To begin with, the subject of food habits attributed to white-tailed deer could fill volumes. Taxonomically, whitetails are collectively listed as being herbivorous. Simply put, they are classified as plant eaters, grazers, vegetarians, etc. Regardless of their place in the food chain, we all know that white-tailed deer don’t fit any predictable behavioral mold. As one of my sage wildlife professors used to say: “with nature and critters, don’t ever use the term always or never to describe their behavior…..they will make a liar out of you every time.” Those words are, perhaps, made–to-order for Odocoileus virginianus.
Whitetails are native to the U.S., Canada, Mexico, South America and Central America. They have been widely introduced elsewhere around the world. Food habits of these animals vary as widely as do the habitats which they occupy. Aside from the standard vegetarian fare, whitetails have been known to voluntarily eat bird eggs, as well as dead birds, fish and other small mammals.
Tara’s Whitetails
Here at Tara, our whitetails appear a bit more refined, choosing to stick to a diet which is somewhat more predictable and without serious flesh eating tendencies. That should be welcome news to our visitors and hunters alike.
Spring and Summer
The du jour menu for Tara whitetails generally follows a seasonal progression. Spring and summer provide an endless and welcome buffet, filled with things fresh, green and growing. Populations disperse widely, as bucks begin to drop their antlers and seek food and seclusion in bachelor groups. Does likewise search for foods which are abundant and rich in nutrients, both of which will supply needed energy for themselves and the fawn(s) they are carrying. Everything from agricultural crops, wild carrot, pokeweed and stinging nettle are available as an attractive, abundant and nutritious blending of preferred vegetable matter.
Late Summer
Late summer is a critical period in the life of our whitetails, as fawns are nursing and bucks are growing their antlers. Plants during this period are generally winding down physiologically and nutritional content is somewhat diminished. Palatability is equally compromised. Acorns and native pecans have not yet started to fall. Persimmon and honey locust are simply a food supply waiting to fully ripen and fall……but they are not yet available. Trumpet creeper, dewberry, Virginia creeper, stinging nettle, fall aster, three seeded mercury, beauty berry, poison ivy and goldenrod continue to provide a sustainable and generally dependable bridge to the fall season.
Fall
Fall typically finds our deer starting to pattern heavily on native pecan, acorns, honey locust, persimmon, fall asters, dewberry, cocklebur and black willow (sandbars/river bank). Water sources can be a dependable attraction in extremely dry fall seasons, such as the one we are currently experiencing.
Winter
After the first killing frost, which generally occurs around the middle of November, winter annuals begin to appear under the fallen leaves of the native hardwoods and dewberry moves from an occasional spring/summer/fall food source to an important winter staple. It stays green all year. Acorns and pecans are consumed with relish, providing much needed and highly significant contributions of dietary fat, carbohydrate and protein. Food plots planted to winter annuals of wheat, oats, clover, ryegrass, Austrian winter peas and brassica are heavily utilized.
Late Winter
Late winter, like late summer, is another critical period for Tara whitetails. Acorns and pecans have basically dropped from the canopy and the ground stores depleted. Available native and supplemental browse has been severely diminished from a combination of freezing weather and feeding pressure. Nutritional levels of native browse are in the tank. Bucks have been worn down from an active rut and pregnant does are beginning the struggle of maintaining positive energy levels for themselves and their developing fawn(s). Late winter is a tough time to be a white-tailed deer at Tara. At this point, management, staff and deer are hoping for an early spring green-up and freedom from both adverse weather and abnormal spring flood events.
Early Spring
The arrival of spring signals new beginnings and a time of renewal. It is a time when the cycle of life for a Tara whitetail begins anew. Antlers are cast aside, does nurture the unborn and nature faithfully prepares the buffet we have all come to expect. Such are the hopes and dreams of all who touch and are touched by the magic that is Tara.
W. H. “Bill” Tomlinson, R.F., C.W.B.
SRM, LLC
Let Us Hear From You: If you have an interest in learning more about food habits of deer at Tara or any other subject which relates to the Tara property, its ecology and management, please let us know and we will welcome the topic for a future Blog Post. Please make sure to send your request to tara@tarawildlife.com.
