The assessment of fodder properties of public hunting grounds for wild hoofed animals in Lesozavodsky district of Primorsk region

The aim of the research was to give qualitative and quantitative assessment of the forage base for the deer and roe deer in public hunting areas of Lesozavodsky district of Primorsk Region. The objectives were to study the peculiarities of distribution of vegetation cover in investigated area; to study feeding habits of red deer and Siberian roe deer; to carry out variety estimation, i.e. specific appraisal of hunting grounds depending on their feed value. The object of the study was hunting land of 200326 hectares. The condition of food supply of hoofed animals and its abundance were estimated in the seasons 2018/2019, 2019/2020 on 10 experimental sites (each 200 m ²) laid in all types of land characteristic of each species, with a total area of 2000 m²: in the cedar - broad-leaved - 3, in deciduous - 4, in oak - 3. In the diet of red deer in the investigated area there were 25 species and groups of plants (83.3 %), Siberian roe deer - 21 species and group of plants (70.0 %). In the diet of red deer in the studied territory 25 types and groups of plants (83.3 %) were noted, roe deer had 21 variety and group of plants (70.0 %). In the roe the share of good and average grounds in the fodder relation made 87.0 % of the area of peculiar grounds, these were the cedar and broad-leaved, broad-leaved and oak woods, meadows and agricultural grounds with groves of wood plantings. The supplies of key feed represented at least 10.0 % of the total stock, but thanks to the implementation of selective cutting and laying roads, the overgrown grass and shrubs, fodder properties of the land gradually improved, while in the cedar deciduous forests, the share of random feeds exceeded 40.0 % of the total stock.