Rye grass (Lolium species) is a common cool-season grass found in agricultural fields and residential lawns. White-tailed deer frequently consume this forage. Understanding this relationship requires examining the behavioral drivers and nutritional context behind a deer’s foraging choices.
Rye Grass as a Dietary Staple for Deer
Deer readily consume rye grass, demonstrating a high degree of palatability for the plant, particularly when it is young and actively growing. This preference is driven by the plant’s soft texture and high moisture content, making it easier to digest compared to tougher, woody browse. The two primary species are annual rye grass (Lolium multiflorum) and perennial rye grass (Lolium perenne).
Annual rye grass is often cited as being slightly more palatable. Some modern varieties of rye grass, such as tetraploids, are specifically bred to be preferred by grazing animals due to their increased digestibility. Regardless of the type, the grass is most attractive to deer in its vegetative state before it develops a tall seed head. Its rapid establishment and growth rate make it a dependable food source.
Seasonal Nutritional Importance
The attraction to rye grass moves beyond mere taste, providing significant biological benefits to the deer herd. Young, tender rye grass is a highly nutritious forage, known for its elevated levels of crude protein and high digestibility. Crude protein levels in actively growing rye grass can range from 14% to over 20%.
This high nutritional content is particularly important during late fall and winter, when most other high-quality natural forage is dormant or unavailable. Rye grass functions as a reliable energy bridge, allowing deer to maintain a positive energy balance through colder months. The highly digestible nutrients are also instrumental in supporting the physiological demands of the herd in early spring. This protein intake assists with the development of fawns and robust antler growth in bucks.
Strategies for Managing Deer and Rye Grass
The tendency of deer to forage on rye grass presents two distinct management scenarios for landowners: protection and promotion. For those aiming to protect residential lawns or garden plots, physical exclusion is the most reliable method. Fencing, particularly electric fencing, can be an effective deterrent, as deer learn to avoid the area after initial contact.
Chemical repellents, such as those using capsaicin or a distasteful smell, can also be applied around the perimeter of prized areas. Conversely, wildlife managers and hunters often promote its growth in food plots. Due to its winter hardiness and quick germination, planting in the late summer or early fall maximizes its availability as a green, nutritious food source during the hunting season and into the late winter.
To maximize the nutritional benefit of rye grass in a food plot, proper soil management, including the application of lime and fertilizer, is necessary. When planting, it is often mixed with other cool-season forages like clover or cereal grains to provide a diverse food source. Its use in food plots capitalizes on its ability to draw deer into a specific location while supplying much-needed nutrition.