Deer Exclosure

[ACEarcher]

In my travels I've come across some deer exclosures on various properties. I just wanted to post a few pics of one and explain them to you all. Deer exclosures are a great example of what an area would look like if deer couldn't get too it.

These particular exclosures are a 7 acre and 4 acre plots. They have 10' tall deer fencing so they can make it in (unless the gates are open). Before exclosing the entire area the land owner did a selective harvest timber cut. He left only particular trees he wanted to grow on his land. These 2 exclosures are about 7 yrs old. The first sign of 1st generation growth started about only a year after the exclosure. You can basically tell that their is no browse line because the deer can't get to it. The majority of the re growth is coming back as white, red oaks, Ash, cherry, Beech, and walnut. Provided he's been keeping all the iron wood in check. Since these areas are enclosed the flora and funa are coming back in amazing time. Take notice to how little grows right up till the fence. This is prime example of the impact deer take on the forest ecosystem. If you would like to have your own exclosure you would be suprised how many gov. programs can help you. Most of this fencing he has here he didn't have to pay a penny for. Not to mention they really funnel the deer during hunting season.

[mudmarlin70]

Good stuff Adam and absolutely true. The place I'm snaring hogs right now is like that. Fully enclosed in deer fencing. The wooded section inside the fence is probly seven years protected now and thick as can be in upcoming hardwood. Just outside the fence....six inches outside the fence in clear understory, all due to browsing. And that area is an area I DONT consider overrun at all.

[ACEarcher]

Mud it really is something. A lot of people don't grasp this untill you show them pictures or take them there. Unfortunitly those pics are from early March. I still don't think you can fully get how thick it was in there by the picture without folage on. If you look close in the last two pic you can really see how much the forest changes from a distance. I was about 20-30 yds from the exclosure when I took those two pics. Up untill the exclosure you can see clearly through the forest, but when you see all that thick stuff in the background thats the exclosure.

[ub1243]

on my place we are suposed to have the loggers take white cedar out. then put in a exclosure for the regeneration. i can't wait to see how it turns out. right now in one of the cedar swamps there is nothing for under story. almost clean, just a few moss areas and a little fern.
i tried to start honey suckle at this place before, nothing left.
and i don't have high deer numbers, well, higher then all surounding areas. but not too high.