Best time to cut to encourage stump sprouting

[dougtrr2]

I have a small forest, less that 10 acres.  Due to a near miss by a tornado three years ago I have a number of small saplings that got bent over and hooked into other trees.  The bends are severe and unrecoverable.  What is the best time of year to cut these trees to encourage stump sprouting?  I am thinking late February.  I would at some point select the best sprout and keep the rest pruned back.  

My forest is a mix of trees, mainly shagbark hickory, oak and walnut.  It seems like rock elm is the majority of trees that are snagged.

Doug in SW IA

[Ron Scott]

February should be a good time before the spring sap flow.

[dougtrr2]

Thanks, that is when I was leaning towards.

Doug in SW IA

[Magicman]

Land management after logging in Ask The Forester

Ron makes a good point in 2.