Timber Stand Makeover: Improving Wildlife Habitat in Georgia

Discover how a 180-acre property in Georgia underwent a remarkable transformation through timber stand improvement. Learn how strategic timber stand improvement practices enhanced the habitat, benefiting deer and other wildlife, and witness the before-and-after impact on this thriving ecosystem.
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@GrowingDeerTV
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[@SandwichKing-lj4ej]

Seems like thinning trees to get light to the ground is possibly the most important step to improve habitat.

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Paired with fire and or herbicide, it is a powerful tool and a great partner to quality food plots!

[@johnsandell4501]

Outstanding results 👍👍👍

[@ryanschoon8699]

This is yet another awesome update. What I like is the fact that more deer and turkey are showing up. I'm working on 125 acres of hardwood biological desert myself. How long does hack and squirt take to see the tree start to die? Thanks again, Growing Deer TV TEAM!

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Thanks Ryan! How long until trees show signs of the treatment depends on the tree species, tree size, time of year, herbicide used, etc. I've seen it take as little as 3 weeks to as long as the following growing season.

[@ryanschoon8699]

@@GrowingDeerTV Perfect, thank you!

[@WNE8]

Can you recommend a foliar spray mix to terminate sweet gum saplings? I’ve read that Garlon will do it, but worry about residual in the soil.

[@GrowingDeerTV]

If the gums are in a hardwood stand, I don't know of a herbicide that will control them and not harm other hardwoods. If in pine stand, the most common herbicide used is Arsenal - which won't harm pines.

[@WNE8]

@@GrowingDeerTV Thank you!

[@arobb4481]

Stay after that that Serecia lesedeza. It really spreads fast, and it actually seems to like being burned!

[@GrowingDeerTV]

You are correct - fire and mowing doesn't control Sericea.

[@TrailCameraTV]

Do you always spray after you thin pines? Can you skip spraying and just do the prescribed fire?

[@GrowingDeerTV]

If hardwood saplings are an issue, it's rare that fire will terminate them.

[@MrRABland]

What basal area do you recommend to improve hardwood stand for wildlife? My property varies from 120 to 80 and I'm going to have it logged to 50. Is this too much? My wife is freaking out.

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Pending on the situation and objectives, I like 30 to 50% of the sun's energy reaching the forest floor. A basal area of 50 will meet that objective. It's very important with hardwoods to have a plan for after the timber harvest because there will most likely be a lot of stump sprouts and seedlings!

[@benchrestman1685]

Other than having a monoculture or the Japanese variety why take out beautyberry? Great native plant for deer and birds

[@GrowingDeerTV]

I agree! In this case there was a bunch of beautyberry.

[@clarkastin9787]

What basal foot value is this pine stand?

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Clark - After most logging jobs the resulting basal area varies. This one has spots from about 30 to 60 basal feet per acre.

[@clarkastin9787]

Grant What the aproximate basal foot value is this pine stand?

[@GrowingDeerTV]

40 to 60 feet - pending on the area.

[@averypoe5436]

Could I use a mulcher to do tsi

[@GrowingDeerTV]

Mulching below the bottom limb kills cedars but does much more disturbance to the soil than a chainsaw crew and costs more. Mulchers can compact the soil, result in erosion, etc. Mulching rarely kills hardwood saplings. It may set them back for a few years but doesn't kill the root system.

[@joehorton01]

Why do we never talk about bedding in these updates? Its all open open open.