RE: Pa Game Comm. Overhaul
"Edges are highly preferred habitat for not only the white-tail deer but many other species of wildlife as well. Where their existence is of quality browse species the edges benefit deer by providing good foods that both sustain a higher deer population and a higher fawn recruitment rate. Those factors can be influential in the improvement of the current deer herd health rates where they exist in sufficient quantity and quality. "
And they are not counted asdeer habitat by pgc when speaking of deer per forested square mile. And thats rediculous.
"I not only believe but know that active farmland, provided it is maintained as such, is of great value to the deer during the spring and summer months. I also know that those same lands have little to no value to the deer when they are covered with two of snow for extended periods of time. That is why we have to healthy forest habitats mixed with that farmland to support high deer populations on a year round bases year after year. "
Agreed, but you are simply circumventing the issue. That being that most farmland is not at all considered by pgc.
"It doesn’t matter how mush farmland food is available during the nine or ten months of the spring through fall."
Sure it does.A deer can put on far more body mass and fat in farmland, leading into the winter. Not to mention corn or grain that is "missed"or dropped which deer utilize heavily even later into the year.
Also,this "habitat type" also takes some of the pressure off of the browse throughout at least part of the year, leaving more for winter. Also, the man-made openings, even after being harvested or covered in snow provide much browse in the "edge" habitat that has been created, which doesnt exist in near the amounts in solid blocks of mature or poletimber. Blackberry, greenbriar,and much other quality browse exists because of broken habitat...along the edge, as well as reverting farmland not in use etc. Most Farmland would be better quality deer habitat YEAR ROUND, than solid timber,even if man never planted a single seedonthat farmlandforyears. Also throw in the fact farmland is usually broken into far more "ownerships" than "bigwoods", and that leads to more deer friendly timbering practices.
"If deer don’t have food that other two or three months they die before they can produce the next year’s fawns. Even if they do marginally survive with little food they don’t produce surviving fawns that year. "
And according to pgcs reproduction data, it hasnt been a problem. Andnow that the herd has beenpummeled, it should be about the farthest worry from your mind.