|
|
Post by Bwoods11 on Jun 9, 2021 10:07:20 GMT -6
What is your guys opinion on this. I used to believe thick-thick is the best, but changed my tune a bit. I like a mix now, heavy thick (some hinge cut) and some open. This has been from observation. Turkeys seem to like it open, deer will bed in thick areas, but seek does during rut in more open timber. Deer will feed on acorns more in the open timber as well. Just my two cents
Note...a guy on MO whitetails seems to have this debate on his mind. Interesting topic I think!
|
|
|
|
Post by smsmith on Jun 9, 2021 10:17:27 GMT -6
My goal is to always have chunks of my property in an early successional stage, so that tends to lean towards "thick". Since I manage with a chainsaw, the property doesn't get all opened up at the same time. The end result is kind of a checkerboard of woods at different stages. Maintaining some areas (trails and plots) means there's a lot of edge. I like edge for deer. I will say that most of my woods is too thick for turkeys. That doesn't bother me at all.
|
|
|
|
Post by Catscratch on Jun 9, 2021 10:54:44 GMT -6
Interesting! I've been considering a timber burn but not sure which season is appropriate to light a fire in the woods. I need to reach out to dgallow, he knows timber burning well.
|
|
|
|
Post by sd51555 on Jun 9, 2021 11:06:40 GMT -6
I'm with Stu on this. I like to have it all over the map. I think every stage has it's benefits whether big canopy is good for buds for grouse and slowing down big winds, a fresh disaster is good for ground cover, a year old cut is good for browse, and a few year old cut is good for durable cover and soft/hard mast improvement.
|
|
|
|
Post by Sandbur on Jun 9, 2021 11:32:52 GMT -6
I am not a fan of open, mature timber with no brush. Also not a fan of oak savannah. I can drive somewhere to look at oak savanna.
Maybe it is because I grew up in the northwoods.
I am with Stu on thick keeping the feathered rats at a distance.
I just can’t see what oak savanna or mature hardwoods and no browse can offer a deer when there is three foot of snow on the ground. Winter is the stress period where I live.
|
|
|
|
Post by kooch on Jun 9, 2021 11:33:58 GMT -6
More buckthorn is the answer.
|
|
|
|
Post by Sandbur on Jun 9, 2021 11:40:36 GMT -6
More buckthorn is the answer. i got plenty! |
|
|
|
Post by Sandbur on Jun 9, 2021 11:42:38 GMT -6
What is your guys opinion on this. I used to believe thick-thick is the best, but changed my tune a bit. I like a mix now, heavy thick (some hinge cut) and some open. This has been from observation. Turkeys seem to like it open, deer will bed in thick areas, but seek does during rut in more open timber. Deer will feed on acorns more in the open timber as well. Just my two cents
Note...a guy on MO whitetails seems to have this debate on his mind. Interesting topic I think!
I think hunting pressure and rifle versus shotgun zone are some of the factors involved. With newer shotguns and muzzle loaders, the differences may be blurred. |
|
|
|
Post by Bwoods11 on Jun 9, 2021 11:56:11 GMT -6
I can tell you a true oak savanna with the chest high grass is really neat, and wildlife love it. Might be more of a Kansas/Nebraska/SD thing! Minnesota has very few Savannas (outside of NW MN).
|
|
|
|
Post by Catscratch on Jun 9, 2021 12:37:56 GMT -6
Looks like dormant season burns are the ticket (after felling mid-level trees and basal spraying smaller undesirables). This particular plan of attack is aimed at creating just enough sunlight to get some NWSG going for cattle, but keeping mature mast producers safe. I think some modification could keep patches of cover alive and other patches available for forbs. Have half a year to think it over but I do have to say that starting a fire spooks me every time.
|
|
|
|
Post by benmnwi on Jun 9, 2021 12:44:20 GMT -6
I like thick stuff to give them a place to hide during the shotgun season. Having some open woods is nice because then I have a pretty good idea of where the deer won't be bedding, so I won't spook anything walking to and from stands.
|
|
|
|
Post by terrifictom on Jun 9, 2021 13:15:47 GMT -6
I always thought that the thicker the better, but about 8 years ago I noticed I had few mature bucks on my property during summer. My property was thick as all hell, does with fawns and young bucks love it. The neighbors across road were getting pictures of a lot of mature bucks with a lot of antler growth in the summer. Their woods were very mature and wide open. Some of the bucks would move over to my woods in the fall but not all of them. As my woods start to mature (17 years since it was select cut) I have more mature bucks spending summer and fall on my land. My theory is that the mature bucks with more antler growth prefer the open woods as they have less chance of bumping their antlers when in velvet. It is just a theory but I have also saw it in the Northwoods when bear guiding. I usually see several mature bucks before they have shed when baiting and they are always spotted in the open hardwoods when I am out baiting.
|
|
|
|
Post by smsmith on Jun 9, 2021 13:22:30 GMT -6
I always thought that the thicker the better, but about 8 years ago I noticed I had few mature bucks on my property during summer. My property was thick as all hell, does with fawns and young bucks love it. The neighbors across road were getting pictures of a lot of mature bucks with a lot of antler growth in the summer. Their woods were very mature and wide open. Some of the bucks would move over to my woods in the fall but not all of them. As my woods start to mature (17 years since it was select cut) I have more mature bucks spending summer and fall on my land. My theory is that the mature bucks with more antler growth prefer the open woods as they have less chance of bumping their antlers when in velvet. It is just a theory but I have also saw it in the Northwoods when bear guiding. I usually see several mature bucks before they have shed when baiting and they are always spotted in the open hardwoods when I am out baiting. I agree with your theory. I see it here every year. By leaf drop, it changes to the opposite (here anyway) |
|
|
|
Post by Bwoods11 on Jun 9, 2021 13:38:07 GMT -6
I’ve seen many beautiful bucks chasing does in open timbered pasture in Iowa. Terrible habitat but they like to pin does down in those areas...
|
|
|
|
Post by Sandbur on Jun 9, 2021 15:07:00 GMT -6
I can tell you a true oak savanna with the chest high grass is really neat, and wildlife love it. Might be more of a Kansas/Nebraska/SD thing! Minnesota has very few Savannas (outside of NW MN). The light soils in our area have warped my views on NWSG. They are pretty to look at, but in dry years seldom provide much cover. Our better soils are in crop production. |
|
