A Forest Management Plan

[Jeff]

If you tell them how nice they look you think they might swell with pride? I might be able to harvest enough cedar for a log cabin and never see a dent if we can do that...

[Norm]

What a great management plan Ron. Jeff it sounds like you've got your work cut out but it sounds like fun too. Try to keep the wind to your face spraying with the quad. You can also get cheap chem suits and respirators at most farm supply stores. I know it's a herbicide but chemicals are chemicals.

Isn't it great to watch your own land come to life in the spring, beautiful place.

[Jeff]

Norm, I'm real nervous about those chemicals so I waited until dead calm to apply.

[SwampDonkey]

Ron's report of the property looks great. Your well on your way to work or pleasure, whichever way you choose to look at it.

The bog plant looks like a species in the heath family with that big terminal flower bud. Probably sheep laurel Kalmia angustifolia

A feature of this plant's flower is the 10 stamens (whose anthers are tucked into pockets of the corolla) pop out when touched. The flowers are pink and saucer-shaped, and are densely clustered around the stem. Leaves are in whorls of 3. Plant is up to 3 feet tall.

[maple flats]

Wear a charcoal filtered mask and be sure to shower ASAP after spraying. Read and follow ALL directions, never think they are not meant for you. I have a private applicator's license and must take the recert every few years. Don't take any chem lightly, If you are not properly protected it can and does have a cumulative effect.

[Justin L]

One thing I've seen is some people will use too much pressure and make too fine of a mist that drifts farther. I learned from spraying lacquer & varnish to use just enough pressure to atomize and no more. I know it's not exactly the same, but the larger the droplets the less it will travel.

[Sprucegum]

Which type of log is a favorite for the Grouse? I hear them quite often but can't tell exactly where they are drumming.

BTW those marsh marigolds look just like our Buttercups 

[Jeff]

I think anything hollow with a solid exterior. In other words, Drum like. 

[Corley5]

The logs don't need to be hollow.  They don't actually beat their wings on the log.  The sound comes from air being moved by their wings.   

[Jeff]

They dont need to be, no, but I'm sure the birds know that hollow logs resonate the sound.

[Corley5]

Any log will do them fine.  They'll show no preference to a hollow log unless it's all that's available.  Ever see a video of them drumming    They are standing tall and pushing air in front of them not down

[Ron Scott]

Yes, any larger diameter log will do, but a log with some cover around it is preferred. If you are placing "drumming logs", northern hardwood logs are also preferred over aspen since they will last much longer. The same goes for wildlife nest, den, snag, or cavity trees.

[Sprucegum]

I don't have any hollow logs - spruce and cottonwood blowdowns only in that area. They seem to hang out in the spruce more, guess thats why they are called Spruce Hens 

[SwampDonkey]

BTW those marsh marigolds look just like our Buttercups 

Kind of similar. We have them here too, but not too common. The only place I see them is wetlands like in Jeff's pic, and usually where cedar have grown. It may be that they do best in those soils with calcarious bedrock. Just a speculation.

[SwampDonkey]

I don't have any hollow logs - spruce and cottonwood blowdowns only in that area. They seem to hang out in the spruce more, guess thats why they are called Spruce Hens 

probably spruce grouse, which tend to be vocal during courtship like a blue grouse, and not a 'drummer' ruffed grouse. 


In our hardwood stands we often have a light scattering of balsam fir logs on the ground. They do tend to be hollow because of the but rot during their devise. Often if they are drumming on old hardwood logs on the ground, those logs were near logging yards and trails. And edges tend to be thickets. There will often be decedent elm trees as well in low lands. Cedar blow downs are another nice platform, since they are often concealed by fir thicket. I see a lot of grouse in cedar stands.

[OneWithWood]

Jeff,

I am very glad for you and Tammy.  What a great feeling caring for a plot of ground and the vegetation on it is. 

If you wish for the grouse to remain be sure to leave a grove of pole size trees with a spacing comparable to the grouse wing span.  The grouse rely on the closely spaced pole size trees to escape larger predator birds.  The trees will not remain pole size for long so you might consider opening up an adjacent area that will grow saplings to become pole size about the time the current area increases to saw log size.  Of course with the wetter soils this may all occur naturally and all you will need ot due is observe 

Anyway the one thing I have learned about managing a plot of ground is there is no need to be in a hurry or regret not being able to stick to a time table.  Nature moves at her own pace and is very forgiving.

Introduce yourself to your district forester and wildlife biologist if you have not done so already.  Local resources are invaluable.

I hope someday I will have the pleasure of walking your woods with you.

[Greg]

Ron using a prism to check the aspen stocking on the west end of the property. I have some very nice aspen trees that's time has come to do something with. I plan on using them for framing material. Ron explained to me that on this site, the aspen would be short lived and should be utilized now. Basically I will remove it from this forest type.

A quick question about the recommendation that the aspen being short lived on this site, and needing utilized.

Is this based primarily on the site index for aspen (and your poplar) on that soil or some other particular piece of knowledge in Ron's head? Also when you say you want to remove it (aspen) from the forest type, is that because these species are deemed less than desireable -  commercially or for some other reason?

I think I have a similar situation, I have a very robust abundant population with tulip poplar, and I plan to utilize/thin some of them to make room for other species, like swamp white oak. Another reason for doing this in increasing the species diversity.

I'm not doubting anything your doing. Just curious as to the whys ;-)
Greg

[Jeff]

Greg, I'm going to let Ron Answer that one when he gets back in town. He is gone for a day or three. I THINK the major reason is that the site conditions are not conducive to a thriving quality aspen stand. Good question, as I would like Ron to explain it to me again.

Robert, thank-you.   Plan an extra day or three after the pigroast and we could do just that.

[Ron Scott]

The Kalkaska Sand soil type on this area primarily favors a northern hardwoods cover type. However, the site is growing an overstory of mixed aspen of sawlog size and  pole sized balsam fir with included white cedar and lowland hardwoods with included white and yellow birch.

The area is part of a transition zone into the adjoining mixed conifer swamp and lowland hardwoods area to the east with a rising water table.

The sawlog size aspen is 60 + years of age and somewhat offsite in the transition to the are of a higher water table. The aspen is mature and starting to break down and should be harvested or it will become decadent and lost. There are no aspen clones on site to favor aspen aspen regeneration within the balsam fire, cedar, and lowland hardwood cover type.

This is the preferred area "soil's wise" for Jeff  & Tammy to construct their cabin. The management direction to meet Jeff's objectives is to clear the proposed cabin site, remove all sawlog size aspen for personal construction use, and selective harvest within the balsam fir, cedar, and lowland hardwoods, and included white and yellow birch. Retain all "heathy" white birch for diversity and site aesthetics.

The integrated resource management direction is to develop and improve a future cabin site and to develop and improve an aesthetic woodland in a boreal ecosystem surrounding the proposed cabin site.   

[WDH]

Great stuff . 

Ron, what do you charge to come to Georgia .