History of Deer Population Trends and Forest Cutting on the Allegheny National Forest

The forests of the Allegheny Plateau section of northwestern Pennsylvania have been severely impacted for more than 70 years by selective browsing by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Historical and ecological interactions of deer and the forest ecosystem in this region from pre-settlement times to the present are presented based on data from the Allegheny National Forest area. The data suggest that deer impacts on forested ecosystems can be controlled through a combination of increased, sustained deer harvests and increased forage production through timber harvesting. This article was written by Jim Redding for the 10th Central Hardwood Forest Conference held in Morgantown, West Virginia on March 5-8, 1995.

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