gzilla45 Posted March 16, 2010 Report Share Posted March 16, 2010 This winter we logged off about 160 acres with a mixture of select and clear cuts. I've been out there twice since and have literally seen more deer than I could count which is quite amazing considering how low our overall deer numbers have been. Now that the operation is over I'm just wondering how long they will stay around feeding on the browse? Anyone have any ideas? I'm guessing with spring coming in that they will have other things to eat but it sure is promising to see. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike13candace Posted March 16, 2010 Report Share Posted March 16, 2010 The deer will stay for a while.. here in New England they clear cut a lot. The area i'm hunting turned on fire since it was cleared 4-years ago. Proper cutting helps... leaving mature trees for reproduction.. Good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ultradog Posted March 17, 2010 Report Share Posted March 17, 2010 Yes the deer will definately be drawn to a clear cut area as the new growth will provide a lot of browse. One thing to consider is how quickly all that new growth shoots up. My experience is that you will only get 3-5 years before the place is so thick you can't see anything in there. If you plan to hunt there for years to come I suggest you keep a good system of trails and shooting lanes open. Run along your trails with a tractor and disc or cultivator a couple of times per year to keep them open. If you don't you will soon have a monolithic block of land that wont be good for hunting for 20 years or more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sskybnd Posted March 21, 2010 Report Share Posted March 21, 2010 we had the same thing, but we lease from the paper mill they cut 80 acers of our 129 but like ultradog said it will grow fast theres been dorment seeds that now how a chance to grow, giving the deer natueral browse, and will get thick and could turn into a bedding area for the deer. keep a few place open and after a few years will have a saculed feeding place. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LETMGROW Posted March 21, 2010 Report Share Posted March 21, 2010 Yes the deer will definately be drawn to a clear cut area as the new growth will provide a lot of browse. One thing to consider is how quickly all that new growth shoots up. My experience is that you will only get 3-5 years before the place is so thick you can't see anything in there. If you plan to hunt there for years to come I suggest you keep a good system of trails and shooting lanes open. Run along your trails with a tractor and disc or cultivator a couple of times per year to keep them open. If you don't you will soon have a monolithic block of land that wont be good for hunting for 20 years or more.[/quote Alot will depend on the quality of clear cut. By this I mean if trash were left all over you have your work cut out for you. You should try to get debris into piles to let the sun get to the ground and help the undergrowth grow. Get sections cleared so you can mow and maintain it. If you don't you will end up with a tangled mess you won't be able to hunt. What looks like a haven now can change quickly. Lynn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
scottb Posted April 1, 2010 Report Share Posted April 1, 2010 The deer will eat on the browse until the first green up of the other vegetation in the cut area. They will still continue to occasionally hit the browse, but their main focus is going to be the new growth, as the nutrional value of the browse from the cutting has deteriorated over the winter months and has very little value now. They will even come back to it this fall and winter, but it won't be the draw that it was due to the lack of nutrients. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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