Catoosa

[ffmedic]

I have spent a little time reading about the current status and possible future of LBL. I wanted to know what you guys are thinking about the current status and future of Catoosa and most other large WMAs.
I will start it off with the timber harvest at Catoosa. On the Genesis side there has been a lot of logging over the last few years. Typically they cut nothing larger than 50 acres but will do two 50 acre tracts side by side with a 10' "break" between them.
Most of the TWRA guys that actually work at or on Catoosa talk about deer numbers being way down. I can't really say yes or no to that because I have still had good success over the last few years.
The one thing I have seen is the upswing of coyotes. I camp regularly at the Genesis checking station during the archery hunt as well as which ever quota I am drawn for. The last 5 years the coyotes at night get worse and worse. Very near what we hear at LBL.
Looking forward to your thoughts on this thanks guys.

 

[MattZ9]

I'm not sure if numbers are up or down. But I do know they're logging a lot and I agree on the coyotes. One thing I have noticed is the hog numbers seem to have gone down


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[ROUGH COUNTRY HUNTER]

The logging will make catoosa alot better as far as deer hunting

 

[PickettSFHunter]

On places like that that are in this area, logging can have a very negative effect on harvest due to the reduced visibility in low deer density areas. Good for deer, yes, but not as good for hunters, UNLESS it's done correctly where small patches are cut and patches in travel corridors are left alone. Unfortunately, the state doesn't operate that way, that's just not how they see things.


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[MickThompson]

Would you have TWRA shoot the deer for you, too? They are operating 80,000 acres of forest land. They can't go around trying to build pinch points for every single hunter. They see it pretty correctly- professional foresters, employed by the state (not private logging companies), lay out cuts to perpetuate a healthy, productive forest for the benefit of wildlife and the hunters. EHD pounded several areas of the state pretty severely, and some areas have been slow to recover- I think BSK has said the same thing about traditionally high density areas in western middle TN. The deer are most likely overwhelmed by the native browse, and some of the cuts have large mature oaks left behind, so there's mast available within the thickets too. Think of it as a rainy day fund- you're much better off when the habitat is ahead of the deer than vice versa.

The hog decline is no coincidence. TWRA has been wearing them out with trapping the last few years and it's starting to show for sure. Coyotes are realistically beyond anyone's control. The best thing you can do is have plenty of good fawning cover (regenerating forest, oak savanna) so they have to work for their meals.

 

[PickettSFHunter]

Professional foresters..... That's the issue. Foresters rarely have hunting in mind, very few do, especially those employed by the state. It's a wildlife management area owned by TWRA, not a state forest, so yes I expect to see it managed as best as it can be within limits for wildlife. You don't have to build a pinch point for every single hunger, you can leave more than a 10' strip though, I mean seriously.


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