Now Is A Good Time To Set The Woods On Fire

If you plan to burn your woods, you need to get after it. The best time to set fire to your woods is late winter, from mid November to mid March.

Hey wait a minute; you’ve spent years getting the trees on your property up and growing so why in the world, after all your good efforts, would you set fire to your woods? There is a good and valid reason for doing just that. A fire deliberately set under the right conditions is called a prescribed or controlled fire.

I looked up the definition of a prescribed burn and here’s what I read….”A prescribed fire is the controlled application of fire to wildland fuels under specific, planned environmental conditions to achieve management goals, such as reducing wildfire risks, restoring ecosystems and enhancing habitat.”

That statement “reducing wildfire risks” caught my attention. Remember the horrific wildfires in California last year that consumed tens of thousands of acres along with hundreds of
homes? They may have been triggered by environmental goofballs who didn’t want to risk harming an endangered critter or burning down the pretty trees. As a result, tons of litter, dead
and fallen trees were left to lay where they fell, causing a massive buildup of fuel that once fire hits, would rapidly and without control, spread like, well, wildfire.

Now that I have your attention, should you go out to your woods, strike a match and set fire without any guidelines or parameters needed to ensure the fire would be controlled? The answer, of course, is no. That’s why the right kind of fire is called a “controlled” or “prescribed” fire.

Louisiana has groups that have the purpose of using fire to help and enhance your habitat and doing it in the right way. One such group is the Piney Hills Prescribed Burn Association.

Jesse Davis of Ruston is President of this group that involves six parishes in north Louisiana, Lincoln, Jackson, Union, Bienville, Claiborne and Webster.

“Basically, if you need help in burning your land, guys from our chapter come out and help you do it the right way and offer help you may need. Conversely, should they need help on their property, groups that have been helped will volunteer to help other land owners,” said Davis.

When a controlled burn takes place, what actually happens?

“Running a fire across your land removes litter and ground clutter, allowing desirable species of plants to flourish. Native
seeds are lying dormant under all the duff on the ground and once it is removed, these seeds can germinate and grow.

“I got interested in doing this because I wanted to see wild turkeys come back to my land. I have found,” Davis said, “that not only turkeys respond to the new growth but you’ll see a wide
variety of songbirds enjoying what you have done on your property . In fact, just about all wild animals and birds do much better on land soon after a prescribed fire goes through.”

Davis hopes to expand the reach of the Piney Hills group and a meeting is scheduled for March 24 from 10:00 until noon at the Winn Parish Library in Winnfield where property owners in that area can attend and find out if they can be helped by becoming part of Piney Hills.

Further information can be obtained by going on-line and checking out Louisiana Piney Hills Prescribed Burn Association.
It may be time for you to set your woods on fire. However, be sure it’s done in a prescribed and controlled way.

FISHING REPORT

CANEY LAKE – Bass are moving up to spawning areas but have slowed a bit because of subfreezing temperatures that has cooled the water down a few degrees. They will be back spawning once it warms back up. Same report on crappie. For information contact Caney Lake Landing at 259-6649, Hooks Marina at 249-2347, Terzia Tackle at 278-4498 or the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
BUSSEY BRAKE – Crappie have moved away from the beds temporarily waiting until things start warming up again. Likewise for bass. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
OUACHITA RIVER – The water is still quite low because of lock and dam problems down stream. Fishing overall is slow for bass and crappie. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE D’ARBONNE – Bass have backed away from the shallows because of the cold but should be moving back to the shallows to continues spawning as it warms back up. Bass have slowed down waiting for the water to warm again. No bream reports yet. For latest information, call Anderson Sport Center at 368-9669 or Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE CLAIBORNE – Crappie have moved up the creeks but are waiting for a warm up in water temperatures to get back to spawning. Bass are fair on crank baits, spinners and soft plastics around brush. For latest information, call Kel’s Cove at 927-2264 or Terzia Tackle at 278-4498.
LAKE POVERTY POINT – Fishing overall has been slow because of the cold snap. The crappie will be moving back as soon as it warms up as well as the bass. Catfish are fair. For information, call the marina at 318/878-0101.
LAKE YUCATAN – The lake level is on a rise. Water temp too cold just yet for crappie and bass. Lots of buffalo and catfish are being caught in nets. For info call Surplus City Landing at 318/467-2259.