Timber and Wildlife Implications of Pine Conversion Methods on Poor Oak Sites

Four techniques for establishing red pine were tried on poor sandy sites occupied by low-quality oak stands in the Manistee National Forest, Michigan. A harvest cut followed by summer burning or shearing with a K-G blade resulted in the best conditions for planting and early survival of the planted pine. However, the cost of slash removal and later release to obtain a fully stocked pine stand may not be justified on these sites. Planting before or after a harvest cut, without slash removal, while not as effective as burning for converting to pine, assures some survival and establishment of pine at minimum cost, increases short-term deer browse production, and provides a mixture of both summer and winter cover for a variety of wildlife species.