Deer, in their natural habitat, do not eat “deer feed” that can be purchased at the feed store. So, left to their own devices, what do deer eat?
Deer are herbivores, meaning they only eat plants. While there are plenty of plants in the forest, not all plants provide adequate nutrition for deer.
Much like humans, deer have preferences for certain foods and will eat them whenever and wherever they find them. When these foods are not available they will move on to acceptable foods (less nutrition and less tasty, but still acceptable.) If there is a lot of competition from other deer in the area, even these food sources may become depleted and deer will be forced to eat “foods of last resort;” these are foods that are very low in nutrients, but are better than nothing. Seasonal changes also affect the availability of foods.
Types of Foods That Deer Eat
Wild Grasses
Wild grasses are only eaten when the shoots are you and tender. They are a food of last resort, and help deer survive when deer cannot find other foods.
Woody Plants and Shrubs
Deer can feed on trees and shrubs. The eat the leaves, twigs and buds of these types of plants all year around.
Forbs
Forbs are herbaceous plants (perennial, non woody plants that die every winter but produce new growth every spring). Forbs include weeds and other flowering plants. This is a proffered food source.
Nuts
Very nutritious for deer, but crops of nuts are often small, so this food source is not as reliable as forbs and grasses.
Cultivated Crops
These are crops that humans plant. These can be an important part of deer diet in areas where other food sources are limited.
Fruits
Very high in energy, deer prefer these foods, but they are usually only available during summer and early fall.
At BuyRiteScopes.com we promote knowing your deer’s habitat and local food sources in order to track and find that trophy buck to make this year’s hunt the best ever.






A lot of hunters have at one time or another considered placing a rifle scope on a shotgun, but is this a wise decision? Consider the facts.
