About the Deer-Forest Study
Pennsylvania forests face many challenges - invasive plants, insect outbreaks, soil acidity, tree diseases, and even deer. This study is being conducted to better understand the role of deer in the context of all these challenges and to help Pennsylvania’s forest and wildlife managers better manage deer and the forest.
December 17, 2021
Are there any deer in Pennsylvania during the gun season?
I’ve been hunting deer a lot longer than I have been doing research on them. And I ask the same […]
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October 29, 2021
Unpredictable Prey
You are a predator. Deer aren’t going to just stand there and wait to be eaten. Humans often forget that […]
August 23, 2021
The Line in the Sand…or Forest
Recently a reader shared with us a video of one of our radio-collared bucks that is at least 6.5 years […]
June 23, 2021
Caution!
We talk about deer movements a lot on this blog. Movements before the rut, during the rut, after the rut, […]
March 31, 2021
An Old Friend
Recaptures are a part of deer trapping. You read this in some of the crew diaries. Recaptures increase the longer […]
March 2, 2021
The Real Does of the Deer Forest Study: Holiday Drama and Life Lessons
If you know anything about deer, you know that fall is a very important season in their life. I know […]
February 22, 2021
The Real Does of the Deer Forest Study: Love and Loss
When last we left Doe 12866, she had fawned in the little State College woodlot 6+ miles from her established […]
February 16, 2021
The Real Does of the Deer Forest Study: Maternity Ward
Doe 12866, heavy with fawn, has made her way to State College after an all night trek. The only plausible […]
February 8, 2021
The Real Does of the Deer Forest Study: Pregnant and On the Move
In our last installment, Doe 12866 was acquainting us with her movements around her home range. Nothing out of the […]
February 1, 2021
The Real Does of the Deer Forest Study: The New Norm?
None of the Deer Forest Study objectives have anything to do with deer movements specifically. Deer are collared to understand […]
January 25, 2021
Gretel
Most of us know the tale of Hansel and Gretel. Siblings abandoned in the forest and seduced with sugary treats […]
January 12, 2021
No Such Thing
For many of us, winter can also be called “waiting for spring.” Unlike our Nordic friends, most of us do […]
August 16, 2023
Better than the Lottery
There is an ongoing debate in my house. Well, there are a lot of ongoing debates in my house, and […]
May 18, 2023
Pieces of the Puzzle
Springtime has always been a favorite for me. Even though we didn’t have much of a winter, I can’t wait […]
February 7, 2023
Deer Crew Diaries – Entry 23-1
It’s that time of year again! After a bit of a rough start filling positions, the trapping crews have started […]
November 2, 2022
Playing the Lottery – Part 2
I was sitting in my daughter’s tree stand this week (it’s really my tree stand that is named for her, […]
October 26, 2022
Playing the Lottery – Part 1
What’s the chances a buck lives 3 years? When you radiocollar a deer to monitor movements and survival you need […]
November 24, 2021
I’m Outta Here!
Don’t panic, neither Jeannine or I quit (although some days…). But we do have a buck who said “See ya […]
November 22, 2021
Thinking About Rifle Season
It has been a busy fall. In fact, so busy that Jeannine and I have had little time for writing […]
August 16, 2021
The Dog Barked
A few weeks ago, we sent out a call. And, of course, you answered! Many readers of the blog responded […]
June 1, 2021
The “Worst-Case” Deer
Previously I shared some movements our collared deer make across roadways. Whether you’ve been personally involved in a deer-vehicle collision […]
April 28, 2021
Nesting or Fledging?
Ah spring! With longer and warm days, it’s time to get out and enjoy it. Bucks are on board with […]
March 4, 2021
Deer Crew Diaries – Entry 21-6
[Comments in brackets are by Jeannine and Duane] ——————————————————————– From the Northern Crew: At the end of last week, we […]
October 28, 2020
Old Spice
While approaching traps, I could sometimes tell we had been successful before the trap even came into view. It wasn’t […]
