Wildlife Habitat Restoration

How Wildlife Habitat Restoration Works

Southeastern wildlife evolved with open, fire-maintained forests. Without active management, mesophication — the gradual shading-out of the forest floor by encroaching hardwoods — eliminates the understory vegetation that deer, turkey, and quail depend on. TreeShop's mechanical habitat restoration opens the canopy through selective midstory removal, creating the diverse understory structure these species need. Quail require 30-50% ground cover with up to 70% bare ground for brooding. Turkey poults need open understories with insect-rich groundcover. Deer need browse zones below 4.5 feet and mast-producing hardwoods. The same mechanical treatment — thinning, mulching, and creating regeneration openings — benefits all three species. This work falls under NRCS Practice Codes 645 (Upland Wildlife Habitat Management) and 647 (Early Successional Habitat Development).

We provide a free on-site estimate to confirm acreage and scope before any equipment rolls. No surprises, no hidden costs.

Ideal For

Hunting properties with declining game populations
Food plot site preparation and access trails
Creating early successional habitat for quail and turkey
Opening pine stands for deer browse and mast production
EQIP-funded wildlife habitat projects (Codes 645, 647)

Our Process

Free Estimate

We walk your property in person — evaluating terrain, vegetation density, and equipment access to deliver an accurate quote.

MSA Agreement

Clear scope, timeline, and expectations documented in our Master Service Agreement before any equipment rolls. No surprises.

Production

CAT large-frame track loader with forestry mulcher head mobilizes to your site. Most residential lots are completed in a single day.

Final Walkthrough

Owner Jeremiah Anderson walks the finished project with you to confirm every detail meets expectations before we close out.

Equipment

TreeShop deploys CAT large-frame track loaders equipped with high-flow hydraulics and purpose-built forestry mulcher heads including Fecon and Diamond attachments. This isn't a skid steer with a brush cutter bolted on — it's production-grade iron designed specifically for forestry mulching work.

Large-frame CTLs provide low ground pressure (critical for Florida's soft soils), serious pushing power for dense vegetation, and the hydraulic capacity to drive mulcher heads at full RPM through 8-inch hardwood. The result: faster clearing, finer mulch, and cleaner results than undersized equipment.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does forestry mulching improve deer hunting?

Removing dense midstory vegetation allows sunlight to reach the forest floor, triggering native browse growth below 4.5 feet — the deer feeding zone. Open understory also improves sight lines for hunters and creates natural travel corridors deer prefer.

What's the best habitat management strategy for quail?

Quail need a mosaic of habitat types: nesting cover (native bunchgrasses), brooding habitat (open areas with 30-50% ground cover and bare ground for chick movement), and escape cover (brushy areas). Mechanical mulching followed by prescribed fire creates this mosaic.

Can you prepare food plot sites?

Yes. We clear and prepare food plot sites of any size, from small quarter-acre kill plots to larger destination plots. We handle tree and brush removal, stump grinding to below grade, and can rough-grade the site for planting.

How does wildlife habitat restoration qualify for EQIP?

Work falls under NRCS Codes 645 (Upland Wildlife Habitat Management) and 647 (Early Successional Habitat Development). EQIP covers up to 75% of costs. Your local NRCS office can help you develop a wildlife habitat management plan that includes mechanical treatment.

Should I mulch or burn for wildlife habitat?

Both. Mechanical mulching handles the heavy lifting — removing dense midstory that fire alone can't control. Once the property is mechanically prepared, prescribed fire maintains the open conditions at a fraction of the cost. Most wildlife biologists recommend both in an integrated management program.

How often should habitat management be repeated?

Initial mechanical treatment should last 3-5 years before the midstory begins to close back in. With a regular prescribed fire program (every 2-3 years), you can maintain open conditions indefinitely with minimal follow-up mechanical work.

Free on-site estimate for properties across Central Florida. 500+ projects completed.

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Wildlife Habitat Restoration

How Wildlife Habitat Restoration Works

Ideal For

Our Process

Free Estimate

MSA Agreement

Production

Final Walkthrough

Equipment

Frequently Asked Questions

Wildlife Habitat Restoration

All Services

Wildlife Habitat Restoration Across 32 Counties

Get a Free Wildlife Habitat Restoration Estimate

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