MN Aspen Cuts for Deer
MN Aspen Cuts for Deer
MN Aspen Cuts for Deer
To improve aspen and mixed aspen forests as deer habitat, a portion should be clear-cut periodically to set growth back to the aspen sprout stage. Clear-cutting removes the tree canopy so that sunlight, heat, and rain penetrate to the forest floor stimulating plant growth. Clear-cutting can be accomplished with a commercial timber sale which benefits wildlife and provides you with income. The boundaries of a timber sale do not have to be straight lines; the shape can follow topography or other natural features. Leave tight clumps of balsam fir or jack pine un-harvested for use as winter cover. Areas of new forest growth scattered within a deer’s home range provide good deer habitat for 10-15 years.
Whitetails respond best to timber management that maintains a proportion of young, intermediate, and mature growth stages or age classes. Forest “stand” harvest in aspen-birch forest is an appropriate option for deer. To improve habitat for deer and ruffed grouse, harvest timber in patches or units 10 acres or smaller in aspen-birch and northern hardwood-oak forests.