Arbuckle Mountain Area Chapter
Tree Thinning

One of the causes of habitat loss is the encroachment of trees, allowed by the lack of fire.  After many years of fire suppression, encroaching trees in our area have grown up out of the draws and gulleys and have created dense forests which are not quail friendly.  Once to this stage, managing the woodlands is labor intensive to say the least.  Many of us at AMAQU have tried several techniques from machetes to chain saws and from dozers to clippers. 

The lease expensive approach is by using hand tools and chain saws, but is the least desirable due to the level of energy needed.  If you want to stay in shape and make a dent in your property, spend and hour or two each week clearing lesser brush and you'll get in shape and improve your habitat at the same time!

Dozers can be used in certain situations, but they are expensive to operate and really tear up the soil.  In some cases, the roots remaining from invasive species like honey locust can be spread around and worsen you infestation by using a dozer.  Also, if the area has more than a casual slope and drains to a gulley or wash, you may lose a nice portion of your top soil and seed bank for your forbs and legumes. 

A more friendly-to-the-environment approach is with tree clippers and saws.  They can cut the trees to nearly flush with the ground to protect brush hogs, etc. from damage.  The stumps can be left for regrowth cover (controlled in the future by prescribed burns) or they can be treated with herbicides at the time of cutting or after sprouting.