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Post by wiscwhip on Mar 29, 2018 12:33:22 GMT -6
I was doing some more thinking on the use of the forestry mulcher to clear these areas. It might be better(but a ton more work) to do the openings by hand so you can manipulate the bedding areas by using the downed cedars as backdrops/overhead cover and you could drop them in such a way as to provide multiple "beds" within the opening for small family groups of does, and even create smaller, single "buck bed" openings in between the larger openings in the thickest areas. We all know if the does are there during the rut, the big boys will be snooping around. The mulcher option sounds great and would be super easy, but it would limit your options and the trees you drop would be essentially useless, whereas if you cut them by hand they could be put to use for something other than wood chips. Good point, I think I should just take it a few acres at a time...trim or cut where needed. Tip a few. Excuse to get some buddies with a chainsaw to come down, and then drink beer after!! I would agree with this. Start with one or two small areas and see over the course of this year how it affects deer patterns. Since this is your new place, I am assuming you don't have a full grasp on how the deer use the place anyway, so jumping in with both feet could be detrimental to some extent. I know everyone will say that red cedar won't survive hinge cutting, but so what, if you find ones that are where you want them, don't be afraid to just hinge them and push them over the direction you want them and if you get lucky and even end up with a few survivors, it is a win. You can fell and drag others where you want them if need be.
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Post by Bwoods11 on Mar 29, 2018 12:46:20 GMT -6
Good point, I think I should just take it a few acres at a time...trim or cut where needed. Tip a few. Excuse to get some buddies with a chainsaw to come down, and then drink beer after!! I would agree with this. Start with one or two small areas and see over the course of this year how it affects deer patterns. Since this is your new place, I am assuming you don't have a full grasp on how the deer use the place anyway, so jumping in with both feet could be detrimental to some extent. I know everyone will say that red cedar won't survive hinge cutting, but so what, if you find ones that are where you want them, don't be afraid to just hinge them and push them over the direction you want them and if you get lucky and even end up with a few survivors, it is a win. You can fell and drag others where you want them if need be. I definitely do not know the farm yet. Learning experience. There is a guy 3 miles to the south that has 600 acres and he has been very helpful. He is on Iowawhitetail....has around 600 acres. At one time Greg Miller used to hunt his farm (some old videos on Youtube). They have a nice history of mature bucks.
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Post by Sandbur on Mar 29, 2018 15:04:25 GMT -6
Talked to the neighbor in Iowa and he mentioned that his cedars (blocks) are great spots for late summer bucks to get away from the heat. Stays cooler in the cedars and fewer bugs he said. On warm days during the rut, I like my north slope with the cedars. And I have a waterhole there.
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Post by Sandbur on Mar 29, 2018 15:15:50 GMT -6
Good point, I think I should just take it a few acres at a time...trim or cut where needed. Tip a few. Excuse to get some buddies with a chainsaw to come down, and then drink beer after!! I would agree with this. Start with one or two small areas and see over the course of this year how it affects deer patterns. Since this is your new place, I am assuming you don't have a full grasp on how the deer use the place anyway, so jumping in with both feet could be detrimental to some extent. I know everyone will say that red cedar won't survive hinge cutting, but so what, if you find ones that are where you want them, don't be afraid to just hinge them and push them over the direction you want them and if you get lucky and even end up with a few survivors, it is a win. You can fell and drag others where you want them if need be. My attempts at bedding areas in the cedars have mostly ended up as blockades instead. For this year, I have decided to just stay out! I would get to know the Deer flow before doing too much work on bedding areas.
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Post by Bwoods11 on Jan 10, 2019 11:06:03 GMT -6
We are going to widen some of the current trails in the cedars, and also cut down some cedars in the existing pasture (5 acres). Clean out as many lower branches on some key locations. My back hurts thinking about it.
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Post by batman on Jan 10, 2019 13:18:42 GMT -6
If you top cut a cedar will it die? Be interested in seeing top cuts low enough sun could come a grow grass.
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Post by smallchunk on Jan 10, 2019 13:26:34 GMT -6
Very limited experience, but I cut 3/4 of one on the edge of my plot last winter. Left just a licking branch, topped it and cut the whole backside off. The licking branch part was still growing this fall.
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Post by Sandbur on Jan 10, 2019 13:29:07 GMT -6
We are going to widen some of the current trails in the cedars, and also cut down some cedars in the existing pasture (5 acres). Clean out as many lower branches on some key locations. My back hurts thinking about it. One land manager ( now deceased) recommended making deer trails no more than about 2 foot wide. Just big enough for man to walk through. Bucks felt more secure there and he did not want them to become at trails.
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Post by MN Slick on Jan 11, 2019 7:54:59 GMT -6
Topping cedars does not kill them, they will expand outward below the top cut though.
Does Iowa have a cost share program that you can take advantage of? I had money a cedar thicket project in MO but sold the farm before we executed the plan. The plan was to clear much of it out to let sunlight in but leave some groves and thin them out in strategic spots for bedding.
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Post by Bwoods11 on Jan 11, 2019 8:18:09 GMT -6
I think there is a cost share program.
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Post by MoBuckChaser on Jan 11, 2019 9:41:29 GMT -6
I have shared pictures of hinge cut cedars that have made it. As long as you leave a couple feet of bottom branches they will keep going. One thing I did 6 years ago was plant a bunch of wild plum in pockets of cedars. You want the ultimate bedding area, try that!
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Post by Catscratch on Jan 11, 2019 9:46:24 GMT -6
I'm with Mo on the plum thing. Woody shrubs mixed with cedar is an awesome combo!
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Post by Bwoods11 on Jan 11, 2019 9:46:28 GMT -6
I have shared pictures of hinge cut cedars that have made it. As long as you leave a couple feet of bottom branches they will keep going. One thing I did 6 years ago was plant a bunch of wild plum in pockets of cedars. You want the ultimate bedding area, try that! That is a good idea. I will plant a few shingle oak/red oak/ and a few hybrids in the openings as well, they keep their leaves and help provide diverse cover.
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Post by MoBuckChaser on Jan 11, 2019 9:51:08 GMT -6
I have shared pictures of hinge cut cedars that have made it. As long as you leave a couple feet of bottom branches they will keep going. One thing I did 6 years ago was plant a bunch of wild plum in pockets of cedars. You want the ultimate bedding area, try that! That is a good idea. I will plant a few shingle oak/red oak/ and a few hybrids in the openings as well, they keep their leaves and help provide diverse cover. You will need Titanium cages of some type around wild plums to try and keep the deer away so they can get established inside an existing bedding area.....Trust Me!
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Post by benmnwi on Jan 11, 2019 10:03:15 GMT -6
Wild plums are great deer cover. I really like the cedar/plum suggestion from Mo.
Once they get big enough they can really take some heavy browsing though and they also send out underground runners and new trees sprout up around the parent tree. I have a few nice patches on my land and the deer really like those areas. They browse the little plums on the edge all year and bed in the middle by the big plums.
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