Source for Cedar Blind Material

[hibrass]

Kind of new here so bare with me.

I'm looking for a source (long term) for cedar trees and branches for use on a duck blind. I need around (12) 10-12ft cedar trees for a floating rig. Anyone own a cedar swamp or know someone who is in the U.P. logging buisness? I'll pay, do the driving and the cutting as necessary.

[Linda G.]

Please don't be upset with me, I'm just trying to make you aware of a situation in Michigan regarding white cedar that you may not be aware you are contributing to, that is, the incredible loss of white cedar that isn't regenerating in this state, cedar that provides absolutely essential browse to wintering whitetail deer and winter cover for an entire host of wildlife species. Cedar is a very slow growing species, and with the development that every day is taking thousands of these trees, plus the fact that our large whitetail deer population is browsing adult trees to heights of 8 ft. or more, and entirely eradicating new shoots of growth and new seedlings, white cedar faces a bleak future in Michigan and doesn't need waterfowlers adding to the problem. I'm not saying that you're going to eradicate it simply by taking a few branches, but thousands of us out there doing it would...you can buy the Fastgrass matting in a variety of colors, and what's nice about that is that it's a Michigan company that you're contributing to, and your Fastgrass will last an entire lifetime of waterfowling if you treat it kindly...

Linda

[Mr. 16 gauge]

Linda G. brings up a good point. If you are really bent on getting cedar, why don't you check with a local landscaping company? With all the homes going up in and around Ortonville nowadays, the may be able to help you...they are usually cutting trees down that would just be wasted anyway. I took out 6 ornamental cedars several years ago...not a fun job. Seems to me like a dozen 12 ft cedar trees are a lot....what are you trying to camoflage, and oil tanker?!;) :p
I make my own fast grass (you can see some photos under the waterfowling section). I usually cut my reeds the first part of Sept from roadside ditches....the property owners are usually glad to let me do it, the plants regenerate the following year, and I have found that by cutting them at this time, they usually brown up about the same rate as the stuff that I am trying to hide in. Plus, you can match your material (cattails, phragmites, ect) to the cover you will be hiding in, making for a perfect blend.

[hibrass]

Ouch! If I had known the issue would draw this kind of response I would have expounded a bit more.

Lets try this again,

I have been hunting for years with two of my good friends. We hunt out of a jon boat with a cedar blind on it. We have all had children in the past several years and most of the kids would love to go out with dad(s). This combined with our efforts to expose some growing nephews to the sport sees us considering building a large floating blind. We feel accommodating six hunters or three with children should do the trick. I've used fast-grass before and it works fine. Its kind of cost prohibitive given the size of the blind. We will be making our own mats but feel a combination of reeds and cedar works best in our big and open water situation. Using the cedar avoids the "brown box" syndrome that is quite common in our area. If strategecly placed, smaller cedar trees should allow us to use less material overall. Cedar stays green the whole season (youth hunt through the end of November) and provides outstanding results on big water birds.

I'm looking for someone who might need his/her cedar swamp thinned a bit. This should be good for the surrounding trees. Or someone who knows someone who is in the logging buisness. I'm sure they strip the branches off and leave them lay anyway. I don't see any harm in using them.

I am activley pursuing cedar trees from local builders. So far I've found that their cutting rarely coincides with the start of duck season. I will keep trying though.

I have planted several dozen cedars over the past few years all in an attempt to give back what I take. As I mentioned before, I'm willing to drive, pay (not too much) and do the cutting.

I guess the answer is no then, you dont know anyone who can help. Don't be so quick to judge.

[lwingwatcher]

Ouch is right...


A simple question and the guy gets hammered. I am relatively sure he was unaware that fastgrass comes in green. I know that I wasn't aware that it is available.

There are always sources available for natural cedar bows that do not in any way, shape, or form become a detriment to conservation measures that we need to preserve what we have here in Michigan.

No body comes down on the guy who takes a chainsaw or bulldozer to "clear out" a shootin lane or four from his deer shanty. Or...

He was just askin...

[Linda G.]

I don't think either Mr. 16 guage or I were trying to hammer on this gentleman. I am sure his intentions are good. But very few people are aware of the situation that's occuring with our white cedar in this state, and the fact that we have fewer and fewer wintering deer yards, especially in the northern lower peninsula. With the ban on feeding in many of our prime deer areas, should we ever have a good old fashioned northern Michigan winter, those deer are going to need that cedar a whole lot more than someone building a duck blind would...

try using spruce...that stays green for quite a while, buy a can of dark green spray paint to touch it up, that's what the Xmas tree growers do, you can get cases of it from a wholesale Xmas tree grower...I'm a duck hunter, too, and I've found that it's a fairly expensive hunting sport. If you've got the money to do that, you can save a little extra and get the Fast Grass...it will last you a lifetime. And if you get tired of duck hunting, you can always sell it, and get part of your money back.

Even cedar that's cut and thrown on the ground is used by deer for browse, rabbits, beavers, moose in the UP, etc. Talk to some of the loggers, they usually have deer appear in the winter as soon as they turn on their chainsaws.

Most of those "available sources" that have white cedar bows, etc., for Christmas, are taking cedar from deer as well, it's big business in the UP, where most of it comes from...you're only aiding and abetting the problem by buying a Christmas bough for your lights on your porch that's made of cedar.


And the cedar doesn't grow back for a long, long time, if ever. No one seems to know why...

[lwingwatcher]

I understand what you are saying. It is just that a new member asked a simple question on a duck hunting forum regarding a potential source for blind material and bam, bam, he gets a double barreled response.

Interactive forums don't always convey the intent of the author. All one can do is read and attempt to interpret the words that were submitted.

I just hate to see members become leery of asking for fear of getting chopped off at the knees by well meaning individuals.

Nuff said.

[goose hunter]

I use Oak limbs when the leaves are still green. They do turn colors but stay on the limbs well. Ducks dont seem to chose cedar over my Oak camo. Just a thought. Easy to replace or repair as the season goes on.

[Firetiger]

The new camo material out lasts anything, Hit the bargain cave at cabalas, Don't worry about color, just paint it what you need..

Linda, good point, I heard they had some kind of ban on ceder cutting, Sad that theres plenty to use for the short holiday season and not enough for hunter to ulitlize for blinds,,

Hey goose hunter, With all the birds at your place , I think you could hunt out of the bed of a pickup sitting in a lawn chair at your place, come on down to the river and I'll show you why they came up with camo in the first place,,,

[lwingwatcher]

Yep, I like the camo material too. All I have to do to gather it is go to my garage.:)

[Coldwater Charters]

I try to use the most rare foliage that Michigan has as the ducks will figure the DNR has made it illegal to use such foliage for blind material and know that there couldn't be any hunters near such a rare source of Camouflage. You first must out think the ducks;)

[Firetiger]

Hey Coldwater, Ha Ha ... But where can you get enough Pitcher Plants to cover an 18 foot duck boat,,,LOL

[Crawfish]

Well, that lightened things up.

Thanks, Mike. That gave me a well-needed laugh. I won't forget that one.

[Firetiger]

Hibrass, If you sold on natural cover, Just contact a local lawn service company, or hit a large apartment complex and find their service and then follow them around when they do there Bush trims,, I get a pickup load for the deer blind,, the cut spruce is the only sent cover anyone needs and the price is right,,,hope it helps