Post Timber Harvest Management

[FINONYMOUS]

Creating Brush Piles for Quail

quailforever.org

That’s a good read. I put in the contract that slash was to be spread out and not piled, but the loggers have also done a good job of making long narrow piles 3-4’ tall at the heads/edges of the ravines to help contain some of the soil. It is really amazing how much it has transformed the property already. It has accentuated the funnels that are already present in the topography.

I’m looking forward to seeing what’s in the seed bank over the next few years. I know there will be a bunch of annuals the first year, but I’m really curious if any native open woodland/savanna species are present.

 

[RGrizzzz]

Creating Brush Piles for Quail

quailforever.org

I'm curious how this might apply to Ruffed Grouse. Any thoughts?

 

[omicron1792]

I'm curious how this might apply to Ruffed Grouse. Any thoughts?

I don’t know as much about grouse. My guess would be the theory still holds.

Small brush areas that simulate shrubs and bushes can be good for ground birds. Allows hiding areas that can easily be moved through for birds.

Large piles attract nest predators and have a net negative effect.

 

[Double Creek]

Creating Brush Piles for Quail

quailforever.org

Thx for sharing this, I really like this idea.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

No experience with fire - but our camp has done several loggings over the past 30 years. I can tell you, if you want rapid regrowth of oaks, maples, and/or poplar trees, put some cages around those stumps for about 3 or 4 years. The established, big root systems of those logged trees will sprout many stump-sprouts quickly, due to stored energy in those roots. That'll give you some good cover and browse for deer, and turkeys to nest in. You can hand-thin/prune the sprouts, or let nature self-thin them to the strongest sprouts, which will become trees. Our caged oak stumps became browse / cover for about 5 years, then they self-thinned to anywhere from 2 to 4 growing trees, heading to maturity = acorns and future timber harvest down the road.

We let nature dictate what came up in open logged areas, as far as forbs were concerned. They're free. We left tops lay for extra cover, which deer and turkeys loved. They moved right into those tops for browsing and nesting cover. Where the tops laid, new seedlings & saplings came up through them since deer couldn't get to them easily - kind of a free fencing. Where trails were really torn up, we threw grain rye down - it grows easily just about anywhere, plus it makes food & some cover for turkey poults. FWIW.

 

[bigboreblr]

I do about 8ft daimeter brush piles maybe 2ft tall or so.

I have seen predator in large ones before.

Grouse love downed trees. Add a bit of brush to one.

Skidsteer is just fien for what you need to do. Point the bucket down at a 20 or 30 deg angle and backdrag to make a seedbed for rye or clover. Made a few foodplots with just the bucket. You can also drag stuff like chain harrows and small disc cultivators. Discs are great for working firebreaks.

 

[FINONYMOUS]

No experience with fire - but our camp has done several loggings over the past 30 years. I can tell you, if you want rapid regrowth of oaks, maples, and/or poplar trees, put some cages around those stumps for about 3 or 4 years. The established, big root systems of those logged trees will sprout many stump-sprouts quickly, due to stored energy in those roots. That'll give you some good cover and browse for deer, and turkeys to nest in. You can hand-thin/prune the sprouts, or let nature self-thin them to the strongest sprouts, which will become trees. Our caged oak stumps became browse / cover for about 5 years, then they self-thinned to anywhere from 2 to 4 growing trees, heading to maturity = acorns and future timber harvest down the road.

We let nature dictate what came up in open logged areas, as far as forbs were concerned. They're free. We left tops lay for extra cover, which deer and turkeys loved. They moved right into those tops for browsing and nesting cover. Where the tops laid, new seedlings & saplings came up through them since deer couldn't get to them easily - kind of a free fencing. Where trails were really torn up, we threw grain rye down - it grows easily just about anywhere, plus it makes food & some cover for turkey poults. FWIW.

Good idea, I’ll throw some cages together on a rainy day in preparation for that. I was also thinking of planting some Swamp White Oaks and Chickasaw plums in a few areas.

That’s the plan for the most part, but several of the areas, particularly the south and west slopes, along with some of the ridge top I want to keep in early succession. Plan to plant some crimson clover and wheat along the roadsides and on the flat tops of the finger ridges. Kind of hoping for that “feathered” transition from clover/wheat, to early succession, to closed canopy in the ravines & drainages. Still a lot of dreaming and hard work, but that’s the goal.

 

[FINONYMOUS]

I do about 8ft daimeter brush piles maybe 2ft tall or so.

I have seen predator in large ones before.

Grouse love downed trees. Add a bit of brush to one.

Skidsteer is just fien for what you need to do. Point the bucket down at a 20 or 30 deg angle and backdrag to make a seedbed for rye or clover. Made a few foodplots with just the bucket. You can also drag stuff like chain harrows and small disc cultivators. Discs are great for working firebreaks.

The biggest issue I am going to have for awhile is working around the stumps for soil prep. I plan on leaving all the stumps on the majority of the property, mostly because it would cost a fortune to have them all removed.

 

[SD51555]

The biggest issue I am going to have for awhile is working around the stumps for soil prep. I plan on leaving all the stumps on the majority of the property, mostly because it would cost a fortune to have them all removed.

The ones you do want to get rid of eventually, put some granular salt on them. It’ll kill them, the deer like it, and it doesn’t leave a dead spot. 1/4 thick over the top does the trick. And no toxins that way.

The deer will even help to start digging them up.

Depending on the stump variety, they come out much easier after a few years for the roots to rot away. I’m yanking a quarter acre of fresh stumps this week from large to small.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Good idea, I’ll throw some cages together on a rainy day in preparation for that. I was also thinking of planting some Swamp White Oaks and Chickasaw plums in a few areas.

That’s the plan for the most part, but several of the areas, particularly the south and west slopes, along with some of the ridge top I want to keep in early succession. Plan to plant some crimson clover and wheat along the roadsides and on the flat tops of the finger ridges. Kind of hoping for that “feathered” transition from clover/wheat, to early succession, to closed canopy in the ravines & drainages. Still a lot of dreaming and hard work, but that’s the goal.

My advice in post #25 is for the stumps you want to keep. SD51555 in post # 29 has great advice for any stumps you want to get rid of over time. As SD says, the salt will draw deer to kick & chew apart stumps with salt on them. We've done that with a few stumps over the years, and we didn't get any stump sprouts either, as SD pointed out. Don't know what part of the country your in - your avatar doesn't clue us in on your location - which can help with advice or tips from the guys on here. Good luck with your habitat work!

 

[FINONYMOUS]

My advice in post #25 is for the stumps you want to keep. SD51555 in post # 29 has great advice for any stumps you want to get rid of over time. As SD says, the salt will draw deer to kick & chew apart stumps with salt on them. We've done that with a few stumps over the years, and we didn't get any stump sprouts either, as SD pointed out. Don't know what part of the country your in - your avatar doesn't clue us in on your location - which can help with advice or tips from the guys on here. Good luck with your habitat work!

Yeah I understood that.
I’m in Arkansas (mentioned in post #1)

 

[Bowsnbucks]

Yeah I understood that.
I’m in Arkansas (mentioned in post #1)

Sorry - I missed your Arkansas location. Keep us posted on your habitat progress.