Winter Habitat Work: Your Last Chance Before Spring!

Winter may feel like it’s dragging on, but we're on the clock when it comes to habitat management. The next few weeks are the best time to tackle major habitat projects like timber stand improvement, prescribed fire prep, and invasive species control. By mid-March, rising soil temperatures will trigger sap flow in trees, reducing herbicide effectiveness and making some management techniques less efficient.

This week also marks one of the biggest conservation events of the year—the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) Convention in Nashville. NWTF has been leading the charge for wild turkey conservation and habitat restoration for 50 years(!!), and their work has played a massive role in shaping how we manage landscapes for turkeys and other wildlife. This event is worth attending if you're passionate about hunting, conserving, or improving your land for wild turkeys.

I’ll be attending on Thursday, Feb. 13, and if you want to meet up, send me a DM on Instagram (@whetstonehabitat)—I’ll have sample habitat management plans on hand for anyone interested in reviewing them and scheduling a site visit.

Now, let’s get into the most crucial winter habitat projects you should tackle before spring!

Why Now?

• Clear access—No leaves mean better visibility for cutting and treating invasives.

• Less stress on wildlife—Lower temperatures reduce physiological stress when habitat work temporarily displaces animals. They don’t have to deal with heat exhaustion or high energy demands like in warmer months.

• Herbicide effectiveness—As soil temperatures rise, trees start pulling sap upward, reducing how well basal bark and hack-and-squirt treatments work.

• Fewer pests—No mosquitoes, ticks, or poison ivy to worry about while working in the woods.

• Prime time for fire prep—Firebreaks and burn units should be ready before conditions align for prescribed burns.

Below are the top habitat projects to focus on before winter slips away:

1. Prescribed Fire Prep

🔥 Fire is the best land management tool—but only if you’re prepared.

• Create effective firebreaks by exposing bare soil—the most reliable way to stop flames from escaping.

  • Pulling a disk or harrow around the burn unit in open fields is an easy and effective way to create a break.

  • Inside woodlots, use a leaf blower, backpack blower, or even a sturdy rake to clear leaf litter down to the bare soil, ensuring a wide enough buffer.

• Identify priority burn units based on their last burn cycle and habitat needs.

• Monitor weather forecasts for the right burn window—humidity, wind speed, and direction all affect fire behavior.

• Always follow local burn protocol.

2. Timber Stand Improvement (TSI)

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🌳 Now is the time to thin the woods to improve long-term habitat quality.

• Remove junk trees (maple, sweetgum, hackberry) to allow oaks and mast producers to thrive.

• Use hinge-cutting selectively for deer bedding cover and horizontal structure.

• Girdle & spray or hack-and-squirt invasive trees before sap flow reduces herbicide uptake.

  • Hack-and-squirt is a highly effective method for eliminating undesirable trees with minimal labor.

  • Dr. Craig Harper’s special herbicide blend (or what I jokingly call his “special sauce”) is one of the best mixes for this technique:

    • 50% Garlon 3A

    • 40% water

    • 10% Arsenal

    • Important: Mix them in this exact order for the best results.

  • This blend ensures deep penetration and long-lasting control of unwanted hardwoods, making it ideal for timber stand improvement.

3. Invasive Species Control

🌱 Winter is the best time to kill invasives before they take over in spring.

• Basal bark spray treatments (best done before green-up) for bush honeysuckle, autumn olive, tree-of-heaven, and privet.

• Spot spray cool-season invasives like garlic mustard before they go to seed.

• Plan spring weed-wicking strategies for aggressive species like Johnsongrass.

4. Edge Feathering & Brush Pile Creation

🦃 Improve turkey nesting and quail habitat with edge work.

• Hinge-cut trees along field edges to create soft transition zones for wildlife.

• Stack the cut trees into brush piles for small game and nesting cover.

• Keep valuable mast trees, but remove low-value species.

• Drag downed treetops into open fields and recently burned areas to add immediate structure.

  • This technique, which I call “surrogate trees,” provides perching locations for birds to sit and deposit seeds, naturally adding diversity to the landscape.

  • This method is often compliant even in CRP and Pollinator NRCS contracts since you aren’t actively planting woody species—just relocating natural debris.

  • Always verify with your specific NRCS contract, but in many cases, this is a great way to add structure and habitat value without breaking compliance rules.

5. Winter Food Plot Prep & Frost Seeding

🌾 The frost-seeding window is closing fast—don’t miss your chance!

• Frost seeding is ideal for maintaining existing clover plots and thickening thin areas. Think of it as an upkeep step to ensure your perennial plots stay productive year after year.

• The freeze-thaw cycle of late winter naturally works clover seed into the soil, creating great seed-to-soil contact with minimal labor.

• You can even broadcast seed directly onto snow; moisture helps drive the seed into the soil as it melts.

• I’m frost-seeding a clover blend called Triple Threat from Hitlist Seed, which includes ladino, red, and crimson clover. If you’re looking for a great mix, check it out here:
  🔗 Triple Threat Clover – Hitlist Seed

Headed to NWTF? Let’s Connect in Nashville!

I’ll be at the National Wild Turkey Federation Convention in Nashville on Thursday, Feb. 13. If you’re attending, let’s meet up!

I’ll have sample habitat management plans with me for anyone interested in seeing what a customized plan looks like and discussing a site visit for their property.

Want to meet up? Send me a DM on Instagram (@whetstonehabitat) and let’s make it happen.

Final Thoughts: Time to Take Action

The next few weeks are a critical window for habitat work before spring green-up changes the game. Whether knocking out invasive species control, prepping for a prescribed burn, or improving timber stand health, now is the time to get it done.

If you need guidance on your property, I’m here to help. Whether you need a management plan, a site visit, or just some advice, don’t hesitate to contact me.

You can also schedule a consultation or site visit online here.

Give your property an edge,
Zack