To many deer?

[PickettSFHunter]

I cut several hundred "junk" trees in this area last winter. At the end of Summer, they all looked exactly like this. A shoot would come up, get ate off, another would come up, get ate off, and on and on. Theres no way saplings can even regenerate in this. Im afraid my new 20 acre cut coming up wont even get much regeneration besides species deer dont like that well. I tried to do all I could by taking does but we are severely limited in this county. I took all I could in bow, Dad took all he could in bow, and we had friends over to kill some. We ended up taking 7 does and 1 buck but I feel we still have to many deer with the limitations placed on the area. 2 does can be taken in bow and 1 in ML. Heres to another plug for more antlerless oppurtunities in Morgan Co.

 

[booche]

Why don't you try putting a chicken wire cage around the plants you want to grow. That way the deer can't get to the plants as easy.

 

[jeff034fun]

mp me illcome help withthe does

 

[BSK]

Why don't you try putting a chicken wire cage around the plants you want to grow. That way the deer can't get to the plants as easy.

You can chickenwire an entire timber cut. The answer is exactly what smstone22 suggested, kill more deer (and yes smstone22, that is clear sign you have too many deer).

 

[Football Hunter]

Hopefully a wet warm spring will let the regrowth grow to fast for em to eat?

 

[BSK]

Hopefully a wet warm spring will let the regrowth grow to fast for em to eat?

Too many deer can out-eat any growth rate. A single deer requires at least a ton of dry-weight food per year. If you've ever clipped, dried and weighed browse, you will know just how much plant material it takes to make up 2,000 lbs.

 

[Football Hunter]

Hopefully a wet warm spring will let the regrowth grow to fast for em to eat?

Too many deer can out-eat any growth rate. A single deer requires at least a ton of dry-weight food per year. If you've ever clipped, dried and weighed browse, you will know just how much plant material it takes to make up 2,000 lbs.

Will be interesting to see how my stumps regrowth goes this spring,plenty of deer,already noticed they are using the tops for bedding cover.

 

[BSK]

Will be interesting to see how my stumps regrowth goes this spring,plenty of deer,already noticed they are using the tops for bedding cover.

Back when I first implemented our habitat management plan, our first timber cut was 6 acres. The rest of the property was all mid-age to mature hardwoods. With an estimated deer density of only 12 deer per square mile, the deer still ate every single oak stump sprout. We cut a white and red oak forest and got a poplar, sycamore and elm forest in return. :mad:

It was that experience that taught me if you are going to cut timber, cut a considerable number of acres at once (or have other food sources available). Otherwise, you will get little regeneration of preferred oaks.

 

[BowGuy84]

Will be interesting to see how my stumps regrowth goes this spring,plenty of deer,already noticed they are using the tops for bedding cover.

Back when I first implemented our habitat management plan, our first timber cut was 6 acres. The rest of the property was all mid-age to mature hardwoods. With an estimated deer density of only 12 deer per square mile, the deer still ate every single oak stump sprout. We cut a white and red oak forest and got a poplar, sycamore and elm forest in return. :mad:

It was that experience that taught me if you are going to cut timber, cut a considerable number of acres at once (or have other food sources available). Otherwise, you will get little regeneration of preferred oaks.

I feel this happened in my bowls, but not on the ridges...guess the deer browsed more down low on my 104 acres where they bedded than where they traveled. Got some good oaks up top, nothing but tulup poplars and beach in the bottoms.

 

[BSK]

BowGuy84,

That differential habitat may be due to deer browse pressure or it may be a natural occurance. It's very interesing to inspect a forest that was clear-cut 40 to 50 years ago, before there were any deer to impact regrowth. You will still find very differential species composition of the regrown forest based on elevation and sun aspect (which way a slope faces). High on south-facing slopes that are exposed to direct sunlight during hot, dry summers will be dominated by sourwood, hickory and mountain chestnut oak. The upper reaches of north-facing slopes will be where your best stands of white and red oak establish themselves. Low in valleys where soil moisture is best, but sunlight is limited will be dominated by poplar and beech.

Slope aspect and elevation produce very different soil moisture and sunlight characteristics, which in turn alters what species of tree grow best and eventually dominate the location.

 

[PickettSFHunter]

If anyone is interested in checking out what types of trees different areas on their property are likely to be growing or be regenerating in, I would recommend checking out "web soil survey". That can tell you alot.

 

[BSK]

If anyone is interested in checking out what types of trees different areas on their property are likely to be growing or be regenerating in, I would recommend checking out "web soil survey". That can tell you alot.

Yup, comparing soil type and slope aspect will give you a very good idea what habitat and species composition will be growing there.

 

[BSK]

smstone22,

Are you a QDMA member? I ask because the article in this issue of Quality Whitetails concerning energy and protein needs in deer would probably make a lot of sense considering the heavy browse pressure you are seeing.

 

[Boone 58]

Deer are with maples like a woman is with Chocolate....yuuummmmm :D

 

[PickettSFHunter]

smstone22,

Are you a QDMA member? I ask because the article in this issue of Quality Whitetails concerning energy and protein needs in deer would probably make a lot of sense considering the heavy browse pressure you are seeing.

Yes sir I am just havent been back to where the magazine gets shipped yet for a bit. Cant wait to read it though.