Green Hill Land and Timber Blog

Fire and Wildlife: The benefits of Prescribed Burns

For millions of years, fire has periodically burned the land. Every time fire burns an area of land, the fire manipulates the vegetation on the forest floor. Some species of vegetation are more tolerant of fire than others. Depending on the intensity of the fire and the time of year of the fire, different outcomes are achieved. Below are a few ideas of how prescribed controlled burns can benefit wildlife and habitat. Time of the Year to Burn and Planned Outcome. Burns in winter, spring and summer have different outcomes. With the goal of producing high protein and tons of food per acre, we plan burns at different times … [Read more...]

Prepare for Hunting Season with Minimal Disturbance to Wildlife

Hunting season is upon us again. It is time to prepare your patches and work on stands. Less disturbance to your game will make for more productive hunting. Below are a few tips that may be helpful. Typically, tractor noise does not bother the wildlife. Most of the time a tractor is a signal that there is food or will be food soon. We recommend trying to keep activity to a minimum in the spring to help young birds and fawns get a little age on them and leave cover. By mid-summer, roads should have been mowed roads once. If you don’t mow a couple of times in summer, small saplings and weeds take over. Many of us have hunted the … [Read more...]

What it Means to Be a Forester

Longterm Commitment & Lifelong Relationships My first cousin that I grew up with on the family farm recently passed. He was also a forester and land broker and a very good one. One of his clients called in tears and was so upset about this sudden and tragic event. This made me think of the lifelong relationships we develop with our clients over time. This is especially true as a forester. Managing forest and land often becomes a lifelong relationship. I have managed land, harvested timber and reforested timberland for many clients for over 40 years. My son has come to work with me, and he has developed relationships with the adult … [Read more...]

A Road? Why do I need a ROAD on my Land?

A Road? Why do I need a ROAD on my Land? In every article I have ever written, I stress the importance and benefits of a good road on your land. From an early age growing up on a large plantation, the importance of a good road system has always been obvious and a huge factor in the success, management, and recreational enjoyment of land. Everything flows from the utility of a good road system. Below are bullet points showing the necessity and benefits of a good road system provides: Ability to access your land helps in managing your land Enhances marketing, character, and value of property Allows you to reach remote areas … [Read more...]

Supplemental Protein Sources to Promote Herd Health and Antler Development

We published an article in February of 2020, “Food Sources to Grow Trophy Bucks Begins in Winter”. I would like to expand on that topic, as we are again in that difficult time of hard winter for wildlife to find food. Winter patches are much needed sources for winter food. Many different assortments of food plots can be utilized that will provide benefits to many wildlife species. Our focus here is more on herd health. The obvious goal of most hunters is horns: big and lots of them. Let us look a little deeper into how to achieve this, and even better, harvest one of these monster bucks. You have the land, you plant excellent food plots, … [Read more...]

Should You Sell Land With or Without the Timber?

Should You Sell Land With or Without the Timber? All through my career I have been asked to sell timber, and then, a few years later, I am asked to sell the land. Is it better to sell land and timber together or separate? Different circumstances require different approaches, but generally, we absolutely suggest selling land and timber together. Timber Land Vs. Clear-cut Land Very simply put, land with timber has much more character than clear-cut land. You have many more options with the timber standing. Many of our clients have never sold timber before and do not understand the process, nor realize how unsightly a cutover … [Read more...]