Stand 4

Acreage: 10 acres

General Description: This is a mature, highly stocked, pole timber (5-11 inch diameter, aspen stand. The trees in this stand are 55 years old on a sandy mixed soil type.

Objective: The owners wish to grow aspen using even-aged management with a clearcut harvest at economic maturity. This will encourage new aspen suckering (sprouting) from the well-established root system. The purpose for this objective is to improve the diversity of habitat for whitetail deer and ruffed grouse.

Recommended Practices: A partial regeneration harvest (clearcut) of this stand should be conducted by 2004 and the balance cut in 2014.

Cut all trees 2 inches and diameter and larger, leaving any oak or pine trees. The area should be harvested in two portions so a diversity of age will develop and to reduce temporary negative aesthetic impacts following the harvest. Area 4a should be clearcut first and 4b regenerated in the second cutting. By the time of the second harvest, the quality and volume of aspen will be diminished, but the stand should still be able to successfully regenerate via root suckering. Future management will be to grow recurring crops of aspen trees, with associated wildlife benefits.

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