Originally Posted by
DougE
You shouldn't be able to get a clear shot at a deer in a northern hardwoods stand beyond 100 yards.Northern harwoods(not oak/hickory)have a lot of shade tolerant species that will grow(be it slower)under a mature manopy.Oak is different,Oak does not grow well under a mature canopy so you shouldn't expect good oak regeneration under a mature canopy.You have to remember though,only about 40% of our forests are oak/hickory.
In an exclosure you mentioned in the past that had a few deer trapped inside...approx 4, which translated to a comparable effect of a DD of 19dpsm, you claimed they had browsed all the preffered species down to nothing. If a reasonable DD of 19 dpsm can completely ravage an understory in a recent timber cut...what hope does the future hold for pole timber forests with a sparse understory? Will we be forced to endure single digit DD indefinitely, in the name of biodiversty and valuable lumber commodities? Many of the DMP supporters now, only support the plan because they were led to believe that HR is a temporary measure that will fade away when the habitat recovers sufficiently, yet examples like your exclosure aren't painting a portrait of a bright future, I'm afraid.