5 Ways to Use Logging to Improve Whitetail Deer Habitat in Your Woods
By doing a deer hunting land plan for your woods, you can then use a logging to apply many of the key elements to successful hunting. Habitat improvements such as food plots and bedding along with strategy tactics such as smart access can all be carried out through a well thought out logging.
The Parcel Planner
2/10/20242 min read
Logging, when done responsibly and with careful planning, can create a more diverse and productive environment for whitetail deer. When considering a logging for your woods, should you wait to do deer improvements until after the logging is done? Intuitively, one would think yes, but if you know comprehensively what you want to accomplish, then you can leverage the logging to install many of your habitat and hunting strategy improvements.
What I’m saying is - The loggers can actually help you implement many of the items prescribed in your deer plan.
In this article, we will explore five ways to use logging to improve whitetail deer habitat in your woods.
1. Blockade Install
BLOCKADES - This is a stack of logs and woody material that forces deer movement to go around and thereby funnel them past a desired stand or planned route. The loggers can easily stack downed material to install purposeful blockades - FANTASTIC!
2. Food Plot Install
New food plots in new locations are a staple of most well laid out deer land plans. Loggers can clear at least portions of your food plots - which we site with precision in your deer plan - EVEN BETTER!
3. Bedding Pocket Install
BEDDING & DAYTIME FORAGE- Often accomplished with opening the canopy and letting sunlight hit the ground of a dense woods causing a flush of regrowth. Have the loggers open up some pockets more or less aggressively depending on our preferred bedding locations we identify in the plan - ICING ON THE CAKE!
4. Access Road Install
ACCESS - loggers can install new or better access roads. The number one feature and rule of deer plans is respecting and installing proper access so as to not disturb the deer in their core area. My goodness, the logging crew can do this in no time with their dozers while installing logging roads. BEAUTIFUL!
5. Improve Travel Corridors
Logging can be used to improve travel corridors by creating open areas and removing obstacles that hinder deer movement. By strategically logging along existing deer trails or between bedding and feeding areas, you can create clear paths that make it easier for deer to navigate through your woods. This not only benefits the deer but also provides hunters with opportunities to set up stands or blinds along these corridors.
To take advantage one must have a deer plan developed before contracting with a logger.
Even better, consider hiring a forester to verify your logger is not high grading timber they shouldn’t and actually cutting what they should to achieve desired forest regeneration results.
Get your deer improvements installed for less money and half the time. In a few years time post logging, the regrowth will be cooking and the deer will be FLOWING.
To learn more, contact The Parcel Planner for a complimentary phone call today !
