GUIDE TO THE APPLICATION OF THE REGULATION RESPECTING THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF FORESTS IN THE DOMAIN OF THE STATE

 

Complete guide

Chapter IV – Wildife habitat protection
Division III – Operations in certain wildlife habitats
§1. White-tailed deer yard

Section 58

Total cutting, carried out in one or more operations or according to the terms of block cutting, is prohibited in a white-tailed deer yard on the following areas:

  1. in hardwood and hardwood-dominant mixed stands, over a single block greater than 25 ha once all operations are completed;
  2. in softwood and softwood-dominant mixed stands, over a single block greater than 10 ha once all operations are completed.

1

Objectives

  • 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

Rules governing forest development activities in a white-tailed deer yard

Figure 58 Rules governing forest development activities in a white-tailed deer yard

Total cutting may be carried out again on the areas adjacent to total cutting areas where regeneration of the areas has reached a height of 7 m. 

2

Objective

  • To allow for the harvesting of wood

Rules governing forest development activities in a white-tailed deer yard

Figure 58 Rules governing forest development activities in a white-tailed deer yard

At the time of cutting, the vegetal elements used as shelter and food by white-tailed deer must be preserved.

3

Objectives

  • 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

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 This link opens a new window (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.

Rules governing forest development activities in a white-tailed deer yard

Figure 58 Rules governing forest development activities in a white-tailed deer yard

Line cutting over a width greater than 2 m is prohibited in a white-tailed deer yard. 

4

Objective

  • To allow certain forest development activities in or near a particular place

Rules governing forest development activities in a white-tailed deer yard

Figure 58 Rules governing forest development activities in a white-tailed deer yard

The construction, improvement or repair of a road is prohibited in a white-tailed deer yard from 1 December to 1 May, except if it is authorized by a forestry permit issued for wildlife, recreational or agricultural development projects and the Minister responsible for the administration of the Act respecting the conservation and development of wildlife This link opens a new window (chapter C-61.1) has been consulted before issuing the permit. 

5

Objective

  • To avoid disturbing wildlife

Explanations

A person holding a forestry permit issued for wildlife, recreational or agricultural development projects may construct, improve or repair a road in a white-tailed deer yard between December 1 and May 1. Before issuing a permit, the Minister responsible for applying the Sustainable Forest Development Act This link opens a new window must consult the Minister responsible for applying the Act respecting the conservation and development of wildlife This link opens a new window to obtain his or her opinion of the mitigation measures that have been recommended to protect the white-tailed deer yard. In light of the opinion, the Minister responsible for applying the Sustainable Forest Development Act may then give authorization, specifying which forest development activities are authorized and setting the conditions that must be met when they are carried out.

Additional information

The Sustainable Forest Development Act This link opens a new window states that a forestry permit is required to carry out certain forest development activities in forests in the domain of the State (section 73). The Act allows the Minister to issue a permit authorizing the holder to carry out the forest development activities specified on the permit, on the conditions determined by the Minister (section 74).

The first, second and third paragraphs do not apply to the holder of a forestry permit issued for public utility works who installs a power transmission line or gas pipeline.

6

Objective

  • To allow certain forest development activities in or near a particular place

Explanations

A person holding a forestry permit issued for public utility projects may carry out the cuts that are required without applying the conditions set out in the first, second and third paragraphs of this section when developing a power transmission line or gas pipeline in a white-tailed deer yard. The forestry permit specifies the forest development activities that are authorized and the conditions that must be met when carrying them out.

Additional information

The Sustainable Forest Development Act This link opens a new window states that a forestry permit is required to carry out certain forest development activities in forests in the domain of the State (section 73). The Act allows the Minister to issue a permit authorizing the holder to carry out the forest development activities specified on the permit, on the conditions determined by the Minister (section 74).