First-year results of a study quantifying the effect of white-tailed deer on acorns and oak seedlings within a combination of prescribed burn and harvesting treatments in three oak-dominated stands in southern Ohio will be presented.

The study sites are located in three mature oak-dominated forests in Vinton and Ross counties in Ohio. The following treatments were applied to each of the 20 hectare (50 acre) treatment blocks: 1) harvesting resulting in approximately 13.8 sq. m /ha (60 sq. ft./acre) of residual basal area. 2) prescribed burn with approximately 0.75 m average flame heights 3) combination of harvesting and prescribed burn, and 4) a no treatment control. Treatments were applied in 2000 and 2001 as a part of the National Fire and Fire Surrogate Research Project, supported by funds from the U.S. Joint Fire Science Program.

Three pairs of 400 m² (0.1 Ac.) plots were located within each treatment at all three locations. Species and basal area of mid-story and over-story vegetation was recorded. One plot from each pair was randomly chosen for installation of a 2.4 m (8 ft.) black plastic mesh deer exclosure in the summer of 2001.

Seedling and acorn data is being collected on twenty 0.5 m²sub-plots evenly spaced within each plot. All seedlings less than 1.5 m tall were identified, and heights (cm) and basal diameters (mm) were recorded at the time of fencing. Percentage of woody, above ground biomass browsed will be estimated in the spring of 2002. In November 2001 the size of the acorn crop by species was estimated. Plots will be re-measured in March 2002 to determine loss of acorns.

Data is being analyzed to determine the effects of deer on acorn numbers, and on seedlings size and numbers. Site, and harvesting and prescribed burn treatment effects will also be elucidated.