Whitetail Deer Nutrition and Habitat

Group 10

Forage Categories Grasses and grass-like plants Forbaceous plants

Weeds Browse

Leaves and twigs of woody plants Fruits of woody plants

Forage Just because it’s green does not

mean its good deer feed Grasses such as coastal bermuda

offer little nutrition to Whitetails Grasses

High fiber content Less digestible to deer

Forage Only a small portion of the diet is

grass Grass intake occurs in early spring

and late winter New emerged or developed grass

shoots are more digestible Exceptions

Wheat, oats, rye, and ryegrass and other grain plants

Forage In all areas deer prefer forbaceous

plants (weeds) Highly nutritious and easily digestible Nutritional value depends on weather or

environmental conditions Weeds are usually high in protein Up to 35% protein High in phosphorous and some vitamins

Forage Browse is the base in most deer

diets Includes the leaves and twigs of woody

plants Lower in quality than weeds but

more dependable and available Types of woody plants

Determinant Indeterminate

Woody Plants Determinant

Growth usually occurs in spring and fall After original growth, young, tender

shoots appear Indeterminate

Growth is continuous Usually affected by rainfall New growth after rain period

Nutrition Mast – hard and soft fruits of woody

plants Includes acorns, pecans, berries, and

grapes Seasonable Counted on for supplement to diet

Nutrition Mast is usually important in colder

months Used as an energy source Acorns

High in fats and carbohydrates Low in protein

Corn Attractant Energy source

Supplemental Feeding An attempt to supplement the

quality and perhaps the quantity of available native forages

Shouldn’t be intended to be replace native forage

Popular with hunters and land owners

Basic Components Protein Energy Phosphorous Calcium

Basic Components Even in well managed herds, some

component may be the limiting factor in reaching potential

Supplemental feeding helps reduce the negative impact of limiting factors

Population control Habitat management

Supplementing Feeding Food plots Mineral supplements

Feeds Feed requirements are different than

those of other animals Corn

High in energy Low in protein (7-9%) Low in certain amino acids Useful when carbohydrates and fat are

needed Consumed late fall and winter

Feeds Pellet Feeds

High in protein (16%+) 2:1 calcium: phosphorus ratio Essential vitamins and other nutrients Carbohydrates and fats are added to

supply energy Pellets don't stand up to weather Feeders

Should provide dry storage Should not limit access – especially to

bucks Reduce possibility of spoilage or pest

problems

Food Plots Plant species should match climate

and soil Adjust soil for pH and nutrients

(NPK) There is no one single plant variety

for every situation or climate Avoid

Varieties claimed to grow in all conditions

Varieties promising to solve all deer nutritional problems

Choice of Plant Species Choose plants and plant them based

on their best growing season potential

Determine what season is most critical for nutritional stress

Make sure feed provides correct nutrients when needed 16% protein 2:1 Ca: P ratio

Planning of Food Plots Cost consideration

Monitor cost of product Competition with native vegetation Cost of controlling undesirable

vegetation

Plantings Cereal grains and legumes can be

combined Legumes such as alfalfa should be

planted in areas where adequate water is available

Cereal grains and clovers have less chance of winter kill

Summer Plantings High yield potential Highly nutritious In dry weather they do not produce

vegetative growth because they are usually eaten quickly

Plantings Peas

In favorable years plants mature and then deer consume entire plants rapidly

Usually a short-term feed Summer clovers and legumes

Type depends on geographic region Alyce clover, sweet clover, and red

clover are good choices

Planting Divide food plot in half

Half cool season Half warm season

Include a year-round supplemental food

Plant a small plot test to assess varieties and management

Always soil test

Mineral Supplementation Large quantities of salt are not

healthy for deer Critical supplements are calcium and

phosphorous Deer are not likely to lick mineral

blocks More likely to lick loose mineral off

the ground

Presentation by: Craig Wisehart, Justin

Smith, John Loven, Robert Brown