Deer Forage In A Burned And Burned-Thinned Pine Plantation

Total deer (Odocoileus virginianus) forage (grass, forb, vine, woody) in August was significantly (P < 0.05) greater on burned (481 kg/ha) and burned-thinned (554 kg/ha) than on untreated plots (141 kg/ha) in an 8-9 year old loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) plantation. Total deer forage also was significantly greater on burned (57 kg/ha) and burned-thinned (53 kg/ha) than untreated plots (26 kg/ha) in February, 1979 and 1980. Total deer forage on burned plots declined 52 percent in August and 50 percent in February in the second year after treatment. The decline was only 18 percent (August) and 24 percent (February) on the burned-thinned plots.