The Rural Voice, 2006-11, Page 49•
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Woodlot Management
"Scrapes" are patches of disturbed
earth that the buck has pawed at with
his front hooves. Usually there is an
overhanging branch that they nibble
at, leaving -saliva and scent. They
also urinate on tarsal scent glands on
their hind legs over the scrape to
leave additional scent information.
While bucks are antisocial
towards each other during the rut and
at times spar with one another, they
are seldom seriously injured.
Only bucks have antlers. They
grow a new set every year that takes
about five months to develop.
During growth they are covered with
a velvet-like skin and considered to
be one of the fastest growing animal
tissues in the world.
Bucks grow their first set of
antlers at one year of age. Antler size
is influenced by age, diet and
heredity.
In mid-September, increasing
levels of hormones causes the blood
supply to the antlers to be cut off;
they harden and the velvet is rubbed
off. In winter, the hormone levels
drop causing antlers to loosen at the
base and eventually fall off.
Young deer (fawns) are born in
late May and June. They weigh only
four to eight pounds at birth, but
triple their body weight in the first
month. Young fawns spend most of
their time hiding, with the doe
returning only several times a day to
feed them. Often people find fawns
that they think are abandoned, but
this is rarely the case.
Mature does in good condition
will usually have twins or sometimes
triplets. Fawns typically stay with
their mother until the following
spring.
The patchwork of woodlands and
agricultural fields in southwestern
Ontario is ideal habitat for deer. One
of the primary natural population
controls is winter severity. Since
winters don't seem to be as severe
recently, that may be one reason for
the current high deer population
levels.
Deer are ruminants, like cows and
sheep. Much of their food is browse
from shrubs and small trees, but they
do make use of agricultural crops and
have reached uuuanc ! u1 „nur
areas. Unfortunately they are also
involved in many vehicle accidents.
Drivers should be extra cautious of
deer near dusk and dawn as that is
when they are most active.
A primary tool for managing deer
populations is hunting. In most of
southwestern Ontario the bow
hunting season is open from October
1 to December 31. Most areas also
have one or more weeks when they
can be hunted with firearms.
View hunting regulations at
www.mnr.gov.on.ca to check details
for your area.
If you have questions about
woodlot management or ideas for
topics you would like to see covered
in a future column, please contact
Steve Bowers at 519-482-3661 or
steve.bowers @ on tario.ca.
The Rural Voice
welcomes your opinions for our
Feedback letters to the editor
column.
Mall to: The Rural Voice,
PO Box 429, Blyth, ON NOM 1H0
WINGHAM
FORESTRY SERVICE
R.R. #1, Wingham
Ontario NOG 2W0
TREE MARKING FOR TIMBER
SALES OR FUEL WOOD
CALL (519) 335-6768
MURRAY HALL -
FORESTRY TECHNICIAN
BERNIE McGLYNN
LUMBER LTD.
BUYER OF HARDWOOD BUSHLOTS
Wholesaler - Hardwood Lumber
1r2"
BERNIE McGLYNN
Ph, Fax (519) 357.1430
SAWMILL
P.O. Box 39
R.R. #5, Mildmay,
Ont.
NOG 2J0
44
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Q \N L.
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Marvin L. Smith
B.Sc.F. (Forestry), R.P.F.
Farm Woodland Specialist
570 Riverview Dr.
Listowel, Ontario N4W 3T7
Telephone: (519) 291-2236
S
Providing advice and assistance with:
• impartial advice/assistance in selling timber,
including selection of trees and marking
• reforestation of erodible or idle land
• follow-up tending of young plantations
• windbreak planning and establishment
• woodlot management planning
• diagnosis of insect and disease problems
• conducting educational programs in woodlot
management
• any other woodland or tree concerns
CO
Tree Marking,
Advertising,
a Woodlot
T6Assessments*fo
Foresters & Certified Tree Markers
S U LTI II O 1-888-923-9995
Dave Taylor &
Jim Eccles
Hanover, ON
519 -364 -TREE (8733)
John Todd
Paris, ON
519-442-3102
Harold Frost
Clinton, ON
519-482-7176
Eleanor Reed
Orillia, ON
705-328-4584
NOVEMBER 2vcG 45