What do we mean by “Historical Access”? Certainly, not every piece of property in the world has a public road touching the boundary. Each state in America has laws that deal specifically with these issues. “Historical Access” is the route that has been used historically to access the property.
                                                Over time, country roads and woods roads provided access for most landowners. Some of these roads were eventually dedicated to local parishes or counties. However, some roads still exist that technically are on private property. They have been used for years for the benefits of landowners beyond the public road. When landowners are in harmony, no problems exist. But, when landowners are not in agreement, one or both parties may attempt to exercise authority.
A “legal deeded easement” is a right to use land of another for a specific purpose, such as a right of way or utilities. A lending institution will usually accept this second to public road access.
“Easement by implication” and “easement by necessity” may be allowed by law as necessary for the full enjoyment of real estate.
“Easement by prescription” is acquired by continuous, open, and hostile use of the property for a period of time.
When buying land, take time to understand your access to the property. Talk to local and state authorities for an opinion in the event you are ever challenged on your access. Judges and courts tend to make very fair rulings regarding access.
Properties with limited access tend to sell a little cheaper than property on a public road. But, don’t pass up a good property because of access. Things usually get worked out so you can access your property.

Let’s face it, Land is a great investment. But, what are your goals?

Do you only want a good return for your investment or would you like to use your land for recreation? Either way, you should consider having a management plan. It seems like each month I wind up writing about management, so I thought this month I would start with some basic thoughts. Get a forester. Consulting foresters provide a wide range of services to private landowners to help gain the maximum benefit for their land. Among their services are timber sales marketing, forest stand improvement, identifying and marking boundaries, wildlife management, chemical and insect control, tree planting, timber appraisals, and tax advice. With my personal properties, I am always wondering when to thin, when to plant, should I chemical release? I have been presented with the dilemma of not knowing what to do with a tract of land that was not re-planted and will not grow timber to its greatest productivity. It may be that you have a 50% interest in hunting and 50% interest in investment and you should grow your timber to complete both goals.

Consultant fees can vary. They can be based on a percentage of harvest, commission, job rate, hourly rate, retainer, or a combination of these. The added yield to your crop will more than pay for their services.  Additionally, their fees should be tax deductable as an expense.

Wow! Can you believe this rain we’ve been having. This affects everybody. There has already been incredible damage to low lying stuctures. Unfortunate for those that thought the 100 year rain would not come in their lifetime. As we observe damage control, there are several things to consider. A difficult question to answer is “how long will trees tolerate flooding?”. The longer trees are exposed to flooding, the greater the potential for injury, but short periods of flooding can be tolerated by most trees.  An understanding of flooding characteristics effects on soil and trees will help us plan into the future. Flooding during the growing season is usually more harmful than flooding during dormant periods. If flooding is recurrent and the soil stays saturated, then serious damage to trees may occur. A landowner that wants to flood his hardwoods for duck hunting season, needs to be careful not to let the water stand long enough to damage the trees. Certainly, we do not want water standing for any long periods on pine plantations. Strong flooding can cause soil erosion around roots stuctures. Flooding affects the soil in many ways. It reduces the supply of oxygen to the soil and roots. It usually results in  growth inhibition and injury to flooded trees. The deposits of sediments during flooding also contribute to poor soil aeration. It will be a while before riverbottom hay feilds will return to normal production levels. We certainly appreciate a good rain and we need it to survive, but we should use good conservation practises and remember that God is in control.

May can be a busy month if you are staying active with land management. The heavy spring rains have really made things start growing. The natural tendency is to start cleaning up and cutting the grass. Be very careful if you have turkeys in the area. Every year we hear about turkey nest that get destroyed by early cutting. Wait, wait, wait, and give those eggs time to hatch. If you could make it until early June, that would be great. Gardens need to be plowed and prepared for planting. If you plan to plant Chufa, this is the time to get it in the ground. Chufa needs 90-100 days of frost free growing time. Summer food plots are great for all game species. The summer crop usually provides more protein throughout the entire summer. This is also the time to spray herbicides for grass control. Most people stop feeding the wildlife during the summer, but if you will continue to feed protein and corn, you will be rewarded. Do you remember the baseball movie “Field of Dreams” comment, “if you build it, they will come”? The same goes for good wildlife habitat, “if you build it, they will come”.

Dogwoods are blooming and the turkeys are gobbling.  This a special time that only rolls around once a year.  The male turkeys are in full strut during their annual mating ritual.  This provides for an exciting turkey hunt.  It is very rewarding to have productive hunts on your own property. Turkey populations have become more plentiful in the ARK LA TEX. Proper game management and habitat will eventually yield good hunts. Here are a few gobblers taken from North Bossier Parish properties.

I talked to several foresters this past month that were supervising tree planting.  Southern forest are a renewable resource. That’s another good reason why land is such a good investment. As a general rule, pine seedlings should be planted before the end of March. The soil needs to be rather cool with adequate moisture. A chemical release is always a good idea 1 or 2 years after planting to eliminate competition.  If a final harvest has occurred close to planting  season, it may be best to let the land “lay out” and re-plant the following year.

This has been a very cold winter with large deposits of ice and snow. Ice damage to loblolly pine plantations in Louisiana and Arkansas is a recurrent problem. In the event you suspect ice damage to your forest you should evaluate whether to clear cut and replant, thin or partial cut to rehabilitate, or take no action. Timberlands are a great investment with relatively low liabilities, so manage wisely and you will be well rewarded.

Most hunters I have talked with recently have reported a very good hunting season this past Fall. This month, there is still a little late season deer and duck hunting going on. Squirrel hunting is very popular this month as the leaves are off the trees and the squirrels are easier to spot. The fisherman are also reporting good catches of white perch and catfish. Start scouting early this year as turkey season is just around the corner.

January and February is a good time to evaluate timber management on your property. Land lines should be painted to clarify boundary lines. This will pay rewards well into the future. It defines your property. Your neighbors and any service providers on their land will be aware of it. Accidental timber harvest is reduced because there is a well defined line. A lane or roadway cleared around the perimeter of your property is also a good idea. Your property is easier to access, and ultimately identify early signs of land and timber problems. It also serves as a good fire break and shooting lanes during hunting season

Below is a picture sent to me from Chris Herr.  Chris bought the 80 acre Black Bayou tract in Dorcheat Bottoms earlier this Spring. This is a fine 7 point buck killed on his property.