Huge oaks are often hollow and i would encourage loggers not to cut trees that have a high probability of being hollow.
Timber harvest, planning and aftermath on my small property...
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BSK
Well-Known Member
I no longer recommend clear-cutting for habitat cuts. You can cut an oak forest and get back a pure stand of poplar. Deer eat all the oak stump sprouts, leaving only poplar and other undesirable trees (for wildlife habitat). Now it is possible to clear-cut enough acres so that deer can't eat all th stump sprouts, but that would depend on your deer density.
Personally, I recommend and use one of two strategies: 1) logging contract is to cut everything down to 10" or 12" DBH; or 2) logging contract says they can cut any oak down to 10" or 12" DBH, but all other species can be cut to any size. The point of these restrictions is to leave some young to middle-aged oaks standing in the cuts to reseed them from acorns. A 10" DBH oak is old enough to be producing acorns.
And although the difference between a 10" DBH cut and a 12" DBH cut sounds minor, the results are quite different. A 10" DBH cut is MUCH heavier than a 12" cut. Far fewer trees will be left standing in a 10" DBH cut.
First two pictures below are a 10" DBH cut as it is occurring. Third and fourth pictures are first summer after cutting.
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Yeah I walked it a bit with my logger over the weekend. He's cool with doing whatever I want. Going to get back on it beforehand and leave both random trees as well as a stand or two if it lines up geographically with my food plot and or hunting site.
Please keep us informed on how everything goes, from getting it done to the aftermath to the results.
Huntaholic
Well-Known Member
I said I wasnt getting in this one, but I have to compliment BSK on finally seeing the light on how clearcutting is NOT the proper way to manage a property!
BSK
Well-Known Member
Love the maximized regrowth. But hate some of what regrows!
Will do. I have a friend who does drone work and he has agreed to come take an aerial shot of it prior to the timber being harvested. Hoping in time that I can get him back on it to show it after Timber harvesting and then with set out Pine regrowth with plots in place.
That would be awesome!
squackattack
Well-Known Member
I would look at the regeneration (understory) and see what you have. It is going to tell you alot about what you will get after a harvest.
Second I would suggest not going with a diameter limit harvest. Every stand is different. Realize you can flag small clearcuts( group openings) and mark cut and leave trees. Could be a bit confusing but you would get what you want.
Third I like small clearcuts personally. Roads and skid trails would be what I make sure are rehabilitated correctly.
I would hammer down a contract you are happy with. Hard to enforce anything without it if things go sideways.
Second I would suggest not going with a diameter limit harvest. Every stand is different. Realize you can flag small clearcuts( group openings) and mark cut and leave trees. Could be a bit confusing but you would get what you want.
Third I like small clearcuts personally. Roads and skid trails would be what I make sure are rehabilitated correctly.
I would hammer down a contract you are happy with. Hard to enforce anything without it if things go sideways.
That ^ is spot on.
BSK
Well-Known Member
The pines we planted in our 10" DBH cuts just two years ago this week are doing really well. No losses to last year's drought. Only losses I could find were from bucks rubbing saplings to death. Pines on west-facing slopes (exposed to hot afternoon sun in the summer) doing better because competition from regrowing hardwoods as lower. Also poorer soil sites are seeing good pine growth due to less native competition. Loblolly will grow in rock!
Picture below is on a west-facing poor-soil site that had been dominated by Mountain Chestnut prior to cutting. Pines saplings are all 3-4 feet tall.
Picture below is on a west-facing poor-soil site that had been dominated by Mountain Chestnut prior to cutting. Pines saplings are all 3-4 feet tall.
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Mountain chestnut? I've not heard of that one before. Is it another name for chestnut oak?
Yeah that caught my attention. What is it. Something interesting, when I was having a survey done for a forest management plan in order to go with Greenbelt the Forester found a chestnut hull and several leaves on the ground on my property. He couldn't locate the source tree though. Anyone else have that experience on SE of the plateau?
RS
Well-Known Member
My dad always called Chestnut Oak a Mountain Oak.
BSK
Well-Known Member
Full name is Mountain Chestnut Oak, Quercus Montana. They dominate dry, poor soil sites, especially rocky ridge-tops and south-facing slopes.
Yeah I aware of chestnut oak. I just hadn't ever heard it called mountain chestnut before. One of my favorite woods to mill and work with. Beautiful lumber. White oak with color and character.
BSK
Well-Known Member
I just wish it had more value as a saw-log. Used to be, the only thing it would sell for was railroad ties. I've got a ton of it on my place. Basically, all the south-facing slopes and the rockiest ridges.
With white oak market being gobbled up for barrels, the chestnut oak has jumped in value. Up in my neck of the woods It's selling for nearly the same as white oak. Or at least it was. Likely will be again when the timber market goes up again.
BSK
Well-Known Member
VERY good news!
What White Oak was selling for to make barrel staves was insane. I'm glad I cut timber at the peak of that market!
