Deer management webinar mini-series this month

BELLEFONTE, Pa. — Penn State Cooperative Extension in partnership with the Quality Deer Management Association and the Penn State School of Forest Resources Web Seminar Center announce the white-tailed deer management webinar mini-series.

A series of three webinars will be provided live at noon and 7 p.m. the third Tuesday of each month, beginning in March and running through May. Each will last approximately one hour.

The webinars will be presented by QDMA wildlife biologist Kip Adams and wildlife biologist/forester Matt Ross.

They are provided specifically for anyone interested in learning about white-tailed deer biology, habitat, and management. This is your opportunity to listen to and ask questions of natural resource professionals who have first-hand knowledge and experience in managing white-tailed deer populations and habitat.

Deer management programs strive to attain deer herds in balance with what the habitat can support, balanced sex ratios, complete age structures, healthy deer, improved habitat, and increased recreational opportunities. Listen in and learn how you can help move your deer management program in the right direction and achieve many of these same objectives.

Sessions are as follows:

March 15, 2011 — Implementing a Successful Deer Management Program will discuss different deer management strategies and provide real-world examples of how to manage whitetails. It specifically addresses antlered and antlerless deer management on public land, private land and on small ownerships.

April 19

— White-tailed Deer Breeding Biology and Communication. Following a year in the life of a whitetail buck, this presentation will discuss dispersal, home range and movement patterns; physical changes a buck experiences from 1 and a half years of age to maturity; how deer communicate during the breeding season; and how hunters can use this information to improve management.

May 17

— Providing Quality Habitat for White-tailed Deer. Providing quality habitat for deer of all age classes is essential for any successful deer management program. This presentation will discuss vegetation management from a forest, old field and food plot perspective, and explain how each fits into an overall habitat management plan providing the necessary food and cover for each season of the year.

To participate in the seminars you must register and have a “Friend of Penn State” user ID. The “Register Now” page on the website will walk you through this process. If you are already a member of the Penn State community, register on the website so you can receive reminders of upcoming programs.

Each session is recorded and loaded onto the Web Seminar Center, along with a copy of the presentation and any handout materials. If you are unable to participate in the session, a recording will be available to view at your convenience.

This series is in addition to our regularly scheduled Second Tuesday Forest Stewardship series. Participation in the web seminar does not require any special software. To view live and previously recorded seminars at http://rnrext.cas.psu.edu/PAForestWeb/.