Native forage responses to different silvicultural systems for shortleaf-loblolly pine in East Texas: Economic implications for white-tailed deer and cattle management

A study of native forages and forage response to various forest regeneration techniques (clearcut, seed-tree, shelterwood, selection and control) was conducted on an upland shortleaf-loblolly pine (Pinus spp.) forest in Smith and Rusk Counties, Texas. Financial analyses of each silvicultural systems' white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and domestic cattle production potential were conducted with both empirical and projected data.;In empirical financial analyses, clearcutting exhibited the highest net present worth (NPW) in timber-deer, timber-cattle and timber-deer-cattle management regimes. In projection analyses, the shelterwood system exhibited the highest soil expectation value (SEV) in timber-deer, timber-cattle and timber-deer-cattle regimes. With timber revenues removed in projection analyses, seed-tree treatments ranked highest in SEV for white tailed deer and white-tailed deer-cattle regimes. Shelterwoods ranked highest in SEV for cattle-only regimes when timber revenues were omitted from analyses.;Significant differences in forage standing crops between treatments were noted following regeneration cuts. Quantities of residual timber were found to be inversely related to forage standing crop (i.e. clearcutting produced the highest standing crops while the seed-tree, shelterwood, selection and controls exhibited lower standing crops). Controls exhibited no significant response.