Big block cover, or more trails?

[SD51555]

Over the weekend, I found an old logging trail in the sanctuary on my property that had grown shut with tag alders. I could easily enough crawl the excavator through there and blow it open to connect up to the rest of my trail system, or even do it on a smaller scale with a saw, but I have reservations about making it easier to cruise through my sanctuary.

I found a couple deer gobbled up by the scavengers recently. I think one died it it's bed, and the other went out like Nicky Santoro at the end of Casino.

Anyway, having oversized coyotes running through lately has me thinking I shouldn't be making it so easy to cruise through this sanctuary. I had also thought lots of hub and spoke type trails that zig zag all over were supposed to give multiple escape routes from good cover.

So, more trails, or less?

 

[Ben.MN/WI]

I would let the sanctuary logging roads fill in. That will be my plan in the recently logged areas on my place. The loggers made some really nice logging roads, but I'll only be keeping a few of them along the perimeter. The interior roads can slowly fill in over time and i might drop a tree or two across the trails to expedite things.

 

[SWIFFY]

If its the "sanctuary" id leave it assuming you can still access the places you need to go. Deer need that spot that feels like theirs.

 

[SD51555]

If its the "sanctuary" id leave it assuming you can still access the places you need to go. Deer need that spot that feels like theirs.

Yeah, I don't need to go in there at all. I've got trails that go around the perimeter. I just wondered if it'd add any value to the deer, or make it easier for feral dogs to run the area.

 

[chummer]

I think it benefits the deer. it gives them an easy escape rout where they can loose the predator in a hurry. They will also lay down watching the trail knowing the predators will use it. I am pro trails. Trails or no trails don’t make a sanctuary, not going in makes the sanctuary.

 

[Hoytvectrix]

This might be a little bit of sampling bias on my part, But it seems like all of the best of bedding areas I have found have had some form of an escape route. On some big blocks of public land that I've scouted, I've gone to the thickest areas because those generally hold the most deer. Some areas are apparently too thick because there was almost zero sign in and around them. Is there any way you can compromise and leave it thick but still give them an escape route?

 

[sandbur]

I don’t care for trails in the sanctuary, but I don’t have as high of numbers of wild dogs as you do. Cattleman seem to control the dogs.

I also don’t like trails in the sanctuary because of more potential for trespassers or kids on a 4 wheeler joy ride to zip through there. My periphery sidewalk is too narrow for 4 wheelers by design. This was an old concept from Dr Ken Norberg from decades ago.

SD, you should get a set of his books and read them over a winter. He hunted Aitkin Minnesota for years but then shifted north to the edge of the boundary waters. He hunted public land but did carve out walking trails.


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[Tree Spud]

Over the weekend, I found an old logging trail in the sanctuary on my property that had grown shut with tag alders. I could easily enough crawl the excavator through there and blow it open to connect up to the rest of my trail system, or even do it on a smaller scale with a saw, but I have reservations about making it easier to cruise through my sanctuary.

I found a couple deer gobbled up by the scavengers recently. I think one died it it's bed, and the other went out like Nicky Santoro at the end of Casino.

Anyway, having oversized coyotes running through lately has me thinking I shouldn't be making it so easy to cruise through this sanctuary. I had also thought lots of hub and spoke type trails that zig zag all over were supposed to give multiple escape routes from good cover.

So, more trails, or less?

Trails in a sanctuary make it no longer a sanctuary. Deer do just fine locating their own escape routes.

 

[Telemark]

I would try your best to make trails and cover that specifically benefit deer. Trails should be big enough for deer but not for an ATV. I like a lot of low cover and obstacles to hinder predators, but that a deer could more easily jump over and around.

 

[sandbur]

I would try your best to make trails and cover that specifically benefit deer. Trails should be big enough for deer but not for an ATV. I like a lot of low cover and obstacles to hinder predators, but that a deer could more easily jump over and around.

The guy in the books I referred to made trails that were just tall and wide enough for a 6 foot human to maneuver thru. Deliberately between trees to narrow for four wheelers. Wolves and deer would use those trails. He also tried to only cut brush within 1/4 inch of the ground and did it in the spring. This helped hide human evidence for other fall hunters.

He was on public land and had hand clipped trails to hunting locations where he sat on a stool. He hand clipped other trails to focus deer movement. It works.


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[Wind Gypsy]

Sanctuary and bedding areas sure seem to be used differently in the heart of wolf country. I haven't figured out how it all works but too thick where they cant see far doesn't seem to be as good a thing up there compared to places where they aren't gobbled by wolves 365 days a year.

I have the same conundrum on the family place north of grand rapids.

 

[j-bird]

I like trails for leading deer from point A to point B (either food sources or bedding cover) but other than that I am not a fan of trails. Especially if I am not going to hunt it. I see no point in making it easier for other hunters (2 or 4 legged) to get to the deer. The deer will make their own trials.