Chapter IV – Wildife habitat protection
Division II – Strips of woodland
§1. White-tailed deer yards
Section 51
Where the strip of woodland referred to in section 50 is made wider than 20 m to fulfill the needs of the white-tailed deer habitat, only partial cutting not exceeding 40% of the merchantable stems, in the case of stands of species referred to in Part A of Schedule 2, or 40% of the basal area in the case of stands of species referred to in Part B of that Schedule, is allowed beyond the first 20 metres of the strip of woodland.
In addition, the density of the stand may never be reduced to less than 700 merchantable stems/ha, in the case of stands of species referred to in Part A of Schedule 2, or the basal area may not be reduced to less than 16 m2/ha, in the case of stand of species referred to in Part B of that Schedule.
Despite the first and second paragraphs, where the sylvicultural prescription provides for partial cutting in the stand adjacent to the strip of woodland referred to in section 50, the harvest level indicated in the sylvicultural prescription of the adjacent stand then applies to the widened part of that strip of woodland.
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Objectives
- To allow for the harvesting of wood
- To ensure the renewal of trees in the strip of woodland
- To preserve an appropriate riparian environment for use by wildlife
Explanations
Where the strip of woodland alongside an open peat bog with a pond, a marsh, a riparian shrub swamp, a lake or a permanent watercourse located in a white-tailed deer yard is made wider than 20 m, some of the trees may be harvested in the portion of the strip beyond the first 20 metres.
The permitted intensity of harvesting varies by stand type. In the case of a stand composed of the species referred to in Part A of Schedule 2, up to 40% of the merchantable stems may be harvested, provided the density of the stand is not reduced to less than 700 merchantable stands/ha. In the case of a stand composed of species referred to in Part B of that Schedule, up to 40% of the basal area may be harvested, provided the density of the stand is not reduced to less than 16 m²/ha.
However, where partial cutting takes place in the stand adjacent to the strip of woodland on either side of an open peat bog with a pond, a marsh, a riparian shrub swamp, a lake or a permanent watercourse situated in a white-tailed deer yard, the harvest level in the extended portion of the strip beyond the first 20 metres must comply with the specifications set out in the sylvicultural prescription of the adjacent stand.
Additional information
It should be noted that section 53 of this Regulation allows certain forestry permit holders not to apply the conditions set out in this section for harvesting in the extended portion of the strip of woodland alongside an open peat bog with a pond, a marsh, a riparian shrub swamp, a lake or a permanent watercourse located in a white-tailed deer yard. Section 53 clarifies the conditions of authorization.
The term “white-tailed deer yard” refers to an area where white-tailed deer gather in winter. The terms “concentration area” and “wintering area” (“ravage” in French) are also commonly used to refer to a white-tailed deer yard. If the white-tailed deer population is to be maintained in Québec, access to good quality wintering areas is essential. The Guide d’aménagement des ravages de cerf de Virginie 
(available in French) was prepared to help forest managers improve the quality of white-tailed deer winter habitats when drawing up development plans in deer yards. Among other things, the Guide sets out development principles for deer yards to help ensure that travel corridors and canopy components offering shelter and food are maintained when forestry activities are carried out.
Residual trees in the widened strip of woodland where partial harvest takes place must be spread uniformly so as to favor the renewal of the forest cover and to maintain shelters and food for the white-tailed deer.
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Objectives
- To preserve an appropriate riparian environment for use by wildlife
- To maintain the components of the forest cover that provide shelter for wildlife
- To maintain the components of the forest cover that provide food for wildlife
Additional information
It should be noted that section 53 of this Regulation allows certain forestry permit holders not to apply the conditions set out in this section for harvesting in the extended portion of the strip of woodland alongside an open peat bog with a pond, a marsh, a riparian shrub swamp, a lake or a permanent watercourse located in a white-tailed deer yard. Section 53 clarifies the conditions of authorization.
The term “white-tailed deer yard” refers to an area where white-tailed deer gather in winter. The terms “concentration area” and “wintering area” (“ravage” in French) are also commonly used to refer to a white-tailed deer yard. If the white-tailed deer population is to be maintained in Québec, access to good quality wintering areas is essential. The Guide d’aménagement des ravages de cerf de Virginie (available in French) was prepared to help forest managers improve the quality of white-tailed deer winter habitats when drawing up development plans in deer yards. Among other things, the Guide sets out development principles for deer yards to help ensure that travel corridors and canopy components offering shelter and food are maintained when forestry activities are carried out.
