5 Worst Trees For Whitetails

The 5 worst trees for whitetails often equal a bad choice for all wildlife, let alone deer. As s general rule always keep in mind the higher the timber value of the tree, the lower the wildlife value of the tree. Quality deer habitat is hard to achieve with these 5 bad trees for whitetails...
If you want to make sure you are creating a great wildlife parcel, make sure to check out my lineup of deer habitat strategy web classes:
www.whitetailhabitatsolutions...
Avoiding bad deer habitat decisions is one thing, but also make sure that you are following my highly proven weather based hunt predictions when you head out to hunt. Check out HuntCast, at:
huntwise.com/sturgis

[@bobwiese6128]

Thanks Jeff. Peace and God-bless you sir!

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Thank you Bob...very much!

[@janitorialguy4436]

Very informative thanks Jeff. ? How do you feel about shag bark hickory

[@todsimpkins8908]

bought property last year. Lots of deer, good browse. only downside is LOTS of tulip Poplar. But, I am able to sell these to finance improvements. Selling all Poplar, some Oaks, and Hickory to open canopy. Logger will clear areas for food plots as well. Will be taking all trees in 1 year. sale of timber will more than cover improvements. Just need to spray poplars. That is not really work, just a few walks on my property

[@fateoutdoors4758]

Can you do Top 5 Best Trees for Whitetails?

[@fateoutdoors4758]

@Number 1 Fan Didn’t realize, thanks!

[@stevoky]

I need a video on how to convert a 30 acre Beech stand to Viable wildlife land and do it affordable. If its possible.

[@troyellis7489]

Best part about looking for low timber value land is it’s not going to cost as much to buy.

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Amen to that! Even better is more immediate results and success.

[@mike81399]

Thanks Jeff👍 Have a great day all!

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

You are very welcome Mike...you have a great day too!

[@bigracer3867]

We pine in the south. Guess it’s ok. Not like we got a choice

[@RidgeOutdoorProductions]

what about hickory, walnut, sycamore ?

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Pretty poor for deer...walnut is useless for most wildlife let alone deer. Hickory sprouts well when hinge cut but that's about it... Good ones!

[@RidgeOutdoorProductions]

@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 thank you for the reply! Today I am actually going to go into my woods and drop a lot of the soft maples. They are the diameter of a baseball and they are everywhere! Would you recommend me treating the stumps or letting them sprout?

[@joshmoffatt7847]

Hi Jeff what are your thoughts on birch trees my guess is hinge cutting will just kill them thoughts? Thanks

[@kapperoutdoors]

Excellent video. I do agree I've had several forestry plans done by biologists, and if it is a native hardwood forest that's exactly what they want to continue to grow but it is pretty low on the totem pole, as you have outlined for wildlife. Thanks man

[@davidrichardson7221]

Black Walnut, Hickory, Sycamore?

[@underdogoutdoors]

Those are the 5 main tree's we have on our farm on the Eastern Shore of Maryland! The wood lots are surrounded by agriculture & CRP. Sweet gum tree's are perfect for climbing tree stand, Beech tree's keep their leaves through the late season, good for fixed and ladder stands.

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Definitely good treestand trees!

[@Wearyman]

@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 So basically, have a really diverse land, and plant ONE beech tree so you can have a good treestand tree in 20 years. lol

[@ralphwitt9975]

what is your opinion of pin oaks??? I have not heard you ever mention them? thanks

[@tommyhunter1817]

Don’t forget black locust. Awesome stuff.

[@creekriseoutdoors]

Thanks Jeff. Just bought 180 acres in Central Ga and have excellent cover, only decent food. Pretty good mature pine (that likely needs thinning to help the undergrowth) and a young grove of Chestnut trees. I’m excited to make some changes to improve the deer habitat. Your channel is really helpful.

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

That's awesome...congrats!! Now the journey begins 😊 That's a nice sized chunk, btw!

[@michaeltepe3573]

Thank you Jeff for all your free content!

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

You are very welcome Michael...thanks a lot for watching!

[@dennybirchfield]

So if hinge cut is only recommended 25% of the time how do you make a bedding area with browse just cut them down completely I thought the regeneration came from the hinge cut and the tree still being alive

[@dannysage97]

You’ve talked me into getting ALOT more of my oaks &maples down then I was gonna. It’s gonna be awesome because I have aspen mixed in that I’ll be cutting down as well so I’ll have aspen thicket beneath massive white oaks.

[@jeffborchardt4705]

Thanks for great information. Bought a heavily wooded 40 acre parcel last winter in Central MN. Has what I thought was good diversity with white/red oaks, red maple, popular, ash, basswood all occurring about equally and with many different age groups with very heavy underbrush. Almost no conifers. We will be firing up the chainsaws this winter. Added 3 small/micro food plots that seemed to work out well for us this fall. We plan to move one and make others a little larger. Hard to stay on schedule with all that needed to be done. We were working right up to the deer season. Should be in a better place for next year. 🤞 Enjoy all of your videos and learn something new from every one of them.

[@neokane]

Where does honey locust fall? I have 22 acres with mostly honey locust.

[@myronlaidler8034]

Deer love eating the bean pods of Honey Locust!!

[@darrenweimann2524]

We are in a similar situation. North Central Wisconsin. We are in the MFL program and the forester wants our property to be an Oak Stand. We have a mix of Oak, Maple and a lot of Aspen. 1 issue we have is a growing invasion of Buck Thorne. Hack and Squirt is a regular part of our vocabulary now unfortunately. Oaks and Maples are our primary trees for hanging stands on, but they do definitely prevent undergrowth due to their canopy. We are trying to keep the bigger trees separated a little bit so there is sufficient cover and prevent from seeing through our entire 40.

[@ala5831]

My most plentiful trees are crab apple. They grow everywhere. Deer don’t seem to browse them. But the millions of apples disappear every year. Most fall to early, before the season starts

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Hi AL! Definitely could stand to think some out for sure...if dropping early they aren't much help for building a quality herd or hunt

[@drewharman1690]

What do you think of laurels back in bedding?

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Hi Drew, I know deer seem to gravitate to them...but I also have seen very little other cover in those areas too. Good cover value for sure...

[@stephenham6512]

Hey Jeff great video as my wife and I just bought 14 acres bordering 1400 acres of state land here in western southern tier of NY. We have a lot of locust. What are your thoughts on them and if bad how the heck do I get rid of them? Every time we cut a tree down locust pop up all around the area. Thanks in advance if you get to answering it.

[@patriot1182]

100% correct! Thanks for the information!

[@dennisb1224]

I have an oak maple area but there is a lot of spruce and pine coming up when I cut the maples. I think it’s important to make sure there is enough Sun coming through.

[@archer92673]

Good afternoon Jeff. I love your Info. purchased you books a week ago then, I just watched this video and my heart sank. My son and I just acquired 56 acers in Central NY a month ago. It was logged off heavily 3 years ago and low and behold... Beech, Sugar Maple and Cherry is what's left. logging trails just starting to fill in. Has some thick stuff in wet areas. Any quick advice or should I sell my youngest boy to get money for improvements. LOL just kidding....

[@dmouse522]

As a retired nursery person I almost feel guilty encouraging Box Elder. But...I hinge cut some and now it's the preferred bedding area on my land! So seed collection likely to commence next year.

[@mrd4865]

Deer love to eat maple and tulip poplar leaves as well as beech nuts. When you find beech nuts dropping early, they are on them over the acorns here. Lots of scraping under beech too. Not saying have a whole property of them, but don't get rid of all of them, diversity is good.

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Balance is beautiful! For sure. I love old beech trees...but the mast is not dependable and the beech brush isn't really even starvation browse. I wouldn't cut a big ole beech down, but I wouldn't buy or hunt a mature stand of solid beech...without a lot of other habitat coming together. Same with oaks...

[@trentw3614]

I should show my dad this, loves his spring flow of sap out of the maples but I can’t convince him to get rid of them.

[@nybbhUSA]

Hickory should have made the list also. My property has a lot of them and deer don’t touch them.

[@jeffluberto5678]

Crazy, I have a ton of tulip poplars. I cut down over a dozen and in 2 years the sprouts are over 6' tall and like a dozen or more sprouts coming off each stump. I actually left them there for cover to block my back yard from the plot that is about a hundred yards away.

[@brodycampbell2990]

I have a 40 acre parcel that’s never been logged. We have oak that 2 people barely reach around along with many basswood, aspen and some maple. I’m taking all the aspen out and making sure they have enough open area for regeneration along with the back 15 acres we’re taking most the trees since quite a few of the good oaks have dead branches. It should grow up dense with regeneration. We’re also planting food plots, red twig dogwood, switchgrass, apple trees, pear trees and chestnut trees for a lot of diversity. What’s your thoughts on a property that has barely any undergrowth since the canopy is too dense

[@quantumtruthseeker210]

Jeff, which trees are best for cutting for regeneration and stem count? Property is in WV

[@emmanuelschwartz8955]

Thanks for great content Jeff! Quick question, Am I doing too much damage by doing habit improvements in January versus waiting till like March?

[@stevoky]

January is a great time for habitat improvement especially anything that is aligned with creating proper cover. Because when you do them in the summer you are like to over estimate its cover value and cause some serious lack of cover in the fall and winter.(hunting season)

[@erscustoms911]

Hi I have 10 acres in northern Michigan what’s the first thing you look for on a new property you have not seen yet, there’s no swamp ,only one stand ,a few small food plots ,and licking branches

[@ihus9950]

👍

[@ryanmeland2935]

Hey Jeff, we are planning on doing a clear cut with leaving a few trees left In a section of our woods that is a pine tree planting. Deer rarely use it and if they do it’s parts that are thick and overgrown. What would you recommend planting in there for some thick growth and quick that is good for our herd? Thank you

[@wagonwheel9426]

What are the five best whitetail trees?

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

10 days ago... kzbin.info/www/bejne/aHrblImheMyMp68

[@ggrinnell22]

Great video as usual - thank you. Unfortunately, sections of my woods are predominantly beech. If I were to clear cut a section, do you have any recommendations or opinion on planting a tree seed blend. I also have some old pasture I could do it in. If I allow nature to take its course, it’s always the bad trees that grow naturally and regenerate. Thank you

[@barrettkegley2086]

Figured Walnut would be #1

[@Mike-nt1to]

Jeff, if you have to many beach pockets, would you be better off cutting them down and making brush piles, than spray the stumps?

[@exotictones1054]

What about a mix of crab apples trees w other types.

[@lances4803]

I've killed literally thousands of Sweet Gum on my property, from saplings to 24" dbh. (Hack & Squirt does the trick.) But, the forest floor sure likes that new sunlight.

[@jalton9416]

Jeff What about invasive Bradford Pear? Cut it out or leave it for food?

[@callmecamo2]

Jeff, I would be curious what your 5 worst would be for a more southern region. In Oklahoma, we only have 1 of those trees consistently (oak). I would assume a top 5 here would be eastern red cedar, hedgeapple or bois d'arc, elm, oak and hackberry. Would love to hear your thoughts.

[@trevorgirard2649]

Jeff i have some 15 year old clear cuts that seemed to be over run with birch, I am trying to maintain them for deer bedding, most of these trees are about 4inches in diameter and are too tall to be any browse to the deer. I have spent some time with a chainsaw but seems to be quite labor intensive. Is this something i should be using a hack and squirt method on? I can only burn so much threw my wood stove.

[@MrRABland]

I’ve got predominant red and white oaks with aspen, beech, maple, ash, etc. mixed in here in NW Wisconsin. Almost solid canopy with the oaks. I’m planning to open the canopy to 30% by cutting some of the oaks. Also, create several food plots. Any other advice?

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Sounds great Rick! Just make sure those food plots are in areas where you can allow deer to get to travel to them and use them without being spooked by hunters. Do that and very good things will happen!

[@MrRABland]

@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 Thanks, Jeff. I’m positioning the plots as your book and videos suggest, where there’s safe, secure and undisturbed doe bedding areas (through some select hinge cutting) that are close and that will draw deer from the adjacent county public property. Also, locations that will allow stands on the deer paths between bedding and the plots. As you say, it can get complicated but with thoughtful planning based on your advice it can be done. A lot of work, but being retired I have the time (and at 72, some ambitious energy!).

[@corymclaughlin179]

Jeff, I have a lot of sassafras trees on my property. Should I get rid of them, or let them grow in with everything else?

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

I wouldn't necessarily get rid of them, but I would make sure large trees aren't shading out potential regeneration of preferred wildlife species.

[@patrickeisenhauer3884]

I’m really interested in how you have handled the property design of overgrown (15 years) Christmas Tree Farms. I have just purchased 65 acres with incredible potential but I see the current layout as completely unsustainable. There is a mix of open field, Christmas trees and hardwoods on this property.

[@paulhooper987]

I need advice on a stand of black locust. It's right where I'd like to build doe bedding. Any quick thoughts?

[@andytommelleo9119]

We have sporadic mature cherry on our property in North Central Pennsylvania. Not enough to interest a timber company. Would you recommend removing some of those to open up the canopy?

[@saltytech8380]

Plenty of deer browse on young cherry regeneration around here. Maybe that's a sign the rest of my browse is subpar?

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

I would say that's not too bad Brian...good to have the cherry browse at least!

[@Pilled_red]

What about hickory and black walnut.

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Both very bad for wildlife...they should have made the list for sure! Black walnut is likely the worst, in particular when planted in rows. Bad investment and bad for wildlife.

[@stowefarms]

Jeff how would you handle ironwood that has taken over with some oaks mixed in? Not sure if I should hinge or cut and squirt. Trying to get some ground level cover by eliminating the low canopy the ironwood has created

[@tomkrenz2406]

Is it better to plant more shrub type plantings instead of trees.

[@jakey1973]

Jeff what is your guidance on buckthorn? It makes great wildlife cover but chokes out native tree regeneration. Thx!

[@bradgarner9087]

I was wondering the same thing

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

It's OK wildife cover but very bad overall and nearly impossible...even as a life's mission...to control.

[@bradgarner9087]

@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 I have 30 acres in the suburbs and it's low land lots of water and buck thorn. I need to put more food and habitat improvements don't know where to start in swampy low land. Any ideas Jeff?

[@brianlenneman5032]

Nothing worse than a open hardwoods… old pasture woods… man it’s cold this morning!! We might not come down till tomorrow roads are bad..

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

We had -7 this morning Brian. I'm sure roads will be fine within a couple of hours. Side roads aren't too bad...heading to Rushford in a bit for breakfast with the family 😊

[@nathaniellarson8]

My family pushes oak woods sometimes during afternoon deer drives and they are so wide open. Sure, deer end up in them sometimes, but definitely not prime habitat. My woods are Oak heavy I would say, but not dominant. Lots of Aspen, Maple, Birch, Boxelder, Ash, and TONS of freaking Buckthorn. We just bought this place 6 months ago and the woods is just a neglected mess. Downed and leaning trees galore and can see buckthorn everywhere you look, can barely move around in there. A big storm with straight line winds came through a decade ago and uprooted a whole bunch of trees, and nobody did anything about them since, so it was fun cutting an ATV trail this fall with just chainsaws and a weed wacker with a brush cutter blade, lol. Lots of wildlife around, but I'm still getting rid of that buckthorn. I have years of work ahead of me, unless one of these widowmakers gets me first 😉

[@Black_Dirt_Contractor]

My property has some old growth oak, very few hickory, and the rest is mostly maple and sassafras. I've been slowly cutting them down, and girdling them. But I find the sassafras likes to come back with a vengeance. I have a skid steer with several attachments that I will use to remove them as soon as my deer season is over. Working on getting the canopy opened up so I can get some undergrowth established. I was thinking about burning sections of the woods as soon as I get as much h of the sassafras removed as possible, and some of the maples removed. What do you find is the best method to keep sassafras from coming back? Maybe cut, then spray the stumps, or should I remove as many of the root balls as possible?

[@Black_Dirt_Contractor]

Oh and patches of paw paw, which I have no problem getting rid. Would rather not have those personally

[@alanruechel2240]

If you have high value timber land manage it as such. Dont try to make it into something it isnt. (good hunting) Max out your timber investment and use the cash to buy a different parcel to hunt, lease prime land, or travel the continent on hunting adventures

[@mikeanderson1757]

What are your thoughts on the king of timber values…the black walnut? I live on a small parcel I’m trying to make more deer friendly and it’s largely dominated by black walnuts.

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Hi Mike! They are very bad for deer...they should have made the list 😊 Also slow growing and very bad to plant for deer too...poor return on investment. Very bad for wildlife in general...

[@michaeltepe3573]

Those bring good money

[@mikeanderson1757]

@@michaeltepe3573 I think the people I bought it from had no idea with how cheap I got it.

[@michaeltepe3573]

@@mikeanderson1757 I bought 8.5 acres of woods and built a house on it. The woods was like a park no ground cover. I had logger come in. He took cherry, maple, and walnuts said he only took the job for the 12 walnuts and yet took another 100 trees out for me to open it up.

[@mikeanderson1757]

@@michaeltepe3573 I think I’ll do similar when the walnuts are more mature. They need a few more years for timber value a forester told me. Lots of diversity and other growth among them though despite there probably being over 100 mature ones on only around 6 acres.

[@prestonjenneman4648]

Would you recommend hinge cutting or complete cut for cherry? I have various cherry trees spread throughout my property and am curious as to if I should keep or cut during my select cut this winter. Thanks.

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Hi Preston! I would cut all of your Cherry trees that are marketable...the deer will enjoy the browse too. Typically you wouldn't hinge cut cherry if you have over story to remove first...which is the priority...getting sunlight to the ground will accomplish nearly all of your goals on a large scale.

[@prestonjenneman4648]

@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 Sounds good, Thank you!

[@michaelthorn912]

I’ve heard you compare poplar to aspen in the past but tulip poplar is different?

[@dylanthrall5657]

Hey Jeff what do u think I should plant were there is low ag open hardwoods and my naighbour runs dogs

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Native grasses would be great...thick hardwood regen...fire up the chain saw for sure! Anything with high stem count...

[@dylanthrall5657]

@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 ok thanks

[@jowhi9296]

@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 what are best trees w high stem count besides aspen

[@ajkelley20]

Another great video. I have an area of my land that has some large honey locusts trees. They produce a pod that the deer eat, but I have been told to get rid of that type of tree. Any thoughts?

[@eeldarb]

Im wondering the same as ive got a recently logged area of locusts and ton of new shoot growth.

[@ajkelley20]

@@eeldarb I was warned to slash and squirt the locusts trees or they will sprout up from the roots.

[@ala5831]

I’m encouraging honey locust great deer tree for late season. Black locust is a different story. Never cut one with out treating the stump, they root sucker as bad as Tree of Heaven. I hinge cut black locust with out any root suckering. Black locust is a soil builder. The roots fix nitrogen just like clover or soybeans. Good for strip-mine areas and such.

[@eeldarb]

@@ajkelley20 this 3 acre spot on the property i bought was clearcut of black locust maybe 5 years ago. It is a giant thorn bush now with suckers coming off of stumps and roots. Only human penetrable in the winter. I think the deer bed on the edges of during the summer by not much sign of use in it late fall/winter. Thinking to turn it all into foodplot area.

[@zachschultz3534]

I hear you talk about woody shrub tips. Do you plant certain style ahrubs?

[@chrissheathewoodguy]

good lord you named the average tree type we and most people have. yet we have deer every were. not sure what your selling?

[@sethjohnson4450]

Why is box elder so good other then it hinges great?

[@jowhi9296]

How does silver maple fall into this Jeff?

[@leethurston4774]

So are you saying we can either have a valuable stand for timber harvesting or a valuable wildlife stand? If so, I disagree.

[@itlnusmcr1]

Jeff, what are your thoughts on honey locust trees in Washtinaw County, MI? My property is covered in them, and I've thought of thinning them, their thorns are brutal. Any thoughts?

[@stevoky]

Dozer them all. Completely useless. I wonder why their not on the list. I guess because it's obvious.

[@whitetailhabitatandhunting]

Thanks Jeff! In the stand now! Forgot my arrows, oh well... Lol, just out here hopefully gonna see some and enjoy God's creation!

[@creekriseoutdoors]

Best part of being in the woods…seeing Gods handiwork. Enjoy.

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Amen to that!!

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Enjoy it!! -7 degrees here right now...I'm enjoying the recliner, coffee and fire 😁

[@edtroup8606]

Hunting tomorrow might be good

[@ronaldbabbs2015]

Hey Jeff a little off the subject but will switch grass grow in partial shade??

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

No, it will not. You want at least 6-8 hours of sunlight. That's also why it is so critical to practice effective weed control. It's the shad from weeds or other growth that kills the switchgrass.

[@PutEmInTheBox]

@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 what is a good alternative then for areas that see more shade than sun? Just white pine and white spruce?

[@bowman8316]

Jeff "mother nature" Sturgis 👍🏻🤣

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Haha...pretty funny David 😊

[@bowman8316]

Loved your reply to the tree hugger 👍🏻👍🏻

[@arttrumbo9496]

Why is the Oak Savannah habitat poor wildlife habitat in your opinion? I have heard another KZbin channel (I believe you know who I'm talking about) preaching the benefits of that habitat type, and saying that it was the predominant ecosphere throughout much of the eastern US prior to European arrival. I would just like to hear why you disagree.

[@tristancleer9697]

Lot of hedge and honey locust, don’t hear a lot about what to do with them.

[@runtimmytimer]

I'm in the process of removing 3 acres of pine. Not worth anything in SW Wisconsin. And yes I've talked to the Amish. No one wants it. Most of the property is shagbark hickory and doesn't hold many deer.

[@runtimmytimer]

@Number 1 Fan no cover on 36 acres means removing useless pines and replace those 3 acres with food and cover. I’m better off planting switch grass with pockets than leaving a bunch of pines that gives me neither. I have East. West and south access. No I’m not leaving pines.

[@runtimmytimer]

@Number 1 Fan What's the point? Instead of an oak savanna create a pine savanna? Explain why keeping any pines, which are very acidic, is beneficial to wildlife habitat? Not a single pine has a branch < 10 feet above ground.

[@runtimmytimer]

@Number 1 Fan Which is why WHS does all consultation in person on the land. You can't see what the real situation is over the phone and you end up providing bad advice.

[@jasonzinkand7218]

What about the nasty Locust?

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Deer love Honey locust and there are some benefits to black locust within the habitat...try searching black locust there are some interesting articles.

[@jasonzinkand7218]

Thanks Jeff!!

[@graynotescartridgebox]

Speaking of diversity of wildlife, what are your thoughts of high predator count on a property? Of course predators are there for the wildlife, but overall, how does that affect mature bucks?

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Hi Gray, in about 99% of all cases, predators have very little impact on mature bucks. In fact I would argue they have zero impact in most areas. Creating great wildlife parcels creates a lot of small game for predators too...

[@graynotescartridgebox]

@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 glad to know! My last day in the stand I saw one bobcat and five coyotes. It wasn’t an hour after I saw the coyotes that a non-typical buck came through. Too young to shoot, but it was an interesting experience!

[@jacobstoll1897]

Jeff, first of all, thanks for your great content! What are your thoughts on ironwood? I’m in west central MN and our woods has become overrun with it.

[@jaredalto5924]

We are probably Neighbors.. I have had the best luck removing the ironwood and make a brush pile. Then cutting down some of the big shade trees, basswood, maple, and Oak. I cut down the basswood and left them lay and hinge cut smaller ones. I made firewood from the Maple and some oak. Ironwood grows in the shade, If you only take out the ironwood or hinge it, that is all that comes back and way thicker. I tried that in a different woods. After 1 summer my woods blew up. Before I started there was a owl and a couple mice maybe in that woods. Now I have deer beds everywhere rabbits and grouse.

[@jordankidd587]

I'm a forester from Northern Missouri and a forestry degree from SIU. GET RID OF YOUR IRONWOOD while you still can!! It does provide good wildlife cover because it holds leaves all year but after about 10 years, the canopy will be too tall to provide cover anymore. I cant say I've ever seen deer eat it. Worst of all, its almost impossible to get rid of because of its large amount of stump sprouts. You can cut it and treat the stump and the stump sprouts will keep growing. They will block out all sunlight and prevent any regeneration from other species, creating a monoculture of ironwood

[@talynblack7271]

When to predator hunt video anywhere?

[@brentthebloodhound]

Awesome video. Can you do 5 best trees for deer? I’ve planted chestnut. Crab apple. Chincapin oaks. Apple trees. I want to make sure in 5 years I hve some other food for deer to eat I’ve also planted dogwood.

[@p.davidcarlson7789]

So you are better than Mother Nature? You are inaccurate in this opinion.

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

Typically just redoing what man did wrong, actually. But yes, making habitat specific wildlife friendly parcels a person can be many times better than mother nature...in fact you will be woefully behind if you leave it to mother nature alone. Instead, God directed us to manage wildlife and that means managing the habitat for the betterment of wildlife. I will follow God's directive over mother nature any day. You should try it too 😉 IF, you care about wildlife...

[@p.davidcarlson7789]

@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 north east Ohio has had a Beach, Hard Maple, Oak forest since before the English entered. Whitetail has thrived quite well Historically

[@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751]

@@p.davidcarlson7789 actually historically there were very few whitetails or any other wildlife in the old grow forests. Native Americans understood the value of fire for promoting wildlife....burning large tracts for preferred hunting grounds. Left alone, timber value soars and wildlife value plummets. It really depends on a person's goals. This is a channel for creating great wildlife habitat...not timber value. The two are not the same. That's why federal lands have very poor wildlife value compared to state land which is manged more for balance than old growth. Private land is of course all over the chartswith a wide range of great wildlife parcels to great timber. The bottom line is we have a responsibility within thebform of stewardship to manage both wildlife and habitat. Doing nothing is the opposite of stewardship. That's why hunters lead the charge for wildlife management, and those that want to sit back and let nature evolve actually hinder wildlife populations and balanced habitats. For example...tree huggers are unwittingly their own worst enemy.

[@p.davidcarlson7789]

@@whitetailhabitatsolutions9751 enjoy the debate👍