So I recent bought my 1st pc of land. Its a small 10 acres pc that is in a world class hunting neighborhood. The front 8 acres is pretty heavy timber and the back 2 acres is "tillable" ground that is currently planted in crp grass and oak trees. The oaks range from 5' tall to 12'. My goal is to make the back 2 acres a large food plot. The oaks seem too nice to just cut down / rip out, so I am considering moving them to the edges of the property to make a screen. I have a buddy that has the equipment. Does anyone have experience moving trees? More specifically oaks? Maybe the trees aren't worth saving, but they seem too nice to just take them out. I have heard oaks are tougher to move then say a pine due to the root structure.
If you have enough white or red oak and they are mature enough and in good shape maybe you should just consider getting money for harvesting them? If so talk to a local forester and have him set you up on which ones would be good to remove - they will probably keep 6 to 8% of whatever it's estimated worth is. I have no experience with moving trees.
Can you just plant around the trees? I like footplots and all, but one of the best deer attractants out there are fresh acorns. I have seen deer walk right by some of the nicest looking foodplots to a tree that is dropping acorns.
The trees are a long ways away from being harvested for timber. I estimate that they were planted 8-10 years ago. I also think it will be a long time before they are producing enough acorns to be an attractive food source. The trees have trunks that probably range from 3-6". I'd really like to just move them to open up 1-1.5 acre to plant in annual food sources. I am also planning on planting friut trees in the field and in the timber, as well as mas producing trees.
