Rifle Range - Then & Now
 

We have a nice 300 yard rifle range at our hunting lease. A really great place to spend some time.

Unfortunately, it's not quite as nice as it was a year ago. The landowner had the section clear cut this past Fall and our shady wind proof range is now a sunny wide open area.

Still, it's a nice place to spend some time - which I did all day yesterday and part of today.

Here are before and after pictures of the range. I sure miss the trees.

wow! they really cleared that place out

In a couple years, that'll be a deer magnet.

Yea... but you'll probably have to be on top of one to see it!!

BPS

In a few years you will be able to sit at the shooting bench and wait for them to cross the mowed path to the target.

I agree with all the above. We have a couple areas like that where I hunt. Loaded with deer sign but you can't see them in that thick stuff. I used to sit on a high dirt pile and could look down into it but its all grown up now and its not possible any more.

Although it screwed up the rifle range a bit, we're really happy to see some clear cuts on our lease. The trees in those areas were pretty thick with little understory. The cut areas will provide lots of feed and bedding area. And as BarnesAddict said, clear cuts are deer magnets. We still have lots of woods.

I am all too familiar with clear cutting. The loggers come in and cut everything down but leave one mature tree every so many yards. They sure leave a mess. But as they said, a few years and the slashings come in and the deer and grouse into that.

That is a real before and after picture.