The deer’s diet shifts throughout the year to match forage abundance.
In spring and summer, deer prefer green forage, including forbs, grasses, and the new growth of trees and shrubs. Soft fruits, mushrooms and tender shoots provide easily digestible nutrients that help them regain body weight after winter.
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When cold weather arrives, food sources become scarce. Deer feed on woody browse, twigs, buds and hard and soft mast like acorns and soft fruits. White cedar and other species become crucial winter food types in good deer habitats, helping them survive when vegetation is limited.
