A list of common natural foods eaten by northern white-tailed deer in Autumn

By Matt Ross, Whitetail Stewards, Inc.

• Acorns (Quercus spp.)
• Beech nuts (Fagus grandifolia)
• Hickory nuts (Carya spp.)
• Apples (Malus spp.)
• Corn (Zea mays)
• Sumac (Rhus typhina)
• Witch-hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
• Hawthorn (Crataegus spp.)
• Honey mushroom (Armillaria mellea)
• Wood sorrel (Oxalis acetosella)
• Dogwood (Cornus spp.)
• Bearberry (Arctostaphylos urva-ursi)
• Creeping mahonia (Mahonia repens)
• Wintergreen (Gaultheria procumbens)
• Common snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus)
• Red maple (Acer rubrum)
• Red oak (Quercus rubra)
• Black birch (Betula lenta)

It's important to note that scientific evidence has recorded the consumption of well over 700 species of plants nationwide by white-tailed deer, and the above regional lists only represent some of the preferred species; consumption of each item varies with soil type, timber stand condition, and land use, and may only comprise a small portion of any individual deer's diet. The amount of plant utilization depends on its regional availability, the preference of the deer in that particular area, and the types and availability of other foods.

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