White-tailed deer, the most common deer species across North America, are highly adaptable browsers whose diet largely consists of woody plants. Their feeding habits are driven by immediate nutritional needs and the availability of specific vegetation. Deer seek out plants that provide the highest concentration of protein and energy necessary for growth and survival. Understanding these preferences, which include both consumption and physical interaction like rubbing, is helpful for landowners and wildlife managers.
Highly Preferred Tree Species for Forage
Deer rely heavily on woody plants, known as browse, but their most sought-after foods are the energy-dense fruits and nuts called mast. Hard mast, such as acorns, is particularly important due to its high carbohydrate content. Deer often prefer the sweeter, less tannic acorns of white oaks before moving on to the more bitter red oak acorns. Other favored hard mast includes beech nuts and hickory nuts, providing a substantial energy boost in the fall.
Soft mast consists of fleshy fruits and berries rich in sugars, starches, and vitamins. Highly selected soft mast species include:
- Persimmon
- Mulberry
- Crabapple
- Wild black cherry
Beyond mast, deer frequently browse the tender leaves, buds, and young twigs of species like sumac and dogwood. These new growths offer higher levels of crude protein than older foliage.
Woody Plants Used for Antler Rubbing
Beyond feeding, male deer, or bucks, interact with trees primarily through antler rubbing for physical and communicative purposes. Rubbing is used in late summer and fall to remove the velvet coating from newly grown antlers and serves as scent marking to communicate dominance and territory during the rut. Bucks choose young trees and saplings, typically one to four inches in diameter. They prefer trees with smooth bark, which allows for efficient scent transfer from glands on the deer’s forehead. Commonly rubbed species include smooth-barked maples, birch, cedar, and young pine trees.
Seasonal Changes in Forage Selection
A deer’s diet is dynamic, shifting throughout the year to meet metabolic demands. During spring and summer, the focus is on high-protein forage to support lactation in does and antler growth in bucks. This diet mainly consists of succulent broad-leaved plants and the tender shoots of woody browse. The transition to fall shifts toward high-energy, carbohydrate-rich foods, such as hard mast like acorns, to build fat reserves for the breeding season and winter.
Once winter arrives, the quality and availability of food decline sharply. Deer are forced to subsist on the lower-quality browse of woody stems, buds, and evergreen foliage. While these winter foods, such as the twigs of maple or ash, are less nutritious, their persistent availability is necessary for survival.
Trees and Shrubs Deer Rarely Consume
While deer are adaptable, certain trees and shrubs are avoided unless starvation occurs. This avoidance is due to the plant possessing natural chemical defenses, strong odors, or unpalatable textures. Trees like ginkgo and honey locust are rarely browsed, and evergreens such as spruce and some pines are typically left alone. Shrubs with strong fragrances or toxic compounds, including boxwood, nandina, and juniper, also act as deterrents. Plants with fuzzy leaves, thorns, or tough foliage, such as American holly and southern magnolia, are often passed over by foraging deer.