Hardwood Browse Species

[ansayre]

I am in the process of clearing out woodland food plots. The dead ash and brush were cleared out by a forestry mulcher last year. The bigger stuff was left standing. I plan on cutting the 'junk' next summer. I was thinking of dropping a few trees for winter browse this fall. What species will deer browse? I'm sure red maple. Location is SE Ohio.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

For sure on the red maple. Oak is a favorite too, but maybe you aren't looking to drop any of those?? Aspen is a great browse source if you have them. Tulip poplar and birch will also attract deer - at least here.

 

[ansayre]

Red maple for sure. I want to keep oaks. What about locust, hackberry, etc. ?

 

[Crimson n' Camo]

Black gum

 

[ruskbucks]

After my logging I was able to see the amount of browse by watching the stump sprouts. Almost every single red maple stump out of a thousand or so was browsed. Yellow birch was very high on their preference also. I don't remember on the ash trees. Young oaks saw little browsing. Aspen did show some browsing but it was just here and there, nothing heavy like the maple or birch.

 

[ansayre]

Thanks! What about elm. There is a big one I would like to drop to get more sun in.

 

[Telemark]

Ash is the preferred stump sprout at my place in Ontario

 

[ansayre]

All the ash were wiped out by the emerald ash borer. before forestry mulching it looked like a wasteland. 14 months ago and now pictures

 

[bigboreblr]

I usually wait for winter to cut the trees down. Gives the trees some time to build up the bud sizes. Worked great as a late season muzzleloader attraction. Maples are enjoyed, but almost all trees are fair game in the winter.

You could offset your junk trees. Cut a few down, let em sit for a few weeks, then cut it up for firewood. Dumping a bunch in onse spot makes alot of extra work fishing through that mess with a chainsaw.

IF your using the trees for firewood, cut them into 6ft lengths or so. So, they start to dry out quicker.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Red maple for sure. I want to keep oaks. What about locust, hackberry, etc. ?

We have no locust or hackberry at camp, so I have no experience with those 2 for deer browse.

 

[SD51555]

Ash is the preferred stump sprout at my place in Ontario

Ash gets demolished at my place. When I drop ash in the winter, I could drop it next to dogwood and birch and maple, and that ash would still be #1 browse.

 

[Ben.MN/WI]

Deer in in SE MN really like browsing on elm in winter. I try to thin some elms out in late winter when the deer can use the extra calories.