Although quality timber production may be the main objective for most of our CRP pine lands, many landowners have other objectives in mind. These other objectives often include enhanced wildlife, clean water, intensified forest aesthetics, quality forest recreational activities, and a variety of other purposes.
As these CRP stands are beginning to reach pulpwood size, the big question for many innovative forest landowners then becomes: Which of the above activities can I conduct in my planted pine forests as they reach ten plus years old?
First, it seems like a good idea that we get some sense of the characteristics of the trees and the environment they are in. On a site with average productivity (site index = 70) these ten year old pine trees will be about 6 inches DBH and forty-one feet tall. Originally planted at 700 trees per acre, they are now down to about 580 trees per acre due to losses of various types. The understory is mostly open and clear of underbrush. There is a layer of pinestraw on the ground and there is some room between the trees allowing you to walk upright in most places without fear of hitting your head on a limb.
There are many recreational activities for a landowner in a CRP forest. Think back to the fondest memories of your youth. Perhaps you can conjure up carefree adventures involving a forest setting.
Much of the enjoyment we receive from recreational activities comes from what we see and how it makes us feel. A well-managed forest provides many pleasing aesthetic qualities. Even today, many of us enjoy spending time walking, hiking, camping, four-wheeling, horseback riding, mountain biking, and picnicking in the forest.
These activities fall into two categories; consumptive wildlife-based enterprises such as hunting and fishing and nonconsumptive enterprises such as bird watching and photography that take place in the forest.
Let's take a closer look at these recreational enterprises that are suitable for CRP forestland.