Yet, while the growth that is nearly 100 feet in the sky is wonderful to admire, it is the growth that is six feet from the ground and lower that concerns the staff of Duke Forest.
This growth, the herbaceous layer, has been ravaged by deer. And, because the carrying capacity of the land can only support so many deer, in 2008 after four years of careful research, hunters were permitted to hunt -- and again this year, hunters are hunting Duke Forest.
When the forest was established 78 years ago, hunting was never allowed. Because scientific studies were in jeopardy and data needed to be gathered to assess herd health, in cooperation with the Wildlife Resources Commission, it was decided that hunters could serve a dual purpose in thinning the herd and also gathering needed data.
"The deer population reached an unhealthy number," said Marissa Hartzler, Program Coordinator of the Office of Duke Forest. "And our research students and scientist would have had difficulty carrying forth experiments in the Duke Forest in the future had we not organized the hunt."
I spoke with Hartzler this week regarding the hunts in Duke Forest: specifically, how the hunt in Duke Forest has progressed and what, if any, problems have been associated with the hunt.
Hartzler explained that following a spotlight study in 2004, where a spotlight is shined to count deer at night, they validated what had long been expected -- that the deer population was too large for the forest. Therefore, in 2005, two locations were selected, depredation permits were allowed and in 21 nights, 22 deer were shot.
"The meat was given to Hunter's for the Hungry, and we used this select hunt to understand if allowing controlled hunting in Duke Forest would pose any safety issues and how neighboring landowners and users of the forest would react," said Hartzler.
From that hunt in 2005, which was carried out under the guidance of the Deer Management Assistance Program, managed by the Wildlife Resources Commission, the Duke Forest staff began exploring an organized hunt of Duke Forest for deer.
"The process went through a Duke Forest advisory committee, Duke police, Duke legal, and Duke corporate risk and was then approved at the University level," says Hartzler. "The rules and guidelines we established to hunt by are pretty strict.
"Everyone involved really thought of all the safety possibilities and we created a policy that was presented to our hunters and so far it has worked really well. The hunters are well-trained, above and beyond what we required, and they have to call us every day to say they are hunting, where they are hunting (including GPS coordinates), and when they are leaving, and they gather data for us on deer they have harvested."
During last season, the hunting group that hunts Duke Forest took 75 deer, and thus far during this season 30 deer have been taken from the forest as of October 1.
Of the future of hunting Duke Forest, the season closes Dec. 18th. Hunters are in the Forest Monday through Friday and access points are well posted and flagged to deter visitors from entering during the times hunters may hunt.
"Our hunters are professional and very well-trained and are concerned with safety," she said. "Just this week, one called to say there were visitors on a trail that was off limits and we went out and educated these visitors that hunters were in the area and we kindly escorted them out."
Of complaints, Hartzler says, "We've not had any of issues with our hunters. Sometimes people are confused about where Duke Forest boundaries may be and that private landowners may allow hunters that are not part of our hunting group. We reassure those who call and e-mail that our hunters are safe and ethical and that they must pass a series of tests before being allowed to hunt the forest. Overall we are pleased with the results."
Enjoy your time outdoors.
You man contact Jason Hawkins at hawkinsoutdoors@msn.com.
