January - March 2013
Responses of Wildlife to Clearcutting and Associated Treatments in the Eastern United States- Effects of Clearcutting on White-Tailed Deer
reprinted from a portion of an extension publication by Clemson University
We begin this review of the literature on clearcutting with white-tailed deer because this species has been thoroughly researched and its needs are perhaps the best known of any game animal in the United States. Clearcuttings have been found to enhance deer habitat in most regions, even in the snowbelt portions of the north central and northeastern states, providing that nearby shelter against cold winter winds is available (Verme 1965, Krefting and Phillips 1970, Newton et al. 1989, Hughes and Fahey 1991).
Most studies indicate that the first few years after clearcutting, deer foods (succulent stems of woody plants, forbs, and grasses) increase to their highest level of abundance and availability (Martin et al. 1955, Halls and Crawford 1960, Schuster and Halls 1963, Ripley and Campbell 1960, Murphy and Ehrenreich 1965, Harlow et al. 1966, Harlow and Downing 1969, Crawford et al. 1975, Hunt et al. 1976, Blair and Brunett 1980, Hurst and Warren 1981, Stransky and Halls 1981, Smeins and Hinton 1987). Other beneficial changes include short-term increases in the nutrient values of deer foods (Thill and Morris 1983, Thill et al. 1990, Hughes and Fahey 1991), larger and heavier twigs (Hughes and Fahey 1991), and in some vegetation types, increases in fruit production of certain shrubs (Harlow et al. 1980).
There are some regional differences in the effects of clearcutting on the duration of choice deer foods. For example, in Maine, where the growing season is short, woody browse remains available to deer up to 9 years (Newton et al. 1989), while plants can grow out of reach of deer by the 4th or 5th growing season in rich cove sites of the Southern Appalachians (Harlow and Downing 1969). In east Texas, Blair and Brunett (1980) reported that browse production was highest 2 years after logging, declining thereafter. Seven years later, forage production had declined by 52% and deer had begun browsing pine needles and other non-preferred species.
Most studies have found that deer use clearcuts throughout the year (Harlow and Downing 1969, Cushwa et al. 1970, Blymer and Mosby 1977). However, Wentworth (1989), Wentworth et al. (1990a, 1990b), Wentworth et al. (1992), and Ford et al. (1993), in the Georgia and North Carolina mountains found little winter use of browse in clearcuts. Since clearcutting removes mature acorn-bearing oaks, these authors contended that clearcutting was detrimental because it deprived deer of a needed winter food source. Harlow and Downing (1969) concluded, however, that since more than 90% of the Southern Appalachians are in timber stands 20 years and older, all relatively devoid of deer forage during the winter, more forage-rich cuttings, not less, would be desirable. They believed that without forest disturbances deer become overly dependent on acorns, a food source that often is unreliable.
Another consideration pointed out by Crawford et al. (1975) is the long period of time between most regeneration cuts. Following canopy closure, a decade or two after clearcutting, the forage supply declines and remains scarce until another regeneration cut is made. To avoid such a feast or famine situation, an even flow of deer foods can be maintained by making clearcuts smaller and more frequent. Periodic thinning or other intermediate disturbances also would be beneficial.
Clearcutting, mainly because of its unsightly appearance, has been singled out by some as an example of the "evils" of logging and timber management. Largely ignored by opponents are the many studies which have shown that clearcutting can be a proper and workable method for regenerating new stands of valuable fast-growing, light loving species and, at the same time, providing habitat benefits to many species of wildlife. We hope this manuscript contributes to a more complete understanding of clearcutting by providing readers sufficient information to draw their own conclusions.