As promised I made the trip over to Nissan's Moore Brdige area  today instead of later...

and here's my report on the journey...
ENJOY..

MOORE BRIDGE HABITAT TRIP  

--Last edited by Dr Trout on 2008-06-16 17:08:13 --

Great report Doc!!  Enjoyed it and glad to see Mr. blackie stayed away!

Yeah I saw no signs of bear activity...
I would have liked to have seen a nice track of even some scat.. but I saw nothing...that was a little dissappointing.. and NOT expected...  

--Last edited by Dr Trout on 2008-06-16 23:35:39 --

Here is  some thing else to consider when thinkiing about improving the habitat by lowering the deer herd and thus increasing re-generation...

Increased re-generation also is begining to show a slight problem in some areas for the PGC and especially forestry.

Some species of UN-desirable plants are beginning to re-appear in the forest...

Last year this was pointed out on the SGL#44 tour... and we were shown a couple varieties that are appearing there...

Balancing the deer herd and habitat for the best benefit for all is not an easy task, but it is a  task I have faith the PGC can combat and win...

Good report Doc. It has been a long time since I hiked over that ground and it brings back a longing to make a trip back down to that area again.

The first shrub you didn’t know appears to be a witch hazel and the other appears to be an American beech though both were just fuzzy enough I couldn’t be 100% positive. If the second one was a beech you are correct that it is probably there because deer don’t eat it. Or at least they don’t unless they are near starvation then they will until they die of starvation with a stomach full of it.

Dick Bodenhorn

Thanks Dick..

I thought the first was witch hazel...



I had my little DCNR Common Trees Book along
but the second one --  I'm still not sure of

beech,ash,and birch still confused me terribly..

I do know there was alot of it growing in the open but that was about all that appeared to be growing..besides ferns..

I did not see any striped maple which is #1 in re-growth around here..

no tulip or cucumber trees or sprouts either.

at the rate of re-growth it will never get much more deer than those it has now and if there is no better growth in time the deer there now will leave too..............

Doc,

That actually looks like a gray fox track to me they are easly mistaken for cat.  I cant tell for sure but the habit look good enough to have a few Grays in the area.  I could tell for sure if you have a clearer pic.

Only photo I have... but it would still be awful small for a fox... that thing was about the size of a nickel.... ??

that was pry a gray fox pup.  the adult prints are only about a 50 cent piece.  

here is a link that shows a few tracks.

http://www.bear-tracker.com/grayfox.html  

--Last edited by Flyfisher on 2008-06-17 09:59:41 --

Thanks for the link.. I had forgotten about her website...

I can say this much ..

the tracks I saw look almost exactly like the ones she is using for her background..

trail was pretty much one after another in a straight line...

Interesting that Nissan (Frank1's new buddy) has no comments about his hunting area...

Even after saying there were few deer there due to HR and too many doe tags ?????????

Could it be the photos of no food sources and not much security for deer  have him re-thinking his position on the cause for the "lack of deer" ???????

Or could it be the deer sign and actual sightings I showed have him re-thinking his position ????

Quote :

Dr Trout wrote : Interesting that Nissan (Frank1's new buddy) has no comments about his hunting area... Could it be the photos of no food sources and not much security for deer  have him re-thinking his position on the cause for the "lack of deer" ??????? Or could it be the deer sign and actual sightings I showed have him re-thinking his position ????

Decisions, decisions.....

Doc & dpms,

NO NO NO....I am NOT rethinking my position nor am I about to take back anything I've posted about too few deer...at least not yet! Remember....you guys and especially RSB keeping saying that things will get better "in time". I hope I live long enough to see it.

I appreciate Doc's report, but I am in the process of showing and telling "the rest of the story"

I've taken some photos that show a very different view of my hunting area and am trying to figure out how to share them. As I told Doc in a private email as soon as I get things arranged I will let you all know and post that link here for all to see.

Doc...you done a nice job with your link and the text that you included. Please be patient until I get things figured out.

I never said I was "Frank1" new best friend. It was just obvious to me that he had the facts on his side. I don't know "Frank1", but do admit that we probably have a lot in common. Same goes for Doc.

Nissan

Frank1 one did nothing but take the facts and interperate them to his point of view he only used  information that was on his side of the argement, and refused to agree with or us any information that was for the other side. I have a funny feeling that there will be good reason that shows why there are no deer in your hunting area.  

--Last edited by Dr Trout on 2008-06-19 18:28:11 --

Frank is no longer here so we can drop that

as for NIssan.. yes he wrote and he did return himself ato the area i was at.. and he saw 4 deer..
so we'll be patient for the photos  

To us older guys this internet stuff does NOT come easy !!!

One suggestion to Nissan after including one photo in his E-mail...

you need to set your camera to take smaller photos... that will help to make working with them easier

Shippen Run,

After Doc's report  (Moore Bridge Habitat) I went into the area  that I've been hunting. I took several photos in an attempt to show the habitat in that area.

My photos show open woods, areas that were clear cut about 7 or 8 years ago, and even some signs of deer browsing. I saw 4 deer in about 2 hours, but only managed to get one good photo. I saw a few tracks, but would not agree with Doc about 10 dpsm.

I think this area can support far more deer than are present. The clear cuts show signs of, IMHO, very good regeneration and do not appear to be over browsed.

I also think this area provides excellent cover for deer.

Thanks for looking at my photos and I'll be looking forward to reading anyone's comments.

Nissan

The oak growth looks great... most of that will survive and mature  .. BUT it will not produce a food source (mast crop) for deer for several more years.... the growth along the roads is typical... it's what's back from the road several hundred yards that really counts

Plus your photos show what many are begining to realize... fewer deer in the area means better re-generation...

As for those really thick areas ... I'd have to see them to ID what is grwowng there... there are MANY areas around my home that look just like that.. BUT what is growing is not a preferred species and as a result you end up with a thicket of growth that is good for only providing a hiding place for deer once the hunting pressure starts...

they go in and DON'T COME OUT....



As for my GUESS at 10 dpsm...

Let's look at what you saw.... at best in two hours you may have walked the perimiter of a square mile and saw 4 deer.... how many more do you think were INSIDE that 1 square mile..
There's a lot of acres in a square mile

I'd say at least another 8 and that's  in addition to what you saw... which would mean 12 dpsm.

You did not say BUCK  so I assume you did not see a male... with 4 doe spotted I am positive there is at least a buck or two around too....

Knowing you saw 4 how many would YOU say were in that square mile.. just those 4 ????  

--Last edited by Dr Trout on 2008-06-25 14:44:22 --

You also showed some great shots of serious browsing from deer.... it would be interesting to go back in later august and see how much of what you showed being eaten NOW  is all gone then....

Over all the area looks alright habitat wise.  The forested picture lookes like it is mostly pole timber with little ground cover and not much good for deer.  

I say give it 5 years to 10 years and you will have a lot better hunting area.  All in all it might support more than the 10 dpsm but I don't think it would support more than that very long.  

Looks like great area for Gray fox and bobcats.