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Post by Sandbur on Feb 22, 2021 10:58:05 GMT -6
I might even hire a forestry mulcher for trails this year . Very important I think., I like to keep my woods trails narrow. Deer feel safer in there and I like narrow spots to restrict 4 wheeler access.
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jflonll
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Post by jflonll on Feb 22, 2021 11:38:04 GMT -6
I have about 5 miles of trails about my property. They are about 6 to 8 feet wide. I do mow them about when needed with a brush hog and zero-turn mower. One time I mow one side and the next time the other side. Deer will practically watch me mow. Last year I had doe and fawn bedded down 10 feet from and they did not move. I am in the process of making them all driveable so I don't sink in my blue clay. Trimming is a constant battle. I do groom the trails for cross country skiing in the wintertime. I am going to plant clover along a few of them this year. One of my stands is one the junction of the Highline project. We have shot 2 nice bucks the last 2 years walking down the trail opening morn(5'drag). This year we are going to make a roundabout and have access to 4 shooting lanes.
Trail work has been great entertainment for me as I know my neighbors well when they come to pull me out from my dumbass moves. Last time it took his D6 to rescue me. The problem is that I surrender a lot of my expensive venison for payment.
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Post by nhmountains on Feb 22, 2021 12:23:00 GMT -6
Trails provides two edges. Deer are edge animals. Depending on the surroundings they may choose to use those or something else. It’ll vary from property to property and from season to season.
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Post by kabic on Feb 22, 2021 14:37:49 GMT -6
I do groom the trails for cross country skiing in the wintertime. Curious in what is involved in grooming a trail for cross country skiing.
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Post by Bwoods11 on Feb 22, 2021 14:52:37 GMT -6
I might even hire a forestry mulcher for trails this year . Very important I think., I like to keep my woods trails narrow. Deer feel safer in there and I like narrow spots to restrict 4 wheeler access. I am making ATV trails in this case. We are going to make 80 acres more of a family rec property. Hunting on it yes, but cleaning it up with a cabin or fish house starting this year or next. More of a scenic getaway.
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Post by smsmith on Feb 22, 2021 15:07:17 GMT -6
I just spent a couple hours working on the edge of one of my trails. I had a bunch of ironwoods crowding in as well as some large aspen logs that I'd dropped a few years ago. I've got about another 50 yards to do along that stretch of trail. Deer tracks all over on my trails
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Post by sd51555 on Feb 22, 2021 18:44:38 GMT -6
I just spent a couple hours working on the edge of one of my trails. I had a bunch of ironwoods crowding in as well as some large aspen logs that I'd dropped a few years ago. I've got about another 50 yards to do along that stretch of trail. Deer tracks all over on my trails I almost always carry my silky on my hip, at least on the first trip out each time i'm up. I almost never walk past a stick on the trail or hanging over the trail without dealing with it. That's probably because I dislike having the bigger project to reclaim a trail when the tag alder reaches out and lays down on the trail. I do get a sense of satisfaction from a smooth ride down a clean trail.
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Post by smsmith on Feb 22, 2021 19:10:14 GMT -6
I just spent a couple hours working on the edge of one of my trails. I had a bunch of ironwoods crowding in as well as some large aspen logs that I'd dropped a few years ago. I've got about another 50 yards to do along that stretch of trail. Deer tracks all over on my trails I almost always carry my silky on my hip, at least on the first trip out each time i'm up. I almost never walk past a stick on the trail or hanging over the trail without dealing with it. That's probably because I dislike having the bigger project to reclaim a trail when the tag alder reaches out and lays down on the trail. I do get a sense of satisfaction from a smooth ride down a clean trail. I leave some overhanging branches on my trails. They turn into scrape sites many times.
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Post by Sandbur on Feb 22, 2021 19:56:50 GMT -6
I just spent a couple hours working on the edge of one of my trails. I had a bunch of ironwoods crowding in as well as some large aspen logs that I'd dropped a few years ago. I've got about another 50 yards to do along that stretch of trail. Deer tracks all over on my trails I almost always carry my silky on my hip, at least on the first trip out each time i'm up. I almost never walk past a stick on the trail or hanging over the trail without dealing with it. That's probably because I dislike having the bigger project to reclaim a trail when the tag alder reaches out and lays down on the trail. I do get a sense of satisfaction from a smooth ride down a clean trail. I pick up sticks on the trail, as I want the deer to take the easiest route. I pick up sticks on access trails to keep the access quiet.
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Post by sd51555 on Feb 22, 2021 21:49:23 GMT -6
I almost always carry my silky on my hip, at least on the first trip out each time i'm up. I almost never walk past a stick on the trail or hanging over the trail without dealing with it. That's probably because I dislike having the bigger project to reclaim a trail when the tag alder reaches out and lays down on the trail. I do get a sense of satisfaction from a smooth ride down a clean trail. I leave some overhanging branches on my trails. They turn into scrape sites many times. I'm weak in the scrape department. I never get around to doing anything with them. I've been wanting to try pulling some live trees over in the right spot and tying them down with paracord to keep them alive.
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jflonll
Full Member
Posts: 185
Likes: 158
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Post by jflonll on Feb 22, 2021 23:17:45 GMT -6
I do groom the trails for cross country skiing in the wintertime. Curious in what is involved in grooming a trail for cross country skiing. I have a groomer that I pull with my Gator. The pic shows ny better half on the 6ft wide trail. I also have a track set if I wish to use it
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Post by biglakebass on Feb 22, 2021 23:54:00 GMT -6
Cool! Do you have a pic of the groomer??
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Post by nhmountains on Feb 23, 2021 3:01:31 GMT -6
Curious in what is involved in grooming a trail for cross country skiing. I have a groomer that I pull with my Gator. The pic shows ny better half on the 6ft wide trail. I also have a track set if I wish to use it That’s a nice trail. Your woods in that photo are maturing beyond the browse stage. Will you let them self prune and let them be, manually thin them yourself or clear cut the area again?
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Post by daydreamer on Feb 23, 2021 6:50:14 GMT -6
Curious in what is involved in grooming a trail for cross country skiing. I have a groomer that I pull with my Gator. The pic shows ny better half on the 6ft wide trail. I also have a track set if I wish to use it We definitely need to see a pic of the groomer.
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Post by smsmith on Feb 23, 2021 7:24:27 GMT -6
I leave some overhanging branches on my trails. They turn into scrape sites many times. I'm weak in the scrape department. I never get around to doing anything with them. I've been wanting to try pulling some live trees over in the right spot and tying them down with paracord to keep them alive. The paracord trick works well. It also works well for making "buck tunnels"...I believe good ol' Tony P. was the guy who came up with that concept. I laughed the first time a guy who had been to Tony's "boot camp" told me about it. Then I figured I'd give it a shot in one of my buckthorn thickets. Worked like a charm. Shot a 130"+ buck the first year and another one about the same a couple years later. Paracord tie downs are quite a bit of work though.
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