Yes, you can use prescribed fire in hardwoods or mixed pine/hardwood forests to improve deer habitat. The key to avoid damaging overstory trees of any species is low-intensity fire that is backing into or flanking the wind, not a head fire that is burning with the wind. You also want to burn under the ideal conditions, including relative humidity, fuel moisture, wind speed, atmospheric mixing height, and other variables. See our Guide to Prescribed Fire on our website for more details. Always ch

Watching axis deer in Kinney County, Texas: Key facts