Habitat Management
Whitetail Nutritional Needs
Improving the nutrition available to a deer herd is another important
component of QDM. The diet of a healthy herd should contain 12-18
percent protein and adequate levels of calcium, phosphorous, and
other important nutrients. Although whitetails can maintain themselves
on lower quality diets, antler development, body growth, and reproductive
success suffer. Fortunately, several techniques are available
to increase nutrition to desirable levels. Three common practices
include natural vegetation management, food plots, and supplemental
feeding.
Natural Vegetation Management
Natural vegetation includes all plant species, both native and
introduced, on a property. Because these species account for most
of a deer's diet, the most desirable species should be widely
available and abundant. While it is possible to plant certain
desirable native species, it is more economical and beneficial
to manipulate the habitat to encourage desirable species and deter
undesirable ones. Habitat management techniques may include prescribed
burning, mowing, discing, fertilizing, and the use of selective
herbicides. Determining the best technique or combination of techniques
for your area depends on property location, property size, site
quality, existing vegetation, management goals, available equipment,
and financial resources. Therefore, we recommend you seek advice
from a wildlife or forestry professional before undertaking any
habitat management program.
Food Plots
When properly established and maintained, food plots are a very
beneficial habitat management practice. Food plots include all
plant species planted in an agricultural manner to increase the
quantity and/or quality of forage available to deer. While the
common question is what's best to plant for my deer herd?, the
answer is rarely as simple. There are no "magic beans"
that fulfill the dietary needs of whitetails on a year-round basis.
Determining which species or groups of species to plant depends
on many factors.
The first step in a food plot program
is to determine the location, size, shape, distribution, and total
acreage of food plots needed. Selecting sites with the best soil
characteristics is very important and a county soil map (available
from the Natural Resources Conservation Service) can be a great
help. Recent research suggests that as little as one percent of
a property planted in high quality, year-round food plots can
measurably improve the overall condition of a deer herd. A more
aggressive goal would be three to five percent. Food plots should
be between a half and three acres in size, irregularly shaped,
and evenly distributed throughout a property. Small plots (1/4-1/2
acre) are more difficult to manage and more vulnerable to overbrowsing.
The second step is to conduct a soil
test. For a nominal cost, the soil test will provide a detailed
summary of the soil pH (acidity level) and current nutrient levels.
Without this knowledge, it is impossible to know how much lime
and/or fertilizer must be added to maximize yields.
The third step is to decide whether
to plant annuals or perennials or a combination of both. Annuals
grow for a single season only, whereas perennials may grow for
five years or longer. Annuals are easier to grow, but typically
must be replanted annually which increases the cost and labor
requirements. Perennials require periodic mowing, fertilizing,
and weed control. However, when planted and managed correctly,
they generally produce more total forage and are more cost effective
than annual plantings.
A final consideration is whether to
plant cool-season forages, warm-season forages, or both. Cool-season
forages grow best from fall through spring while warm-season forages
grow during the late spring and summer months. Many hunters plant
cool-season food plots to increase hunting success during the
fall. Fall food plots also increase opportunities for hunters
to view deer for extended periods; thereby, increasing harvest
selectivity.
Cool-season forages provide useful
nutrition during the fall and early spring, but typically not
during mid- to late-summer when does are raising fawns and bucks
are growing antlers. As such, in many areas, both warm- and cool-season
forages should be planted to ensure year-round forage availability
and nutrition.
Supplemental Feeding
Supplemental feeding is the practice through which bulk feeds
such as corn, soybeans, or commercial deer pellets are provided
to deer in large quantities throughout the year or during specific
stress periods. This practice differs from baiting in that the
primary emphasis is to improve deer health and not simply to increase
deer density or harvest opportunities.
In some portions of the whitetail's
range, inadequate rainfall, poor soils, or landowner constraints
prevent hunters from undertaking natural vegetation management
programs or establishing high quality food plots. In such cases
(and where legal), supplemental feeding provides a reliable means
of improving nutrition available to deer. However, this practice
is more costly than other management techniques as well as more
time and labor intensive. In addition, supplemental feeding is
highly controversial among wildlife professionals because it has
been linked to the transmission of certain diseases and parasites,
some of which have human health implications. As such, supplemental
feeding programs should not be implemented in areas with disease
concerns and considered carefully before implementing in other
areas.
