Deer, Forest Health & Hunting

About 30 people attended the Friends of Rothrock State Forest’s first outreach and educational event “Deer, Forest Health & Hunting in Rothrock State Forest” on November 21st at the Boalsburg Fire Hall. Attendees saw presentations from Dr. Duane Diefenbach of Penn State and Helen Schlemmer from the PA Game Commission who shared fascinating videos of Game Commission staff capturing and applying radio collars to white-tailed deer. The associated GPS telemetry movement data collected forms the basis of The Deer-Forest Study taking place in Rothrock State Forest. The data is being collected to investigate how deer browsing and soil conditions interact to affect the understory vegetation in our forests and ultimately, long-term forest health. Mark Ternent of the PA Game Commission and Josh Thompson from DCNR Bureau of Forestry explained the Deer Management Assistance Program, also known as DMAP, in Rothrock State Forest and the important role hunters and hunting play in the overall management of deer in Penns Woods. Thanks to all of our presenters as well as Backcountry Hunters and Anglers for offering venison appetizers at the social that followed the presentations.
 
Watch for announcement for 2020 outreach events here in our blog and on our Facebook page.