 Well-maintained roads offer more than smooth rides and easier game retrieval. They give you better access to put good land management practices into action. If you use rotational burning to promote food and cover, they act as fire breaks, protecting your land and your neighbor's land. They can mean increased property values, allowing buyers to navigate the tract with ease, or even increased timber marketability. Good road systems let you better monitor your property for insect damage and wind throw. Use a roadstone base on high traffic areas to increase the road's lifespan. Drain water to shoulders by crowning the road surface and installing water bars on inclines. Place culverts at drains or streams as needed. Contact your extension office or State Forestry Commission before working near streams to ensure you use best management practices.