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Timber Stand Improvment

I think I'll try treating them next time I'm out - they're impossible to kill otherwise. They just resprout from the stump. Make some good browse for the deer at least. I should add - I've never had much success killing any tree in the spring when the sap is flowing. From mullberries to black locust - late summer through winter has always been better for me.

Might even try hack and squirt method on them - there's so many of them like you said - 1000s and 1000s in a timber. Just waiting to shade out the entire timber...
 
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Is there any value at all in birch trees? Bought a section with a lot of smaller ones and getting ready to put some down along with the other weed trees to thicken an area up.
 
risto2351 said:
Is there any value at all in birch trees? Bought a section with a lot of smaller ones and getting ready to put some down along with the other weed trees to thicken an area up.
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Not much, especially small ones. You could try selling to the craft market. If you have a lot, there are other markets. I know someone who sold a bunch in the UP of Michigan. Clear cut operation on a huge track.
 
Thank you, I thought so but I just want to check before I hinge a bunch to keep poachers from seeing up into my section.
 
I wanted to increase my bedding/cover so I signed up for a TSI program through Missouri Conservation Dept last year. Funding was approved and finding the contractor was up to me, I found a contractor out of Kirksville and had an 18 acre patch TSI'd in late January. This was ultimately paid for in full by the NWTF, they paid me, I paid the contractor, the MO private land specialist came out initially to look it over then after the work was completed for review. It's mostly south and east facing slopes with overcrowded white oaks, red oak, walnut, elm and ironwood. I've been cutting trails through the dropped timber to do two things, funnel the deer and act as a firebreak. A misconception that I had was the actual dropped timber being the end result "cover & bedding" but he explained to me I needed to burn the area next spring and that will release all the undergrowth. The white oaks were so crowded and he told me a bunch need to come down, now they have room to grow. Really looking forward to seeing how this progresses over the next several years


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Weed tree removal was a focus of mine this spring in a timber we had done some heavy TSI work 8 yrs ago. The midstory canopy was thick with hackberry, elm, and mulberry so I cut and girdled nearly 100% of them down. Snapped this pic from the timber edge this weekend and you can see the midstory canopy is opened up! Going to get in there this weekend with a hatchet and squirt bottle of remedy ultra and see if I can’t control the weedy trees some more and snap some more pics!

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The small property I just bought has some big bur oaks but most of the timber is overrun with weed trees, mulberry, elms, and others still to be determined. What's the best course of action as far as TSI. I don't want to clear cut it. Should I focus on killing invasives and larger mulberries/elms? This property is mostly just for deer hunting but I have to also keep future resale in mind.
 
HawkeyeStateHogs said:
The small property I just bought has some big bur oaks but most of the timber is overrun with weed trees, mulberry, elms, and others still to be determined. What's the best course of action as far as TSI. I don't want to clear cut it. Should I focus on killing invasives and larger mulberries/elms? This property is mostly just for deer hunting but I have to also keep future resale in mind.
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I don't mind some mulberry. They grow in a tangled mess and provide decent cover & food source to critters. Elm on the other hand.... makes good firewood and that's about it. I cut every elm I see. Call your local state forester available thru the Iowa DNR. They will schedule an apt and walk your property with you for FREE. This will go a long way in helping you identifying your trees and coming up with a good plan based on your goals.
 
Anyone have a source to buy the good solvent based tree marking paint locally (Des Moines area)? Can order online, but shipping and "hazardous" material fees are more expensive that the paint itself. Not the end of the world, but be nice of someone knew a local place.
 
Thanks for all the info in this thread. Bought 20 acres of timber in October and can’t wait to do some TSI. I contacted my area dnr forester and will be walking it with him after deer season. I have lots of shag bark hickory, walnut, white and red oaks and lots of other stuff I’m needing his education on. I know there is a ton of hackberry. Wanting to benefit my crop trees and create some cover for turkeys and deer. Should be a fun few years ahead.


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cybball said:
Thanks for all the info in this thread. Bought 20 acres of timber in October and can’t wait to do some TSI. I contacted my area dnr forester and will be walking it with him after deer season. I have lots of shag bark hickory, walnut, white and red oaks and lots of other stuff I’m needing his education on. I know there is a ton of hackberry. Wanting to benefit my crop trees and create some cover for turkeys and deer. Should be a fun few years ahead.


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Just in case you did not know this...plan on completing your TSI work by say mid to late April. If you get into May and June, etc, you can facilitate the spreading of disease. I remember a forester sharing this with me once..."Do not prune in May or June"...or something pretty close to that. :)
 
Daver said:
Just in case you did not know this...plan on completing your TSI work by say mid to late April. If you get into May and June, etc, you can facilitate the spreading of disease. I remember a forester sharing this with me once..."Do not prune in May or June"...or something pretty close to that. :)
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Thanks. Yes, I plan to have my cutting done by mid March (at least what I can get to). He said we can break up the property in projects. I thought that sounded great as I’ll be doing most of it myself.


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Last weekend I was out to fix a gate on my place. While there I double girdled a black locust that is roughly 10-12 inch diameter. Only one I have seen and wanted it dead. Will that do the job or should I also be using a herbicide?


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