Harvesting Trees Essential to Arkansas Wildlife Management

By Ammoland Editor Joe Evans

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. -(Ammoland.com)- Every year, a few hunters who enjoy public land hunting on Arkansas Game and Fish Commission wildlife management areas will arrive to their traditional stand location only to realize that their favorite tree to hang a stand in has been removed by a logging operation during the summer.

The feeling of being displaced can be heartbreaking at first, but the change is necessary if hunters hope to continue having excellent results on the public land owned by the AGFC.

Martin Blaney is the statewide habitat program coordinator for the AGFC. He’s heard from many concerned hunters and even state representatives about logging operations during his 31 years implementing forestry practices for wildlife habitat on WMAs.

But there is much more going on in tree harvests than money. The forest management practices are necessary if we wish to continue meeting the habitat needs of wildlife in the future.

“The first thing I usually ask someone who visits one of these sites is for them to tell me where the young oaks are underneath the taller trees,” Blaney said. “There aren’t any because the forest canopy is “closed”, …Read the Rest

Source:: AmmoLand