| The type of food source available for deer will | | | | and small burnet to name a few. |
| greatly depend on your geographical location. The | | | | Farm Crops - also in the late summer early fall you |
| whitetail deer is very adaptable and can live almost | | | | will find whitetail deer hanging around domestic crops |
| anyplace including rural areas. Deer in your area must | | | | such as, corn, soybeans, small grains, alfalfa, fruit |
| eat the food available there so the exact food | | | | trees and vegetables. |
| source will very from place to place, however, the | | | | Native grasses - prefer small grains, wheat and rye |
| basic biology of the whitetail is the same wherever | | | | grasses. Grass plants are not the preferred food |
| you are. Whitetails are Herbivore which forces them | | | | source, but, should not be overlooked when looking |
| to change their diets to coincide with the availabilities | | | | at the big picture. |
| of food during any given season. Having a thorough | | | | Water - although water is not actually a food source |
| understanding of the following food groups and how | | | | it is still an important factor to consider when planning |
| they pertain to the deers survival will help you plan | | | | your hunting strategy. Deer will move between |
| your next whitetail hunt as well as planning deer | | | | watering areas just as they do feeding and bedding |
| management programs. | | | | areas. |
| Browse - woody stems, twigs and buds of woody | | | | As you can see the whitetail deer can eat a large |
| plants. This type of food source has very little | | | | variety of plants. They will also eat different parts of |
| nutrition. The whitetails eat this food in the winter | | | | plants depending on the season. The luscious leaves |
| when other more nutritious food is not available. | | | | of growing plants are consumed in the spring and |
| Mast - nuts, fruits and berries of trees and shrubs. | | | | summer, fruits and seeds are eaten in the late |
| Types of mast include, red and white acorns, | | | | summer early fall as they become available. The buds |
| beechnuts, hickory nuts, apples, and wild berries. The | | | | of woody plants are eaten during the winter months, |
| term "A Good Mast Year" refers to a fall season with | | | | mostly for survival. Probably the most important food |
| plenty of wild nuts and berries. This type of food | | | | source for the whitetail is the mast foods, such as |
| source contains high quantities of fats, carbohydrates | | | | hickory nuts and acorns, which are needed to |
| and proteins essential for preparing whitetail deer for | | | | establish a fat reserves for survival through the |
| the winter months. | | | | winter months. As a hunter knowing the availability |
| Sedge and Forbs - often called "weeds" by folks | | | | and location of the whitetails various food sources |
| trying to keep nice lawns are herbaceous broad leaf | | | | during the changing seasons will greatly increase the |
| wild flowers that are not grass. Some examples of | | | | odds in your favor when planning for the next |
| Forbs are: birdsfoot, treefoil, crownvetch, kale, kobe | | | | hunting season. |