Seasonal Browsing of Woody Plants by White-Tailed Deer in the Bear Oak Forest Type

The extensive areas occupied by the bear oak forest type present a difficult problem in forest management, the solution of which may be facilitated by utilizing them for the production of game food and cover. The following paper presents the results of a study to determine the seasonal preferences of white-tailed deer in browsing on various woody plants in this type in the "Barrens" of central Pennsylvania. Stress is laid on the importance, in any game management program, of practices that will encourage those species which are consistently used by the deer for winter food.