Bur Oak??

[WestKyTeacher]

I have 68 acres of forest and 25 acres of cropland that I hunt and live on. The lower bottomland, roughly 25-30 acres has maple, gum, poplar, and sycamore. The forestry guy told me to underplant oaks and then in 5-10 years clear cut the whole area. Said this will let the oaks establish and take over and have good cover for the wildlife. If I just cut what's there and plant once cut, the same would grow back before oaks could. Does all this sound correct? Also he said I should plant Bur Oak. Anyone have any insight on how good this oak is for deer and wildlife and timber? Thanks!

[Ravin R10 man]

It does not make sense to plant oaks, and come back in and clear cut. You will smash everything you had planted (oaks)..I could see select cutting the entire acreage and clear cut pockets, spray those areas to control brush and then plant the oaks, Also if you are going to hunt this area..have trails put in to get you in and out according to wind direction

[LETMGROW]

I kind of wonder if your forrestry guy has hunting land near you.

As a person who suffers from the lack of cover, I would not do any clear cutting. Select cutting maybe, to let some sunlight in to the forrest floor but leave enough trees to make the wildlife feel secure. If I cut anything I would leave the tops etc. placed to form secure areas and establish travel routes. Planting oaks sounds great but don't expect to see results anytime soon.

Just my opinion as I haven't seen your property.

Lynn

[dogdoc]

I would think about one of the quick mast producing oaks such as a Sawtooth Oak. I don't know how quck a Burr Oak produces mast. I have no experience in big clear cuts.

[WestKyTeacher]

Pretty much see the pattern of select cutting and allowing oaks to slowly take over. According to aborday website, Bur Oak is slow growing at a rate of 12" or less per year and takes 35 yrs to produce acorns, OUCH! Saw tooth produces acorns early and grows med (13"-24"yr) to fast (25"+yr). Northern Red Oak is a fast growing tree, 25"yr. White is slow to med and only produces acorns from yrs 50-100 and only produces good crops every 4-10yrs. Could start producing in 20yrs if open-grown.

Looks like I'll go for a mixture of Sawtooth and Northern Red Oak and maybe throw some persimmons in with them.

[Tominator]

Burr is very close to a white and the deer prefer that acorn to a red oak because of the tanin content, that's probably why he suggested the burr.

[wtnhunt]

Don't know how well they would grow where you are, but may also consider black oaks. They grow fairly quickly and produce acorns much earlier than some other oaks. Deer will eat them too.

[PA_RIDGE_RUNNER]

I brought some burr oak acorns back from Kansas and planted them about 4 years ago. Dang chipmunks got 5 of the 8 I planted but did save 3 of them. Transplanted them in my back yard 2 years ago and they are now about 3 - 4 feet tall and doing rather well. I do know that the deer really like the burr oak acorn in Kansas. They are about the biggest acorn about twice the size of the red oak. I am told that central PA is about the northern most that they will grow well but the three of mine are doing ok. The red oak and sawtooth and several others are the least palatable to deer due to the level of tannin but they produce the most acorns.