@@GrowingDeerTV This was in Chautauqua county, on the eastern edge of the Flint Hills. Just getting in to "big time" burn country. I'm glad to see prescribed fire being used in places it traditionally hasn't, as I believe it's such an important land management tool.
I completed my training this week with the NC Forest Service to become a Certified Burner. I still need to do a couple of small burns under their Supervision to get signed off and get my "card". I'm 51y old and this is all new to me having hunted farm land and thick pocosin all my life. But to be honest, I'm really looking for a new gig for my last 20ish years of working and outdoor experience. Thank you so much for this channel.
Had to go back and rewatch this video.I have about a 100x100 yards section of big mature oaks with smaller trees mixed in..no green growing hardly at all.. at the bottom of the ridge is s small creek up on top of the ridge I have a 100x30 yard food plot.. I'm thinking of burning all that so that light can get to the soil and native grasses can start growing giving cover on the lower end of the plot and extra food for browsing..thanks again for all the great info that you provide in all your videos Grant.. I'm watching deer in the plot right now eating..just haven't seen the right buck this year.. let a nice 9 pointer that's a 3yo walk. Hopefully he will make it to next year
Jesse - Thanks for the note! If the mature oaks make a closed canopy then there won't be enough sun reaching the soil during the growing season for native vegetation to respond to a prescribed fire. However, fire can remove tick habitat! - grant
@@GrowingDeerTV I've took some of the oaks out for fire wood to burn so that the sun can come though..I had some sweet gums and popular I took out also to get sunlight in.. I have about 6 inches of leaves that has piled up for years. I'm hoping to burn all that off so that the grasses or other native green will start coming up.. I didn't want to use the tractor and scape all that off the top.I figured burning would get the job done leaving all the good nutrients behind..
Grant Woods you are the professor of native wildlife. I’ve been watching you for years, but have never seen you use a skid steer forestry mulcher! Maybe a possible future episode on it? Look forward to more of your videos!
Hey guys it's been a while since I've messaged or commented we are preparing for gobbler season here in vt our season starts May 1 good luck to you grant and all of growing deer
All of the normal kudos comments about the great content AND context for that content, way to pass those lessons down with OJT mixed in. Oh, the hydration bit is no joke. Even in a temperate climate. And great graph on the strategy of creating an extended break, then working it uphill after that is established.
Leland - Fire can drastically reduce tick populations - for a while. Some probably are killed by the fire but most die from being desiccated after the fire. Ticks need a lot of moisture to survive and the back area after a fire is a harsh environment for ticks. However, deer will frequent the area as soon as it begins greening up and ticks will drop off the deer and repopulate the burned unit. - grant
After first learning about this, it seemed very counter-intuitive, but it makes a lot more sense now. would controlled burns be a potential solution for larger areas at risk for wildfires?
Great video! Hey i recently bought a large wooded lot in the ozarks, reynolds county, and it has a pandemic level plague of ticks on it. My first thought was that i needed to burn this land. Can you tell me if you had the same problem and if your fires have controlled the ticks for you.
Cody - Ha! Welcome to the Ozarks! Be careful. Ticks can infect humans with many wicked diseases. Critter populations are a factor of the habitat quality. Thick leaf litter, thick grasses, etc., are prime tick habitat which allow the populations to explode. A good rotation of growing season fires will likely improve the habitat for deer and turkeys and decrease it for ticks! I don't know the current habitat at your property, but introducing growing season fires will likely help!
@ 12:56 - "So, I'm getting a lot of black line, taking advantage of the conditions, letting one go." *** Well, that's your do Grant. Personally, I prefer to be in a grocery store checkout line or in an elevator when I "let one go"! 😝
My woods is surrounded by house and a golf course, are there any methods that could have similar reults to a burn without the fire that would scare all the neighbors???
Going to do the burn this year , But need to do a lot of cutting to open thing up . I'm think I should burn 1st then cut . I'd rather not leave the trees on the ground but don't have the help to burn them either . Will brush piles hurt and please don't say hinge cut as I've tried and did not get the ground plants . Any help ?
Steve - I never recommend hinge cutting - as you've learned it simply makes a mess and shades out ground cover. Felled logs won't burn with a prescribed fire - for years. Green logs have way too much moisture to burn. I suggest girdling (more work but can be done during the winter) or hack and squirt to terminate the trees while standing. They will dry and decay much quicker standing (if you are east of Kansas - high humidity) than no the ground. In a few years small limbs will fall. When they fall, they are very dry and breakup quickly. I'd burn after you terminate. If you burn before doing the TSI - you'll remove the fuel base and it will require some years to build fuel to consumer the limbs that will fall.
What would be the best seed for a new food plot? It’s quite small and deep in the woods but it’s all I have to work with. This is my first ever and I’m not quite sure of what to use. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated, thanks
Tomahawk - If planting during the fall, Eagle Seed's Buffalo Blend is what I use in my small plots. If during the warm season and there's ample soil moisture clover may be a good option. Let me know how it goes! - grant
I threw in just a clover mix on may 20. I put down 100lb of lime and 40lb of 10-10-10. The clover is about 5 inches tall already “ probably would be taller if it wasn’t for the deer”. I have lots of deer in the clover on camera now. Thanks for helping me decide!!! I’m very happy with my choice!
Do you just cut down any of the mature oaks that have died since the chainsaw group came? And since you burnt and treated the new recruitment of oaks I’m assuming in the long term once all the mature oaks have died you will not be replacing them? Or will you let a few recruits come in? Or just leave it and let it all be grasses?
I don't cut down mature dead mature oaks unless they are close to a fire break. Chestnut oaks are very hardy and long-lived. Now that the savannah is functioning a few of the oak sampling will survive future fires just as they do in naturally occurring savanna's.
Ray - anytime from now on when the weather conditions are favorable. It's rare in the Ozarks for the humidity and wind speed to be enough for a safe and effective burn.
In general, how much does it cost to clear an acre of timbered land for a food plot where the timber is of average value? Also, is it cheaper to get the timber harvested then hire a crew to de-stump the area or cheaper to hire one crew to use dozers etc. to clear the timber and stumps.
Wyn - This totally depends on the value of the standing timber in your area. The cost to destump depends on the number and size of the stumps. Sorry - but there are too many variables to provide an accurate estimate. - grant
I can't imagine an adult turkey would be caught in a prescribed fire. However, if there was a nest in an area that was burned, it could be destroyed. Unless a huge area, was burned, the benefits of the fire for the population would outweigh the concerns over a single nest.
Just burned 5,000 acres in southeast Kansas yesterday. It's the most important tool for managing and improving our habitat here.
Kyler - Wow! That's a large burn for that area. Nice! grant
@@GrowingDeerTV This was in Chautauqua county, on the eastern edge of the Flint Hills. Just getting in to "big time" burn country. I'm glad to see prescribed fire being used in places it traditionally hasn't, as I believe it's such an important land management tool.
I would love to see an update to this habitat burn and see how the land has recovered. Thanks for the video!
Rommel - I will share the results soon! - grant
I completed my training this week with the NC Forest Service to become a Certified Burner. I still need to do a couple of small burns under their Supervision to get signed off and get my "card". I'm 51y old and this is all new to me having hunted farm land and thick pocosin all my life. But to be honest, I'm really looking for a new gig for my last 20ish years of working and outdoor experience. Thank you so much for this channel.
Congratulations! I look forward to hearing about your experiences!
One of the best prescribed burn videos I've seen. Thanks!
You're so welcome!
I like that y'all are so big on safety it's more important than people think it is especially with fire
Samantha - Thanks for noticing! - grant
Had to go back and rewatch this video.I have about a 100x100 yards section of big mature oaks with smaller trees mixed in..no green growing hardly at all.. at the bottom of the ridge is s small creek up on top of the ridge I have a 100x30 yard food plot.. I'm thinking of burning all that so that light can get to the soil and native grasses can start growing giving cover on the lower end of the plot and extra food for browsing..thanks again for all the great info that you provide in all your videos Grant.. I'm watching deer in the plot right now eating..just haven't seen the right buck this year.. let a nice 9 pointer that's a 3yo walk. Hopefully he will make it to next year
Jesse - Thanks for the note! If the mature oaks make a closed canopy then there won't be enough sun reaching the soil during the growing season for native vegetation to respond to a prescribed fire. However, fire can remove tick habitat! - grant
@@GrowingDeerTV I've took some of the oaks out for fire wood to burn so that the sun can come though..I had some sweet gums and popular I took out also to get sunlight in.. I have about 6 inches of leaves that has piled up for years. I'm hoping to burn all that off so that the grasses or other native green will start coming up.. I didn't want to use the tractor and scape all that off the top.I figured burning would get the job done leaving all the good nutrients behind..
Grant Woods you are the professor of native wildlife. I’ve been watching you for years, but have never seen you use a skid steer forestry mulcher! Maybe a possible future episode on it? Look forward to more of your videos!
Collin - Those can be great tools. However, I don't have access to a mulcher. Thanks for watching! - grant
Hey guys it's been a while since I've messaged or commented we are preparing for gobbler season here in vt our season starts May 1 good luck to you grant and all of growing deer
Samatha - I hope you have a great season! - grant
All of the normal kudos comments about the great content AND context for that content, way to pass those lessons down with OJT mixed in. Oh, the hydration bit is no joke. Even in a temperate climate. And great graph on the strategy of creating an extended break, then working it uphill after that is established.
Thanks Ghillie!
Another great episode as usual guys, thanks! Had a great time visiting with you guys last weekend at the field days, thanks for the code blue kit!
Brent - Thanks for coming and I hope our paths cross again soon! - grant
God Bless Grant! I’ll love to see that area after green up. Hope you’re well.
Kyadak - We'll be sharing a follow up soon! - grant
I wish more hunters in my area were this educated.
Justin - maybe you can be the leader and share information with them.
Well timed fire is great for habitat down here in florida as well.
It is everywhere - prescribed fire is a great tool!
Great educational videos! I’m eager to get a nice food plot started on a small patch here in Central/Six Mile, SC.
I used to live near Central when I attended Clemson!!!! I hunted on the school forest there.
If I am correct you may know my Dad Keith Seitz and great friend Louis Batson.
Great episode!
Thanks for the encouraging words! - grant
We burn habitat to help eradicate ticks
Leland - Fire can drastically reduce tick populations - for a while. Some probably are killed by the fire but most die from being desiccated after the fire. Ticks need a lot of moisture to survive and the back area after a fire is a harsh environment for ticks. However, deer will frequent the area as soon as it begins greening up and ticks will drop off the deer and repopulate the burned unit. - grant
After first learning about this, it seemed very counter-intuitive, but it makes a lot more sense now. would controlled burns be a potential solution for larger areas at risk for wildfires?
Joseph - Absolutely! This is a common technique to reduce fuel except on GOV lands where the use of prescribed fire has been reduced.
Great video! Hey i recently bought a large wooded lot in the ozarks, reynolds county, and it has a pandemic level plague of ticks on it. My first thought was that i needed to burn this land. Can you tell me if you had the same problem and if your fires have controlled the ticks for you.
Cody - Ha! Welcome to the Ozarks! Be careful. Ticks can infect humans with many wicked diseases. Critter populations are a factor of the habitat quality. Thick leaf litter, thick grasses, etc., are prime tick habitat which allow the populations to explode. A good rotation of growing season fires will likely improve the habitat for deer and turkeys and decrease it for ticks! I don't know the current habitat at your property, but introducing growing season fires will likely help!
@@GrowingDeerTV Thank you!
While we're at it, remember the shear amount of antler growth and overall deer herd health gained by reducing tick habitat.
Ghillie - Yes. About 15% based on research by the USDA.
@@GrowingDeerTV You had mentioned that exact stat but I couldn't find exact vid. Thanks.
Agreed
@ 12:56 - "So, I'm getting a lot of black line, taking advantage of the conditions, letting one go."
*** Well, that's your do Grant. Personally, I prefer to be in a grocery store checkout line or in an elevator when I "let one go"! 😝
Funny!
Have deer been dropping their antlers by you? I live in Wisconsin and about half the bucks still have antlers by us
Evan - Most bucks have shed now at The Proving Grounds - grant
My woods is surrounded by house and a golf course, are there any methods that could have similar reults to a burn without the fire that would scare all the neighbors???
Blind Luck Outdoors - It's tough to replicate fire but mowing, selective herbicide, cutting trees, etc., all can be used to improve habitat! - grant
Going to do the burn this year , But need to do a lot of cutting to open thing up . I'm think I should burn 1st then cut . I'd rather not leave the trees on the ground but don't have the help to burn them either . Will brush piles hurt and please don't say hinge cut as I've tried and did not get the ground plants . Any help ?
Steve - I never recommend hinge cutting - as you've learned it simply makes a mess and shades out ground cover. Felled logs won't burn with a prescribed fire - for years. Green logs have way too much moisture to burn. I suggest girdling (more work but can be done during the winter) or hack and squirt to terminate the trees while standing. They will dry and decay much quicker standing (if you are east of Kansas - high humidity) than no the ground. In a few years small limbs will fall. When they fall, they are very dry and breakup quickly. I'd burn after you terminate. If you burn before doing the TSI - you'll remove the fuel base and it will require some years to build fuel to consumer the limbs that will fall.
@@GrowingDeerTV In Arkansas , I'm think if I do not burn the leaves will not let much to grow . Thank you and I learn and enjoyed your videos .
What would be the best seed for a new food plot? It’s quite small and deep in the woods but it’s all I have to work with. This is my first ever and I’m not quite sure of what to use. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated, thanks
Tomahawk - If planting during the fall, Eagle Seed's Buffalo Blend is what I use in my small plots. If during the warm season and there's ample soil moisture clover may be a good option. Let me know how it goes! - grant
Thanks for the reply, I’ll check both out!!
I threw in just a clover mix on may 20. I put down 100lb of lime and 40lb of 10-10-10. The clover is about 5 inches tall already “ probably would be taller if it wasn’t for the deer”. I have lots of deer in the clover on camera now. Thanks for helping me decide!!! I’m very happy with my choice!
Do you just cut down any of the mature oaks that have died since the chainsaw group came? And since you burnt and treated the new recruitment of oaks I’m assuming in the long term once all the mature oaks have died you will not be replacing them? Or will you let a few recruits come in? Or just leave it and let it all be grasses?
I don't cut down mature dead mature oaks unless they are close to a fire break. Chestnut oaks are very hardy and long-lived. Now that the savannah is functioning a few of the oak sampling will survive future fires just as they do in naturally occurring savanna's.
we are in the same area in SW MO/ Great video!! when is the best time of winter? Mid Feb or Mid March?
Ray - anytime from now on when the weather conditions are favorable. It's rare in the Ozarks for the humidity and wind speed to be enough for a safe and effective burn.
In general, how much does it cost to clear an acre of timbered land for a food plot where the timber is of average value? Also, is it cheaper to get the timber harvested then hire a crew to de-stump the area or cheaper to hire one crew to use dozers etc. to clear the timber and stumps.
Wyn - This totally depends on the value of the standing timber in your area. The cost to destump depends on the number and size of the stumps. Sorry - but there are too many variables to provide an accurate estimate. - grant
Is there a percentage of the property that you recommend to burn in a season?
Did you plant the native grasses and forbs ? Or were they just waiting for a chance to sprout ?
The seeds were in the soil! We simply managed to release them.
What type of scent away would yall recommend?
Saylor - We have use DCode for years and have been pleased! - grant
Ok thanks
Just burnt 2000 acres 29 February 2024 San bois mountains in Oklahoma
Wow! That's a large burn!
What would a prescribed burn do to 1-5 year old white pines?
There are lots of variable such as the amount of fuel, etc. However, Fire would likely kill many of the younger pines.
will this kill turkeys and the eggs though?
I can't imagine an adult turkey would be caught in a prescribed fire. However, if there was a nest in an area that was burned, it could be destroyed. Unless a huge area, was burned, the benefits of the fire for the population would outweigh the concerns over a single nest.
Why so many cedars left up top)
No! Cedars make a lot of seeds. The ones you see left weren't in the area we cut but they are on my to do list!
Don’t that help the trees grow??