MIDDLESEX, Vt. (WCAX) – With Vermont’s deer rifle season set to get underway this weekend, state wildlife officials have the results from their most recent wildlife food abundance survey.
Fruits, nuts, and seeds of woody plants are called “mast” when referring to their use by wildlife for food. Hard mast refers to nuts and seeds and soft mast refers to fruits and berries.
Each fall, state biologists survey oak and beech stands around the state to assess how plentiful the different varieties of mast are. That abundance can help hunters better understand deer and other animal activity.
Ike Bendavid visited the Middlesex Notch Wildlife Management Area and spoke with Vermont Fish and Wildlife’s Josh Morse about the results.