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In last month's cooperator update we dove into edge and the different types of edge you can create to benefit deer and other wildlife. As promised, in this month's issue not only will we discuss how to create the different edge types but also where to get the equipment you need to optimize your edge. In addition to joining us on site visits, the DMAP intern, Bo, has also compiled a list of equipment available to you. The list, which can be found below in the Resource Spotlight, provides the contact information for organizations which provide no-till drills, tree planters, mowers and more for rent. Before you check it out, here are a couple of DMAP reminders:
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Update MyDMAP. Now is a great time to log in to MyDMAP and add/remove members, update contact information and track the management you've completed on your property.
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Request DMAP Antlerless Tags. If you are a Level 2 (160+ acres) or Level 3 (640+ acres) member and would like DMAP antlerless tags, please be sure to reach out to your local DMAP biologist no later than Oct. 18 to request your tags. Tag requests can be sent via email and should include your DMAP ID number, the name(s) of the individual(s) requesting tags, and the number of tags being requested. Our contact information is available below.
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Workshop Registration. Registration for our Tree Planting and Regeneration workshop closes Sunday, Aug. 20. Information on this full-day, field workshop is available in the Upcoming DMAP Events section below. You won't want to miss it!
Finally, we want to hear from you. Are you enjoying our monthly Cooperator Updates? Do you have ideas on how to make it better? Are there topics you'd like to see covered in a future issue? If so, send us an email at DNRDLFWPWMDMAPHelp@wisconsin.gov. We'd love to hear from you!
Tree Planting And Regeneration: How To Plant And Protect Your Trees
Sept. 9, 2023 | 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. | Treehaven, Tomahawk, WI
We invite you to join Les Werner, a professor of Urban and Community Forestry, and Eli Anoszko, the Treehaven Ecologist, for a day in the field talking about tree planting and regeneration. This workshop will include presentations, hands-on field demonstrations and a walking tour of Treehaven to explore how to plant trees and protect them from deer browse.
Registration Information
Although this is a free workshop, registration is required as lunch will be provided. To register, log in to MyDMAP, navigate to the "Workshops and Events" section of the Resources tab and click the "RSVP" button. The registration deadline is Sunday, Aug. 20.
Habitat Management In The Face Of High Deer Densities
Sandhill Wildlife Area
Are you interested in attending a DMAP led walkthrough discussing deer habitat and herd management in high population areas? If so, DMAP will be leading a workshop at Sandhill Wildlife Area this fall. In addition to a property walkthrough, the workshop will also include presentations on habitat and herd management as well as ways you can implement these strategies on your property. This will be a fun and interactive workshop. We hope to see you there!
Watch MyDMAP and your email for more information on this workshop.
In part one of “Give Your Property the Edge!,” the common terms associated with how habitat managers describe and manage edge were defined. This knowledge and understanding can now be applied to habitat creation. You may be asking yourself, “So, how do I create a soft edge?” or “How wide do I go to adequately daylight my logging road?” I will address these questions in this article and hopefully leave you empowered to give your property some wildlife-friendly edge.
Habitat Creation: Using The Terms
To create wildlife-friendly habitat, the best tool by far is a chainsaw. This can be done commercially, during a timber harvest, non-commercially or by yourself. Either way, the results are going to be beneficial for many wildlife species.
Commercial Edge Creation: In review, edge is the place where two different cover types meet. During a commercial timber harvest, certain areas of woods may be designated to be harvested using a clearcut or coppice silvicultural method. These methods are used to regenerate forest stands by the removal of most or all woody vegetation during harvest, creating a completely open area and allowing the most sunlight to reach the forest floor. This also creates an edge between harvested and unharvested areas.
The key to optimizing this harvest technique is to make the harvested areas as odd-shaped as possible. Think of an octopus body with stubby tentacles, rather than a perfect square. A two-acre area square harvest will give you approximately 1,180 feet of edge. If you harvest that same area with eight stubby tentacles as previously described, you can increase the amount of edge to approximately 1,400 feet. This simple variation will not only create a plethora of edge, but it can also create pinch points and inside or outside corners to benefit many different species.
Non-Commercial Edge Creation: While commercial harvests are usually larger in scale, the same benefits that they create can be duplicated on a smaller scale using a chainsaw and a weekend's worth of work. While putting this technique to use, utilize easier places to access, such as the edges of fields, logging roads, natural forest openings, etc. This way you’ll be able to retrieve and use the most wood out of the felled trees. If that is not a priority, you can also leave the wood on the ground to act as fertilizer for the next generation of trees. Plus, it creates great habitat for wildlife such as rabbits.
Soft Edge Creation: When creating this edge type, the goal is to have vegetation with a stair-step effect. This creates a transition area between two different cover types favored by deer and other wildlife. Harvesting trees along a field or a food plot is a time-tested use of this technique. Felling the trees along these areas not only allows more sunlight, but also creates a smorgasbord of forbs and browse, along with escape and fawning cover.
Again, the concept of creating an odd-shaped edge should be used here as well. For example, some harvested areas could be 30-feet wide while others could be 10-feet wide. When logging equipment is being utilized, just expand the size of the harvested areas even more. When using this technique in a wooded setting, the same concepts apply.
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Daylighting Creation: This type of edge creation refers to the cutting and release of vegetation along your logging roads and trails. Again, this can be done on a smaller scale with a chainsaw or on a larger scale with logging equipment. The goal is to create an abundance of browse and herbaceous vegetation, along with escape, fawning and nesting cover for a variety of different species of wildlife. The same concept of creating odd-shaped lines and adjacent areas should be followed here as well. Many varieties of wildlife utilize trails, so make the most out of them.
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The use of edge in habitat management can be extremely beneficial to many species of wildlife. However, balance is the key. Creating a soft edge around your entire field may not be as beneficial as doing 1/3 of it at a time with 5-10 years in between. As one area loses its benefits, another area is ready to take its place. This can also be applied to daylighting your roads and trails. It’s important to remember, however, that predators will use edge to prey on the very species this technique is intended to benefit. If you have a balance of quality habitat and cover types, then incorporating this technique into your habitat strategy will give your property "the edge!”
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