It can be argued that no forest management plan can be considered effective and complete if it has not initiated a timber harvest with 10-15 year period.  The exception to this statement would be regeneration cuts in aspen or jack pine.

The selection cut systems that would normally be applied to the northern hardwood type the woods should be initiated on a  periodic basis.  Ideally, the most intensively managed stand of hardwood could be select cut every 3-5 years.  However, most northern hardwood types in the northern lower peninsula are only 85 years old and usually demonstrate two age groups.  The scheduled entry into these stands every 10 years will attempt to establish the three age system and ultimately a four age system, the output of which will be high grade hardwood saw timber typical of the material shown in this picture.