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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