Blake Hamilton-Founder, Nature’ Eye

 

Blake Hamilton is a Forester, Wildlife Biologist and the Founder of Nature’s Eye, a conservation driven enterprise that integrates land stewardship with real estate investment and development.  A graduate of Mississippi State University with a Bachelor of Science and Faulkner State with a pre-law degree, Blake has built a distinguished career rooted in his passion for land, wildlife, and natural resource management.

 

Blake began his career in the land business in 2001 with several land service companies. His previous experience and formal education led to a career at Mossy Oak, where he spent nearly a decade in business development and land management, rising to an upper-level leadership position.  His background in forestry and wildlife management, combined with business acumen, led him to found Nature’s Eye in 2013, aligning conservation values with business strategy to create lasting impact on private lands.

 

In 2017, Blake launched Nature’s Eye Natural Resource Investments (NRI), an integrated real estate investment and development firm specializing in recreational land between Houston and Dallas, Texas. Under his leadership, NRI has raised and deployed more than $100 million to acquire and enhance over 20,000 acres of premier recreational and conservation property.

 

Blake has been nationally recognized for his work in wildlife and habitat management. He was named the National Professional Deer Manager of the Year by the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) in 2017 and received the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) Partners Award in 2018. A lifelong member of QDMA, Quail Forever, and Pheasants Forever, he has delivered keynote addresses at major universities and national conventions, and authored more than 50 publications on conservation.  

 

Blake is a 2021 graduate of Stagan Leadership Academy.  He currently serves on the board of the Carson Wentz AO1 Foundation and served as Director of Ceremony at the Petroleum Club of Houston.  His expertise spans forestry, wildlife management, recreational real estate investments, and land development. His work reflects a niche blend of biological expertise, land management knowledge, and investment strategy; bridging the gap between conservation and commerce.

 

Blake and his wife, Tasha reside in Lufkin, Texas, with their three daughters Rivers, Finley, and Larkin-where they continue to share a love of the outdoors, conservation and stewardship of the land.  

 

Blake’s professional background spans three major disciplines-forestry, wildlife management, and real estate investment-that collectively define his work:

 

• Forestry Experience:  

  • Cruising timber, marking timber, and conducting timber appraisals.

  • Forestry mulching, prescribed burning, herbicide applications, and site preparation.

  • Custom tree planting, afforestation, and reforestation programs.

  • Invasive species control and streamside bank stabilization.

  • Wetland mitigation, native landscaping, and native seed establishment.

  • Implementation of government cost-share programs (CSP, CRP, EQIP).

  • Forest pest and advanced GPS and Arcview GIS mapping.

• Wildlife Management Experience:

  • Food plot design and implementation for white-tailed deer, turkey, waterfowl and upland bird species.

  • Management of commercial hunting and fishing operations.

  • Habitat enhancement projects including avian box installation, pollinator habitat, and native grass restoration.

  • Trapping, aerial waterfowl/eagle surveys and camera surveys.

  • Enclosure development and management.

  • Lake and pond construction and fisheries management.

  • DMAP, MLD and other cooperative wildlife management programs with state agencies.

• Real Estate Experience:

  • Founder and President of Nature’s Eye Natural Resource Investments (NRI) –a real estate investment and development firm focused on conservation and recreational land.

  • Formerly owned and operated Mossy Oak Properties-Lufkin office (2016-2020).

  • Led acquisition, enhancement and disposition of over 20,000 acres of recreational land between Houston and Dallas, TX.

  • Structured multiple land transactions exceeding $25 million, working with institutional landowners and family offices. 

  • Specialized in acquisition, value-creation, land development, and long-term stewardship planning.

  • NRI currently aligns financial performance with ecological integrity.