Growing season burns a natural ecological process

If you see or smell smoke near one of the South Carolina DNR’s heritage preserves or wildlife management areas this spring and summer, it may be coming from a prescribed fire. Prescribed burns (also called controlled burns) are generally conducted in the dormant season, mostly in late winter and very early spring. But periodic burns in the growing season can improve habitat in ways dormant season burns cannot. Growing-season burns, which are conducted after the new leaves appear in the spring, are much more effective in controlling undesirable hardwoods, and are key in restoring and maintaining the herbaceous vegetation so crucial to brood-rearing for species like bobwhite quail and wild turkey.