This well-browsed Douglas fir has never been able to grow above the feeding height of the deer.
Its neighbors have been free to grow. (see below) Our deer prefer Douglas fir over pine or even the sweet scented Grand fir.
These photos were all taken on the Settlement Lands. The site is a dry, flat area with shallow soil in a recovering clearcut area that was logged about 15 years ago. While the site is open and sunny there is forest shelter and reliable water nearby, making this site a favourite browse area for our Coastal Blacktail deer.
Once a fir tree leader escapes the browse zone the tree is on its way to outgrow its neighbours.
