Mar 21, 2019
Today we're interviewing Ted Devos with
Bach and Devos Forestry and Wildlife Services. Ted is an expert
on controlled burn techniques that enhance wildlife habitat for
quail, deer, and turkeys. Bach and Devos have prescribed fire on
10's of thousands of acres of forests in the Southeast and today
they share what they've learned along the way.
Along with covering the techniques for a controlled burn that
should be implemented to improve wildlife habitat, we'll cover the
objectives of prescribed fire for landowners. We'll answer the
questions:
> What are some controlled burn pros and cons?
> From a wildlife perspective, what objectives can a controlled
burn help a landowner accomplish?
One of the most important aspects of a controlled burn is
safety. Safety for the fire managers is paramount, but also for the
community around the prescribed fire as well as the wildlife
themselves. Ted shares some of the important planning that goes
into prescribed fire to ensure that all shareholders are protected.
Some of the questions that need to be answered with regards to
safety are:
>What conditions are ideal for a prescribed burn with
regards to safety for the fire managers and the
landowner/community?
>What about fire safety for wildlife? Do different species
require a different prescription?
Another important consideration in prescribed fire
specifically for the benefit of wildlife are the size and rotations
of the controlled burn.
What size burn block should a landowner consider based on his
objectives?
Should burn blocks always be adjacent to unburned blocks? Is
that possible?
And of course, no discussion of any land improvement can be
had without the inclusion of cost. Few have unlimited budgets and
every dollar spent on one habitat improvement is a dollar that
can't be spent somewhere else. When considering the cost of a
controlled burn:
What is the range in regards to cost per acre for a controlled
burn?
Will a prescribed fire improve the value of the timber on the
property? If so, how much?
What creates the variability? What type of added expenses are
there to get a property prepared for a controlled burn?
What programs exist for landowners that can help them with the
cost of a controlled burn?
Controlled Burns and prescribed fire are an excellent tool the
forest managers need to consider when looking to maximize the
amount of wildlife habitat on their property. A properly done
controlled burn is safe, economical, and a boon to the wildlife
that inhabit the property.
We get a lot of landowners that want to know, how much is my
land worth? We’ve recorded a video series to explain exactly how we
determine that... just head over to
http://www.landhuntin.com to get
the series.
Thanks for listening, If you would like more information on
habitat management on your land be sure to email us your questions
to
pros@landhuntin.com.