Red maple is an excellent species to hinge cut. The buds this time of year are plump and red, making it easier to identify to the novice woodsman. The bark, as always, is smooth and the twigs are attached to the branches oppositely. Proper identification of your cut trees is very important when making management decisions!

Veneer-quality black walnut in central Ohio!

Honeysuckle may provide cover and that "thicket-like" habitat, but remember it is a non-native invasive and there are plenty of native briars/brambles/shrubs that will take the place of honeysuckle once removed.

Proper grapevine control consists of cutting the vine and applying herbicide to the lower half. Without herbicide, it will grow right back next year!

Autumn olive, although a berry-producer, is a non-native invasive species that will commonly dominate field edges and "choke out" any native vegetation underneath. Removal of all non-native invasive species is essential to keeping your openlands native and healthy.

Proper openlands management is vital to providing essential habitat to numerous wildlife species. Across our landscape, old fields are being succeeded by tree colonizers such as red maple and elm, and invasives such as honeysuckle and autumn olive. Removal of the encroaching woody species is paramount to maintaining a openlands habitat system.

It is of upmost importance to tackle non-native invasive species prior to them dominating a site. Below is a photo of invasive honeysuckle that has completely dominated the understory of a black walnut grove. Native shrub development and tree regeneration is halted when there is not enough sunlight to promote their survival.

Sometimes its advantageous to get a "bird's eye" view of your property. Although not in the sense that you're probably picturing! Kneel down in random places throughout your property to get a sense of what a newborn turkey or grouse may see once they've arrived in the spring. Is there any cover or protection for them at all? Or is your understory dense with non-native cool season grasses that no young birds can even think about walking through?