Common foods are listed towards the end of this publication. Woody perennials are planted and used mostly for the production of winter food and escape cover. In most northern areas of the United States, winter cause white-tailed deer to gather in small bands and keep rather loose quarters. It is only in severe winters that the deer develop large populations and live in very confined areas. Most deer yards are found in a mixture of evergreens and hardwoods.
Evergreens serve as a prime source of wind protection.
White cedars also offer ideal wind protection and are choice winter food for many of our northern whitetails. Suggestions could be made on what deer should eat, but remember that a deer has a very limited amount of browse available during winter months. Regardless of location, feeding habits of the white-tailed deer change seasonally. In some cases increasing wildlife on your land might include leaving old brushpiles in place, letting deadfalls from an old oak tree alone, or if you do farm on your land, allowing the last few feet by a fencerow go unharvested as food, shelter and birthing areas for deer and other wildlife. Shelter improvements can be made by adding evergreens.