For the forrestry/conservation experts
 

Themain property I hunt has been sold to the Conservation Dept, but remains in the hands of the owners until death. The Dept has placed a few conditions on us as a result. We cannot build any new stands and cannot cut certain trees. No problem with those, but there is something else that has raised a few questions.

They have supposedly contracted our caretaker to take out all of the cedar trees on the property. I understand that cedar trees suck a lot of water out of the ground and choke out other trees and ground cover, but we did not have an over abundance of cedar trees in the first place.

I am trying to figure out what the Dept is trying to accomplish by taking out all of the cedar trees?? They were providing most of the bedding areas for deer in the area, and our sightings as a whole definitely were down this year after so many were cut down.

Can anyone enlighten me on the advantages of this mass muder??

RE: For the forrestry/conservation experts
 

my suggestion would be to ask mdc themselves.they should be able to tell ya

RE: For the forrestry/conservation experts
 

I don't want to call them just yet, there may be something else going on. Just want to see if there is a plausible explanation before that happens.

RE: For the forrestry/conservation experts
 

That's interesting I was actually planning on planting some cedars to make a barrier to a future food plot and I kinda knew that cedars weren't exactly good trees butI would like to know more about the pros and cons of planting some on my parents property.

RE: For the forrestry/conservation experts
 

I find it weird that they would do this. Here in NY The NY power authority in Blenheim-Gilboa actually planted a few hundred white ceder in a deer wintering area of their property. White ceder is actually a perfered wintering food source arnd here. I'd give them a call and find out why? And when you find out let us know;)

RE: For the forrestry/conservation experts
 

I'm going to check into it, I found it strange myself. Then I really started to wonder when the guy cutting them all down picked up a job building fence across the road. Those cedar trees make really good fence posts:eek:

RE: For the forrestry/conservation experts
 

They may have plans to replace the cedar with merchandisable timber?

RE: For the forrestry/conservation experts
 

Is the cedars I find growing all around my parents property probly white cedars?

RE: For the forrestry/conservation experts
 

I use to be a forestry major. Honestly this puzzles me, i dont know any real significance of cedars trees. They dont grow fast enough to help usher in new habitat, and i dont know of any disadvantage of them. I have no clue, unless they trying to built a pure deciduous stand of forest. Id just ask them.

RE: For the forrestry/conservation experts
 

Thanks for the info tm - I'm waiting for a call back now.

RE: For the forrestry/conservation experts
 

Down here in Oklahoma, the Eastern Red Cedarhas escaped its natural habitat and been released from being under control with the repression of fire across the landscape decades and decades ago. This has lead to the cedars invading the prairies and outcompeting native deciduous trees in forested parts of the state. MDC is probably just trying to regain control of the cedars across the state. Multiple research studies have shown that with the reintroduction of fire through prescribed burning will control the spread of cedars and improve the quality of deer, quail, and turkeys. That's just my two cents. You should have gone straight to MDC with question first though, since they are the ones who wanted the cedars removed in the first place; half of their job isinteracting with the public andinforming the public on what they are doing and why?

RE: For the forrestry/conservation experts
 

Normally I would have. However in this case I think the landowner is getting the wool pulled over his eyes by the guy living there. As I said, this guy is cutting them all down and then profitting from the harvest. The owner complained all deer season about not seeing the number of deer he was use to seeing and was wondering out loud to the rest of us.

I didn't want to jump in the middle, but when I was up there last month and saw how complete the decimation of the cedars was I changed my mind.

RE: For the forrestry/conservation experts
 

Just got off the phone with the local agent and got my answer.

They do intend to take out every cedar tree on the property to restore a glade/savannah habitat. They will also continue to control burn the area on an annual to semi-annual basis to keep them from returning.

He provided a lot more informationand offered to call in advance of the controlled burns so we could plan around them.

It sounded like they were going to be doing a lot of this statewide. They had had aburning program for several years, but it had taken a backseat lately. Once they stopped burning, the cedars were the first to take hold of those areas.

RE: For the forrestry/conservation experts
 

Glad ya got a good answer. Its good they are working to preserve habitat.