Forest enhancement

[tryinhard]

Ok guys. I have recently obtained 100 acres with a house and various outbuildings that I plan to use as a retreat as well as a place to deer hunt. There are 2 hay fields that have been kept up. That's about all that has been maintained. The timbered areas are thick and overgrown. What is the best meathod to open the timber up and make for better hunting?

[Admin]

If it was my place, I'd find the key locations where the deer are funneling through to access the fields and set up ambush points there. I'd cut just enough to give me shooting lanes. A few spots like this on the hundred acres is enough and I'd leave the majority of the woods untouched and used as refuge areas.

[jimd]

I spent a little time searching youtube awhile back. A few management guys recommended felling a few trees, at shoulder height to create bedding areas. You might try a youtube search.
On my forty, that is half crop, half timber and pasture, the wind takes care of that for me.

JC is right ! deer love their solitude. Big bucks especially.
Provide for the does, and the bucks will be there during the rut.
hope that helps.

Jim

[nytrapper23]

If you have mast crop trees , oak,beech etc. I would clear out the trash trees under the canopy of these. This takes away competition for the nutrients. And like what was already said , I would find a spot and create a bedding area by hinge cutting some trees at shoulder height. Hinge cutting is where you don't cut all the way , leave a bit attached , the tree will live for some time , you can do a few of these so they fall over top of each other, this creates browse for the deer to nibble on , and bedding area in a few years when they die off. All kinds of options for you .

[Deleted]

Are you an archery hunter, shotgunner, rifle, flintlock.......? Stalker....Solitary....or deer camp type that use drives. I think that makes a difference. I am blessed with plenty of deer and since the new antler restrictions have more mature bucks. In my neck of the woods I have learned the preferred bedding areas and the travel routes to food. You can try to change it to conform to your idea of what a perfect hunting scenario might be but I would be inclined to just spend some time out there and understand it first. It's a lot cheaper than investing time and energy cutting this and that, planting this and that.........It sounds like you have a nice deal going there. Congratulations.

[old243]

Unless you want to break up and crop the fields, I would break up a small area next the bush and establish a food plot. If it is close to a deer runway and lots of cover .Pick a spot that you can set up a blind fairly close. I have never had a problem getting a deer. Make sure to keep a healthy doe crop and the bucks will come visiting. I set up a mineral and salt block as well . I don't go in to the deer bedding areas come fall . Usually just hunt the food plot or a runway. Have fun old243

[thedeerfarm]

I own a small farm with acreage about 30 min from my home. I also manage 1300 acres that border's my farm. WE plant food plots and lots of them!!!!! We put  mineral blocks and set up feeder's in late summer to do a yearly trail cam surveys....which is a lot of fun!!!! We mow all the roads and fire breaks!! Deer will travel those roads ..just like we do:) They will put scrapes in and rub tree's along those roads come the RUT!!!

Also we mow old fields and the native grasses come up in them and deer will eat those as well. We have lots of crabapple trees and sawtooth oaks. Planting fruit trees are also a good idea!!!

Are your pines planted in rows ?? If so you can do a 3rd row cut ....to open up some area's to get some sunlight in there. In turn the woods will come alive with new growth and browse. Also control burn are great for the woods as well. They turkeys love a fresh burn wood lot!!!

Congrats on your recent purchase...there is nothing like shooting a big buck or a big gobbler on your own DIRT!!!

PS~~ENJOY!!