The last few days have been great for burning. We didn’t have a lot to choose from in February or even March. Got some burning done then, but I feel like these growing season burns are really helping accomplish what we are trying to do by controlling woody competition, especially these hardwoods and privet in the understory. I’d say I took care of them for at least a growing season.

Disclaimer:I can not guarantee a turkey nest was not harmed in the implementation of said fires.

I saw the national forest had a lot of controlled burns this weekend.

Mixed emotions on this one. Understand the benefits of fire and realize there hasn't been a lot of burn days this year. But in some areas, turkey numbers are down so much losing any nesting opportunity is a major loss.

This raises a question, could the same benefits to the land be achieved by postponing the burn to late fall ?

Yes and no, if the purpose of the burn is to the reduce fuel load then yes a dormant season understory burn would be fine. As for knocking back any woody competition it’s best to do an early growing season burn or a mid growing season burn. Yes this understory season sucked, but I did manage to get just about all of my clients that were worried about turkey nest taken care of by the first of April. I had a couple that did call it off because worried about nesting season, I don’t blame them, If it was my land I would to, I’ll wait till they are comfortable about it and finish up their burning i a couple of weeks.

Looking good Mbrock, that’s definitely doing some good there!

What purpose / end story? Is this all to do with the love of the longleaf. When I conducted Environmental Site Assessments across the delta for ALDCNR there were many structures that would have been great camps for hunting or staying overnight for camping. To my knowledge the structures along the Tensaw (predominately) were torn down and removed because they were not FOREVER WILD.

I'm not a forestry expert, but burning loblolly pines will allow for more nutritious forbs to grow and benefit all wildlife in the long run. The only downside to burning this late is potential loss of turkey nesting sites as was said above. It releases stored nutrients in the soil which also benefits the pine trees and reduces competition for the nutrients by suppressing undesirable hardwoods like sweetgums.

I wish the landowners we lease our club land from would burn.

Jallencrocket, the end game, long term, is to restore native grass and forb plant communities to these stands. They are not public land. This is private ground of mine and a friend. There is no shortage of turkeys here, and the benefits of providing quality brood rearing cover far outweigh the loss of a nest or two.

Also, it’s a loblolly stand. No longleaf.

Cool Matt.. I was just wondering. Beautiful mature hardwoods and managed forest with native grasses are my two favorite habitats in bama.

Hey Dummy, don't let those little metal boxes on the side of the road get too hot...

It will soon be devoid of too many turkeys you keep burning them up like that.

Well dummy, there’s a dozer line around it.

I was going to spread chicken litter through the woods when it starts greening up and turn loose a few coons to eat chicken snakes. That not a good plan?

I'd say that's as sound of an IPM program as you can have to assure a silent spring next year.

My favorite time of year to burn except for all the idots that think you can’t burn after March.

No way I'm letting a torch near my stuff after April 1.

For damn sure. I know it’s good for turkeys but I'm not taking any chance on burning up a turkey nest.

Yeah it’s a terrible idea. Gotta watch folks who’d burn right now.

All these burn happy "consultants" goin round burnin the woods up. No no. Ain't happening

Nope. Especially when you can wait a few months and accomplish the same thing minus the nest burning. Too much stress and vulnerability for the hen to keep making her nest when she may not have to.

Burns are OK, if everything goes right, but a lot of times they don't.

That’s because a lot of people don’t know what they’re doing. Can’t burn more than what you can safely manage with the people and equipment you have.
Unfortunately some people don’t understand that.

Fine job on the burn.

I like it!

There are more turkeys in the Area we just leased than anywhere I have seen in a long time.
And, yalls old buddy, Paul, and his guys are burning every day right now and have been doing late Season burns in there for several years now!

The Proof is in the Pudding!

Danny, you know better than to bring results into a discussion like this.

Looks great, Matt. I wish more folks would burn their property regularly all over the Southeast. Some just can't be convinced that it's beneficial.

Oh it's beneficial alright. No doubt. In Feb/march

Turkey feathers in a spot I burned yesterday.

Poor dead burned up turkeys.

Probably from the mama hen that came back to look for her babies you burnt up……..

Roasted turkey and eggs. It's a win win.

How’d that burn turn out you did last April?

That was April 8 and no hens were nesting yet. I checked every inch of it myself. Remember? Lots of difference a month makes

Come to think about it I never did hear a turkey in those woods this year. That guy in that pic burned up all the turkeys. Damnit man.

How many radios were harmed during this burn?

Looks good!

Lol!!! None. I choose not to use them because they get burned up.

Spotted on the the elusive hens beside Hwy 84 this morning!