Edge areas?

[loneranger]

I was just reading the last entry by dbltree, about creating more young growth by cutting down maturing trees, making new funnels. I have been looking at my land. I have a good mix of timber, and open fields already, with the deer funnels mostly already inplace. I did notice,,however,,that saplings were spreading into my open areas, and getting bigger by the yr. If I didn't do something,,they soon would be taking over. So I began to rid the openings of the sapling trees. Keeping things the way they are,,I guess is what I am doing. Is this a good tactic? Or should I be letting some open areas fill in,,while making other areas open?

 

[dbltree]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Keeping things the way they are,,I guess is what I am doing. Is this a good tactic? </div></div>

Hmmm...well.... /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

Here's my question....is everything working the way it is?

Are you seeing and harvesting mature bucks on a regular basis?

Are mature bucks using the current funnels and cover?

If you kill the saplings and create and "open" area...what then?

The saplings most likely are junk trees like hickories, maples, boxelders, locust and a host of others including shingle oak.

In an open area I would want: crops, prairie grass, food plots or new tree plantings.

Give me some feedback on your goals versus your satisfaction with the way things are now... /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/smile.gif

 

[loneranger]

Thank you for your interest. I am satified with the way the deer move now. I have food plots in some of the open areas. The open areas are just that,,open field areas. With funnels of brush and trees of various ages, and thick bedding areas. I know deer like edge areas, so I am trying to keep things the way they are. I figure the transition brush growth, the deer will utilize. I do not see many animals above 2 1/2 yrs old, but I figure other factors are responsible for that, including neighbors, nearby farming.

 

[dbltree]

In your case it probally is best to keep the brush cut back because I suspect it has little value other then deer cover.

Is there anything else you could plant there instead of fighting trees?

One thing nice about prairie grass is that you can burn it and set back new trees that pop up. /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif

 

[loneranger]

Not much planting unless it can be done by hand with no equip. I have tried to interest farmers in some of the 10 acres of field I have to plant something, but no takers. Some of my habitat is not too accessible.Don't have alot of $ to hire ground tilled.

 

[letemgrow]

LR,

I would have to recommend some apple trees or some other trees, shrubs for that area to put some food in there and still keep it open.

 

[dbltree]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Not much planting unless it can be done by hand with no equip. </div></div>

No equipment needed for establishing native prairie!

Kill the sod with roundup in a backpack sprayer (I'll loan you mine /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/wink.gif )

Broadcast seed by hand...

Clip it the first year or two and hopefully burn it down the road a few years...

That's it!

Establish trees as letmgrow suggested...

a shovel...

Piece cake! /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cool.gif /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif

 

[letemgrow]

I did the same Paul, I went in one fall, sprayed the area, scatter seeded big blue that winter and then just mowed it the next summer and here is what it looks like now.

 

[letemgrow]

Indian grass strip done the same way.

 

[dbltree]

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: letemgrow</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I did the same Paul, I went in one fall, sprayed the area, scatter seeded big blue that winter and then just mowed it the next summer and here is what it looks like now.

</div></div>

Can't beat that with a stick!! /forum/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/cool.gif