Break Down10:00 – The Financial Reality of Owning Farmland14:00 – The Succession Planning Crisis in Agriculture17:00 – What Happens When Farms Leave the Family19:00 – Losing Farmland & the Impact on Hunting Access23:00 – Why Farm & Ranch Ownership Is Often About Passion25:30 – A Family Farm’s Bankruptcy Story27:45 – The Challenge of Hard Family Conversations32:00 – Building a Sustainable Future for Working Lands36:00 – Can Hunting Help Keep Land Economically Viable?41:00 – Farm Subsidies: Who Needs Them?43:00 – What Sportsmen Should Take Away44:00 – The Legacy of the Land
 
 
🔗 Follow:The Legacy FarmerInstagram: instagram.com/jace.d.youngFacebook: facebook.com/legacyfarmer
YouTube: youtube.com/c/jacedyounglegacyfarmer
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/legacy-farmerSite: www.legacyfarmer.comLandTrustInstagram: instagram.com/landtrust_hunt⁠Facebook: ⁠facebook.com/landtrusthuntLinkedIn: ⁠linkedin.com/company/landtrustinc⁠
Site: landtrust.com

Andrew ("The Flip Flop Guy") and Lauren Brown join Nic De Castro on the LandTrust Podcast to share their first season using LandTrust for DIY private land turkey hunting.
 
From calling in stubborn gobblers in Montana to learning directly from knowledgeable landowners, they break down what worked, what they'd do differently, and why private land access through LandTrust changed the way they plan hunts.
 
Whether you're planning your first DIY turkey hunt or looking for more access across the country, this episode is packed with practical tips and real hunting stories.
 
🎙️ In this episode:
- Andrew & Lauren's first season using LandTrust- Hunting Montana turkey properties on private land- Why knowledgeable landowners are a game changer- DIY hunting vs. outfitters and public land- Booking multiple hunts across several states- Tips for first-time LandTrust users- The future of their World Slam plans- The story behind "The Flip Flop Guy"
 
 
👍 Subscribe for More Outdoor Conversations
The LandTrust Podcast brings together founders, conservation leaders, landowners, and passionate hunters shaping the future of hunting and outdoor recreation.
 
#TurkeyHunting #LandTrust #DIYHunting #PrivateLand #TurkeySeason #HuntingPodcast #MontanaHunting #HuntTurkey #OutdoorPodcast #PublicLand #Conservation #TheFlipFlopGuy #LaurenBrown #NicDeCastro #Hunting
 
 
⏱️ Chapters
00:00 Intro01:59 Meet Andrew & Lauren Brown02:27 Their First LandTrust Turkey Hunt08:38 Why LandTrust Landowners Stand Out10:31 Conservation & Giving Birds a Break12:00 Buck AI & Planning Your Hunt13:04 Lauren's Royal & Grand Slam Journey14:57 Lessons from the Black Ranch Hunt19:14 More Montana Hunts & Success Stories22:00 Tips for First-Time LandTrust Users24:53 Planning a World Slam with LandTrust27:00 DIY Private Land vs Outfitters & Public Land28:32 Meet "The Flip Flop Guy"30:35 Wild Game Cooking & Private Events32:00 Final Thoughts
 
 
🔗 Follow:
 
Andy - The Flip Flop Guy
Instagram: instagram.com/theflipflopguy
Facebook: facebook.com/TheFlipFlopGuy
Site: www.theflipflopguy.com
 
Lauren Brown
instagram.com/laurenbrown8g
 
LandTrustInstagram: instagram.com/landtrust_hunt⁠Facebook: ⁠facebook.com/landtrusthuntLinkedIn: ⁠linkedin.com/company/landtrustinc⁠

What does a dream turkey season look like?
 
In this episode of the LandTrust Podcast, LandTrust Founder & CEO Nic De Castro sits down with longtime LandTrust customer Trey Thorsen to relive an incredible spring turkey season that took him across three states and three unique private properties.
 
From battling stubborn gobblers in Georgia, to hunting alongside welcoming landowners in Washington, to chasing Merriam's turkeys on the expansive Laurel Leaf Ranch in Wyoming, Trey shares the stories, challenges, and memorable moments that made this season one to remember.
 
🎯 What You'll Learn:
- Hunting private land in Georgia, Washington, and Wyoming- Lessons from multiple turkey hunts across the country- Why local landowner knowledge matters- Merriam's, Rio Grande, and Eastern turkey hunting experiences- How LandTrust helps hunters access quality private land- What makes a hunt memorable beyond the harvest
 
👇 Find your next hunt:http://landtrust.com/
 
🎙️ Subscribe for more conversations about hunting, conservation, land access, and the people shaping the future of the outdoors.
 
#TurkeyHunting #LandTrust #MerriamsTurkey #EasternTurkey #RioGrandeTurkey #PrivateLandHunting #TurkeySeason #HuntingPodcast #DIYHunting #TurkeyHunter #HuntPrivateLand #OutdoorPodcast
 
 
Chapters
00:00 Introduction & Meet Trey Thorsen01:18 Planning a Multi-State Turkey Season04:42 First Stop: Georgia Turkey Hunt09:15 Lessons Learned Hunting New Ground13:37 Why Private Land Changes the Experience18:24 Washington Turkey Hunting Adventure24:08 Working with Local Landowners29:12 Finding Success on Unfamiliar Properties34:45 Wyoming Merriam's Turkey Hunt Begins40:21 Hunting Laurel Leaf Ranch in Wyoming46:53 What Makes a Great LandTrust Property52:14 The Value of Landowner Knowledge56:38 Three States, Three Turkeys, One Season01:01:27 Advice for DIY Turkey Hunters01:05:49 Final Thoughts & Favorite Memories
 
 
🔗 Follow Us On Social:Instagram: instagram.com/landtrust_hunt⁠Facebook: ⁠facebook.com/landtrusthuntLinkedIn: ⁠linkedin.com/company/landtrustinc⁠

What does it take to build one of the most influential platforms in Western hunting?In this episode of The LandTrust Podcast, Nic De Castro sits down with Lorenzo Sartini, Founder & CEO of GoHunt, to break down how he built a data-driven ecosystem that helps hunters plan, draw, and execute better hunts.From mapping and draw odds to e-commerce and AI-driven tools, Lorenzo shares how GoHunt evolved from a simple idea into a full-stack hunting platform, and where the future of hunting tech is headed.🎯 What You’ll Learn:- How GoHunt became the “Zillow of hunting”- The biggest challenges in Western tag draws and planning hunts- Why mapping alone is becoming a commodity- How AI could transform hunting mentorship and access- The role of data, gear, and ecosystem thinking in modern hunting- Where the hunting industry (and RecTech) is heading next#LandTrust #GoHunt #HuntingPodcast #WesternHunting #DIYHunting #HuntingTech #ElkHunting #DrawOdds #PublicLand #HuntPlanning⏱️ Chapters:00:00 Intro & guest overview01:00 Lorenzo’s background & early hunting experiences05:00 The idea that sparked GoHunt10:00 Taking the leap from casino job to startup14:00 What GoHunt is today17:00 Core business units (research, e-comm, applications)22:00 Why GoHunt added gear (e-commerce strategy)27:00 Mapping, mobile, and ecosystem integration32:00 The evolution of hunting tech (onX, mobile shift)37:00 The future: AI, mentorship, and access43:00 Challenges of building in a regulated industry48:00 Consolidation in hunting tech56:00 Final thoughts + where to find GoHunt📺 Subscribe for more:New Podcast episodes every other week featuring the industry pros, farmers, ranchers, and sportsmen who help shape the future of the outdoors.🔗 Follow:GoHUNTInstagram: instagram.com/gohuntFacebook: ⁠facebook.com/GOHUNTofficialLinkedIn: ⁠linkedin.com/company/gohunt-llcWebsite: www.gohunt.comLandTrustInstagram: instagram.com/landtrust_hunt⁠Facebook: ⁠facebook.com/landtrusthuntLinkedIn: ⁠linkedin.com/company/landtrustinc⁠Website: landtrust.com

What happens when a large Montana cattle ranch opens its gates to private hunting and recreation?
In this episode of the LandTrust Podcast, Nic sits down with Brant and Clinton Marsh, the brothers behind 6C Cattle Ranch near the Clark Fork River in western Montana. They break down what it looks like to run a full-scale cattle and farming operation while also managing wildlife-rich ground now available for hunting and outdoor access.
The conversation dives into elk and mule deer movement across irrigated pivots, predator pressure from wolves and coyotes, and how the ranch is evolving habitat to support both agriculture and wildlife. The Marsh brothers also share what they’ve learned transitioning into hosting guests... everything from shed hunting and camping access to what makes a respectful, successful experience on working ranch land.
🎯 What You’ll Learn
- How a working Montana ranch integrates hunting access into daily operations- What elk, mule deer, whitetail, and predator activity looks like on the ranch- How irrigation pivots and farm ground influence wildlife movement- Why habitat development is part of long-term ranch planning- What shed hunting and seasonal access look like for guests- What landowners value when hosting hunters on private ground🌎 Explore 6C Cattle Ranch
https://landtrust.com/l/6c-cattle-ranch-north/69a1341b-1962-4089-860f-40d198663782https://landtrust.com/l/6c-cattle-ranch-south/69a1338b-2dd6-48fb-906e-231c992e07dd
🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations with landowners, hunters, and conservation-minded ranches across the country.
#LandTrustPodcast #MontanaRanch #HuntingAccess #ElkHunting #MuleDeerHunting #PrivateLandHunting #RanchLife #LandStewardship #ClarkForkRiver #HuntingMontana #ConservationHunting
 
⏱️ Chapters
00:00 – Intro: Montana ranch hunting access01:15 – Meet the Marsh brothers & 6C Cattle Ranch03:30 – From leased ranch to LandTrust listing06:00 – South vs. north side of the property breakdown08:20 – Elk herds, mule deer, and whitetail presence11:10 – Wolves, coyotes, and predator dynamics13:40 – Irrigation pivots and agricultural expansion16:30 – Fishing access on the Clark Fork River18:45 – Ranch history and multi-generation operations21:10 – Building wildlife habitat alongside farming23:00 – Hosting hunters and shed hunting season25:30 – What makes a good guest experience27:00 – Closing thoughts
🔗 Follow LandTrust:Instagram: instagram.com/landtrust_hunt⁠Facebook: ⁠facebook.com/landtrusthuntLinkedIn: ⁠linkedin.com/company/landtrustinc⁠Website: landtrust.com