It seems I'm sweating regardless of temp. We move fast.Was it super cold? I cut on Friday to get some browse down ahead of this cold snap and they were hanging on for dear life! Seemed to hold, hold, hold, snap!
We back cut and snap cut 95% of trees. Hinge smaller stuff in small pockets where appropriate
#1 tree to be extra careful with is Black Oak. They all want to barber chair
Hardwood11
It is going to be a good fall!
I’ve always had tough time cutting any oak ! Not saying you shouldn’t, it’s a mental block for me !
Black oak in particular is basically worthless. Produces an acorn that is not desirable and the lumber is worthless.
Hardwood11
It is going to be a good fall!
Hmm, I actually never realized that . We don’t have them in my area of Minnesota. I have mostly all Bur Oak in Western IA.
Tmayer13
Well-Known Member
Legend says it's still standing to this day...
it's the ole opposing double snap cut technique, classic pro-level cut
JNRBRONC
Well-Known Member
Transplanted this black oak when it sprouted in the yard. Got two of them side by side at the farm, no regrets. Saw deer vacuuming up acorns from the parent tree this past winter.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
That doesn't look like a black oak to me. I've never seen that leaf color. Also bark.looks smooth?
Transplanted this black oak when it sprouted in the yard. Got two of them side by side at the farm, no regrets. Saw deer vacuuming up acorns from the parent tree this past winter.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
JNRBRONC
Well-Known Member
That's where I was uncertain since I did not know much about the parent oak tree. Squirrels keep planting acorns in the yard, some local reds, some local white oak acorns. Need to get some white oaks started (besides the Swamp White's that have been producing mast for the last 5 years).
smithhunter1975
Active Member
Did some TSI work this weekend on a bedding ridge and really made a mess! There was already a fair amount of deadfalls laying around from some fallen ash and elm trees. I cut a TON of ironwood trees and it is now a tangled mess that I am afraid deer will feel trapped and not use. How do you handle this? Cut random paths through the tangled mess? How do you know when it is too tangled? Unfortunately I didn't take any pictures to post.
LoessHillsArcher
PMA Member
When we cut we make piles and make trails/pockets. Takes more time but feel it's worth it. I always felt the same way as you stated, just dropping trees and making a mess seemed counterproductive.
booneriverbucks
PMA Member
I started to tackle a similar project last year. Unfortunately didn’t come up with an easy solution other than dragging all the ironwoods to a place I didn’t mind trashing or turning into a tangled mess. Like some smarter people have said on here maybe a year or two after you drop them and are done making a mess a fire might take care of them and the regrowth.
letemgrow
PMA Member
Shingle oaks make some great "Nurseries" for other more valuable trees. Worked on some a couple weeks ago that were cleared out around some swamp white oaks, walnuts, and black oaks. At the end of the video, there's a swamp white oak that I dropped a few shingles from around it.
Those shingle oaks stump sprouts will provide a bounty of food for deer this next growing season. The other shingle oaks that are not impeding growth of more valuable assets are left for acorn production.
Those shingle oaks stump sprouts will provide a bounty of food for deer this next growing season. The other shingle oaks that are not impeding growth of more valuable assets are left for acorn production.
Tmayer13
Well-Known Member
I would bet that you may be overthinking it a bit. "Making a mess" is the basic idea. The deer will typically find a way in and out of areas unless its just an impenetrable wall. If that is the case your best bet now is go through and cut some lanes...This will be a timely venture. But in the future, you dont always need to fell a tree. Sometimes you can girdle or hack/squirt to get the trees dead and sunlight to the floor.
Each TSI or bedding thicket is different so it's very tough to tell you what is or was right to do in your situation. And I know Ironwood sucks and renders basically useless, it does offer a decent amount of standing cover that lasts throughout a year.
Post some pics if you get the chance!
smithhunter1975
Active Member
Thanks for this insight. You are probably right about overthinking and stressing, I normally do! The large trees, maybe 8" diameter and larger I do tend to girdle and treat. The trees smaller than 8" are what I have dropped, I would say most of them are 5" and smaller. I will probably go back and cut out trails, at least the well defined trails to make sure they can easily get through them. Will also try to take some pictures when I am back out there, have several other areas I want to work in and definitely want to get feedback before I screw everything up!