Badastronaut45
New Member
I have a few questions about a small 12 acre wooded plot.
I have 12 acres and a cabin in northern Minnesota and the land has basically been left alone since my parents purchased the place 15 years ago. I now am the only one to manage the property and i would like to manage the woods the best I can for wildlife and deer plus firewood. The cabin has a large wood-burner and i use about a cord or two per year during hunting season.
The land had lots of birch. The last few years the dead standing stuff has really increased. Not sure if this is due to the Mild winters or what. I mostly cut the ##### since we have so much of it dead standing. We also have a mix of other woods, aspen, poplar, and balsam. just a few red, white and jack pines as well. The last few years I have really noticed that the Ferns on the floor are getting really tall and lots of mushrooms to be found.
I know its a small plot but I want to Cut the trees best i can to sustain a healthy 12 acres. THe lot is mostly wooded, execpt for 2 small fields and a area for a cabin and garage. THe neighbor next door is always getting down on my for letting the Birch rot and go to "waste" but I always tell him got to have some rot to keep the birds around.
Should I thin out the birch and let the floor get more light so the next gen of trees will start to come up? Not sure what the next generation of trees is? will more aspens come up in place of the birch?
How many cords of wood a year can I cut off this 12 acres in a sustainable way? do i need to ever plant more?
I have limited forestry knowledge and would love to know some books that would help me when it comes to managing land. I hope to buy some more one day.
Thanks
Ryan
I have 12 acres and a cabin in northern Minnesota and the land has basically been left alone since my parents purchased the place 15 years ago. I now am the only one to manage the property and i would like to manage the woods the best I can for wildlife and deer plus firewood. The cabin has a large wood-burner and i use about a cord or two per year during hunting season.
The land had lots of birch. The last few years the dead standing stuff has really increased. Not sure if this is due to the Mild winters or what. I mostly cut the ##### since we have so much of it dead standing. We also have a mix of other woods, aspen, poplar, and balsam. just a few red, white and jack pines as well. The last few years I have really noticed that the Ferns on the floor are getting really tall and lots of mushrooms to be found.
I know its a small plot but I want to Cut the trees best i can to sustain a healthy 12 acres. THe lot is mostly wooded, execpt for 2 small fields and a area for a cabin and garage. THe neighbor next door is always getting down on my for letting the Birch rot and go to "waste" but I always tell him got to have some rot to keep the birds around.
Should I thin out the birch and let the floor get more light so the next gen of trees will start to come up? Not sure what the next generation of trees is? will more aspens come up in place of the birch?
How many cords of wood a year can I cut off this 12 acres in a sustainable way? do i need to ever plant more?
I have limited forestry knowledge and would love to know some books that would help me when it comes to managing land. I hope to buy some more one day.
Thanks
Ryan