BEST AGE OF A CLEAR CUT FOR BUCK BEDDING???

[rfickes87]

I'm scouting some out of state public, hill country. To my pleasant surprise I see that much of the top 3rd elevation was cut in 2008, 2010, 2012 (in different sections about every 2 years). I'd like to hear from everyone, what is your preferred age for maximum preferred bedding and diversity to hold a mature buck in thick cut overs like this? To me this 8-12 year old cut seems ideal.

[Edcyclopedia]

Depends on how the soil is and growth occurs...
I've seen some be magnets for localized bedding the following year or two.
Others may be 5 or 8 years.
Some are never...

[Dewey]

In the northwoods of WI and MI I have noticed complete clearcuts tend to have good bedding at about year 3-4. They usually get real thick by then but like mentioned that can vary by location. Also depends how much was cleared. Sometimes select cuts don’t make too much of a difference.

[stash59]

You need enough growth to "hide" a deer while standing up. Like mentioned depends on soil and even how much moisture the area got, the first couple years, after the logging was done. Could be 2 years, could be 4+. They will be a food source almost immediately, depending on what time of year the logging was done. So any security cover within a reasonable distance should have buck bedding.

[Jonny]

Depends on how the soil is and growth occurs...
I've seen some be magnets for localized bedding the following year or two.
Others may be 5 or 8 years.
Some are never...

This.

I have one cut by me that has been a stump field for 10 years. Another you can’t physically walk through a year after cutting. So it really depends on each cut.

Personally I like them earlier, as soon as deer can hide in them. They like the new growth and it doesn’t take long for growth to get out of reach or too thick to reach. I’ve seen a couple cuts in august hold a dozen or more deer during gun season when it gets driven out opening day.

[PK_]

Depends on the cut. But in the south it seems like 6-8 years is the magic number. That is pines.

[Boogieman1]

I have no experience with clear cuts but I have hunted places that experienced forest fire. 5 to 7 years seems to be about right. First couple years it seemed to be more of a feeding area.

Lakes that water levels drop and open up new shore line seem to produce much quicker. In 2 years it will be a tangled mess of thick willows and buck brush.

[Tennhunter3]

In my areas
I notice mature bucks using them more when the trees reach about 15 feet. 4 year old cuts or older.

The young bucks like them once they get really thick but I don't think mature bucks can use very many trails within the cut.

I very rarely see deer around new clearcuts.