Three areas of similar physiographic characteristics were investigated; a control (60 to 100-yr-old forest) and 2 clearcuts (a 2-yr-old and 6- to 7-yr-old cut). These areas were located in the Craig Creek watershed of Montgomery and Craig Cos., Virginia. Two growing seasons after clear cutting it was evident that the shrub stratum had not caught up to the uncut forest i n the number of stems per acre, however, the 2 herb strata had surpassed the uncut forest jn density. These floristic changes apparently influenced the make-up of the faunal segment of the community. Mammals generally associated with older plant communities were either absent in the 2-yr cut, or were infrequently captured and rarely observed during the snow track counts. Other species increased in relative numbers over the uncut the more shade tolerant herbs. This sere also evidenced the largest the more shade tolerant herbs. This sere also evidenced the largest populations of 6 mammal species. Additionally this successional stage showed the highest overall population of small mammals. White-tailed deer used the entire area of both clear cuts, however, use was predominantly in the first 61 m from the forest edge in the 2-yr cut and from 30.5 to 122 m in the 6- to 7-yr cut. It was recommended that clearcuts be limited to 20 tO₃0a(8.1 to 12.1 ha) in size and that the cuts should be linear in shape with a width of approximately 183 m. populations of 6 mammal species. Additionally, this successional stage showed the highest overall population of small mammals. White-tailed deer used the entire area of both clear cuts, however, use was predominantly in the first 61 m from the forest edge in the 2-yr cut and from 30.5 to 122 m in the 6- to 7-yr cut. It was recommended that clear cuts be limited to 20 tO₃0a(8.1 to 12.1 ha) in size and that the cuts should be linear in shape with a width of approximately 183 m. forest, and 3 mammal species characteristic of early ·plant succession, which were not present in the uncut forest, reached their highest relative numbers in the 2-yr cut. By the 6th or 7th yr after cutting woody regeneration had generally replaced herbs as dominants. The shrub stratum was denser than either the 2-yr cut or the uncut forest. The partial crown closure of this stratum apparently favored the more shade tolerant herbs. This sere also evidenced the largest populations of 6 mammal species. Additionally, this successional stage showed the highest overall population of small mammals. White-tailed deer used the entire area of both clear cuts, however, use was predominantly in the first 61 m from the forest edge in the 2-yr cut and from 30.5 to 122 m in the 6- to 7-yr cut. It was recommended that clearcuts be limited to 20 tO₃0a(8.1 to 12.1 ha) in size and that the cuts should be linear in shape with a width of approximatelY 183 m.