“A forest is more than trees for timber.” If you followed recent media coverage of the sale at Yellowwood State Forest, you might be surprised to read this statement.

The controversy developed when veteran foresters of the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) planned and carried out the recent sale to harvest select trees from 299 acres of the Yellowwood Forest’s back country.

The truth is that both the well-meaning people who opposed the sale and the DNR love our state forests, but differ on how to care for them. The preservationists’ approach for the back country woodland is hands-off, letting nature take its course. The DNR’s is to scientifically manage the ecosystem.

When the land was acquired by the state in the 1950s, forest barely existed until the foresters planted it. Indiana law dictates the DNR “protect and conserve timber, water resources, wildlife and topsoil in forests owned and operated by the Division of Forestry” and use “good husbandry” to remove timber with substantial commercial value “in a manner that benefits the growth of saplings.”

The recent timber sale followed the course. It is stated by the forestry division: “Our goal is the health of the forests – not profit.”

The DNR has and continues to support studying the entire forest ecosystem, not limited to the trees. Our foresters’ research shows periodically removing dead and dying trees opens the forest floor to sunlight, allowing new trees of the same species to develop. Allowing too many unhealthy trees to stand lets smaller trees develop in the understory, and crowds out young hardwoods from developing.

Part of managing for the conditions involves logging by single-tree selection, targeting mostly dead, diseased and declining trees. In the Yellowwood back country, approximately 5-7 trees per acre may be removed, which translates to about two trees per 100. The DNR’s forestry division weighs each tree on its own merits as well as on its health and impacts to the overall forest area.

The method is proven and was used in the previous 13 harvests of the Morgan-Monroe State Forest back country area.

Studies by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, DNR and independent researchers show rare and endangered species, such as the timber rattlesnake, hooded warbler, worm-eating warbler and Indiana bat, benefit from conditions created by periodic thinning of the areas like the back country’s current closed canopy. In Indiana, timber harvests are allowed only from Oct. 1-March 31, to protect bat species.

Indiana’s DNR maintains “our state forests, including their back country areas, are being carefully managed by those who spend a lifetime studying them.” More information may be found at www.dnr.IN.gov/forestry

DNR needs more deer for disease testing

The DNR is asking deer hunters for help with a disease surveillance program in Franklin and Fayette counties. State biologists are sampling deer harvested from portions of the two counties for bovine tuberculosis (TB).

After a slow start to the deer firearms season, the program is running behind. Biologists have collected just 16 percent of the samples needed to reach their surveillance goal, largely because of weather.

Firearms season started for deer on Nov. 18 and ran through Dec. 3. Opening weekend was affected by thunderstorms and warm temperatures resulting in a lower harvest compared to previous opening weekends. For example, the combined two-day first-weekend harvest in Franklin and Fayette counties was down about 60 percent from 2016.

The DNR is asking hunters in the surveillance zone to help collect samples. The preference is for bucks 2 years of age or older, but all deer will be accepted for testing. The DNR hopes to sample between 500-1,200 deer, depending on age.

The surveillance zone is the area south of State Road 44 and west of State Road 1 in Fayette County, and in the northwestern portion of Franklin County, west of Brookville Lake. See a map online at www.wildlife.IN.gov/9320.htm

Surveillance involves collecting and testing lymph nodes from the head and neck of deer harvested by hunters and voluntarily submitted for evaluation. Hunters can bring their deer to a biological check station at the Whitewater Canal State Historic Site maintenance facility in Metamora, at 19083 Clayborn Street, and to Mustin’s Processing in Connersville, or Hunters Choice in Brookville.

Hunters who submit a deer for testing will be entered into a drawing for 1 of 10 authorizations to take an additional buck from anywhere in Indiana (with landowner permission) during the 2018-19 deer hunting season. Hunters who bring the DNR a buck at least 2 years old will receive 10 entries into the drawing. Those who bring in does at least 2 years old will receive three entries.

Hunters who bring in yearlings will receive one entry into the drawing. Entries are cumulative, which means hunters who bring in multiple deer will have an even better chance of winning. The DNR will continue to receive samples from deer harvested within this TB surveillance zone through Jan. 7, with the exception being several days around Christmas.

Firewood permits

Permits for firewood harvest are now available at Brookville Lake, Whitewater Memorial State Park and Summit Lake. The public is invited to cut certain downed trees in designated areas at these places for firewood.

Trees eligible for firewood have fallen as a result of natural causes or have been dropped by property staff. They are along roadsides or in public areas such as campsites and picnic areas. Permit sales and cutting began Nov. 25 and end on Feb. 28.

The cost of one pickup load is $10. All proceeds will be used for resource management and restoration efforts, including replacement of trees in campgrounds and other public areas. A firewood permit must be obtained for each load. Permits are not available on observed state holidays or during deer reduction hunt days.

Permits are available at the Mounds State Recreation Area and Whitewater Memorial State Park offices. The Mounds office is open between 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday through Friday. The Whitewater office is open the same hours daily, except Sunday and Wednesday.

At Summit Lake, permits may be obtained between 10 a.m.-3 p.m. daily, including weekends. Permits are not available on observed state holidays. Harvest at Summit Lake ends on Dec. 29.

Firewood from state parks is for personal use only and may not be sold. The ban on transporting ash between Indiana counties no longer exists because the emerald ash borer insect (EAB) is now widespread in the state.

Rules for bringing firewood to DNR properties remain in place. The DNR does not recommend long-distance movement of firewood of any species due to the potential for moving other insect pests and tree diseases beyond locally impacted areas. “Long-distance movement” is moving beyond the immediate county or surrounding counties.

The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and not necessarily those of Farm World. Readers with questions or comments may contact Jack Spaulding by email at jackspaulding@hughes.net or by writing to him in care of this publication.