Fall Controlled Burns: Managing Sweetgum & Improving Wildlife Habitat
CHIPPER GIBBES | PRINCIPAL BROKER
VIDEO SUMMARY
Fall Controlled Burns: A Smart Land Management Tool
October is an excellent time to implement controlled burns on your property. As Chipper Gibbes with SWAPA Land explains, a dry fall season creates ideal conditions for a safe, effective burn—especially if you’ve already wrapped up planting your fall food plots or haven’t started yet.
When the woods are dry and weather conditions line up, prescribed fire can help knock back sweetgum encroachment and other woody plant growth that competes with native vegetation. A well-timed fall burn can also stimulate new plant growth that provides excellent food and cover for deer and turkeys, making it an essential part of your wildlife habitat management plan.
Key Steps for a Safe & Effective Burn
✅ Check for local burn bans before lighting any fires.
🪵 Establish a solid fire lane with equipment like a bulldozer or disk.
📝 Make a burn plan, map out your area, and secure a burn permit.
📞 Notify your local sheriff’s department so they’re aware when calls come in about smoke.
🔥 Start small if you’re new to burning—Chipper’s example is just a one-acre burn.
This simple, well-planned approach allows landowners to improve habitat, manage unwanted vegetation, and prepare the landscape for better hunting and stewardship opportunities year-round.
Why Fall Burns Work So Well
Reduces invasive woody vegetation like sweetgum
Promotes beneficial forbs and grasses favored by wildlife
Improves visibility and access for hunting
Prepares the land for future habitat enhancements
Whether you’re maintaining timber stands or managing wildlife habitat in Mississippi, fall controlled burns can be one of the most cost-effective tools in your land management toolbox.
Partner with SWAPA Land
At SWAPA Land, we help landowners manage and improve their properties by focusing on what matters most: Soil, Water, Air, Plants, and Animals. Whether you’re interested in improving wildlife habitat, restoring native vegetation, or buying and selling land, our team can help guide you every step of the way.
FULL TRANSCRIPT
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[00:00:00:00 - 00:00:17:15] Chipper Gibbes
Hey, everybody, it's Chipper Gibbes with SWAPA Land. I want to take an opportunity to tell everybody that October is a great time to do some controlled burns if you have time. And if you're done with your food plots—or if you haven’t started your food plots yet—you know, we’ve had a dry fall and it’s perfect for burning.
[00:00:17:18 - 00:00:36:17] Chipper Gibbes
The woods are plenty dry. You just want to make sure that there are no burn bans in place where you're located. And obviously, make sure you have a way to set up a really good fire lane. But if you have sweetgum encroachment or any other kind of woody-type plants that are growing in your woods, this is a great time to knock that back.
[00:00:36:17 - 00:01:00:21] Chipper Gibbes
The fall burns really do a good job of controlling that kind of stuff. It also promotes some really good plants that deer and turkeys like. Always make a burn plan, map everything out, and get a burn permit. Let the local sheriff's department know that you're burning. So when people see smoke and they call it in, they'll know that there's a burn permit pulled for that location.
[00:01:00:21 - 00:01:17:01] Chipper Gibbes
Lat/long, and it usually will work out just fine. And if you're not used to it, don't do a very big one. This is only a one-acre burn right here. I had a little bit of time this afternoon, jumped on a bulldozer, and freshened up a fire lane right around it, and it just worked out perfectly.
[00:01:17:03 - 00:01:24:02] Chipper Gibbes
I'm going to get it done before the cutoff time. Anyway, I thought you might enjoy that. Thanks.
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CHIPPER GIBBES | PRINCIPAL BROKER
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