Originally Posted by
Bocajnala
Are the tree tops still on the ground or did they grind everything up?
Has it started to regrow yet?
If it's empty and void of everything except for ruts and stumps deer won't use it much this year. But will likely still cross it from time to time.
If there are what we call "slashings" (basically everything left behind by the loggers) and stuff has started to regrow the deer will definitely be in it. Those tree tops are easy browse, and so is the fresh green stuff growing up.
If you're able to, establish your primary trails and stand locations now. It'll get thicker and thicker and harder to work with every year for about the next 10-15 years before you start getting anything sizeable in there.
The good news is, the deer will love it. They can be tough to hunt, but the deer are in there.
-Jake
It is still being cut as I write this. It appears that they are leaving some of the tops on the ground. Not much new growth yet cause they are still dragging logs out. I was told that they hope to be done by deer season, and the loggers have said that they see deer every day in the areas that they have cut. It will be interesting to see how things transpire over the next 10 years or so. The second growth stuff that is going to come out will be near impossible to hunt as it will be too thick. I have been told, that if I cut trails thru the second growth that the deer will use them and I can set a stand accordingly. I will have to wait and see. Unfortunately, the logging of this area will concentrate the hunters that hunt this State Forest into the few areas that remain un-touched causing crowded hunting conditions. I may have to scope out some new areas to hunt until the second growth gets established.