Comparison of deer winter yards in the broad-leaved and pinewood forests

Abstract

Capacity of the hunting area, as territory, for Cervine animals is highly dependent on winter yards. Condition of winter habitats was estimated by using method, adopted from S.E.AIdous. According to this method we estimated frequency of the occurrence of every species of trees and shrubs, abundance, browsing intensity, utilization factor and share of the food by each species in winter forage. The aim is to compare condition of winter yards and determination factors in the pinewoods (KazlqRuda forest) and broad-leaved forests (Bukta forest). The research was executed in 2007. Total area of Kazlų Rūda and Bukta forests where research was executed is 27888ha. Condition of winter yards was estimated by surveying 951 sampling plots. Each surveying plot was circle of 100m2. The results showed that condition of the winter yards in both sites is good. The winter yards are not exhausted. Because of the differences between species composition in Bukta and Kazlq Ruda forests, species browsed by Cervine animals are different (hazel, ash, aspen and honeysuckle in Bukta forest and oak, rowan, wahoo elm, hornbeam in Kazlų Rūda forest.