When I logged 7 years ago my forester mentioned that I would be a perfect candidate for a grant to shear my upland mature tag alder to benefit grouse, woodcock, and songbirds. I just started the ball rolling and hope to get it done next winter. I was a little hesitant because I have a lot of bucks that use these areas. The tags I have are starting to really thin out and alot of the bigger branches are dying. I had some areas that I took my brush hog thru and I really liked how it came back. Very similar to clear cut aspen. Has anybody else tried this program? Or one similar and were you happy with the results?
Alder shearing/ usda program
- Thread starter ruskbucks
- Start date
Alder will get mature just like other trees. They start getting tall and thin out. Once they reach maturity they are not much value to wildlife. If you shear them off with a forestery mulcher it rejuvenates the stand. They come back super thick and vertical. The younger alder is very beneficial to grouse and woodcock. The young alder buds provides grouse with food, nesting and cover. The woodcock benefit from the cover and the thick young growth blocks sunlight to the ground. The woodcock use these areas to hunt worms. Alot of people have a love hate for alder. My alder right now are almost impossible to hunt. Once cut they grow back fast, 3+ ft first year 6+ by year 2. I figure I don't have much to lose. If approved it will be no cost to me and should beneficial to the wildlife.
If you go forward with that project, I'd be interested to hear how it works out. I have a few acres of alders in a wet area that might benefit from something like that. I'm not sure I'd want to cut them all at once though since I think it would be better to have a couple staggered age classes. Maybe that isn't the case though, I don't really know.
Jerry-B-WI
5 year old buck +
I checked into the program through the NRCS, and had a rep check my land. They said I didn't qualify because the tags weren't big enough.
I had some forest mulching done for other purposes and the ground needs to be fairly dry or frozen for the mulcher to get in and do it's job.
I had some forest mulching done for other purposes and the ground needs to be fairly dry or frozen for the mulcher to get in and do it's job.
I'm going thru with it. I just heard from a forest specialist with the ruffled grouse society. He is going to help me get the ball rolling. I have to meet up with him to sign some applications. I guess there are plenty of funds available thru the farm bill for alder shearing. It sounds like they don't cut them all once. They like to have different stages just like with a forest. My forester did say they are interested in the alder that is on drier land. I guess because it is where they nest and won't have to worry about flooding out. I will definitely talk to him about it and let you know.
Sounds good, thanks. I'm interested to find out how it turns out on your place. I just did an area measurement on google maps and my alder thicket is about 5 acres. It is often fairly wet though so maybe it won't be eligible for programs, but if yours turns out good then I might look into it anyway.
Tree Spud
5 year old buck +
Does it matter what you cut them with? I would use a hand saw or small chain saw.
Is there a recommended height o cut to?
SD51555
5 year old buck +
Alder is the #1 thing I cut on my land. It's something I enjoy a lot because nothing opens up the canopy faster, and nothing rejuvenates faster. And it is absolutely a favorite with the grouse. Here's my big spot from a couple winters back, with some follow up pics. Cut as much as you can, cause you can't kill it.
It was 6' high 60 days after the snow melted. Couldn't see any of the brush left laying in there.
The second summer, it was 10' high and you could hide Foggy's tractor in there.
It was 6' high 60 days after the snow melted. Couldn't see any of the brush left laying in there.
The second summer, it was 10' high and you could hide Foggy's tractor in there.
Doesn't matter . Cut it close to the ground without damaging any of the roots. Winter they say is the best time to cut because most of the energy is stored in the root system. I've done it with my chainsaw. I've also used my brush hog to mow quack grass and the alder came in thick after I mowed that grass.
Tree Spud
5 year old buck +
That would similar to cutting aspen for regen. I have about 100 plus acre marsh area that has probably 60% or more tag alder. Winter time grond is frozen so it's time to get going on it. I have definitely noticed that as the alder gets tall limbs they start to die off.
Wow, 100 acres! That would be a choir even with a forestery mower. Alder reminds me alot of aspen. Just without the browse value for deer.
Jerry-B-WI
5 year old buck +
Here's a link to some articles about alder shearing for habitat. Some are from the counties you guys are in.
I've done multiple alder shearing projects here in the Club where I live. Most were funded by NRCS money through RCPP grants under the Golden Winged Warbler habitat improvement umbrella. American Bird Conservancy (ABC) was also in on the first cut we planned and added some money to the project
When alder gets to the blooming onion stage i.e. much of the shape gets horizontal vs. being upright it is reaching the end of its life cycle. Cutting it will promote regrowth from stump sprouts.
Wet areas can be problematic. You either need a lot of snow or a really hard cold winter for freeze up because the forestry mulcher/skid steers are very heavy.
Great habitat project, make sure you leave some drumming logs on site.
I think this was the summer after it was cut, I tried to take a mid July picture each year.
This was the first site we cut in the GWW project, I believe there has been 3 phases in total.
4 years later mid July. Truck for size reference.
When alder gets to the blooming onion stage i.e. much of the shape gets horizontal vs. being upright it is reaching the end of its life cycle. Cutting it will promote regrowth from stump sprouts.
Wet areas can be problematic. You either need a lot of snow or a really hard cold winter for freeze up because the forestry mulcher/skid steers are very heavy.
Great habitat project, make sure you leave some drumming logs on site.
I think this was the summer after it was cut, I tried to take a mid July picture each year.
This was the first site we cut in the GWW project, I believe there has been 3 phases in total.
4 years later mid July. Truck for size reference.
Looks nice. It seems you were overall happy with the project. Was there anything you didn't like about the project or things you would do different. Do you know if they would do alder cutting in swamps. My forester said they were looking for upland alders where nesting can take place without flooding.
Good questions.
I think I would try to nail down the equipment operator on what area was going to be completed at what price. Take the time variable out of the negotiation if I could.
We had smaller areas completed than what we had marked. Spent the agreed upon money but felt a little under satisfied with what was accomplished.
They think they can do 1/2 acre per hour when it's really like 1/3 acre per hour and they charge by the hour not the acre...just making up numbers to help get my point across.
We tried to do a lake edge alder run and buried the machine one day, a Sunday of course, and had to get our logger to come over and pull us out. It really doesn't pay to try the really wet areas unless its been a very cold deep freeze type of Winter.
Overall, I am happy we did it. I have video of a GWW using our alder sites, it's been good for our habitat. A couple years ago my dog pointed a woodcock in the alder patch pictured above, I smiled the rest of the day.
Thanks for the info and keep up the good work.
Jerry-B-WI
5 year old buck +
The fellow that did the forest mulching for me said he can do it in the winter if the snow isn't too deep. He mentioned anything that's about a foot or deeper and he couldn't get the mulching head close enough to the ground. It might be different for shearing but I'd ask.
