Influence of Deer Hunting and Residual Stand Structure on Tree Regeneration in Deciduous Forests

Abstract

ABSTRACTChronically overabundant white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) populations have made it difficult to regenerate desirable woody species throughout much of their range in the eastern United States and southern Canada. Neither silvicultural prescriptions nor deer management alone have resulted in successful forest regeneration. We tallied woody stems (≥1 m tall, <10 cm diameter) on 62 hunted and 46 nonhunted forest stands throughout Connecticut, USA, during autumn 2015 to spring 2018; all stands had a timber regeneration harvest from 2–12 years prior to our study (2003–2016). Our objective was to examine the influence of the combination of deer management and residual stand structure on woody regeneration diversity, density, and composition. After accounting for the influence of stand structures over a range of residual basal areas from 0–23 m2/ha, we found that deer had a negative effect on regeneration diversity, density, and species composition. Moreover, we found that the combination of state‐regulated deer hunting and forest‐overstory removal resulted in greater woody‐plant regeneration rates with increased diversity. Stem densities of oak–hickory (Quercus spp.–Carya spp.), maple (Acer spp.), and minor species, as well as combined species, were greater in hunted versus nonhunted stands, and in clearcuts as opposed to 2‐aged and shelterwood stands. American beech (Fagus grandifolia) and shrub species did not differ in stem density regardless of hunting or treatment prescription. Our study indicates that for properties where the management goal is to create dense vegetation with high tree, shrub, and herbaceous species diversity, managers should both encourage hunting to reduce pressure on browse‐sensitive species and leave as few postharvest residual trees as possible to maximize growing space for regeneration. A lack of deer harvest and overstory removal in southern New England resulted in low diversity vegetation dominated by lesser preferred species such as birch (Betula spp.) or American beech. The use of hunting as a tool to relieve browsing pressure will improve both woody and herbaceous plant regeneration where light is not limited. © 2020 The Wildlife Society.