Oak understory habitat restoration

This is a High Conservation Value area that contains a terrific stand of mature oaks. The oaks are a valuable component and are very difficult to recruit in the next stand of oaks. There is also some other tree species that are present in smaller numbers (sugar maple, basswood, paper birch, and aspen). Any timber harvesting in the past has led to a proliferation of sugar maple and ironwood seedlings pushing the forest to a sugar maple/ basswood dominated forest type. There is no clear method to establish oak successfully with modern deer densities without fencing. Fencing research has shown that by fencing out the deer on a quality oak stand they are able to successfully regenerate the stands back to oak. There are many issues with fencing and looking for other opportunities to regenerate oak is part of this project. Part of the project includes the trial of galvanized growing cages. A Minnesota company has been contacted about manufacturing of some of these growing cages. They have a similar product and thought that it could be done while meeting the price point.