A Feature at the Arnot Forest: Slash Walls

Nine slash walls were created around harvest areas at the Arnot in recent years. These are an experimental effort to exclude deer from regeneration areas. These areas are being managed to regenerate a diverse new forest using “Seed Tree Regeneration System” silviculture. Mature and vigorous trees of diverse species are left as parent trees and will add to the natural regeneration already established through past management activities. All mature trees will eventually be removed to provide full sunlight and optimal growth for the young seedlings and sapling to grow into the next forest. This dense young forest also provides high-value habitat for a wide range of wildlife that requires young forest, also known as “early successional forest.”

The surrounding “slash wall” is an experimental approach to exclude deer that would otherwise browse native vegetation and negatively impact the growth and composition of the next forest. “Slash” is a forestry term that describes the treetops and coarse woody material not removed during a harvest. One deer can browse thousands of seedlings and wildflowers per day. You are welcome to walk into the regenerating area, but please do not climb on the slash fence or disturb research structures and markings.

Please help us keep deer out of this area by securely closing this gate upon entering and exiting. The gate must never be left open. If you see an open gate, please close it.

Hunting within the slash wall area is permitted, as prescribed under the current Arnot Forest Hunting regulations. 

Updates on slash wall research can be found on the Arnot Forest Slash Wall website.