FOREST MANAGEMEN FOR DEER

Perhaps one of the areas of interest that is growing fastest among deer hunters who own their own property is forest management. Despite the role food plots play in deer management and their well-documented benefits, many landowners are realizing that to maximize the number and quality of deer they produce, they must manage their entire properties. In this article, we hope to share why forest management is important, as well as a few of the strategies that can be used to improve the wooded areas on your land.

REASONS TO CONSIDER FOREST MANAGEMENT

It’s probably no surprise to anyone reading this magazine that providing enough high-quality forage for deer is important. Having access to high-quality nutrition can result in increased body weight, antler growth and doe productivity. Everyone wants bigger and more deer, right? Food plots and supplemental feed are certainly effective, but they are relatively expensive. Additionally, forests encompass most of the average deer properties, and even when supplemental feed is provided, deer continue to forage extensively on native plants. It makes sense, then, that forest management plays