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Post by Huntin'Fever on Mar 5, 2007 22:43:36 GMT -5
Has anyone ever done a controlled burn on their property to increase the amount of vegetation on the ground floor. I've heard/read that it is supposed to increase habitat for the smart ol' turkey. It increases grasses as well as bugs and such.
I've also heard about the DNR coming to your property and doing an "assessment" and giving you ideas of how to improve it. Anyone have any experience? Good or Bad? Horror stories?
Take care......"Get the Fever"
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Post by Hardcorehunter on Mar 6, 2007 21:17:31 GMT -5
I would be afraid to set the entire forest on fire. Then I would be looking for new hunting property. LOL. In the spring I let the fields grow wild. The tall grass draws the hens for a nesting place and they bring the toms. Has worked the last few years. I don't cut the fields till summer so I don't run over any eggs.
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Post by Huntin'Fever on Mar 7, 2007 23:09:43 GMT -5
Makes sense. I think I'll give it a try.
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Post by osprey on Mar 9, 2007 11:38:14 GMT -5
I went through a two day burning workshop with DNR at Tuckahoe a few years ago, controlled burns are fun to do but you've got to be careful. Pretty sure you need to get permits from DNR and notify neighbors and local FD, too, just to keep legal and keep them from showing up sirens blaring when somebody sees smoke. Burns are great for setting back growth to warm season grasses and removing stuff like small trees and brambles. Will also knock out lots of fescue and leave good native WSG to grow back from rootstock. Will open up the area immensely - good for turkeys to travel through, feed a bit for bugs and to hunt them, but doesn't leave nesting cover for this year. Also one of the best things you can do for quail, but recommended (for everything) to only burn once every three years. Do it rotationally, segments each year, so there's still some nesting and hiding cover left. If you're just starting to manage for turkeys or are interested mainly in this spring's hunting, just bushhog or mow some areas. Keep the grass short (2-6") and green through spring, turkeys are in it mainly for bugging and showing off for the ladies, although they'll pick through for clovers and such to eat. If you burn watch your weather for winds, humidity, mixing heights for smoke, etc. A good patch of 3' tall grass can give you 10-12 foot high flames, it's intimidating. I've got several patches of warm season grasses I keep wanting to burn, but with waiting for just the right weather and the hassle I usually end up mowing them once a year instead. Haven't had an assessment by DNR, although they put an impoundment in for me 11 years ago and we've got CRP through Soil Conservation. Most of the biologists are good guys though and can help with lots of ideas, worst that can happen is you don't agree and say no. Check your local soil conservaton office too, same deal with them, and can often get you in programs that will pay for the improvements if you want to put in WSG, trees, ponds, etc. Private groups can help too, DU, Quail Forever, NWTF all have biologists on staff that can advise or do programs on private properties.
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Post by Huntin'Fever on Mar 11, 2007 17:24:59 GMT -5
Thanks for the input!
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