Where to start

[Michael Finn]

I co own 130 acres in southern Schoharie County, NY.  The only use of the property is hunting.  The property is mostly steep slope. An estimate of tree habitat would be 70% pine 20% hardwood and 10% field. (Heavily overgrown)  It appears the property was used for grazing cows a long time ago. I started to have an interest in land management (for wildlife) last year after another owner decided to prune some wild apple trees. With spring around the corner, I had the mindset of just killing off some weeds in the fields plant some food plots and thats it. So I started doing some research on food plots on the web and I stumbled on the ForestConnect site, the NY Forest Owners site, and the QDMA site among others.  Well needless to say I'm hooked. Forest management is such an interesing topic. I quickly learned that food plots may help but there's alot more that should be done to better the land then just food plots. The whole invasive plant species is just mind boggling.  Figuring out what I have will be a challenge since there is no web service in that area.   I have plans on going to the property this weekend.  I'll be taking a look at the apple tree's again to hopefully prune them but if I can't then I'll just clear out the understory.  Thinking of buying some trees from the Saratogo Tree Nursery also. Just have to find out what species are fit for my climate first. Lastly I'm kind of hoping to take some pics of the area and post them. Not sure if that is acceptable in this type of forum? Never did a blog.  Maybe thats the route I should take.

 

Thanks for reading

 

Mike

 

[e-mail]

[Kevin Mathers]

Mike,

It's very tempting to plunge right in and tackle lots of projects on your land, but you may want to take a deep breath and slow down just a bit.  The apple tree pruning would be a great project to start on.  Some of the other projects and tasks are more complex and it's easy to make mistakes that cost time and money.  Planning is the key to avoiding mistakes.  As a first step you may want to arrange a site visit from a Cornell Cooperative Extension Master Forest Owner volunteer .  Here's the link to the MFO home page: http://www2.dnr.cornell.edu/ext/mfo/  

Here's a link to an excellent publication on food plots: http://www2.dnr.cornell.edu/ext/mfo/

Be safe and enjoy,

Kevin

[Michael Finn]

Point taken, I'm a firm believer of measure twice cut once.   Thanks for the links. 

[Thomas Wilson]

Hi Michael,

I'm in a similar situation.  I just finished two tours of my forest from the state forester for my county.  We walked the woods and he gave me lots of education about species identification, invasive species management, practices beneficial to wildlife, erosion control, water quality, etc.  He is going to write up a forest management plan for my property and I will have that as a guide to help me make decisions on the property for the next 10 years or so.  So far, I think it's a great place to start!

[BARRY GRAGG]

My wife and I own a parcel in Delaware County. I have been researching and working with foresters for the past nine years to manage for wildlife.  It would be great to be in touch with other landowners doing the same thing. I have often thought of doing a blog but I've been too busy outdoors. The ForestConnect webinars have been very helpful. Some of the state foresters are better than others, but they are all mandated to provide a preliminary plan and recommend that you choose a private forester to continue with. One of those, Michael Larison of BurkOak Land Management, specializes in wildlife management. I have not yet worked with him but will I plan to do so this summer. The non-profit Catskill Forest Association has been very helpful in providing a frank assessment of the state of my forest, and highlighting the important roles played by patch cuts and fire in wildlife management. The native / invasives issue is an interesting and controversial one. Apple trees are my favorite non-native wildlife species. Some native species (hay scented fern and red maple) can act invasively if deer pressure is high. In addition to the Saratoga State Nursery, I buy seedlings from ColdStreamFarm Nursery and Morse Nursery. It's best to call the nursery and discuss your options based on your soil test results. The deer will browse most seedlings unless you fence them out, even those that are not on the preferred list. I would give high priority to releasing and pruning the wild apple trees. They will produce if the get light, and are a real attractant in the early season. I agree that you can make mistakes by rushing in without enough information, but it is also true that the regeneration may take a few years before you see the results that you are looking for, so I wish I had done more sooner. My one regret is that when I did release cuts to give more light to my sugar maple trees, I may have jeopardized the ginseng habitat on the ground. And if you're going to do your own felling, get training on the chainsaw. Good luck Michael!

[e-mail]

[Doug Murphy]

Hi Michael and Barry,

I am the seventh generation on my family’s land on Bald Mt. Straddling the Delaware / Schoharie county line where the towns of Stamford, Harpersfield, Gilboa and Jefferson all meet.  I am an active Master Forest Owner.  I was just at a meeting with some other MFO’s from the immediate area.  Perhaps you would find a visit with one or more of us useful.  We are volunteers who just like networking and sharing our experiences and knowledge of the forest.  We could come walk your property with you if you like or perhaps you might want to take a walk on one or more of our properties and see some of what we have done over the years.  If you are interested feel free to contact me at [e-mail].  The other active MFO’s from our immediate area that were at the meeting were; Dan Palm of Stamford, John Murdock of Harpersfield, and Bonnie Bladder of Westkill.  Their contact info is available on the MFO website or I could co-ordinate.

The Catskill Forest Association is an invaluable resource in our region. (full disclosure: I am a long time board member.)  Jim Waters and Ryan Tripani are both foresters on the staff and can arrange on site visits with a wealth of knowledge in all forest areas. (Their knowledge is also tappable by phone and e-mail nearly anytime) Membership also provides a wonderful news letter a few times per year.  They also offer Game of Logging training which is VERY valuable.  Michelle Fucci, the office manager, just joined this woodnet forum and posted CFA’s next game of logging offering.

I hope that you will be in touch if I can be of any help.

Doug Murphy

[BARRY GRAGG]

Thanks Doug. I would be very interested in learning from an MFO. (and I would love to see what seven generations of forest management can do!) 

-Barry

[BARRY GRAGG]

Hi Doug, I just shot an email to your address but it bounced. I paste the message below. 

Thanks for responding to my comments on the ForestConnect blog. I am very interested in visiting other managed forests and having a volunteer have a look at my place. I have only 12 acres and do the work myself, hiring a dozer and one or two laborers at times. I have had visits from several state foresters before I worked with Ryan Trapani, and I really value Ryan's willingness to provide a frank assessment and a strong prescription. My forest has little commercial value so I do not need advice on tax law or choosing a logger. I feel that I have been working in a piecemeal fashion over the past 10 years and would like some guidance in setting up a big-picture plan for creating food sources and shelter for grouse and deer. Do you know of an MFO volunteer that would be a good match? 

Thanks again,

Barry Gragg

[Doug Murphy]

Oops!  I messed up my own e-mail address.  It should be [e-mail].  Thanks Barry.  I will be back in touch soon but am on the run today.

Doug Murphy.

[Michael Finn]

What a wonderful opportunity it would be to have an MFO volunteer (s) walk my property.  I would also like to see what others are doing. I knew about the Catskill Forest Association.  Kind of thought my property was outside the "jurisdiction" of the CFA.