They're Logging My Huntin' Spot!!

[chuck41]

Just found out that the timber company is apparently selectively cutting timber on our hunting lease. Apparently thinning out about half the larger pines. I was so looking forward to some quality ML hunting right after Christmas with my ML10.

Anyone have any experience as to how long the deer tend to flee from such operations, and how far? I have one stand just across the borderline of the area where they are logging and two more about 1/4 mile north of it.

Maybe it will just run the deer over to my other stands?? (Hopeful thinking) I would sure like to get another nice sized deer during the late rifle/ML Christmas season before hanging it up for the year.

[timberman]

Chuck 41, My business is handling logging sales for landowners and that may make me bias but, for the most part the deer can't wait to get at the fresh buds from the tree tops. In some places they will practically come to the sound of a chainsaw. That would of course depend on the amout of available food in the area. The tops will give them a place to hide, and when the sunlight hits the ground this spring, summer the berry briars and small trees will shoot up quite fast and they will be in there to feed on those for the next few years. Where I live we get snow usually from november on and when a cut is in progress there will be fresh tracks every night from hungry and inquisitive deer. Some of my customers will thin there timber stands just to encourage the new growth and keep the deer fed and happy. Im not acquainted with things in your area but I would look at this as more positive than negative. Hope this helps, I'm sure others will have their opinion as well. Shoot the biggest one!

[ozark]

Chuck I have just experienced selective cutting all over our place.
I was concerned that it might result in our having a poor season. We have taken all the deer that we have wanted and if anything it has improved hunting. Improvement in terms as creating more openings and places where we can sow seed to make openings like food plots. Deer hasn't left our area at all. Call it a plus and enjoy your hunt. Pine has little or nothing that helps deer. Ben

[whyohe]

chuck trust me it is a positive. you might have to repattern the deer but they wont leave, like said more will come for the easy grub

[RAF]

A few years ago the environment people along with the resort village decided there should be a fire guard around out subdivision. They clear cut a stretch a couple hundred yards wide and almost 1/2 mile long. All kinds of stuff fell from the tops of the trees. Deer and elk moved right in and were feeding there. After there was all kinds of new growth and grasses growing. It attracted deer and elk like crazy. You shouldn't have a problem.

[chuck41]

Thanks for the encouragement guys. I knew they wouldn't leave for long, but timberman's comment about tracks every morning in the cut area sounds very promising. I was concerned only about the short term affect as I knew that long term it will be positive.

I'll be back down there when the late season opens the 26th looking for a big one. (One of the guys got another bear picture on his trail cam last week)

[ozark]

The loggers have finished with our 115 acres. The skidders left some ugly marks on the land but overall the place looks pretty good. Many trees just under the diameter they took were left so it still looks like wooded area. We are seeing both deer and turkey in the area. Because we can see better, it appears that there are more. Due to this year being without acorns we are feeding pretty heavy, but so are our neighbors. Mineral blocks and salt blocks are scattered all over the area. I suspect the deer are getting harding of the artries. One thing that has helped us, we invited anyone who needed firewood to come and help themselves to easy wood. All have piled the brush into piles that can be used by birds, rabbits or burned as we see fit.

[whyohe]

Ozark sounds pretty good. have you asked the loggers to fix the roads left by the skidders. some laws requre them to do that cause of the erosion it can cause plus the walking hazzard. just a thought.

[ozark]

Some time has passed since the loggers finished and moved on. We have had lots of rain and the scars left have been covered with vegitation and weeds. To just look across the land one cannot tell it has been recently logged. Our land had many old hollow oak trees and many to small to harvest but plenty old enough to bear acorns. It has not seemed to bother the deer and bear. Turkey have been declining here for a few years but they are still a few being sighted on our property. This property has dozens of different types of trees and bushes. So where the sun reaches they grow up quickly to provide cover. Overall, I would say that for wildlife cutting the older trees has been a plus. I had grasses and clover put on all bare spots but the brusth has more or less taken over. Ajoining us is a 1000 acre farm that was turned completely over to wildlife management a few years ago. They are sowing sever acres of soybeans, and all other types of food for the deer. Our place may become the bedding area for what they fatten. They are excellent neighbors and all who hunt there have been informed that if we get over on them it is with prior approval. We have no need to do that as we have more game than we need for ourselves. My point here is that timber cutting on us has been a plus. Ben

[ozark]

My last comments were in July. It is the 10th of October and I can't remember seeing more acorns on the ground. The young whiteoak left seems to all have an abundent crop of acorns. They are just crunching under the tires of my vehicles on the roads. I put out a hundred pounds of corn and a hundred of chops in the feed about a week ago. There is a couple of little cull type bucks visiting the feeder but with the acorns the feed may last the winter. The harvesting of timber has been a very positive improvement for wildlife habitat. No turkey around anymore. I am wondering if they will make a comback in a few years. Ben