Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk ALTurkey Talk -- Beards and Spurs Thinned Pines

I've got a question for y'all about some thinned pines. I've had this lease for about 5 years and have always had a lot of turkeys around. The land owner had the pines thinned for the second time last year and it was loaded with birds because the rows were so open and clear from the equipment. This year the rows, especially the thinned rows have grown up with sage and briars ect.

I'm thinking about running a light discuss or some type of drag down some of these rows to lay some of this down while it's dead but not sure what to use. I asked the landowner about burning the place and he's not interested. Have any of you ever done anything like this and what did you use? Here's just a quick pic I took of one of the thinned rows.

I was in a club in Monroeville that had thinned pines on it. Some guys in the club would run down the rows with there 4-wheelers. It would lay down the briars. I did it myself a couple times. Works pretty good when you can't get a tractor in there.

Uh what about a burn?

Bush hog it if you can. Ours got so grown up with sweetgums we have to get out the chainsaw when we want to clear between foes.

Rabbits eat a TON of grass, SO let me come rabbit hunt it and help out you birds and deer..

Seriously, if you ever want to rabbit hunt it just let me know.

Our place has a lot of pines like this and our birds use them a lot,I've killed birds in that stuff where you couldn't see but 30yds or so,I guess they have just adapted to it,it makes for good nesting areas for hens so you know the gobblers will be close by

I agree with gobblebox. If it were me, I wouldn't worry about it.

A guy at our club would randomly cut paths in the rows with his bushhog for deer hunting. The turkeys did use this paths a lot.

This. On out place, they love it exactly how it is in your picture. It's tough seeing over 30 yards as gobblebox said, but the birds will still use it.

Just clear out an area for a chufa patch, for instance one of the timber loading zones, you'll be in business. Thick cover like what you show will allow you to slip in pretty close without them seeing you.

Burn

They'll still use it just like it is. After hunting in Florida and seeing what they will use nothing is to thick.

Like most have said, they'll still use it. If you can bushhog a lane or two, or just mash them down with a four wheeler, it would make for easier and quieter travel when getting around on one.

Thank The Lord for hills and hardwoods. I'd hate to have to hunt a turkey in that mess.

Having hunted both, I really like both of them and it's very different hunting styles. With that said, I'll take big pines mixed with pastures and smz's every time given the choice. I guess it's just a personal preference and what you're used to.

I'll hunt anything that has turkeys in it. I've waded through saw briars and crossed waste high creeks in my shorts to get to a gobbling bird. That being said, one within a couple hundred yards of the truck is preferable.

Did you offer to pay for the burn ?

That and I'm just too particular. . I have killed two turkeys in my lifetime with my back to a pine tree though.

I haven't but that's a good idea. How much would it cost to burn roughly 250 acres of pines?

Probably $3750. I think going rate around here for understory is $15/ac. I am sure there are people on here that know more though.

You wouldn't have to burn the entire 250. Your goal is something cheap anyway, so use roads or some natural fire break. You might need to push a short distance somewhere to create a complete closed in area, but use natural breaks to your advantage. Burning some smaller patches in that will create diversity also. I'm convinced they will like it better than if the entire 250 was burned, it will create different types of habitat and more use throughout the year. Get a map, figure out the easiest way to burn a few patches, then discuss with landowner. All that said, I would consult with a prescribed burn manager, or local forestry consultant before you burn. I would help you out, but I think you are too far away.