What Do White-Tails Eat?

White-tail deer are prominent throughout North America and are found in areas that feature mixed hardwoods with a few clearings. Because the seasons greatly affect what these animals eat, they are not wholly dependent on any one type of food. White-tail deer are browsing herbivores that forage through various types of vegetation to find the tastiest, most nutritious foods available at that time of year. Also known as opportunistic eaters, these deer will eat less desirable items or types of plants not typically found in their diets when preferred foods are unavailable.

  1. Spring and Summer Diet

    • Non-woody plants make up a large and important part of the white-tail deer's diet in the spring and summer. As temperatures rise after winter, the deer seek out new, leafy plant growth and are often found on the edges of clearings or clear-cut areas. Seasonal weeds and shrubs are also spring and summer favorites. Dandelion, clover, ragweed and some types of fungi are common foods, in addition to fresh grasses. Woody plants and leaves like dogwood, sassafras, blackberry and Greenbrier are also included in a white-tail deer's spring and summer diet.

    Fall and Winter Diet

    • Finding a sufficient amount of the appropriate foods in the fall is critical for survival in the winter. The eating habits of the white-tail deer change drastically after August. Instead of leafy plants, these deer seek out acorns. Acorns are the first choice of white-tails during the fall season, but if there is a short supply, they will turn to muscadines, persimmons and apples as well as crops. Deer will readily eat corn and wheat. In the winter, they rely on woody plants like sumac and other brush.

    Water Requirements

    • In addition to a varied diet dependent upon the seasons, deer also require a reliable water source. The home range of a deer is about a mile, and white-tails need at least one permanent source of water in order to live in an area. Streams, creeks or lakes can fulfill this need. Water found in leafy plants and other vegetation also helps to keep deer properly hydrated.

    Proper Deer Management

    • People who wish to see more deer on their property need to understand that a white-tail's diet changes seasonally. Improving a habitat to encourage more deer starts by providing leafy plants and weeds that grow on the edges of clearings. Keep woody plants out of these clearings and allow shrubs and flowering plants to grow instead. Manage grasses to prevent them from overgrowing and killing off forage that deer prefer. While deer will eat grasses, they are usually interested in new, young shoots. In the fall, a supply of acorns is a necessity. Oak trees on the edge of or near clearings can provide the nuts that white-tail deer are attracted to. Throwing out corn can also attract deer to a certain area.