Wildlife Management

If you own even a small amount of land, there are probably practical measures that can be taken to make your property more attractive to wildlife that you want to see, hunt, or simply support. 

When we see areas overgrown with trees, shrubs, weed and grasses, it is easy to count these areas as "natural" and take a hands-off approach, allowing nature to take its course. It is important to remember that the majority of land in the eastern United States has been altered at some point, often having been cleared for farming and other purposes, even if it has since been allowed to revert to forestland or other cover. Though pleasant in appearance, these areas sometimes do not offer the best possible habitat.

By taking action to control invasive plants, by establishing native plants, and by mimicking natural processes through controlled disturbances like forest stand improvement, we can manage forests to better provide for the wildlife we love.

Tim Russell follows a style of deer management known as Quality Deer Management (QDM). This approach aims at maintaining a healthy herd of high-quality deer.

This is accomplished by:

1. Herd Management, to achieve a proper herd density, sex ratio and age distribution.

2. Hunter Management, to meet herd management goals through thoughtful taking of deer.

3. Habitat Management, to better meet the biological requirements of the local deer herd.

4. Herd Monitoring, to produce reliable information about the local deer herd.

Contact Green Fire Forestry & Wildlife Services to arrange a consultation and discuss stand placement, habitat enhancement, monitoring techniques and an appropriate deer harvest prescription for your property.

Tim Russell is an NDA Level 2 Deer Steward and Land Certification Program Inspector.

Comprehensive Quality Deer Management Plans are available.

In New York State and much of the northeastern United States, most of the forestland was once cleared for agricultural use. Through the abandonment of farmland, combined with active efforts to reforest many of these areas, forests have since been regenerated at a tremendous scale. However, this history has resulted in a lack of age diversity, with a high prevalence of older forests and relatively few areas of young forest cover. 

This has caused a significant decline in species like ruffed grouse, American woodcock, golden-winged warbler and others which rely on young forests. In many cases, this can be remedied through forest management activities which result in the development of dense stands of saplings and shrub cover.

If you want to establish young forest cover to benefit these wildlife, you should start by having a forest management plan written for your woods. With a plan in place, program funding may be available to help you meet your conservation goals.

Dozens of species of birds visit the northeastern United States every year where they find their nesting habitat. The type of cover they need varies by species, though many migratory bird use multiple cover types for different activities like foraging or fledging their chicks.  Whether you are a bird watcher, or simply want to do your part to provide for native birds, Green Fire Forestry & Wildlife Services can help.  

Creating a diversity of habitat can help to foster a diversity of migratory birds on the property. For many of these species, forest which is intact, healthy, diverse, and which consists primarily of native species of plants provides the conditions they need to live and reproduce.

If you want to manage your forest to benefit these wildlife, you should start by having a forest management plan written for your woods. With a plan in place, program funding may be available to help you meet your conservation goals. 

Tim Russell has hands-on experience with habitat management and wildlife surveys.

Give Green Fire Forestry & Wildlife Services a call to discuss your goals.