Find content
Male
I would like to create thicker more dense areas, create screening in places, and route deer in places. We have a variety of terrain and plants. There is everything from stands of mature oaks and other hardwoods to cedar swamps that also have some mature areas and some new thickets. I will not cut healthy cedars as they are too hard to regrow or start over. (I should say the younger guys do the work
) We mow trails and strips to encourage grasses. We have 5 small progressive food plots and other very small ones that some of the guys spread through the swamps with the throw n grow type seed.We have been cutting all of the old popple trees that we can get at and I want to start on the living larger ones to create thicker areas of shoots. I don't especially like popple but it makes for thick cover and buds when it is young. I am also thinking about planning for a cut of some of the white pines/balsam that have branches only above head level. Perhaps hinge cutting these would be the way to go. Do any of you have experience with this? I would also like to selective cut some of the oaks but I will have to determine which individuals are best left to supply acorns. I suppose that is something that only can be determined by observation.
One observation that has happened quite often that has surprised us is that when we place new blinds and have to cut new trails (3-5 feet wide) to get to them the deer often then use them as runways. That is what gives us the idea that we could route deer to move a certain way as long as we don't disturb their natural pattern too much.
I would like to see some evergreens planted on the high ground, which was done 50 years ago, but I sure don't have a lot of years left to wait to see them contribute to the plan. Is there a variety that grows faster in Northern Michigan or a place where trees can be had real reasonably that are more than a few inches high?
Well if anyone wants to share ideas or questions, please jump in. I am not a moderator or expert or anything. It was a just a thought that perhaps we could get some ideas and conversations going. As is easy to see I have a lot of questions and things floating around in my little brain but I will need the advice and help of others to make it work. Thanks for any participation you might be willing to share.
