Clear Creek Deer ==

I went over to Clear Creek to get some photos of the headwaters deer exclosure to up date that webpage..

I stopped at a right of way and got these couple pictures of a doe and a spike...

Here's a comparsion shot of that trail


July 2006 ====


September 2010 ==== a little closer picture but you can plainly see the crooked tree in the middle.

What percentage of Clear Creek is off limits to hunting?

DMAP Unit Reports
DMAP Unit 313 (10,656 acres including Clear Creek State Park)
This area is a part of the Allegheny Plateau at the border of the Pittsburgh Low Plateau and the Allegheny High Plateau. The area is generally characterized by relatively level areas deeply cut by stream valleys. Mixed oak forests dominate, with some scattered white pines throughout and hemlock stands on the north facing slopes of stream valleys. Due to the maturity of the forest in combination with tree insects and diseases, timber-harvesting operations are very common in this area. Parcels where the overstory trees have been removed are scattered throughout the area. Access to this area is good with many gated roads open during rifle deer season. Management goals for the area are to promote a diverse, healthy natural habitat, increase wildlife species diversity, reduce the need for fencing to establish desirable regeneration, manage for a balanced deer sex ratio (1:1 buck:doe), maintain or improve hunter satisfaction, reduce deer browsing on native wild plant species and to reduce the deer pressure to the point where the forest will persist and function into the future.
This area was selected as a potential DMAP area through the examination of several different criteria. Much of the data was collected in the form of browsing impact and pellet count plots. Current WMU 2F doe tag allocations and timber sale activity in the area was also considered. Some of the key data includes:
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The foresters have seen some recovery starting to occur within this unit. They are currently not fencing some sales, especially those heavy to black cherry. Nearly all sales with oak regeneration must be fenced. The district
currently maintains 1400 acres of deer exclosures in Woven Wire fences in this unit. Over the past 10 years, 1800+ acres of forestland have been harvested for timber, forest age class structure, and wildlife management goals. We have plans to conduct 1000 acres of additional timber harvest in this area over the next 5 years. Currently, 90 % of timber harvests in this area must be fenced to ensure forest regeneration and sustainability.
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The species diversity of trees, shrubs, and wildflowers occurring in this area are greatly reduced from those that should naturally occur. The foresters have seen more wildflowers and an increase in species diversity, but not to a level that is acceptable or expected.
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Competing vegetation is an obstacle in this unit. Only 14.5 of 476 plots would regenerate without some treatment. 87% of the plots were affected by competing factors and would require some treatment to ensure regeneration in the event of a disturbance, even with low deer numbers.
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2009/2010 overwinter pellet count data indicates a low to moderate level of deer abundance. Though this data is not sufficiently accurate to be relied on as a measure of the actual deer population it is our most easily measured indicator of actual deer presence on the landscape. Based on this use the population has remained fairly stable since 2005.
Taking all of these factors into consideration, the District will request DMAP tags at a rate of 1 tag/50 acres for this unit.

I live and hunt miles from the state park... since 1987 I think I have been down the park road four times... so no I do not hunt anywhere near the area that is closed to hunting.. probably 10-15 miles away...

after all these years ====

I find you have no idea about this area.. here I thought you were somewhat familar with this area.. now I know why we disagree on so much about the deer in this area.. you don't know much about it... ... my BAD !!!!

gheez.. you guys are unbelievable...


I hunt clear creek state forest ..not clear creek state park... never have I said clear creek state park....

the state park is like 10% of the state forest.. and is a different DMAP area

Here's a map....
the brown area marked clear creek state park is the park.. only 600+ acres are open for hunting it is a different DMAP area and as I have said I do not go there often..

the two green areas are clear creek state forest.. DMAP area 313..

In the lower right corner you can see Dixon Corners.. that's where I work... the green area of the forest straight North of where I work I know like the back of my hand, the other green section of forest only about half of it I have been in..lots of exclosures over there...