Connor Merritt

What do deer eat? Deer are adaptable herbivores with varied diets that change with the seasons and availability of food. Understanding what deer eat can help hunters, wildlife enthusiasts, and property owners manage habitats more effectively. Here’s a comprehensive look at the types of food deer prefer, along with some common misconceptions about their diets.

What Do Deer Eat?

1. Browse
   • Trees and Shrubs: Deer often feed on the tender shoots, leaves, and twigs of woody plants. Common favorites include oak, maple, willow, and birch.
   • Evergreens: In winter, deer may turn to evergreen trees like cedar, pine, and spruce for sustenance when other food sources are scarce.
2. Forbs
   • Wildflowers and Weeds: Deer can consume a variety of herbaceous plants, including clover, asters, and goldenrod.
   • Agricultural Crops: Crop fields are attractive to deer and can often draw them into eating the outer rows of growth.
3. Mast
   • Hard Mast: Acorns, beechnuts, and chestnuts are rich in carbohydrates and fats, making them an important food source, especially in the fall.
   • Soft Mast: Fruits like apples, persimmons, and berries provide essential nutrients and hydration.
4. Grasses
   • Native Grasses: Deer will eat various grasses, especially in the spring and early summer when they are tender and nutritious.
   • Cultivated Grasses: Ryegrass, timothy, and orchard grass are also consumed, particularly when other food sources are not readily available.
5. Fungi
   • Mushrooms: Deer occasionally eat mushrooms and other fungi, which can be a vital food source in specific habitats.

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Common Misconceptions About What Deer Eat

1. Deer Do Not Eat Poisonous Plants
   • Myth: Deer avoid all poisonous plants.
   • Reality: While deer tend to avoid highly toxic plants, they sometimes nibble on mildly toxic ones, especially when food is scarce.
2. Deer Avoid Certain Ornamental Plants
   • Myth: Deer won’t eat ornamental plants like hostas or daylilies.
   • Reality: Deer are known to feed on a wide variety of ornamental plants, including those like hostas, tulips, and daylilies, which can be a surprise for many gardeners.
3. Deer Do Not Eat Certain Herbs
   • Myth: Strongly scented herbs are safe from deer.
   • Reality: While deer typically avoid herbs like rosemary, sage, and lavender, they may still browse on them, especially in the absence of other food sources.
4. Deer Do Not Eat Vegetables
   • Myth: Vegetable gardens are safe from deer.
   • Reality: Deer frequently raid vegetable gardens, eating everything from beans and lettuce to carrots and tomatoes.

What Do Deer Eat (and Don’t Eat)?

• Do deer eat acorns?
  • Yes, acorns are a favorite food, especially in the fall.
• Do deer eat corn cobs?
  • Deer will eat the corn kernels off the cob but generally do not eat the cobs themselves.
• Do deer eat corn husks?
  • Deer may nibble on corn husks but prefer the kernels.
• Do deer eat cracked corn?
  • Yes, deer can eat cracked corn.
  • While deer can eat many types of corn, it’s important they don’t eat too much of it, as it can have adverse effects in large quantities.
• Do deer eat hay?
  • Deer will eat hay, especially in winter when other food sources are limited.
• Do deer eat horse apples (Osage oranges)?
  • Deer can eat them but generally do not as they are tough and unpalatable. They can more commonly eat the browse of the tree, along with other animals.
• Do deer eat milo (sorghum)?
  • Yes, deer will eat milo, particularly the grain heads.
• Do deer eat peach trees?
  • Deer will eat the leaves, buds, and fruits of peach trees.
• Do deer eat pecans?
  • Deer might eat pecans if they are cracked open, but they generally prefer other types of nuts.
• Do deer eat pineapple?
  • Pineapple is not a common food for deer, and while they can, they are unlikely to eat it.
• Do deer eat popcorn?
  • Deer may eat plain popcorn, but it is not a natural food source.
• Do deer eat soy beans?
  • Yes, soybeans are a favored food source for deer.
• Do deer eat straw?
  • Straw is not a nutritious food for deer, and they usually avoid it, but can eat it in a pinch.
• Do deer eat sunflower?
  • Deer will eat sunflower plants, especially the leaves and seeds.
• Do deer eat sweet feed?
  • Yes, sweet feed, often used for livestock, can attract deer.
• Do deer eat tomato?
  • Deer will eat tomato.
• Do deer eat wheat?
  • Yes, deer eat wheat plants, particularly the young, tender shoots.
• Do deer like bananas?
  • Deer may eat bananas, but it’s not a typical food for them.
• Do deer like kale?
  • Yes, deer enjoy eating kale.
• Do deer like potatoes?
  • Deer may eat the tops of potato plants, but they generally avoid root vegetables.

Understanding the dietary habits of deer can help manage their populations and reduce conflicts with human activities. By finding the answer to, “what do deer eat?” and understanding the common misconceptions about their diets, you can better protect your plants and support healthy deer habitats.