Whitetail Biology and Management

	I have 40 acres comprised of about 20 acres of cedar swamp and the other 20 acres of clear cut poplars/aspens which provide great bedding for deer. I would like to cut about 1/2 acres out of the cedar swamp to plant a food plot. The soil is quite acidic there. Any suggestions on what I should plant that will do well in these conditions? This area may be semi shaded due to the thick cedar swamp. This area is more of a wintering zone, however, I'm trying to keep more deer around here during the bow seasons. I look forward to your response. - Steve 06/22/2004, ID=2352
	Steve: I'd give serious consideration on reversing your idea of harvesting your cedar swamp and creating a food plot within the popular stand. Although food plots within a swamp is doable, raising the pH within the swamp will most likely be extensive and have to be done on a regular basis. Additionally, any significant amounts of precipitation could drown your food plot. These cedar swamps are also great wintering areas that deer use for thermal and screening cover. If you are still determined to harvest the cedar swamp, I'd suggest "select cutting" the area. By taking out certain trees, this will allow sunlight to reach the forest floor. Thus, food plots within this area may not be needed because the seed source has never had the sunlight to grow. Thus, by simply cutting some select trees you'll be creating a food plot . . . without ever even planting a seed. Letting Mother Nature regenerating herself is a wonderful management option, which is something I always do this first. And by the way, it's a lot cheaper and saves a lot of time and labor.

	I bowhunt on 43 acres in the hill country southwest of Austin Tx and want to plant some food plots on thin soil that is above underlying rock. I can till the ground easier than disking it-I hope anyways. Should I try to incorporate a blend of loam or sand along with compost or is that just for lawns? Our area around Austin for close to a 50 mile radius has a soil ph value os about 7.9 to 8.0 Thanks - Russell Freeman 03/21/2004, ID=2329
	Russell: Instead of taking a chance and supplying your with bad advise, I'd suggest you contact your local Natural Resource Conservation Service (the old name was the Soil Conservation Service or SCS) agent for information on your area. They are excellent sources of information on all technical matters concerning soil and crops. C.J. Winand

	We have 178 acres, 78 tilable and 100 wooded. A railroad is planned to cut through the center of the wooded area, the deer's bedding area. Will the deer relocate after the construction near their old bedding area that will be ruined? If so, how long will it take? Is there any formula to determine the cost of the dammage to the wildlife area? - Kris Whitley 03/17/2004, ID=2328
	Kris: I assume the RR completed an Environmental Assessment (EA). Chances are the EA states that there are no negative impacts to deer. After the EA is approved, Government folks prepare a letter called a FONSI (Finding of No Significant Impacts). Although the deer's bedding area may change, I'm willing to bet that it will not change that much or be ruined. Bedding areas are very dynamic in that they can drastically change from season to season or from week to week. Please note that just because an area is densely forested, this does not mean it is a bedding area. As for a formula to determine the impacts of the RR, the EA will cover all the proposed impacts. One more thing, if your area has a complete canopy closure, the RR may actually benefit your area by creating more openings (or edge). For example, by letting the sun hit the forest floor for the first time in years, new vegetation will emerge. Remember, deer are edge-related species! C.J. Winand

	*I want to know where the artery is exactly placed in the rear ham of the whitetail deer. Do you know of a site that I can view this picture ?* - Jon Massengill 03/13/2004, ID=2327
	Jon: Click on the following, via National Bowhunter Education Foundation. Trust me, the $10 is well worth having the complete set of overlays for reference. http://www.nbef.org/deer_java.html C.J. Winand

	On several occasions, I've heard vocalizations in response to a grunt from a grunt tube. The most notable response starts off similar to the coo of a mourning dove that fades into a rolling 'R'. Cooooooo-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r-r. It's also quite loud and melodic. Usually, I've heard it off in the distance. Once, following a soft grunt, something walked in behind me, with a lot of noise, and started this coo'ing. It was only 20 yards away but the bush was so thick I couldn't see it! Shortly after, a small 8 point almost ran me over coming in from the other direction. Is this a buck or a doe? - Dennes 03/04/2004, ID=2322
	Dennes: Your question is a tough one to answer. With your description, I'm not sure about this vocalization? In fact, any guess on my part would be pure speculation. I wish I could provide a more helpful, but I simply don't know. You did hit on something that many hunters miss and that is, many times a deer will vocally respond to man-made calls but, hunters simply don't notice (or hear) the call. C.J. Winand

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Be sure to visit C.J. Winand's Website - CJ is a wildlife biologist and an outdoor writer for Bowhunter and North American Hunter magazines. In addition to his writing, CJ is highly sought as a speaker on deer management topics and has worked on a Masters of Science degree in Wildlife Management at West Virginia University under Dr. David Samuel. CJ manages and guides on several quality deer management programs around the country.