If you have not burned

[Boll Weevil]

My objectives absolutely DO NOT involve clearcutting and starting over so I've always thought about how I could manage my timber stand after future thinnings…that's where I think the savanna fits nicely. This particular pic is actually longleaf but conceptually the same outcome.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

My objectives absolutely DO NOT involve clearcutting and starting over so I've always thought about how I could manage my timber stand after future thinnings…that's where I think the savanna fits nicely. This particular pic is actually longleaf but conceptually the same outcome.

View attachment 226853

I'd love to have some of that. More so just to add more unique puzzle pieces to our mix.

 

[Boll Weevil]

AWESOME habitat for many species, especially quail, turkey, and deer. You can see mile upon mile of this type of habitat around Albany, GA. Because of that habitat, the Albany area is a hot spot for big deer in southern GA.

For quail and turkey I can certainly see why this might be ideal habitat but for big deer, not so much. I know SW GA produces some giants but how does pine savanna contribute to that? Surely I'm missing something but alot of it just looks like a bunch of wiregrass and broomstraw to me.

 

[BSK]

For quail and turkey I can certainly see why this might be ideal habitat but for big deer, not so much. I know SW GA produces some giants but how does pine savanna contribute to that? Surely I'm missing something but alot of it just looks like a bunch of wiregrass and broomstraw to me.

The high volume of annual forbs that are mixed in with the grasses. Those savannah areas produce 20-50 times the volume of forbs that a woodland area does.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

Update on the areas burned in my previously posted pics. Look at the difference in 2 weeks compared to now

 

[MickThompson]

Update on the areas burned in my previously posted pics. Look at the difference in 2 weeks compared to now

If that isn't brood cover I don't know what is

 

[BSK]

That's a lot of deer food!

 

[mcbuck58]

Update on the areas burned in my previously posted pics. Look at the difference in 2 weeks compared to now

Looks good deerman. My 3 burns look the same way. Before turkey season boy the birds were working those burns. Even had a few hens roosting in a big white oak in one burn.

 

[Boll Weevil]

Amazing really…looks great. I wonder to what degree the Smoky Bear campaign should take credit for squashing the good that fire can promote. Most folks would likely have no clue that fire did that.

 

[Boll Weevil]

The high volume of annual forbs that are mixed in with the grasses. Those savannah areas produce 20-50 times the volume of forbs that a woodland area does.

To BSKs point, read this. https://www.jonesctr.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/deer_pub.pdf

Jump to about pg18-21 to get to the antler productivity nitty gritty.

 

[Popcorn]

The high volume of annual forbs that are mixed in with the grasses. Those savannah areas produce 20-50 times the volume of forbs that a woodland area does.

^^This^^ plus
Cover, bedding, birthing oh and did I say cover??

 

[Boll Weevil]

I'm pleased with where everything is headed but with all the rain, actually a little surprised more growth hadn't emerged. I don't have the answer to this but one thought I had was related to released seedbank after a first burn. 16-17 years of needles can make for a pretty thick mat on the forest floor (had a really good hot burn). I'm thinking future burns could release other seedbank?

For this that have burned multiple times what do see in terms of regrowth and diversity?

 

[JCDEERMAN]

I'm pleased with where everything is headed but with all the rain, actually a little surprised more growth hadn't emerged. I don't have the answer to this but one thought I had was related to released seedbank after a first burn. 16-17 years of needles can make for a pretty thick mat on the forest floor (had a really good hot burn). I'm thinking future burns could release other seedbank?

For this that have burned multiple times what do see in terms of regrowth and diversity?

View attachment 229347

I haven't burned a location multiple times yet, so I don't have a testimonial answer. But everything I've learned is after the second burn (if one is a dormant season burn and the other a growing season burn or vice versa), that's when things really start to change. Pine needles are such a fine fuel, so I believe it was hot! I'm surprised you don't have more growth either given as wet as it has been. You never know, by end of summer, you may have a ton of growth.

 

[MickThompson]

I'm pleased with where everything is headed but with all the rain, actually a little surprised more growth hadn't emerged. I don't have the answer to this but one thought I had was related to released seedbank after a first burn. 16-17 years of needles can make for a pretty thick mat on the forest floor (had a really good hot burn). I'm thinking future burns could release other seedbank?

For this that have burned multiple times what do see in terms of regrowth and diversity?

View attachment 229347

First thing that jumped out at me, and it may just be the picture, is it's still pretty dark in there. The lack or sunlight may be hindering the veg response

 

[BSK]

First thing that jumped out at me, and it may just be the picture, is it's still pretty dark in there. The lack or sunlight may be hindering the veg response

Agreed.

 

[Boll Weevil]

First thing that jumped out at me, and it may just be the picture, is it's still pretty dark in there. The lack or sunlight may be hindering the veg response

Excellent point (talk about not seeing the forest for the trees ). The thinning Rx called for a given basal area but of course it varies a good bit across the stand. This particular spot clearly had less wood removed…very good catch.