Gypsy moth caterpillars can be devastating. While their usual appetite is for the leaves of oak trees, they will gladly consume the leaves of just about any other tree as well and will even dine on pine tree needles and grass when they run out of other vegetation to devour. Over the past few years, their presence has been minimal throughout our area, but this year was a drastic change. The unusual rise in their numbers this year led to the complete defoliation of many oak trees in Lycoming and surrounding counties. Once the caterpillars went into the pupa stage, the trees began to grow new leaves to recover from the damage of the gypsy moth caterpillars. With the tree’s energy being put into the regeneration of leaves, you can expect there will be very little if any, acorn production this fall.

The usually abundant acorn crop simply will not be available for deer, bear, turkeys, and other wildlife to consume as they build up their fat reserves for the coming winter. Nearby corn and soybean fields may be frequented more often by wildlife this fall, but even this will not meet the usual needs of our wildlife.

Sportsmen here in Northcentral Pennsylvania should be considering just what they might do to provide additional sources of feed for wildlife. Several very effective endeavors that can provide the needed additional foods are the planting of fall/winter food plots, leaving several rows of corn or soybeans unpicked, and hinge-cutting timber.

Farmers are in business to make a profit. They are not apt to leave any of the crops unpicked, but this may be a year when they consider doing just that. If you have a favorite hunting spot near a farmer with corn or soybeans, you might think about offering him some cash to leave a few rows unpicked to benefit the wildlife. Either way, it will be a financial sacrifice, but with a lack of mast crop in the woods, it should be a consideration.

Fall and winter food plots come in all shapes and sizes, and the seeds that are usually planted for wildlife will be of great benefit to birds and animals this coming season. If you are already planning on establishing food plots soon, you might consider adding to the size you normally plant or adding additional plots if possible. While clovers and a mix of clover and chicory are always a good bet for deer and turkeys, the planting of sugar beets, radishes and turnips will provide feed that will be available over the winter months.

Hinge cutting of trees for deer browse is a simple process, and the only tool you will need is a chainsaw. If you cut completely through the trunk of a tree, after it lies on the ground, the deer will consume the leaves and buds. When hinge cutting, do not cut completely through but instead cut only as much as is necessary to make the tree fall — leaving a sufficient amount of bark intact. Under this bark is the cambium layer, which is where the nutrients flow up and down the tree. By leaving a section of bark — and the underlying cambium layer — the tree will continue to live and produce leaves for browse for several seasons.

Hinge cutting can be accomplished randomly or done in a pattern so as to influence the direction of travel of deer, create desired windrows or restrict access to an area you would like to protect. Hinge-cut trees can provide additional bedding areas for deer and nesting locations for turkeys.

While hinge cutting of trees can be accomplished later, the reserving of some corn or soybeans for wildlife will need to be addressed soon. The same is true of the planting of fall/winter food plots — the next couple of weeks are the best time to work the soil and plant the seeds that can provide feed throughout the fall and winter months. Don’t procrastinate — now is the time to “Git ‘Er Done!”