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Ryan Rothstein: Fire is an ancient but now underutilized habitat tool

Fires release the nutrients in dead vegetation, inspiring new growth given appropriate precipitation. That results in both food for whitetails and bedding cover. Further, periodic burns reduce the “fuels” on the landscape, in effect reducing the chances of a more catastrophic fire in the future. (Photos courtesy of Ryan Rothstein)

Given all the lip service regarding habitat management for whitetails that you’ll find in outdoors media, it’s a rare day that I come across anyone mentioning the cheapest (per acre) and most useful tool in the management toolbox: fire.
While most folks are worried primarily about food plots, savvy land managers are out there with a drip torch and a rake, creating acre after acre of outstanding deer habitat.

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