It has begun

[Woodjr55]

Looks like they have start to clear cut the state forest down the road from camp. All large pines. They had it all marked up since before hunting season. Drove by it last night and saw all the wood stacked up. On the way home today could see better and looks like they've cut quiet a bit. I didn't get a picture because the weather was deteriorating and need to get home. Looks like they aren't taking the tops as of now which will suck when they become overgrown in a few years.

[Gizmo285]

Maybe they will give us more back in our State Taxes when we file or possibly Cuomo probably needs a new mansion so they will keep the proceeds from the timber..

[Woodjr55]

The pile was already 20 ft tall and their not even into the big trees yet

[Doc]

That's interesting. I wonder where the profits from the log sales winds up for real. Anybody know? I'm sure it's not the case, but wouldn't it be great of it went back into the same parcel for habitat improvement.

 

Actually if it is like some of the pine plantations that I have seen, it is probably a good idea to open it up and let the understory develop. There is nothing more sterile from a habitat standpoint than acres and acres of mature pine trees.

[landtracdeerhunter]

This money goes to fund the state employees Christmas party.

[sits in trees]

Being that theres about 1 million acres of state land in this state maybe you could let us know where?

[fasteddie]

Being that theres about 1 million acres of state land in this state maybe you could let us know where?

 

Ditto ! Where is this being done ?

[Culvercreek hunt club]

Actually if it is like some of the pine plantations that I have seen, it is probably a good idea to open it up and let the understory develop. There is nothing more sterile from a habitat standpoint than acres and acres of mature pine trees.

That is exactly what a lot of the state land needs

[Culvercreek hunt club]

Looks like they aren't taking the tops as of now which will suck when they become overgrown in a few years.

Why would it suck? That thick undergrowth is much better habitat and will hold more deer and other wildlife?

[Doc]

No, logging is always a good idea, and in some cases it is necessary if you want any wildlife there. I will admit that logging generally makes the place look kind of crappy. Also it can upset all the patterns that you may have spent decades learning. Also, it can make walking through such an area almost impossible because of the debris. But a mature canopy that keeps browse from regenerating, as well as new growth for cover, the woods will stagnate and be quite useless. Along with all that, lumber can supply a beneficial source of revenue for habitat improvement if they do indeed actually do that. Pardon me if I am a bit cynical and doubtful on that last point.

[growalot]

Wasn't there a big thing about the DEC not putting out proper bids and practically giving the timber away...also not ministering what was marked to what was taken?...if license sales go into managing these forests...then shouldn't the funds from timber sales go back to that fund?

[SteveB]

They did several areas a few years ago in the Frozen Ocean by me. All mature pines - was a desert underneath. Great habitat now, but it has changed patterns. I don't think the price of the pine is that great - it's more about opening up the area the way it should be.

 

[Woodjr55]

Why would it suck? That thick undergrowth is much better habitat and will hold more deer and other wildlife?

A couple reasons. One this state land was packed on opening day there were Atleast 40 cars parked there and the state land 200 feet up the road from my land had 2. Second they clear cut a section across the road from where they started cutting and it's over grown and impossible to move through. Also in between the two section is a very thick quarter mile wide section that is very thick which is nice to push because if you push it and thing you push out goes to the mature pine forest that is fairly open with plenty of shooting lanes. So while I know thick under growth is good habitat for deer I thick too much will just make it more difficult to hunt.

[Five Seasons]

Logging.can be some of the best medicine for the deer woods. Just takes time and more prep effort in the off season

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[waterweasle]

what does the logging have to do with the land being packed on opening day, near your property? and if it grows thick, you'll just have to change tactics for hunting the area

[Woodjr55]

what does the logging have to do with the land being packed on opening day, near your property? and if it grows thick, you'll just have to change tactics for hunting the area

i don't hunt that state land opening day because of the crowd a bunch of guys at camp opening day so I usually head to the state land next to my property but if that group heads down the road I don't want to deal with it. I've been lucky to have that state land near my trailer to myself for the most part. Just a rant here. I know logging can be good for animals habitats

[Terry]

Logging.can be some of the best medicine for the deer woods. Just takes time and more prep effort in the off seasonSent from my iPad using Tapatalk

Agreed. My grandfather always said the only thing a big tree was good for in deer hunting was to hang them in.

[Woodjr55]

Being that theres about 1 million acres of state land in this state maybe you could let us know where?

sorry sorry hatch creek forest Chautauqua county

[Red]

This year I started hunting bush hill state land they are logging that. In 2012 I hunted the lost nations state land and that's been being logged for the las couple of years it's just my opinion but I believe that when they leave some of the tree tops behind it doesn't only help the deer but it also helps the bear I seen 6 bear last year between the 2 state lands and every bear that I seen was hangin out where it was logged. In the lost nations it seems like they logged and left everything behind and that makes it easy for the bears to hide and den up for the winter

[covert]

Being that theres about 1 million acres of state land in this state maybe you could let us know where?

 

Durrr, it's right in the first sentence of the OP:  "down the road from camp."

 

[G-Man]

well the money is spent on road maintance, culvert upgrades, ect. i know in hanging bog they are 10 years behind in their cutting schedule due to there only being 2 state foresters in the region. as for the tops they are left as protection for new seedlings more than habitat. As for marking trees, they only mark trees to save as the rest are removed to a diameter of 4 inches breast high. the new growth is thick and deer and game will move into it for nesting bedding/feeding. as for tough hunting..thats why its called hunting! not shooting. if it keeps the lazy hunter from walking through it ..and your willing more game for you! the dec had land owner workshops for minimal cost(usually price of lunch and snacks) and part of the tour is showing various stages for clearcutting, new,5 year,10year,20 year,ect the most common question when a new cut is shown is what and why are you leaving all the tops?? If you ever get a chance to attend a workshop i highly recommend it!

[Doc]

Actually, the tops could serve as another source of income. There are big firewood outfits that follow some of the logging crews around policing up the tops for sale as firewood.

[SteveB]

I don't  believe they pay much for tops and would have no interest in the pine.

Gutchis Lumber logged our 200 acre hardwood lease this year heavy and just left all the tops.

I think it is more of a cleanup service - Gutchis won't be back for 20+ years so no cleanup was needed.

 

 

[Doc]

I don't  believe they pay much for tops and would have no interest in the pine.

Gutchis Lumber logged our 200 acre hardwood lease this year heavy and just left all the tops.

I think it is more of a cleanup service - Gutchis won't be back for 20+ years so no cleanup was needed.

No, pine has no real value for firewood. However with hardwoods, the firewood business is a very lucrative activity. We have a place down by us that creates actual mountains of split firewood and those mountains of firewood don't stay there very long before everything disappears and they start building new ones.

 

We had a huge commercial logging operation on private land up on our hill for about two years. The follow-up firewood activity after the loggers left went on longer than the logging did and was in some ways a much bigger activity. I know they were not in there just to tidy up the woods.

[SteveB]

I just meant the firewood crews don't pay much because of the labor needed to access and process.

I'm sure they make money, but the value to the logging company or the landowner could be more about the cleanup.

 

Instead of firewood, all the residual could be chipped to be used in large biofuel heaters.

Convert some state owned buildings (state collages, maintenance facilities, etc) to utilize the fuel.

Would take some initial investment and planning, but would definitely have a payback with a real renewable energy source while managing the state lands. The technology is out there and being used.