The first few years after a timber cut creates excellent habitat. Once the pines get to certain size the area becomes a food desert. Susescional harvests are good for many species. Hardwood mast is a much needed food source for large and small game. Need different ages of forest for max wildlife production
I think the conversation is kinda skewed one sided. We’ve been seeing this play out in the River bottoms of Arkansas where selective cutting of hardwoods has taken a massive turn into the cutting of thousands of acres of old growth hardwoods. Hunters were receptive of management timber practices until it just kept going. The new management of the Refuge here has determined it’s a great way to make money and has created a situation where as they want to reduce wild hog populations have created thickets that they can reproduce unhindered. They’re cutting so much timber in such large areas that they are essentially cutting all the large areas that have mature hardwood bottoms. Using only harvest data to make all the determination isn’t productive because hunting is changing. People aren’t hunting to fill freezers, they’re passing does and mid sized bucks because tv and social media has trained everyone to only shoot a deer with big headgear. Somehow a middle ground needs to be struck. Each Individual area need real wildlife surveys for reproduction rates and overall herd health.
I’m with you man. I hunt a protected forest in my state and it’s loaded with big oaks and deer. It’s got rabbits and squirrels and bobcats and it is phenomenal habitat. Go harvest timber on private land. Not on WMA’s!
Clear cut becomes a pine needle desert. Un planted clear cut becomes a sweet gum, maple, and poplar desert which produces no mast. Select cut takes out the best mast trees. The mountains are all that's left in oak timber. There are other animals, amphibians, insects, and birds who need big oak timber for survival.
On the other hand, what happened to these forests before humans had their hands in the landscapes? Why is it that all of a sudden there are a reduction of animals in these areas when humans leave them alone? Something is missing in the bigger picture of this, not just the lack of deer due to decreased logging.
Fire was the natural remedy, the FS has zero tolerance fire policy. Increasing by the year as the wildland-urban interface increases. Controlled burns are a good remedy but litigated because it's not a natural wildfire.
The hunters wanting to stop timber harvest at bridgestone are their own worst enemy. It would do wonders for that place. Mature timber feeds deer a couple months a year at best.
When they clear cut hundres of acres of oaks and dont replant ? Hummmmmm,, where will the acorns come from 50 years from now? Where will the next oak tree harvest come from in a hundred or so years???????
This might go down as one of the most underrated videos due to ignorance…
Loggers are a deers best friend!
Heck yeah you guys make Mondays something to look forward to love it ! 🙌🏼
Thanks, we're glad you enjoy it!
Black bears are harder on new born fawns than coyotes, as the fawns grow older coyotes get more,as they will chase them longer.
The first few years after a timber cut creates excellent habitat. Once the pines get to certain size the area becomes a food desert. Susescional harvests are good for many species. Hardwood mast is a much needed food source for large and small game. Need different ages of forest for max wildlife production
We have the exact same issues in Wisconsin.
I think the conversation is kinda skewed one sided. We’ve been seeing this play out in the River bottoms of Arkansas where selective cutting of hardwoods has taken a massive turn into the cutting of thousands of acres of old growth hardwoods.
Hunters were receptive of management timber practices until it just kept going. The new management of the Refuge here has determined it’s a great way to make money and has created a situation where as they want to reduce wild hog populations have created thickets that they can reproduce unhindered. They’re cutting so much timber in such large areas that they are essentially cutting all the large areas that have mature hardwood bottoms.
Using only harvest data to make all the determination isn’t productive because hunting is changing. People aren’t hunting to fill freezers, they’re passing does and mid sized bucks because tv and social media has trained everyone to only shoot a deer with big headgear. Somehow a middle ground needs to be struck. Each Individual area need real wildlife surveys for reproduction rates and overall herd health.
I’m with you man. I hunt a protected forest in my state and it’s loaded with big oaks and deer. It’s got rabbits and squirrels and bobcats and it is phenomenal habitat. Go harvest timber on private land. Not on WMA’s!
Been waiting all day for this
very informative. Thanks, gents!
Thanks for watching!
Clear cut becomes a pine needle desert. Un planted clear cut becomes a sweet gum, maple, and poplar desert which produces no mast. Select cut takes out the best mast trees. The mountains are all that's left in oak timber. There are other animals, amphibians, insects, and birds who need big oak timber for survival.
I’ve always joked the deer have figured out we hunt out of trees and tend to areas without them 😂
I'm a PA guy like the Dr. I agree, grouse hunting isn't like it used to be. Sad.
North ga man here ive noticed the Chutta wma full of hogs and bears ain't seen many deer up there at all
i do live in Tn and many of the wma areas and clear cuts here are take the hard woods and leave everything else on the ground and its not huntable
Montana has this problem!
On the other hand, what happened to these forests before humans had their hands in the landscapes? Why is it that all of a sudden there are a reduction of animals in these areas when humans leave them alone? Something is missing in the bigger picture of this, not just the lack of deer due to decreased logging.
Fire
Fire was the natural remedy, the FS has zero tolerance fire policy. Increasing by the year as the wildland-urban interface increases. Controlled burns are a good remedy but litigated because it's not a natural wildfire.
@@matthewshimmel2890That's certainly how the natives did it.
The hunters wanting to stop timber harvest at bridgestone are their own worst enemy. It would do wonders for that place. Mature timber feeds deer a couple months a year at best.
Yes sir. It's crazy they came out against it. But they did....
When they clear cut hundres of acres of oaks and dont replant ? Hummmmmm,, where will the acorns come from 50 years from now? Where will the next oak tree harvest come from in a hundred or so years???????
Bears coming out of National Forest stymied by