The benefit of sunlight
08-06-2010, 05:12 PM
#1
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2004
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Posts: 200
The benefit of sunlight
I’m going to Cumberland this weekend for the big gun bash and thought id check out a hunting spot Sunday on the way home when I came across this quote from Maryland’s dnr
The Big Savage Trail is now open but the going is rough and recommended for only the most experienced hikers with excellent navigation skills. The ice storm of 2002 and Gypsy Moth defoliations in 2006 and 2007 have ravaged the forest canopy over large areas of the trail, allowing sunlight to proliferate an abundance of vegetative growth on the forest floor thus obscuring the trail in many locations. Volunteer efforts are underway to clear these overgrown sections but until the forest canopy reestablishes itself at some point in the future keeping the trail open will continue to be a challenge
.
Now Maryland has nowhere near the number of hunters we have here in PA. There deer numbers are way above ours today yet with those higher numbers they have fantastic regeneration, at least good enough that trails have become overgrown and warnings need to be posted.
Here in my area on the Gallitzin state forest dcnr has dmap’d the area for 6 years (since dmap started). we have been in herd reduction for 10 and we are still fencing our cuts. The cut planned for next year will also be fenced. This area used to get hammered in rifle the area surrounding the forest is mostly all open to hunting and here we fence cuts. A pellet count was done on Gallitzin SF and it showed very low deer numbers so why fence and deprive the few remaining deer the vegetation. And to add to that why cut all this land within the last few years why not stager the cuts over a time so the forest is never all in the same stage of growth. Here in pa we blame the deer but this quote clearly shows what good a little sunlight will do.
The Big Savage Trail is now open but the going is rough and recommended for only the most experienced hikers with excellent navigation skills. The ice storm of 2002 and Gypsy Moth defoliations in 2006 and 2007 have ravaged the forest canopy over large areas of the trail, allowing sunlight to proliferate an abundance of vegetative growth on the forest floor thus obscuring the trail in many locations. Volunteer efforts are underway to clear these overgrown sections but until the forest canopy reestablishes itself at some point in the future keeping the trail open will continue to be a challenge
.
Now Maryland has nowhere near the number of hunters we have here in PA. There deer numbers are way above ours today yet with those higher numbers they have fantastic regeneration, at least good enough that trails have become overgrown and warnings need to be posted.
Here in my area on the Gallitzin state forest dcnr has dmap’d the area for 6 years (since dmap started). we have been in herd reduction for 10 and we are still fencing our cuts. The cut planned for next year will also be fenced. This area used to get hammered in rifle the area surrounding the forest is mostly all open to hunting and here we fence cuts. A pellet count was done on Gallitzin SF and it showed very low deer numbers so why fence and deprive the few remaining deer the vegetation. And to add to that why cut all this land within the last few years why not stager the cuts over a time so the forest is never all in the same stage of growth. Here in pa we blame the deer but this quote clearly shows what good a little sunlight will do.
08-07-2010, 03:44 AM
#3
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2004
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Posts: 200
but until the forest canopy reestablishes itself at some point in the future keeping the trail open will continue to be a challenge
08-09-2010, 02:37 AM
#5
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location:
Posts: 200
where else was the blame placed by you, dcnr, pgc or any other supporter. i dont recall one post from yoy or one press release from either agency addressing any other habat issue other than deer.
Last edited by bowhunter2117; 08-09-2010 at 03:02 AM.
08-09-2010, 11:43 AM
#6
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,262
Then you have a very selective memory.Invasive species and allowing enough light to get the regenetation of many species is mentioned in almost every single DMAP report from DCNR.Deer are only one part of the problem but it's one of the biggest problems because decades of overbrowsing has impacted the habitat so severly.Other issues still have to be addressed but addressing the deer issue was the most important thing.By the way,not all tree species need full sunlight.There should be a mid level canopy beneath a full canopy.
08-09-2010, 12:52 PM
#7
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 2,262
Here you go.
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry.../invasive.aspx
No one has ever placed all the blame on the deer.
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/forestry.../invasive.aspx
No one has ever placed all the blame on the deer.
