There’s no way I’d leave my smz’s 30 feet wide. I cut 17 acres of my 40 and don’t regret it one bit.

The best post logging advice it to get the best logger first. Everything after that should play second fiddle.

And unless you’re on the property daily, get someone to help. Consultant, friend, someone...

Good luck and congrats on the land. I own an 80. Multiple plots w the largest being 2 acres. We hunt 500 total acres. I’d consider your adjacent landowners and how much they hunt. I’d do 2 large plots. The large L types work great. Personally I’d probably plant half back n pines after spraying it to kill everything else on the 40. Estimated $200 to spray n plant. Hire a dozer and makes the plots right, and roads. Corn has changed things a lot. I’d put the plots on opposite sides, for different winds, and location would partially be determined by which neighbors hunt the most. Good luck and enjoy. It’s a lot of work, but it’s enjoyable.

Geta deposit to make sure they repair the roads when they finish

. Yep, it was nailed later on, leave a few here and there for seedlings, plus you need a place to put a ladder or climber unless you will hunt out of tripods. Most loggers will work with you on this, they know why you bought the land, talk to them.

. It is a mess when they leave unless you get it in a contract. Be ready to go in behind them with a dozer. There loggers out there that don't tear up as much as you think. Some just want the money and run. Talk to people in your area that are timber people, ask around about certain companies. You have to do your due diligence when it comes to your land just like your house. You will ask around about contractors on your house, do the same with your land.

. I would leave about 1 per acre. Getting the right loggers will even leave you some pretty good size areas for food plots from their loading grounds. Just show them where you want them. I won't get into what kinds of trees to plant, get with your county extension agent, or call Auburn's office. Don't forget to leave areas for bedding on inside your property, you need one area you won't go in that is thick, but not overly, that they can rest. Then, give them enough food around it so they won't have to wonder far. 80 acres is an excellent hunting paradise. Take the time with an extension agent or Auburn to know have your plan before you start. Some loggers will walk the woods with you and point things out you may have missed.

We have all been telling you what to do, but I will say: You have it right when you are going to do control burns. 80 acres is a nice piece of property (you can do a lot of good hunting off 80 acres) my hats off to you. You bought timber with mature hardwoods, so you know it has the potential in soil, way to go. There is nothing wrong with burning the brush piles, it can be good for compost, but burn it, it will not hurt. Good job setting up fire breaks, also good for shooting trails and walking for turkeys, don't forget to keep those roads the loggers use cleaned out. I hope you have a good tractor with implements. Your idea of fruit (don't forget persimmon) trees and saw tooth oaks sound like a plan. There is nothing wrong with the poor man's way, this poor man just bought himself 80 acres with mercantile timber!!!!!!!!!!! I am happy for you, such an amazing job, just have fun with it. If you have some of that broom sage and stuff, you may want to have a few quail.

If he truly has mature oaks I'd cut them for the exact reason they are mature and $ trees. If they are really old they'll go bad and die, not producing acorns or $. Cutting the mature ones and leaving mid-sized releases them and they'll produce like wild. They'll be $ trees for the next cutting.

If I had the opportunity to do so I'd have one plot that was in the 5-10 acre range depending on the deer population......That's puts you over a tonnage threshold where more food plotting options become available to you

Agreed. Mature meaning trees old enough to be producing well, not the oldest or largest.
At my age I wouldnt be concerned with the value of a 2nd cutting of hardwoods. Their value to me would be worth more left standing. Id want something left there to produce for the next 3-6 years till i got something else established and producing.

When I see mature oaks, I see green back bucks.