Value of Black Hills Forest Communities to Deer and Cattle

Abstract

Aspen, pine, and mixed aspen-pine communities were studied at three different locations in the Black Hills National Forest of South Dakota from 1968 to 1970. Overstory densities were greatest in pine with a basal area (diameter at breast height) of 180.5 ft2 per acre. Aspen-pine had 133.6 ft2 per acre and aspen 89.5 ft2 per acre. Understory production was inversely related to overstory density with 590 lb/acre air-dried forage in aspen, 415 lb/acre in mixed aspen-pine, and 215 lb/acre in pine. Aspen communities appeared to represent better feeding areas for both deer and cattle than mixed aspen-pine or pine. However, use by white-tailed deer, estimated by pellet group density, was greatest in mixed aspen-pine. Cattle use, estimated by chip density, was greatest in aspen and least in pine.