Trees: a public menace
 

I think there are much too many mature trees around. The mature trees are choking out too many species that depend on sunlight to thrive. Vast stretches of country are like barren wastelands, full of starving wildlife that must be saved. We can't continue to protect one species at the cost of many others. Eco-tourism is endangering the welfare of our state and it is time that we stand up and come to the defense of our great land. We cannot let the selfish tourists, intent on seeing vast reaches of gigantic trees on their "outings", lay waste to the landscape, and produce this lifeless, barren forest floor. The poor herbivores are starving, chewing on tree trunks, in a vain attempt to effect an existance. Please, join with me folks, before it too late.

OK, just a thought, but what do you think?

RE: Trees: a public menace
 

Yep, wipe out all the trees so there is nothing to convert CO2 back to O2

RE: Trees: a public menace
 

NO NO! Get rid of MATURE trees. They are the problem. Nothing wrong with saplings and young timber. They are GOOD. Gigantic stretches of mature trees covering the land is BAD. Eco-tourists don't like to look at brush and saplings, where wildlife thrives. Get the idea now?

RE: Trees: a public menace
 

Q.T.M is the answer .Kill all the old trees.Let the little grow.

RE: Trees: a public menace
 

Now you are getting my drift. We must bring the mature tree population into balance with the ecosystem. Eco-tourists are spoiled with seeing millions of behemoth trees on every "outing". They must learnhow to HUNT for the really big trees. Then, and only then, will they truly appreciate them for what they are.

RE: Trees: a public menace
 

A Sunday season would add many more days afield for every tree slayer out there.

A revenue wind fall!!!!!!

RE: Trees: a public menace
 

Theworst commercial I saw was for BASF forestry where they were promoting forests with no choking underbrush, making it safer for hunters and recreational users.
Help the deer out that live in the mature forests by cutting down a tree or 50.

RE: Trees: a public menace
 

No problem with mature trees here in VA. Once they reach 30 years old TIMBER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Down they go! All of the property within a square mile or more has been logged, except mine and my neighbors, but he will log his within the next year. Good for the animals up to a point; the point where the browse is out of reach for the deer and the undergrowth is being choked out. And,the trees are not old enough to produce nuts, fruit, etc.

RE: Trees: a public menace
 

I believe there should be a branchrestriction,(Br). All trees that are over the (Br) are legal game!

RE: Trees: a public menace
 

Actually T in a new study they found out all the trees in the rain forest in South America give off carbon monoxide which is what they say harms the ozone layer.
We don't want all the mature tress cut down but there's gotta be some management to open the canopy because we don't let fires burn naturally anymore from lightening strikes.

RE: Trees: a public menace
 

I love that idea!

RE: Trees: a public menace
 

can we get bonus tags????

RE: Trees: a public menace
 

A trick I heard of, that some folks use on their property, is to take a saw and cut the bark to the wood, just a thin saw kerf, all the way around the tree. This leaves the tree standing, but kills the tree and leaves it bare, allowing sunlight into the forest. They would then come back the next year and cut it for firewood for the campfire or fireplace. This would be ILLEGAL on public property of course.

RE: Trees: a public menace
 

Now is the time for private land owners to make their property a deer magnet. The Raystown study clearly shows how deer quickly move to safe havens when things get tough.Maple logs are at an all time high have areas of your land cut & clear the canopy.Take some of the timber money and plant food plots in these thick areas.We are going to live with fewer deer so get used to it .But the better your land is for cover and feedthe better it will be a the first Saturday of rifle season when ever one else is not seeing anything.And for you people that are forced to hunt state land ,write letters make calls , this one hundred year plan the PGC has is a slap in the face to all hunters .With over one million acersof land cuttingone per cent a year is just plain dumb.

RE: Trees: a public menace
 

These are what we use in Cameron Co. to do that and it is legal. ;)
If you don't know what it is, it's a Porcupine they can kill a big tree in no time and they they like the little ones to.

RE: Trees: a public menace
 

Selective Timber Harvest is the answer. You don't cut all the big trees, just some. With a good quality forester (i only charge 10% lol) you can go in about every 5 to 10yrs and do it again. Like bawanajim said, take the money and put out food plots and buy yourself some hunting toys. IMHO this is the healthiest way for the forest, critters, and the land owner!!!

RE: Trees: a public menace
 

Actually , this is called survival of the fittest and is completely natural . What is out of whack is the game and varmint populations , which we have only ourselves to blame for . Whacking all of the mature trees would destroy the ecosystem , you can't take out that big a piece of the puzzle and still have the whole picture .

May I respectfully suggest that you research the entire concept of ecosystems next time before posting please ?

RE: Trees: a public menace
 

I respectfully disagree , Kev. Did the clearcutting of the whole state at the turn of the century destroy the "ecosystem". The eco-wizards think they can preserve the forest the pretty way (BIG "OLE TREES FOR MILES) it is and still sustain it. The only rule in nature, my friend, is everything that lives must one day die, and return to the earth, so that new life can be created. Have a little faith in nature and the regenerating power that it wields.
I just realized you are from Indiana

RE: Trees: a public menace
 

Kevin I did not see any one suggest we clear cut the state.But the PGC has chosen to lower deer numbers to levels some of us land owners think are to low.

So If I wanted to go look at big trees I would go to a park.I instead like to hunt deer.Deer don't thrive in big woods areas so I chose to make not only a profit but better habitat for the game I prefer by cutting down the large maples.By doing so I make more room for the oaks that I want & create cover for my deer.

I also trapor shoot every crow ,coon ,opposum & skunk I find.I would shoot the hawks also but we all know they are "protected".

RE: Trees: a public menace
 

I hope there is no loggers on this site...[:@]

RE: Trees: a public menace
 

Had it not been for the complete destruction of our forests, the state would have no other tree but white pine....YUK. What was that about survival of the fittest?

RE: Trees: a public menace
 

I think all who posted should read these two books. Get real information and base your opinions on this, rather then emotions. "THE WOODLOT MANAGEMENT HAND BOOK" ISBN 1-55209-236-4 or "EASTERN DECIDUOUS FOREST" Ecology and Wildlife Conservation ISBN 0-8166-3360-6. Check these out, read them and get educated. :eek:IMO all tree should be harvest per a foresters report. It helps the land owners pay for what ever, it helps nature, is perfect for wildlife, and is a renewable resource. It just takes time. Stop think of a instant fix. The regeneration may not happen in your life time, but think of the youths that you so eagerly say we need in the outdoor sports. Wildlife and forest management is forever, not for the next year or decade.
I personal know of a hunting group in southwestern PA, that go around looking for large tracts of land for hunting. When they find it, the take a private forester in to find the value of the lands timber. If it offsets the purchase price they buy it. Very smart way of getting land, making the land pay for its self and the loggers are providing a wildlife management service and paying for it. A very smart group!

RE: Trees: a public menace
 

A deers best friend is a man with a chain saw!

RE: Trees: a public menace
 

I'm a firm believer in clear cutting. It should be done with some expert advice. A plan is a must. This is no place for a forest massacre though. I have been practicing clear cuts and forest thinning for quite sometime. I cut in February and March, I leave them as drops. When it snows you really can see how the critters use it. It helps all wildlife. Provides vines a trellis to grow browse. Gives ground dwelling birds alot of cover. It's a all round winning program. Try 1% of your property and I promise you will see the results. In my opinion it's as good as a food plot half it's size. Provides food and cover. If the deer are browsing 6' or so of a tree 30'+ tall, imagine the browse when it's down. Thats just the first year. Wait till the vines start to grow, then you will see the results in effect.

RE: Trees: a public menace
 

No emotions except utter joy at the bounty to come from it. Have you ever seen nature at work after a good forest fire? If only a few trees burned hit and miss style do you think you would get the same result? NO WAY! Level the forest. Good for wildlife, good for the forest. Just because some things are not pretty, doesn't mean they are not good. Some things need to be "ugly" to work right. I don't mean to cut everywhere all at once, but we need to get moving on some timetable. Do a grid system, like a checkerboard. Send the tree-worshippers to Brazil.