Biology And Management Of White-tailed Deer In Alabama

SPATIAL ARRANGEMENT OF HABITAT
COMPONENTS
The best deer habitat is where all habitat components are found
in close proximity to one another. The largest field of lush deer forage
is of little use if escape cover is not available nearby. In human terms,
one can envision a house with the bedrooms, bathrooms, and living quarters
all located in a small, easily accessed area. However, if the kitchen
(and all the food) is located across the street, the occupants have a very
inefficient and undesirable living arrangement. For the deer manager,
good habitat management consists of providing a diversity of readily
accessible habitat types and then duplicating this arrangement multiple
times over a given area.
THE IMPORTANCE OF EDGE
Creating good deer habitat often involves creating edge. Edge
is an area where one or more
different habitat types come
together. It can be an area
where a mature forest or pine
plantation stops and an open
field begins. Edge also can be
more subtle than the sharp
delineation between timber
and open land. An area of
transition where bottomland
hardwoods gradually give rise
to a mixed pine-hardwood
Edge areas often provide enhanced
plant diversity and excellent foraging
areas for deer and other wildlife
species. Photo by Stan Stewart.
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