I'm doing something similar on my 20 acres in South Carolina that we bought 3 years ago although the makeup of our land is a bit different. We have cleared two spots for small food plots, put in 2 water holes and had a guy with a mulcher clear some shooting lanes. We also applied to the forestry commission to plow fire breaks around the perimeter of the property. Shortly after this work was completed the deer began using it as a travel trail. We still have much work to do but we're well on the way.
The order isn't critical, but it's generally best to get sunlight on the ground first, before you burn. Fire can't produce a pulse of plant growth if there's no sunlight reaching the ground, so if you burn first, you'd need to immediately follow up with forest stand improvement.
Following!!! I've got 30 new acres of family land and hoping to implement similar strategies! I certainly will keep up to date with the videos. Brian, I am curious what's the "demographics" of the land around your property? Much hunting pressure? Other TSI going on in neighboring properties? etc...
Chad, there is hunting pressure all around my property, although I wouldn't call it heavy. Most of those neighbors are letting young bucks pass. As far as I know, there is not much in the way of habitat work taking place other than some scattered food plots. That's why I believe if I create great cover and limit the hunting pressure on my place, it will consistently hold deer. Only time will tell, though! Thanks for watching and following along. - Brian Grossman
@@DeerAssociation Awesome! Best of luck! I am hoping to get most/all neighbors on board with passing 1 1/2 & 2 1/2's. That will be a BIG help! Plus, I've GOT to reduce coyotes - doing some trapping for the first time over the next few months! I look forward to following! Thanks for the personal reply, Brian! That's awesome!
Rick, I use a mix developed and tested by Dr. Craig Harper from the University of Tennessee that is 50% triclopyr (Garlon 3A), 40% water, and 10% imazapyr (Arsenal), mixed in that order. It should kill about any tree you'll encounter.
Rick, I typically just leave them where they fall. I may occasionally cut one up for firewood or to clear a travel area that I know the deer use, but otherwise I just leave them where they are.
@@DeerAssociation Thanks for responding since I’ll be doing all this work myself, and I’m 72, and I didn’t look forward to cutting and stacking any of the trees I fell, and there are a lot of them.
If creating understory growth results in invasive species like autumn olive, multi flora rose, honeysuckle or privit is it still beneficial in your opinion?
Yes, I definitely think it's still worthwhile. You just have to spot treat those invasives with herbicide as they come. Over time, they will be replaced by beneficial native species. It may take a while to get it the way you want it, but I think it's definitely worth pursuing. - Brian Grossman
