Deer Nutrition & Food Habits | Deer Hunting & Management

Feeding Corn to Deer: Hunters Concerned

Is Feeding Corn to Deer Good?

White-tailed deer and corn go hand-in-hand in Texas. However, feeding corn to deer and using corn to attract deer are two completely different things. Corn provides very little for deer in terms of dietary nutrition. However, the grain is often used to bait deer into an area. This allows deer to be captured in camera photos and/or harvested during the deer hunting season. Corn is relatively inexpensive and an effective attractant for whitetail. Unfortunately, corn can sometimes cause problems for deer and other ruminants.

Right now, Texas hunters are concerned with feeding corn tainted with potentially high levels of Fusarium fungi to wildlife. Fumonsin toxin is produced when certain Fusarium fungi are present on corn. This situation is created by the presence of moisture during seed development.

Fortunately, Fusarium fungi do not pose the same threat to deer and other wildlife as aflatoxin. However, it’s still important that hunters do their part and be aware of what they are putting into feeders for deer. Non-target species consume any corn left uneaten by deer. If not done correctly, feeding corn to deer and other wildlife comes with some risks.

Feeders Full of Corn

“Shelled corn is the traditional ‘go-to feed’ in Texas for deer. It’s understandable there would be concerns considering how much of it is fed to wildlife,” said Dr. John Tomecek, AgriLife Extension wildlife specialist at Thrall. Tomecek said it’s best forr dee hunters to be aware of the problem and know what they are buying. If buying a quality product, hunters should not be overly concerned.

“I think what is important to remember when we feed corn to free ranging deer, is chances are we aren’t providing much more than a treat to these animals in the greater scheme of their diets,” Tomecek said. “Granted, corn helps provide energy during cooler months and is a great bait for deer hunting success. When corn is used in a spin feeder, it really doesn’t make up a high percentage of most deer diets.”

Corn and Deer Diet

Dr. Cat Barr, veterinary toxicologist with the Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory at College Station, had similar thoughts. She said the upper limit for deer feeding on Fumonisin-tainted corn should be no more than 30 parts per million. In addition, it should be no more than half their diet. These rates are limits set for confined breeding cattle, a scenario not likely to occur in free-ranging deer.

“Even if the corn kernels themselves are nearing the recommended toxin ceiling, the deer are diluting it with all the browse and forbs they’re eating as well,” she said. Using corn as a bait for white-tailed deer is not an issue. However, feeding corn to deer in large amounts creates a potential problem.

Tomecek said the excellent growing conditions most of the state has enjoyed this year is another strong reason for lesser concern. There is an abundance of native plants available to deer. Aside from its diluting effect, the lush growth tends to limit corn-feeder visits by wildlife. Good news for deer, but maybe not so much for deer hunters.

As far as a human health threat from consuming Fumonisin-eating game, Barr said hunters should not be concerned. Studies of ducks, turkeys and pigs showed no measurable Fumonisin B1 levels in muscle tissues. This was even after animals were fed up to 20 ppm at 50 percent of the diet. This is a level unlikely to occur in free-ranging animals during favorable growing conditions.

Corn Toxicity Impacts Birds

“As for the effects on game birds, we know these kinds of toxins can have serious adverse effects on birds in general,” Tomecek said. “But again, unlike a domestic poultry production scenario where the birds are confined, wild birds — be they game birds or those frequenting a backyard feeder — are using the corn as only a part of their diet, although perhaps at a higher proportion than do deer.

“A concerned hunter can always examine the crops of birds harvested to determine how much of their diet is coming from the corn. Most will find there is a great variety in diets of wild birds.” Fumonsin toxin is produced when certain Fusarium fungi are present on corn, a condition exacerbated by moisture during seed development, Tomecek said.

Aflatoxin Vs. Fumonisin

“The good news about Fumonisin is that Fusarium molds don’t grow in storage, the way Aflatoxin-producing molds can, “ Barr said, “so at least the amount of Fumonisin in the corn is not going to increase, regardless of changes in temperature or moisture. Just keep in mind that some corn may contain both mold types.”

“An Aflatoxin problem can increase inside metal deer feeders where corn heats and cools at a different rate than the outside air. As a result, condensation forms inside the feeder and on corn,” Tomecek said. “We see this pretty frequently any time of year where dew or condensation forms on vehicles and such things as metal fence posts and uninsulated tin roofs. Typically, this problem is minor, especially in mostly dry West Texas. When it does occur clots of dust from corn or other feeds may form and toxins can grow in this environment.

Feeder Maintenance & Feeding Corn to Deer

“I recommend cleaning feeders before and after the deer hunting season, or when it’s convenient at some point during the year. Letting them run low or out, then refilling them with tested corn devoid of toxins should keep your animals visiting the area. It will also keep the feed and your investment in that feed, protected.”

Tomecek said corn shouldn’t be feared and is an excellent and cost-effective bait for wildlife. However, he does recommend knowing the product and how it should be handled. Common sense handling and storage prevents wildlife issues.

“I don’t think folks should shift away from corn entirely,” he said. “These outbreaks are good reminders to hunters of the importance of proper feed and feeder management; namely to buy quality corn and ask your supplier if they have test results. Ask when the corn was tested and how it has been stored since that date.”

Tomecek said not all corn storage is created equal, especially in productive years, as the grain may have been left outside and is of lower quality. This lesser product is often available at a lower price.

“The main take-home points are to purchase a quality product, store it in dry containers and clean your feeders. Do these things and you’ll have no worries.” In summary, feeding corn to deer and other wildlife does come with some risk, but be smart about it and both you and the wildlife will benefit.

Deer Eating Ashes?

Deer in My Burn Pile

Question: “I have a few burn piles on my property in Hardin County – Lumberton, Texas. I have 12 whitetail does and bucks coming on my property to feed every day and night. Sometimes after I burn a pile of brush the deer will eat the ash and graze on burned limbs. It happens all year round. Why is that?”

Deer Diet

A deer’s diet varies from place to place. We generally know what white-tailed deer eat, but deer must use the resources at their disposal to meet their dietary needs. It will help to add context to the environment where these deer are found, and help address the question about deer eating ashes, if we look a little closer at deep Southeast Texas.

The property is located in what is referred to as the Flatwoods area of the state. This area includes about 2.5 million acres of woodland in humid Southeast Texas just north of the Coast Prairie and extending into Louisiana. The landscape is level to gently undulating. Surface drainage is slow. It’s actually fairly similar to the woodlands that can be found all the way to the east coast of the US.

Upland soils are mostly deep, light-colored, acid loams with gray, loamy, or clayey subsoils. Bottomland soils are deep, dark-colored, acid clays and loams. The water table is near the surface at least part of the year. Plenty of rainfall.

White-tailed deer in this environment should have a diversity of foods in their diet, but they likely are coming up short on micro-nutrients. High annual precipitation and acidic soils leads to leaching and low levels of micro-nutrients, minerals in the soil. The deer are eating ash to supplement this deficiency in diet. So what might they be looking for?

Composition of Wood Ash

Let’s first take a closer look at wood ash. Identifying what makes up wood ash will help determine what deer in the area, as well as the southeastern part of the whitetail’s range, are seeking when deer eat ashes from a burn pile. Let’s assume these burn piles contain both ash powder as well as charcoal chunks.

Source: “Much wood ash contains calcium carbonate as its major component, representing 25 or even 45 percent. Less than 10 percent is potash, and less than 1 percent phosphate; there are trace elements of iron, manganese, zinc, copper and some heavy metals. However, these numbers vary, as combustion temperature is an important variable in determining wood ash composition. All of these are, primarily, in the form of oxides.”

In short, calcium is the most abundant nutrient/mineral in wood ash, averaging almost 20 percent by weight. Wood ash is about 4 percent potassium, and less than 2 percent phosphorus, magnesium, aluminum and sodium. The chart below illustrates the mineral composition of ash from several sites.

Minerals, Deer & Ash

Calcium, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium and sodium are important for deer. Calcium and potassium are most likely what deer are targeting when they eat wood ash, although a case could also be made for sodium. Salt is often used as a deer attractant for one good reason, it works.

Like us, white-tailed deer need calcium. It’s required for contracting muscles, forming and strengthening bones, conducting nerve impulses throughout the body, blood clotting, maintaining a normal heartbeat, and a number of other important processes. Calcium is delivered by lactating does to their fawns, and calcium comprises about 20 percent of a buck’s hardened antlers. Calcium is stored in bones and teeth.

Potassium functions as mineral and an electrolyte in deer and it has many significant functions, such as maintaining a normal water balance between cells and body fluids, contracting muscles, aiding in nerve signals and it’s found in bone material, but potassium is quite available in the environment. Deer should have plenty of uptake in their normal diet.

The phosphorus levels in wood ash are similar to the levels found in pelleted feeds to supplement the diets of deer. Magnesium levels are much higher than commercially available feeds, but minerals do not typically taste good to animals. Mineral block manufacturers add salt to encourage use by animals.

Except for areas adjacent a coastline, most properties are devoid of sodium that is readily available for deer. This is especially true of areas that have high annual rainfall, like the Southeastern US. Wood ash is comprised of only a small amount of sodium, but salt is highly sought by deer and it’s necessary for normal bodily functions. But is there enough salt in wood ash to move the needle? Maybe. All deer need it, and believe it or not, sodium does comprise about one-half of one percent of a buck’s hardened antlers.

So Why do Deer Eat Ashes?

Deer are consuming wood ash because it contains something that they need or like, either minerals or salt or both. The most plausible reasons are deer are seeking calcium and possibly salt, but some of the other minerals found in wood ash are micro-nutrients that are also important for deer. This case is relevant to other parts of the whitetail’s (inland) range where leaching is high and mineral (and salt) availability are low due to acidic soils and abundant rainfall.

Interesting enough, wood ash can also help with indigestion (calcium neutralizes stomach acids) and serve as a laxative in animals. It’s safe to assume that these ailments are not the cause for why deer are eating ashes from a burn pile, but this factoid may come in handy next time you eat your buddy’s cooking at deer camp.

Managing Deer Competition at Feeders

A big part of white-tailed deer management is food. Getting adequate nutrition to animals is the best way to ensure all deer live up to their potential, whether it be bucks growing exceptional antlers or does producing and raising fawns year after year. It takes food to make that happen. Habitat management helps promote the right plants for deer, but it still takes rain to make them grow. Spring is typically the best time of the year for deer because of the availability of high protein forbs. This year, although not stellar, is far from bad. I’ve seen only a few deer over the past month; they just don’t have to move because the good stuff is literally at their feet.

The foods that grow in good deer habitat are the very best for whitetail, but the problem is that they do not always grow. With the Summer season and its mercury-busting temperatures just around the corner, it’s safe to assume that those protein-rich forbs will be going bye-bye here shortly. It is during that time of year when bucks will still be actively growing antler and the energy demands of does will be high due to hungry, rapidly-growing fawns that will be in tow. When soils dry up, the supplemental feeding of deer can help fill the void on the landscape as well as in the bellies of the deer that live there.

Whitetail Hunting and Deer Management

Free-choice protein feeders are an efficient way to supplement the diets of deer, but have you ever noticed that most of the time you will get a lot more photos of bucks than does? Many hunters have been “misled” by buck use of feeders during the summer months only to realize come hunting season that they have many more does than they thought — and all those bucks that were “living” at the feeder are gone. What gives?

TAMUK: “It’s a proven fact that supplemental feed improves antler growth and body size. Numerous scientific research projects have shown this. However, one question that hasn’t been addressed extensively is feed site use. It’s commonly accepted that all deer are accessing these feeders. But, are they?

Are all age classes and both genders of deer getting ample opportunity to access this high-powered feed? Chase Currie, a Ph.D. candidate at Texas A&M University-Kingsville, has been working for two years on a research project that, in part, addresses that very question. What he’s found are some interesting and significant patterns relative to white-tailed deer use of feed sites.

Specifically, Currie assessed feed site visitation between sexes and among age classes seasonally. Seasons were categorized according to the physiology of deer in South Texas. For example, spring was designated as the recovery period following the rut; summer, the production period when males were growing antlers and females were nearing parturition and entering lactation; autumn, the recovery period for females following lactation and the pre-rut period for males when they were bulking up; and winter, the rut.

In March, September and November of 2010 and February, March and April of 2011, 240 deer were captured in South Texas using the helicopter net gun method. Each captured deer was tagged with two uniquely colored and numbered ear tags, one in each ear.

To assess feed site visitation, motion-triggered cameras were strategically located to survey feed sites. Cameras were set with a one minute delay and deployed at each feed site for one week each month throughout the two years. Over the course of the study, Currie accumulated 8,000 camera nights and just over 90,000 photos.

During the first year of the study, feed site density was 1/130 acres, and in the second year, feeder density was nearly doubled to 1/75 acres. Also, during the first week of the first year, it became immediately evident that feed sites needed to be fenced due to the excessive use by non-target species such as feral hogs. Thus, from the second week forward, data collected was from fenced feed sites.

To assess feed site visitation, Currie looked at the proportion of the male, female and fawn population that visited feed sites. Furthermore, he assessed intensity of feed site use for those deer that visited a feed site at least once during the sampling period (one-week). He did so by assessing the number of photos per individually marked deer on a weekly basis, the number of nights per week individually marked deer visited feed sites, and he also looked at the number of feed sites individually marked deer visited per night during the week.

Results indicated that bucks visited the feed sites more often and at a higher intensity than does. Furthermore, buck visitation was highest during spring and autumn. Only about 20 percent of marked does visited feed sites each month.

Fawn visitation was low across the board, so much so, that Currie was only able to assess the proportion of fawns that visited feed sites and not their intensity of feeder use. Photo evidence indicated one reason fawn visitation was low was that fawns had difficulty accessing the feeders. Recall that all feeders were fenced during the second week of the first year of the study, and doing so apparently excluded the fawns.

Despite doubling feed site density in the second year of the study, there was no difference in feed site visitation between bucks and does between the two years. Thus, in presenting the feed site visitation data, he averaged data across the years by season. The data revealed that feed site visitation for bucks was highest during spring and summer and lowest in winter, particularly in December, most likely because of the rut. Does, however, visited the feed sites most intensively during the winter from about November to December, with the highest visitation occurring in December. Researchers attributed this to the fact that buck visitation dropped off during this time period, thus, the does had an easier time accessing feeders.

Looking at the number of nights per week deer visited feed sites, data showed that in spring and autumn, bucks were visiting feed sites roughly four nights per week, and in summer, it dropped down to around three nights per week. However, again when winter came around, the number of nights per week that bucks visited feed sites dropped off significantly. Also during the winter, there was very little difference in the number of nights per week does and bucks visited feed sites. However, during December, the number of nights per week does visited feed sites exceeded that of bucks, which again implies that does were taking advantage of the time that the bucks were not utilizing feed sites.

In terms of the number of feeders per night deer visited during the week, in 2010, only 5 percent of the males visited more than one feed site per night, whereas in 2011, only 9 percent visited more than one feed site per night. For the most part, females only visited one feed site per night.

As is often the case in South Texas, 2010 and 2011 were totally different years in terms of precipitation. In 2010, plentiful rains made for really good range conditions, but 2011 was one for the record books. It was the driest one-year period in over 100 years in most parts of the state, and South Texas was no exception. Given this, one might assume that visitation rates at feed sites would be higher in 2011, compared to 2010, when range conditions were much better. However, that was not the case. Furthermore, in 2011 when feeder density was doubled to 1/75 acres, an excessive amount by most standards, and with the drought raging, feed site visitation did not increase. In fact, there was no difference in feed site visitation or intensity of feed site use between the two study years. In particular, a very low proportion of females and fawns visited feed sites, irrespective of range conditions and feeder density.

Researchers hypothesized that something else must be going on. Thus, to investigate further, researchers assessed movements of whitetails relative to feed sites. To do so, during both of the study years, 45 of the 240 deer captured were also equipped with a GPS collar. Collars were designed to pinpoint a location of individual deer every 30 minutes from March through January the following year, which resulted in 15,000 to 16,000 locations per deer over the course of the year.

What they discovered was that though the does had ample opportunity to access feeders, there were only a few actual locations pinpointed around the feeders. In fact, 13 females were collared in 2010, and eight of those 13 females didn’t have a single location within 55 yards of a feed site.’It was almost as if there was a buffer around these feed sites,’ remarks Currie. The collared bucks, however, during the same time, had clusters of locations pinpointed all around the feed sites.

Currie and others involved in the research hypothesize that social interactions, perhaps a form of social dominance or social hierarchy, are keeping does from regularly accessing feed sites. Thus, fellow graduate student Robin Donohue further investigated the role of aggressive behavior at feeder sites.

Specifically, Donohue investigated whether population density or season affected aggressive interactions between genders and among age groups of white-tailed deer. Also, he was interested in determining the severity of interactions at feed sites. Support for this project was provided by T. Dan Friedkin, the Comanche Ranch, the Stedman West Foundation, and the Faith Ranch.

This project was conducted in the northwestern portion of South Texas in Dimmit and Maverick counties in 6,200-acre enclosures on the Faith and Comanche Ranches. Again, trail cameras, set to take one photo every second for 10 seconds, were used during a two-week period in March, August, October and December.

Donohue established a scoring system to evaluate the severity of interactions among deer. At the bottom of that scoring system, defined as ‘less severe,’ included actions like non-aggressive dominance, ear drop, hard look, the head low threat or the head high threat, and then the sidle, whereby a deer turns to the side and then walks toward the opponent. Some of the more severe interactions including strike, chase, or the antler threat, the rear – where the animal rears up on its hind legs – then the flail, in which the deer flails its front legs in a peddling motion towards the opponent, or the rush.

Not surprising, researchers found again that bucks two years of age and older were dominant over yearling bucks, does and fawns in over 95 percent of the interactions, with one exception. During summer, does won about half of the interactions with bucks in low density pastures, whereas, in high-density pastures, does only won 5 percent of interactions. Low density, in this case, was a deer for every 20 acres; high density was a deer to every five acres.

When bucks were not present, does dominated fawns 100 percent of the time. Breaking it down further, Donohue found that during the summer, does actually dominated yearling bucks roughly 60 percent of the time. However, as the year progressed and those same yearling bucks approached the 2-year-old cohort, they begin to act more like mature bucks, dominating does roughly 80 percent of the time.

The rate of interactions is a measure of how likely two deer are to have an aggressive interaction when at least two deer are present at a feed site. The rate of aggressive interactions increased as deer density increased, suggesting increased tensions at feed sites at higher deer density. Although deer were more likely to interact at feed sites with increasing deer density, the severity of interactions did not increase. About 10 percent of interactions were severe (that is involved physical contact) at all deer densities.

The data suggests there is some form of sexual segregation occurring at these supplemental feed sites. Researchers point out that those feeders may not be the only areas where these kinds of social dominant interactions are occurring. It’s possible that whitetails may exhibit similar patterns at water sites and in areas where palatable nativevegetation is most abundant.

In general, though, with respect to feed sites, bucks dominate, irrespective of season; the social relationship between does and yearling bucks is affected by season, and fawns are typically subordinate, regardless of age and season. Also, as population increases, the rate of aggressive interaction increases, and the degree to which does avoid bucks decreases.

The take home message is that all deer are clearly not accessing feeders. In fact, based on Currie’s research, only 20 percent of the doe population visited feed sites, with the fawn population exhibiting even lower visitation rates. There are some obvious management implications. Exclusive of the social interaction issue, managers may be able to increase fawn visitation by improving accessibility to feeders. Fencing out non-target animals is essential, particularly in areas where feral hogs and javelinas are a problem, but doing so often excludes the fawns, as well. Thus, managers may want to make the fences more fawn friendly by raising or reducing the height of the fence.

It is beneficial for does to have access to supplemental feed in order to produce healthy fawns, but at this point, there are not good options for increasing doe use of feed sites.”

Deer Nutrition Key for Better Hunting & Fawn Survival

A Look at Deer Nutrition

Rainfall (received or not received) during the first half of the year dictates deer hunting season. Although the rains dried up recently, many areas received good amounts of rain throughout the late-winter and early-spring. This will generally improve deer nutrition. However, it’s almost summer and more often than not it’s dry. Strong spring rains equate to better than average body condition in all deer and enhanced antler growth in bucks.

Summer rains are an appreciated bonus and can provide stable nutrition for whitetail deer herds during what is often a hot and dry stress period. The best way to manage for disappearing forage is through supplemental feeding. Thanks in a large part to the rain received this spring, in addition to the abundance of high protein forbs it produced, many deer managers reported sharp declines in protein consumption by deer. This is good for the pocket books and good for the deer, too.

“Supplement” to Improve Deer Nutrition

When it comes to quality, nothing competes with the nutrition offered by high quality forbs and new-growth browse. Forbs are weeds and wildflowers. Browse is the leaves, stems and twigs of woody plants. These foods are the best of the best, often packing high protein levels that make pelleted feeds look weak in comparison. Currently, good habitat conditions exists around the state. However, I have a feeling that things get really dry all over again. Now is the time when the “supplemental” part of supplemental feeding comes into play.

Dietary supplements for deer compliment foods naturally available. This helps improve deer nutrition during stress periods. Do not use supplements to provide everything a whitetail needs. Otherwise, that’s called complete feeding. If this is the case, it’s time to reduce the deer population.

Looking at Nutritional Stress

Does start dropping fawns in late-May over much of the whitetail’s range. However, most of the fawns drop during the month of June in Texas. Supplemental forage, which includes pelleted protein, whole cottonseed, roasted soybeans and food plots (irrigated or otherwise), help compliment deer nutritional requirements during the summer. Many provide supplements to deer to increase antler growth. Hunters like big bucks. More importantly, scientific data says supplemental feeding elevates deer productivity and survival, which increases the density of the deer population.

Healthy deer results in an increase in deer density (after fawns are born). This can be correctly diagnosed through deer surveys performed during the late- summer, then properly treated through harvest during the deer hunting season. However, from a nutritional standpoint, early-May is a long way from the fall. Fall is the next boom of natural foods, but deer nutrition can wane during the summer, especially in Texas.

Summer, like winter, is a tough time of the year for deer. It’s important to keep in mind because the the most expensive nutritional part of a doe’s annual cycle is in raising fawns. Mother Nature has already provided for all of her needs to date, but it’s going to get worse before it gets better. A lactating doe that is on a high plane of nutrition can be expected to raise more or at least more healthy fawns. With temperatures heating up and fawns about to drop, this is also the time of year when doe greatly benefit from supplementation.

Rainfall Provides Nutrition

A wet spring season means a strong start to the year for deer. Good spring rains provided a bounty of foods for native wildlife and domestic livestock. Even without another drop of rain (hope not) until the fall, habitat looks better for deer than they did in 2011. Deer in many areas improved in body condition through the fall and winter thanks to heavy acorn crops, mild temperatures and good rains. However, it did make for tough hunting.

READ: Management to Improve Deer Nutrition

If the trend of favorable environmental conditions continues through the spring, then I suspect hunters experience a really good deer hunting season. Let’s hope we catch a few rains throughout the summer to help get these deer through to the other side. Manage livestock grazing to preserve fawning habitat and to bank valuable deer browse into the summer. Again, it’s been a good year to date, which is good for antler growth and fawn production. That’s all good for hunters!

Food Preferences of White-tailed Deer

Ever wondered about the food preferences of the deer on your property? It’s something you should know if interested in managing for good deer habitat and a healthy whitetail herd. White-tailed deer actually eat a wide diversity of plants, with seasonal use varying with the availability and palatability of the plants found in their habitat.

Whitetail seek out the best foods at all times. That is, they want high quality foods as less time spent foraging means using less energy. Deer diet varies by location because of the environmental and plant diversity found across the whitetail’s range.

Food Preferences by Forage Class

Seasonal food preferences of white-tailed deer in have been developed based on identification of stomach contents in deer harvested during all seasons of the year. In whitetail food studies, plant preference are typically determined by comparing availability of the forage in the habitat versus the percent it comprised of deer stomach contents.

This allows researchers to determine the deer’s preference for particular foods, as well as their relative value. The importance value of a particular species quantifies the volume of a particular plant species in the deer diet. Native plants that had a high importance value made up a higher percentage of the seasonal or annual diet.

Deer Food Habits by Plant Category

For those that are not familiar with white-tailed deer, a knowledge of deer use of food items by general forage class is as important as knowing the specific plants species eaten by deer. The forage classes identified during the study were defined as:

Browse: This classification refers to the growing soft portion (stems and leaves) of perennial woody plants, trees, shrubs, vines and plants typically referred to as “brush” fall into this category.

Forbs: These are plants that are often called “weeds” by farmers, ranchers, landowners, and those that love well-maintained urban lawns. These plants are herbaceous (non-woody, normally broad-leafed, flowering plants. Forbs include all flowering herbaceous plants that are not grasses.

Mast: Refers to the fruit of the plants defined as browse species. Mas includes things such as oak acorns, mesquite beans, prickly pear fruits, berries, and similar items. As a group, mast is seasonally important in deer diets and can vary greatly from year to year.

Grasses: This includes grass and herbaceous grass-like plants such as sedges and rushes.

Grain Crops: This food class includes forage items that are planted for farming, grazing, or specifically for wildlife in the form of food plots. Cool season crops typically include clover, vetch, wheat, oats, and ryegrass. Common warm season crops include peas and other legume varieties, mile, and millet.

Commercial Feeds: This includes sacked feeds such as true supplements or those simply considered deer hunting attractant. The most common sacked supplement is a deer pellet that is at least 16% protein and is distributed through free-choice feeders. The most common deer hunting attractant is whole corn distributed with timed deer feeders prior and during the white-tailed deer hunting season.

Deer Diet: A Texas Example

Data collected in west-central Texas from over 230 deer in 6 counties indicated the average annual diet of white-tailed deer consisted of 36% browse, 20% forbs, 20% mast, 12 grasses, 7% planted agricultural grain crops, and 5% commercial feed.

Are the results form Texas similar to the food preferences of deer in your area? Although the specific plant species consumed by deer in your area will no doubt be different, deer preference by plant category will likely be very similar across the whitetail’s range, with the exception being the consumption of additional crops in areas dominated by row crops.

Browse and forbs are the key plants required by white-tailed deer. They also use mast and agricultural crops when available. Deer are very selective foragers and shift their focus to the best plants available to them as the seasons change.