Forage Yields in Turkey Hill Wilderness in East Texas for White-tailed Deer
Keywords:
Browse, forage preference, utilization, stockingAbstract
Wilderness areas are often considered quality areas where natural processes occur without human activity. It is often assumed that these unmanaged areas will provide and support quality wildlife habitat. The objective of this study was to evaluate the forage production and stocking potential of an unmanaged wilderness area in east Texas. Four different community types were evaluated for forage yield, forage availability, and browse utilization for whit-tailed deer. Results show that although a diversity of forage yields were found in the spring, summer forage yield failed to differentiate in the summer. Availability also differed between community types, but utilization appears to be lower than what could be supported in this area.
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