Controlled Timber Burn | Habitat Management

Using a controlled burn to improve the habitat on your property is relatively easy, and inexpensive. Knowing the proper timing, weather conditions, and fire techniques is key. Controlled burns in timber stands can seem a little more difficult if you don't have experience doing them. This video breaks down a few simple, but very important aspects of conducting a successful burn in a timer setting.

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[JoeVanGogh]

We've been having large wildfires here in West Virginia. A fire was creeping over the mountain and would have reached our house in the middle of the night, so we called the fire chief down, and we did a controlled burn at the bottom of the mountain, which extinguished the fire at the top.

Be sure to meet with/talk with professionals and the fire department.

[peterupdikeswildtreasures]

Here in Florida wild turkeys love burned timber. I'd rather hunt a burn thats a year old than any other habitat. Great

[kellyhart]

If you need help with planning and/or execution, there may be free resources available. Here in Oklahoma, we have the Oklahoma Prescribed Burn Association which has consultants who can help you determine your burn unit(s), plan firebreaks, etc. as well as preparation of a written burn plan. There is also a network of local burn associations (think ‘co-op’) with many of the tools and equipment needed to safely execute the burn. Members of the local association also help each other with their own labor and resources for execution. Every state may be different, but there are a number of laws here that you need to be aware of prior to burning including one which, if followed, will limit your liability as a landowner. Sounds daunting but it’s well worth it. After three years of preparation, we just executed a prescribed burn of 380 acres of our property without a hitch in one afternoon.

[micah_lee]

If you have more fuel on the ground than he does, stuff can get squirrelly a lot faster. And grasses or shrubs can burn really hot if you let it.

Another issue it when you have wind pushing the fire towards more fuel. If you have a head fire (where wind is pushing it away from where you started it) then it can make it move really quickly, and also send embers further away. BUT, if you do a backing fire, it moves slower and all of the wind is pushing the fire back towards where it has already been burned/the fire line.

All this to say: BE CAREFUL. If you aren’t sure what the fire will do based on how much fuel you have and how the wind is acting, don’t burn. If you have people near you, make sure to learn how to look at weather reports and know how the air is lifting. There are categories for this and everything. Make sure your wind is steadily pushing a certain direction. Then you base the ignition patterns on where the wind is facing. This is uber important. If this was flat ground and more fuel, he would want to have a wind that was pushing towards the water, and carrying winds that push smoke away from sensitive areas nearby. You don’t want to push fire into an area that has no protection from burning and start a whole wildfire.

[mtomas]

Do you think controlled burning helps to reduce tick population. If yes, by your estimation, how much? Thank you!

[vincentsalerno]

what is your gas-to-disel fuel mixture for your pot

[joshualinder]

Is it bad to do a control burn in woods filled with poplar trees?

[kujorakkasan]

Is it good to control burn now January here in Georgia with 51% humidity?

[TheBrushcutter]

From the looks of it you need to open the vent on that drip torch.

[TheeRiverGoat]

Why would someone use whitetail properties to sell their land when there’s so many online owner to owner options out there. Seems silly

[onthemountainwithmike]

Have you ever used a weed torch, with a VersaMule modular load harness?