Controlled burn in deer hunting area

[cavalierowner]

Last November when we got up to our deer hunting area up north, we found the forest service had run through our area and cut trails with a Cat. We ran across a Forest Service truck the day before opener and they said they are planning a controlled burn this spring. Has anyone had a controlled burn done in an area they hunt? I'm wondering how it will affect hunting the first few years. I understand in the long run this is a really good thing, but what about short term? Our group is wondering if we should be looking for a new area for this November.

[bustumup]

I would think if the burn was last November, the new growth should come up this spring and the deer will be on that stuff big time. Hopefully the deer stay around the area until fall and will unless there are corn/bean fields around, which doesn't sound like it(forest region). I would say it's going to be a good thing for you guys!

[bustumup]

Sorry, I just realize the burn is this spring. Shouldn't matter though, I'd think the new stuff will still be growing not too long after the burn.

[hockeybc69]

Burns are a great thing. If I were you I would try and contact the Forest Service to find out from them what the purpose is, how large of an area, and what they think the area will look like come fall.

[Random guy]

I wish they would do more burns around here. New shoots, richer grasses and kicks starts all kinds of good stuff for deer. We burn off the feilds and surrounding areas on the farm and the deer love it.

[Jackpine Rob]

Depending on terrain/soils and such, you might be looking a potential berry bonanza within a year or two. Raspberries and especially blueberries can really take off after a burn. That won't necessarily affect the deer hunting, but gives you an idea of the regrowth that gets unleashed after a burn. I was wandering through a year-old controlled burn in the BWCA last fall blasting partridges, and the bear sign was unreal. The dog and I literally ran into a monster boar - probably one of the top-2 or 3 I have ever seen. Easily over 500 lbs - the tsunami when that beast ran into a beaver pond was impressive.

[Wobbler]

We have land in the Superior National Forest and I always wondered what would happen if we burned some of the long grassy areas we own. I always thought about once burning a 3 or 4 acre area if we threw clover on it if it would take or not. It was once logged off before but grasses took over the area. Granted I don't know if the soil is acidic or not but it would be nice to have a clover area with all of our woods there. What do you guys think?

[Code-Man]

Burning does wonders! If they do it early enough it turns the ground obviously black but it makes the ground warm up sooner. Which encourages seedlings to germinate and will give more nutrition to the does the last few weeks to a month before they drop the fawns and ultimately will have better milk and since it will be new growth easier to eat for the fawns. It will cause some seeds to germinate that need fire (pines) and some grasses. It's a great way to get rid of weeds by burning because most of their seeds are very shallow and it help eliminate mats/dead growth.

If you have poplars you will see a TON of them! They root sucker and you'll find a big increase in them which will give them some cover and a bow hunters nightmare for finding a clear shot! The bucks for the most part will keep same routes but you might find that they might favor an area for feeding now that some older growth has been removed. It does amazing works on fields that were thick grasses that you could barely walk in but that will sometimes change bedding locations.

For the most part it will be the same property but I would reconsider all "bedding" and "feeding" spots that you've previously considered just incase it changes something.

[Jackpine Rob]

Lots of clover in the Superior Forest, and clover was one of the grasses used by the Forest Circus on campsites in the BWCA.