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Post by mnaaron on Dec 25, 2020 10:18:37 GMT -6
Wish I could post pics. The entire woods is approx 120 acres with the vast majority set aside as sanctuaries. Some sanctuaries are willows and conifers so that we can leave alone but others might be 20-25 acres of mixed hardwoods and softwoods and I am wondering do I tornado the entire 25 acres or be more strategic and only do certain sections to make them bed in certain areas and each year clear cut a new area so over time there is always a newer area and a transition occurring. If you do smaller areas and they hold doe groups would not take a rocket scientist to know where the bucks cruise downwind during rut. Then you could stagger every 7 years or so and as one fades another becomes prime. Lots more diversity and edge and your parcel does not have to peak and fade. That is what I was thinking too Brooks and was going to try and let some areas continue to mature so we can sit downwind of the sanctuaries a little easier and access these areas better by promoting bedding in other areas. |
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Post by Bwoods11 on Dec 25, 2020 14:25:09 GMT -6
My best sanctuary in MN is a mix of hinge cut timber and swamp.
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Post by MN Slick on Dec 28, 2020 7:58:09 GMT -6
We created bedding pockets in our sanctuaries by hinge cutting but didn't have much luck with deer bedding in them consistently. Overall I believe it's hard to get them to shift from their preferred bedding. After all, they bed there for a reason and unless something changes with the preferred bedding why would they leave it.
I'd enhance the bedding they are currently using if needed rather than trying to create new bedding.
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Post by Bwoods11 on Dec 28, 2020 9:00:47 GMT -6
Boxelder trees are easy to hinge, sprout up really nice. I’ve had good luck creating bedding by cutting Boxelder, and they are worthless anyway.
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Post by smsmith on Dec 28, 2020 9:21:31 GMT -6
Boxelder trees are easy to hinge, sprout up really nice. I’ve had good luck creating bedding by cutting Boxelder, and they are worthless anyway. I've got a large boxelder that I hinged 7 or 8 years ago. It is not only alive, it is thriving. The trunk is putting down roots all along the length. I will probably be able to hinge new growth in another year or two. Deer here browse new/tender growth of boxelder, so they at least have that value (but I agree, they're pretty worthless trees) |
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Post by Catscratch on Dec 28, 2020 9:38:21 GMT -6
We created bedding pockets in our sanctuaries by hinge cutting but didn't have much luck with deer bedding in them consistently. Overall I believe it's hard to get them to shift from their preferred bedding. After all, they bed there for a reason and unless something changes with the preferred bedding why would they leave it. I'd enhance the bedding they are currently using if needed rather than trying to create new bedding. I struggle with this idea. I tend to agree that it's useless to try to get them to leave what they already prefer for another area. With that said it wasn't to long ago that Batman posted pics of bedding that he had worked over and said that his deer had increased use to the area significantly. I'm trying to learn the nuances that make a decent bedding area a great bedding area, or entice new bedding. |
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Post by smsmith on Dec 28, 2020 9:44:39 GMT -6
I think bedding is similar to a number of things in a deer's world, sometimes it takes a few generations before changes are made.
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Post by batman on Dec 28, 2020 10:53:24 GMT -6
I think Preferred bedding is Undisturbed, flat, dry, has back and side cover and a downwind view. If your land does not have spots will all of those features bedding deer can be tough.
Some spots only need some back and side cover. One tree top could make it gold. Done this in old red pine areas with great success.
When i do saw work in areas try make sure I can Check every box, so the odds of intended use climb.
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Post by mnaaron on Dec 28, 2020 11:59:37 GMT -6
Thanks guys. Here is what it looked like years ago and the deer loved it. I am going to clear cut as much of the softwoods and maples as I can to get the stem counts back up there. I need to find a good mechanical way to do this. My partners feel chainsaws are the only way unless you are logging it. I have never had good success hinge cutting.  |
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Post by mnaaron on Dec 28, 2020 12:00:44 GMT -6
Wanted to also try and load a pic since haven’t been able to do it for awhile. Thanks for bearing with me
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Post by sd51555 on Dec 28, 2020 12:04:23 GMT -6
Now U got me wondering if I can post pics this morning.  |
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Post by mnaaron on Dec 28, 2020 12:23:25 GMT -6
Now U got me wondering if I can post pics this morning. I like your pics much better...remember the good ole days when Brad use to post good pics?? Then he got married |
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Post by smsmith on Dec 28, 2020 12:32:16 GMT -6
Now U got me wondering if I can post pics this morning. I'd be afraid of a dick popping out of those bikini bottoms when the rest of the body looks like that |
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Post by sd51555 on Dec 28, 2020 12:39:04 GMT -6
Now U got me wondering if I can post pics this morning. I'd be afraid of a dick popping out of those bikini bottoms when the rest of the body looks like that Einhorn is not Finkle here. I’ve been watching like a hawk for years.  |
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Post by smsmith on Dec 28, 2020 12:46:17 GMT -6
^^^I didn't really think she had a dick, just that she has the body fat of a dude training for the triathlon  I don't need a gal that can kick my ass |
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