Deer are valuable for many reasons. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates big game hunting provides over 250,000 jobs and nearly $70 billion in federal, state and local taxes annually. Whitetails provide American families with about 1.2 billion wholesome meals annually, and of course, they provide around 10 million deer hunters nearly unlimited recreational opportunity each fall. This time afield provides uncountable “highs” and more than a few heartbreaks. In addition to all those benefits, deer are also incredibly valuable to a whole suite of other wildlife species. I’ve written about how deer fund management for other species, so this article will focus on how deer help others from a habitat perspective.
I asked nine guys and gals from our hunting camp to pick a species other than deer that they’d like me to do some habitat enhancement for during 2025. Here are five species they selected that use wooded areas. The work I did as part of our deer management program directly benefitted them. I’ll feature the other species that primarily use the early successional vegetation in our “old fields” in a future article.
Red Spotted Newts
Red-spotted newts are highly recognizable. The salamanders are carnivorous and can live for 12 to 15 years! Don’t you wish the bucks you’re chasing made it to half that age? Newts need a mix of aquatic and terrestrial sites. They live on moist forest floors in the leaf litter and under downed logs. Vernal pools are important features for them, and fortunately our farm’s woods contain abundant springs and seeps that provide such pools. The forest stand improvement (FSI) work we do to create and/or enhance our deer bedding blocks was the perfect opportunity to provide logs on the forest floor and snags for future wood on the ground. I also purposely left mature oaks and other hardwoods alive around springs and seeps to keep those areas shaded and cool. That enabled vernal pools to remain longer each year before drying up and thus increasing our farm’s red-spotted newt habitat quality. How many serious deer managers have you heard announce that?
“You may or may not give much thought to these species. However, the general public cares about them, and that’s who affords us the opportunity to hunt in this great country of ours.”
Chipmunks
Chipmunks were next. These little rodents are omnivorous and need abundant ground cover, mast producing trees and cavities to den in. This was an easy one. Our FSI work provided excellent ground cover from the increased sunlight reaching the forest floor and increased acorn production by killing some suppressed oaks and providing room for overstory trees to expand their crowns. Chipmunks live around three years and help forests by dispersing many seeds and nuts.
Pileated Woodpeckers
I’m a big fan of pileated woodpeckers and was happy to see them on the list. They’re a super cool looking and sounding bird. Every turkey hunter has heard at least one spring tom shock-gobble in response to a pileated’s loud call. The work we do for them also benefits the other woodpecker species using our farm. Woodpeckers are insectivores that need forest cover and abundant snags and downed wood for nesting and foraging. Our FSI work checked another box and also highlights the need to conduct this work throughout a property. Don’t concentrate it in a limited portion. This management strategy is too valuable for too many species. Use it widely across your forested acres.
Owls
Moving up the size chart, owls were next. Fortunately, our farm is home to saw-whet, screech, great-horned, and my personal favorite, barred owls. It’s a real treat to see a barred owl, even better hearing their iconic “who cooks for you, who cooks for you all” call, and the trifecta is hearing two or more owls “laughing” while having a conversation. If you’ve never heard barred owls laugh, click here. You won’t be disappointed. These birds of prey need large trees for nesting and roosting, and by now you know we have abundant large trees, alive and dead, in our woods. These nocturnal predators also feast on mice, chipmunks and other small mammals. Hence, the work we do for “Chip and Dale” also benefits “Woodsie” and his owl companions.
Bald Eagles
The fifth species picked by one of my camp mates was the bald eagle. We’re lucky for the opportunity to see our national bird on nearly any given day. They need tall trees for nesting and perching sites, and this is especially important near open water. Troups Creek runs through our farm, and eagles routinely fly along its winding path. So, some strategically placed FSI work ensures this majestic bird has large options for alive and dead trees along the riverbank. Like deer, eagles also need areas free from human disturbance, so our sanctuaries provide much needed seclusion for this avian species too.
Ultimately, you may or may not give much thought or even care about newts, chipmunks or the birds I referenced. However, the general public cares about them, and that’s who affords us the opportunity to hunt in this great country of ours. Thus, I’m proud that deer hunters and managers also do more for these other species than any other segment of society. I spend far more time chasing and viewing deer than all the other wildlife species on our farm combined, but I sure feel good knowing I’m providing for and enhancing the quality of their habitat too. This is another example of why every wildlife enthusiast should recognize the value of deer and thank a deer hunter.