Replanting Project for Mule Deer in the Okanogan

[DOUBLELUNG]

Another thing I've heard that can be beneficial for deer is prune the apical meristem of sage brush. This encourages lateral, rather than vertical, growth, in turn creating more browse that deer can reach as well as increasing security cover. Can anyone comment on this at all?

I rarely see eastern WA mule deer feeding on sagebrush, though they use it extensively for cover and pruning would hasten lateral spreading.  There have been bitterbrush pruning projects in Chelan County to promote exactly the outcome you describe.  I have planted cedars for browse, fenced out to protect them as seedlings; the intent was to allow them to establish without browsing pressure, then top them at 6' height for lateral growth to promote available browse for blacktails.

[cougforester]

Another thing I've heard that can be beneficial for deer is prune the apical meristem of sage brush. This encourages lateral, rather than vertical, growth, in turn creating more browse that deer can reach as well as increasing security cover. Can anyone comment on this at all?

I rarely see eastern WA mule deer feeding on sagebrush, though they use it extensively for cover and pruning would hasten lateral spreading.  There have been bitterbrush pruning projects in Chelan County to promote exactly the outcome you describe.  I have planted cedars for browse, fenced out to protect them as seedlings; the intent was to allow them to establish without browsing pressure, then top them at 6' height for lateral growth to promote available browse for blacktails.

Sorry, bitter brush is what I meant. Whoopsy. Good to hear that's been done before though

[Shannon]

I've got some good advice from the sources recommended by this thread and PM's. I'll keep you posted on how it goes. I'm going to take several photo's from the same spot every year to compare over the years. Should be an interesting project.

[Claymore15]

I was just talking to my Dad (he is in his eighties) about this, he was telling me that in the late 30's early 40's the game department would give them little packets of seeds, with every tag they sold with some little saying on it, about when your sitting on your stand, plant these seeds for the deer.  That was a pro-active department, back then.

[MADMAX]

 

reminds me of weyerhaeuser in the 80s when they used to give out tree damage maps to concentrate your hunting areas for elk

great idea on the seeds BTW