We recently purchased a chopper/aerator to improve the browse for deer on our place.  We hope to do about 200 to 300 acres a year for the next 5 years or so.

I doubt this place has ever seen one of these machines, but much of the ranch has been chained at one time or another in the past 50 years.  We sometimes find old anchor chains (some say they are remnants of anchor chains that were sold after the Second World War) and rusting wire cables in the brush.

The theory behind rollerchopping is that breaking down the mature brush into new growth, disturbing the soil, and letting sunlight hit the ground will make more palatable browse available for the deer in areas where little forage exists.

We are making blocks or strips of rollerchopped area with plenty of brush and motts for cover in the areas worked.  We fill it about half way full of water so it can penetrate the soil and knock down the brush.

I look forward to seeing what will happen after a decent rain on these areas.