Effects of herbicides and burning on overstory defoliation and deer forage production: M.W. Thompson, M.G. Shaw, R.W. Umber, J.E. Skeen & R.E. Thackston, Wildlife Society Bulletin, 19(2), 1991, pp 163–170

Abstract

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) have always been a major wildlife resource of the oak/hickory forests in northeastern Oklahoma. Although deer undoubtedly played a key role in the settlement of the Ozark Highlands region, by 1917 overexploitation had virtually eliminated them from most of their range. From the time that deer were extirpated until they were restocked, farming practices, cattle grazing, logging, and wildfires caused enough ecological disturbance to create ideal deer habitat (Lindzey 1951). Enactment of game laws and abundant habitat resulted in rapid expansion of the population following restocking, and by the early 1970's, carrying capacity in much of the region had been exceeded. During this time, forest succession, overbrowsing by deer, and fire suppression led to a closed canopy forest with little forage available. Poor habitat conditions were reflected in low yearling buck body weights, poor antler development, and reduced fawn production. The recreational and economic benefits realized from the deer resource coupled with increasing requests by landowners for information on deer habitat improvement under-