Management Considerations

When upland areas are managed intensively for pine production, managers typically use an even-aged management strategy for regeneration of pine stands. Even-aged silvicultural activities include two basic methods: 1) leaving seed trees for natural regeneration, and 2) harvest cuts with some form of site preparation for artificial regeneration through seedling planting.

Regeneration/Management

To create high quality bear habitat, harvest should maximize forest age and type diversity. Harvest shape should maximize edge habitat by using irregularly shaped cuts where feasible based on site topography. To create maximum between-stand diversity, there should be at least 7 years difference in age classes between adjacent regeneration areas. High between-stand diversity will help ensure a constant supply of soft mast within a relatively small area.

Even-aged pine stands should be thinned as soon as economically feasible (typically by 15 years). This practice will produce a more vigorous pine stand as well as allow sunlight to penetrate to the forest floor and encourage soft mast production and growth of vigorous herbaceous vegetation.

Special Considerations

Fire in the upland pine ecosystem is a natural occurrence. Burning in pine stands should be conducted on a 3 to 5 year rotation depending on site condition. If adult female bears are known to be in the area, use caution when burning in winter during the first 5 years after initial harvest. Burning during this time period may disturb bears denning in this thick, early successional cover. Poor soils and dry sites should be burned less often. Planted pine stands should be burned as soon as practical (7 to 10 years after establishment) and after intermediate thinnings. Contact your state forestry agency about timing of burns, the possibility for technical or financial assistance, and liability issues surrounding this practice. Hardwood areas and Streamside Management Zones (SMZs) should always be protected from fire.