PA Doe application due
08-20-2014, 11:22 AM
#81
Fork Horn
Join Date: Jun 2011
Posts: 103
LOL.You really have no idea what you're talking about.Clearcuts are excellent habitat and have the highest carrying capacity of any forest type.The problem is,after about 12 years it turns into pole timber growing out of the deer's reach.When that happens the carrying plummets and that same area will support less than 5 dpsm.It will stay like that for at least 50 years until it starts producing mast and lets some light in for a mid level understory to develop.That's right,mature timber should have browse in the form of a mid level understory.At that time,the carrying capacity will be able to handle more deer.Pa was faced with an even aged stand of timber because the entire northern part of the state was clearcut in the early 1900's.It was great habitat for a while and the deer population exploded.Now they're trying to cut just enough so there's a continual mix of different forest compositions.If they cut too much(more than 1%)than we'll be faced with too much pole timber and low carrying capacities again.
The PGC and DCNR BOTH JUST STARTED DOING CONTROLLED BURNS BUT THEY DON'T DO IT IN PLACE OF CLEARCUTS.The reason they didn't do it before was because the guy starting the fire was liability.Legislation was passed a few years that took thatliability away.Still,it takes a lot of manpower,you have a short window in the spring to do it and weather conditions have to be perfect.
The understory is coming back in many places now that there's less deer.Up until 5 years ago,DCNR HAD TO FENCE EVERY SINGLE timber sale in district 9.They haven't fenced a cut since then and they also took every one of the units in that district out of dmap because they're getting the regeneration they want.Elk state forest cut way back on the number of fences over the past several years but now they're fencing more because the deer herd is increasing.
Again,deer only eat laurel if they have nothing else to eat.
A clearcut will be worthless after 20 years and it will stay that way for another thirty years or so.You need a mix of forest compositions but early succerssional forests will always support more deer.Only certain trees die when they reach about 15 feet.Fire cherry is a good example.It's a highly prefered browse species but eventually dies and lets more light in.
The PGC and DCNR BOTH JUST STARTED DOING CONTROLLED BURNS BUT THEY DON'T DO IT IN PLACE OF CLEARCUTS.The reason they didn't do it before was because the guy starting the fire was liability.Legislation was passed a few years that took thatliability away.Still,it takes a lot of manpower,you have a short window in the spring to do it and weather conditions have to be perfect.
The understory is coming back in many places now that there's less deer.Up until 5 years ago,DCNR HAD TO FENCE EVERY SINGLE timber sale in district 9.They haven't fenced a cut since then and they also took every one of the units in that district out of dmap because they're getting the regeneration they want.Elk state forest cut way back on the number of fences over the past several years but now they're fencing more because the deer herd is increasing.
Again,deer only eat laurel if they have nothing else to eat.
A clearcut will be worthless after 20 years and it will stay that way for another thirty years or so.You need a mix of forest compositions but early succerssional forests will always support more deer.Only certain trees die when they reach about 15 feet.Fire cherry is a good example.It's a highly prefered browse species but eventually dies and lets more light in.
08-23-2014, 02:16 PM
#82
Typical Buck
Join Date: May 2010
Location: South East Pa.
Posts: 526
Thank you for reading information to me from the internet. As a former logging employee, I needed the update. I am done here. It seems odd that all the know-it-alls never have any kind of home area posted.
08-25-2014, 02:46 PM
#85
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: south eastern PA
Posts: 15,429
Gunplumer, a logging employee is a guy with a chainsaw and a truck and maybe two or three teeth. A forester is a person with a degree in Silviculture who selects the trees for the the logger employee to cut down. Guess which one actually knows anything about forestry and forest generation after a clear cut. My money is on the guy with more than a saw and a truck.
Last edited by Oldtimr; 08-25-2014 at 03:04 PM.
08-26-2014, 05:17 AM
#87
Fork Horn
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: PA
Posts: 470
08-29-2014, 06:02 PM
#88
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Southampton Pa BUCKS CO
Posts: 2,492
dougl- sounds like you've lived here a while. No shortage of guys in this state still living in the deer hunting glory days, who can't seem to get their mind around what has happened and is still currently happening (some good, some bad, and some just plain different) in this state. They hang on the phrase "tradition", but I often wonder if there is lead in the water they are drinking. Don't even bring up the topic of Sunday hunting, or all holy he** breaks loose....
Hatchet Jack
08-30-2014, 11:26 AM
#89
Fork Horn
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: PA
Posts: 470
08-31-2014, 06:38 AM
#90
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Southampton Pa BUCKS CO
Posts: 2,492