A State Land Clear Cut Observation
Contributors to this thread:Connecticut
From: Buckiller
22-Sep-18
4 years ago, a state land parcel by my house was clear cut in order to make habitat for the cotton tail rabbit. Now, I have deer hunted this spot for 13 years prior and there were always plenty of deer and turkey.
I remember posting on here the fall after that they did the clear cut. The deer left the area almost completely. The guys on this site admonished me to hang in there because the area would come back better than ever after a year or two with new growth.
Well, it never did. As a matter of fact the deer population on that property has got to be less than 4 - 6 per square mile. I just spent the afternoon scouring it and found almost ZERO sign.
What a tragedy. They cut down the red and white oaks (as well as hickory trees) and it’s about a total loss.
Just wanted to report back to you folks. Kinda sad. Had lots of good memories there.
From: Will
22-Sep-18
Odd. Most of the time the edges around clear cuts and the new growth become favorable habitat with tons of browse and cover...
From: Buckiller
22-Sep-18
There were tons of rabbits before they cut it. I don’t think they actually did a study before they cut it. The fed gave them free money to do it and they couldn’t spend it fast enough.
From: Buckiller
22-Sep-18
Yeah, I’m going to check again next year. That’s hunting. All will be well:o)
From: Notme
22-Sep-18
Maybe just maybe they didn't actually cut anything..they could 've put up a gynormic panoramic poster of some other clear cut and kept the money for themselves.....I had a piece in new Hartford that was logged, it took 5 yrs to be kinda ok...
From: N8tureBoy
23-Sep-18
N8tureBoy's Link
That sucks. Looks like your area is heading into the "5-150 year phase" of successional habitat. With all the rain this year there must be tons of grasses. Shrubs should follow. Will hopefully become good fawning cover in the next year. What part of the state are you in?
From: bigbuckbob
23-Sep-18
I went out to one of my state land spots in the NW corner last week and the areas I hunted last year had little to no sign so I decided to change course. As I approached an area I have never hunted I noticed deer tracks all over the place and they were all around white oak trees dropping acorns, not a lot, but none the less a good food source. I slowed my pace to a crawl and spotted 3 deer in the distance feeding toward me. Bingo!! New spot for early season hunt. Stay flexible and don't assume the deer from last season are in the same pattern this year.