Aspen logging and elk

[Speck1]

The area I hunt had some Aspen removed last fall. How much growth on the Aspen shoots should I expect in one years time?

 

[hobbes]

Aspen removed? Who's removing Aspen?
I would think the shoots would come up fairly quickly but I'm not certain. I had some in my yard in Colorado that the previous owners didn't cut back and it was quickly turning into a forest.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Not a forestry guy but have a place in the woods, fire came through and 1 years growth on aspen shoots were about knee/thigh high if I remember right… moose, deer, and elk all seemed to like to nibble the tips of the shoots off

 

[Speck1]

Logging company removed the mature Aspen. They said it is used for trim wood. I guess they get contracts thru the state to log public land. i have hunted clearcuts before but not one that fresh.

 

[Neumie]

3-8’

 

[Speck1]

Not a forestry guy but have a place in the woods, fire came through and 1 years growth on aspen shoots were about knee/thigh high if I remember right… moose, deer, and elk all seemed to like to nibble the tips of the shoots off

That’s what I was hoping to hear. Thank you.

 

[hobbes]

Logging company removed the mature Aspen. They said it is used for trim wood. I guess they get contracts thru the state to log public land. i have hunted clearcuts before but not one that fresh.

Damn!!! I thought we were worried about the loss of aspens. I'm surprised they gave them contracts for Aspen but I'm not a forestry guy either. I've just never seen it logged.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Damn!!! I thought we were worried about the loss of aspens. I'm surprised they gave them contracts for Aspen but I'm not a forestry guy either. I've just never seen it logged.

I have also never seen them log aspens, just pines around me

 

[LongWayAround]

Typically, loggers leave the stands of aspen in the wet draws and such so it's interesting that they actually targeted that area. I had no idea there was a market for aspen logs.

Aspen do have a fairly short lifespan (50 years+/-, I believe) and reproduce from rhizomes in the soil so removing the visible tree doesn't actually kill the organism.

As others have said, I would expect a few to several feet of new growth. Elk and others love the fresh tips of aspen saplings so you should have that in your favor.

 

[Speck1]

Some pics

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[hobbes]

Typically, loggers leave the stands of aspen in the wet draws and such so it's interesting that they actually targeted that area. I had no idea there was a market for aspen logs.

Aspen do have a fairly short lifespan (50 years+/-, I believe) and reproduce from rhizomes in the soil so removing the visible tree doesn't actually kill the organism.

As others have said, I would expect a few to several feet of new growth. Elk and others love the fresh tips of aspen saplings so you should have that in your favor.

I know the logging isn't supposed to kill the organism, but Ive just not seen them logged. During my short time in Colorado it seems like I can recall a concern for the loss of aspens and how lodgepole and the like typically ended up replacing them. Mature aspen stands were most often full of grass up to my knees or higher. Mature conifer stands, especially lodgepole, appear to be a wasteland.

Montana doesn't have a lot of aspens so I don't hear as much about it here.