Timber removal companies and the corrolation to deer population/movement. Was not sure where to post this so sorry if it is in the wrong area.
We have a small tract of land 80 acres near Woodville that we are considering having a small timber company coming in and do some selective cutting. Property has pines and mixed hardwoods does any one have any experince or recommendations? On companies effects on deer?
We do not want it so Orn can drive his camero around
Thanks

all i would say is leave the hardwoods alone if at all possible

If there are any drains, creeks, etc. make sure to leave large buffers. If the areas around the place have the same kind of timber, then I might suggest clearcutting the whole mess if the pines are old enough. Will have a big effect on deer movement for a cpl years, but when your property gets to be the thickest mess around, then you have just fixed yourself up one heck of a bedding area.

Did that on 300 acres a cpl years ago and saw a few deer the following year. Now after the first week or so of season, it seems that every buck around finds their way to the place to hide out.

crook -- I'm curious why you say that. Don't they have a lot of value?

btw....if and when you decide to do anything, get plenty of bids. We ended up gettin 15 and they ranged from "way too low" to higher than expected. If the buddy system would have been followed, it would have cost a pretty penny.

chestnut- yes they are very valuable from what i understand but are valuable to the deer as well and take a long time to be replaced. that's why i said "if at all possible" i know these are pretty tough times!

If you cut all the hardwoods, then the deer will be forced to eat out of your feeders or leave.

Yep. Hardwoods equal mast crop, the deers forage. Oaks of course. Talk to the forestry service there. They can help you pick a good mix of what to keep and get rid of. Should be free.

Thanks for all the input for some reason I never thought about the forestry service and I pass by their office on the way to the property

Slight hijack, but deer have to be living most of the year on something besides acorns. I know they eat green briar, but that's not too common. FOR EAST TEXAS ONLY, does anyone know what the deer eat?

almost anything they can reach that is green and produces berries. Deer on our place love everything to do with a french mulberry bush.

What about oak tree leaves or maple tree leaves? Those, along with yaupon and American Beauty Berry make up the bulk of the undergrowth in East Texas, I think. There's also possumhaw.

a lot of that falls in the "anything green ......& produces berries"..... muscadine and mayhaw and huckleberries, but those are getting harder to find every year...(in some areas) Our lease isn't far out of woodville...and one thing I've figured out over the years, they don't call that the Big Thicket for no reason.

I know they tear up roads esp if it is wet that day

Make sure they do some type of clean-up work. I was hunting with a guy this year who owns land near Longview and said the last time they had their stuff cut the guys left trash all over the place.

It all depends on what you are going for.... sure make sure every bit of trash is removed from the place. If you are wanting to replant, then it is wise to get them to push brushpiles and clean up, if your wanting natural regeneration then I would have them push up several places for food plots with roads going to and from. Most will gladly do it, b/c you are providing them business. Some folks say the deer will leave the place if its completely clearcut.... some might, but you will still have deer using the same trails they were before it was cut.....they don't know any different. Place in the pic was cut Dec. '06 and it has grown into a nice little place to hunt. Notice it's already over head high.

Rifleman is right. Get several bids or use a good timberman (the middle man who, for a fee, finds you the best price ). My family has used Bill Hable for the past 25-30 years so we go straight to him when our tracts need thinning. I would highly recommend using him. If you would like to talk to him I'll PM his # to you. He helps us decide where to place food plot clearings, how much buffer area to leave, hand selects and marks which trees need to be removed, etc.

If at all possible just do a thinning, leaving the seed trees to replenish new groth on your place. This too will allow for proper tree spacing (determined by a formula), minimizes erosion, and maintains some cover for wildlife. Typically, we shy away from harvesting the hardwoods due to low prices compared to perceived value. Usually the hard woods don't yield as much in East Texas as they do farther north. Everyone has there opinions, but this is what we have experienced.

As far as disturbing the wildlife, they get used to the noise within a few days. There should be no problem doing the thinning this time of year, in fact it will allow the understory to get a head start which will be a game magnet.

According to Dr Deer, a deer's primary food choices are indeterminate growth plants like: black berries, dew berries, green briar (someone mentioned), poison ivy, poison oak, honey suckle...anything that puts out new growth everytime it rains. Everything else is ruffage to the deer, at least that is what I heard.

Orn not trying to descriminate, it's just that my 4 wheeler's turning radius is less than your Z28

was that the z28 I saw the other day with mudgrips on the back and a big Hee-Haw sticker on the back window

I have 17 acres near Woodville my self and was born and raised there most of my life. I have also had all the pines cut off of my place in 1990 it did not affect the Deer in any way. I think it made it better for real! I moved away in 93 and have not hunted over there but have had friends hunt on my place with good results.

DRJ

Here's a comapny for ya

I worked for these guys, and let me tell you, they're very good at what they do, and they understand the deer population, because they hunt themselves. He's based out of Lindale, but if it's a big enough job they might consider it.
another company
This is a business the guys i worked for used when we needed a big machine. Give them calls, they're awesome people to do business with.

Appreciate all th input
Thank you