thinning 600 Acres of Pines

[C.j.]

We have 1000 acres in GA strict management for turkeys, we have a very high population currently and we are thinning 600 acres of it. Is there anything specefic I can have the loggers do to increase turkey habitat(maybe leave a few tree tops for nesting)? we burn different sections every year, predator control, any other ideas?

[Skeeterbait]

See of you can get them to scrape off their loading areas before they leave so you can use them for wildlife plantings.  If they leave them full of pine bark nothing will grow in the soil for years.

[C.j.]

I will give that a try, we have tried to plant on previous spots where there was a loading dock but never had much luck,

[GeorgeShu]

After each thinning I hire a dozer to come in and push up all the trash on the loading decks.  I then burned and get food plots in.  The clover plots with oats seem to work for me turkey wise. 
The thinning will increase visibility which turkeys like. 
Opening the canopy by thinning will also allow other plants to grow providing food and insect habitat for the birds to graze thru.
In my experience, there won't be a lot of tree tops, etc left but there will be some and they create good nesting sites.
All in all, thinning should benefit your flock.

[C.j.]

Anyone else? Their starting next week

[gobblingghost]

Are you 3rd rowing, 5th rowing or plantation thinning

[turkeykiller22]

Are yo growing the timber for money? Or just turkeys?

- If you are doing it for just turkey, the lower the BA the better. Maybe you could try mixing up BA per acre. This is what I would do. I would cut some sections to 30-40 BA/AC and then leave some at 70 BA/AC for making money off the timber.

This will give the birds a place to nest, and places for them when brooding young poults. If you need any more information I am a registered forester in Mississippi.Willing to help anyway that I can!

[Turkey Trot]

You can do a number of things when they are done, as indicated above.

One not mentioned is to do controlled burning in select plots before the season if there is undercover to burn.  The soot and new shoots in spring will attract them and provide good food.

Being able to get a tractor and harrow in to various parts of the property is good too.  Freshly plowed ground attracts turkeys and provides them a place to scratch, dust, etc.

Highly thinned pines with no undercover are hard to hunt because they can see so far.

[C.j.]

5th row thinning, and what does BA stand for ?

[Gamblinman]

5th row thinning, and what does BA stand for ?

Basal area

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Basal_area

[R AJ]

5th row thinning, and what does BA stand for ?

A lot of normal thinnings bring the BA down to 60, by bring some areas down to a 30-40 BA it allows for more sunlight to increase forage areas for wildlife . If a stand  averages 6 inches in diameter, the BA of 60 would give you an average of 306 TPA; 40 BA 204; for 8" avg 60BA- 172, 40 BA -115; 10" Avg 60- 110, 40 BA- 73. So, the larger the trees the greater the  BA measured as square feet of area at 4.5'.

Turkeys need burning portions of that stand at three -four year intervals, strategically have 1/4 of area in patches burned every year. This allows areas for nesting, chasing bugs for poults in spring, scratching /feed and finally cover areas. Turkey nests are so on the ground that just a small bush next to a pine tree may be sufficient. Hope this helps. If you are into a CRP program they only allow you to cut to a minimum of 40 BA avg.
Hope this helps you and others possibly.