Deer Forage in 13-Year-Old Commercially Thinned and Burned Loblolly Pine Plantations
White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) forage was greatly increased in 2 loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) plantations after they were control burned and commercially thinned at age 13 years. Forage averaged 26 kg/ha in August 1979 (age 12) before treatment and 326 kg/ha in August 1980 (age 13),1 growing season after treatment, and 429 kg/ha in August 1981 (age 14). Deer forage averaged 31 kg/ha in February 1981 and 52 kg/ha in February 1982, which exceeded the 4.5 kg/ha average in 12-year-old untreated plantations. A 46% decline of deer forage in 1 plantation and a 26% decline in the other...
