LOL.You really have no idea what you're talking about.Clearcuts are excellent habitat and have the highest carrying capacity of any forest type.The problem is,after about 12 years it turns into pole timber growing out of the deer's reach.When that happens the carrying plummets and that same area will support less than 5 dpsm.It will stay like that for at least 50 years until it starts producing mast and lets some light in for a mid level understory to develop.That's right,mature timber should have browse in the form of a mid level understory.At that time,the carrying capacity will be able to handle more deer.Pa was faced with an even aged stand of timber because the entire northern part of the state was clearcut in the early 1900's.It was great habitat for a while and the deer population exploded.Now they're trying to cut just enough so there's a continual mix of different forest compositions.If they cut too much(more than 1%)than we'll be faced with too much pole timber and low carrying capacities again.

The PGC and DCNR BOTH JUST STARTED DOING CONTROLLED BURNS BUT THEY DON'T DO IT IN PLACE OF CLEARCUTS.The reason they didn't do it before was because the guy starting the fire was liability.Legislation was passed a few years that took thatliability away.Still,it takes a lot of manpower,you have a short window in the spring to do it and weather conditions have to be perfect.

The understory is coming back in many places now that there's less deer.Up until 5 years ago,DCNR HAD TO FENCE EVERY SINGLE timber sale in district 9.They haven't fenced a cut since then and they also took every one of the units in that district out of dmap because they're getting the regeneration they want.Elk state forest cut way back on the number of fences over the past several years but now they're fencing more because the deer herd is increasing.

Again,deer only eat laurel if they have nothing else to eat.

A clearcut will be worthless after 20 years and it will stay that way for another thirty years or so.You need a mix of forest compositions but early succerssional forests will always support more deer.Only certain trees die when they reach about 15 feet.Fire cherry is a good example.It's a highly prefered browse species but eventually dies and lets more light in.