If possible, controlled burns should be done prior to spring green up. In my neck of the woods, this would be and is accomplished in January, February and March. Your local forestry service will assist you with advice. This accomplishes a couple of things, it will get rid of unwanted underbrush and forest floor debris and allow beneficial grasses, herbacious plants and young plants to feed the wildlife at initial green up. Our Forestry service burns thousands of acres of National Forest land during these 3 months, which by the way is prior to nesting season and fawn drop.