What role do white-tailed deer play in the successful establishment of forest regeneration?
Large numbers of white-tailed deer have a profound negative impact (through excessive browsing) on the establishment of desirable tree regeneration in much of Pennsylvania. In most cases, deer population levels should be reduced (through increased hunting) to a level of 10 to 15 deer per square mile before, during and after the regeneration harvest. If hunting is impractical or if the heard cannot be effectively controlled, then deer deterrent fences may become necessary to exclude deer from the regeneration site.
