A lot of the seed bank is Ash so also wondering about thoughts on adding diversity once these trees are harvested.
I struggle immensely with cutting down some of the trees but I know it’s better for the health of my wood lot. It’s about 20 years overdue.
I can’t tell you the average. Too many variables. But, if the price is good, sell them.
With so little harvest, let it run it’s course. You are going to get young succession for a while. In any area you open up the forest floor to sunlight. Which ain’t bad.
I’m sure it’s spread out some. So, let’s it run it’s course.
Those sound like big trees based on the diameters. There is no silvicultural definition connected to select cut. It is nothing more than cut some and leave some. Frequently it is just a warm fuzzy name for mining large high value trees with no plan on how that will affect the remainder of the trees left to grow or to regenerate desired species. Perhaps there are additional trees that should also be harvested to keep the rest of your carrots growing well ? Maybe not. Those additional trees may only be worth a small fraction of what the big ones but will improve the growth of other trees. Maybe the remaining trees on the acre being "select cut" are just a bunch of crap. That would be the industry term for low value and undesirable stems. Perhaps every tree on that acre should be cut to better regenerate desirable species. Yes that would make good browse and then cover for deer so long as they don't eat 100% of what you were trying to regenerate/grow. I would not bank on that ash regeneration. The emerald ash borer is likely to the majority of it before it ever reaches maturity. I recommend you contact a forester to advise you on the trees you should harvest and to help you market those trees to your best advantage. Not just any forester, but one acting as a fiduciary agent to the customer. You can find one through the association of consulting foresters. https://www.acf-foresters.org good luck with your land I would not be afraid of having the harvest done during the hunting season. Our deer seem to be attracted to and walk all around an active harvest. Every logger I sell wood to say they see a ridiculous number of deer from the seat of a skidder 12months a year. Many will also confess they have killed some of their biggest deer from the skidder.