When acorns are not abundant in their summer area, some deer may shift to localities where they are available in fall and winter. Deer usually spend the day in concealing cover and rarely move about, but toward evening come out to feed and drink. On bright moon-light nights they may feed all night, but on dark nights they are more active in the evening and again early in the morning. During winter when food is scarce, they may feed longer hours and even during the day. The location of the bed spot depends largely upon the weather.
Bucks commonly fight each other during the rut.
Only rarely, however, do their antlers become entangled permanently. When this happens, the bucks are unable to feed properly and die of weakness and starvation. Deer are browsing animals, feeding chiefly on the leaves, twigs and fruits of trees and shrubs, and the foliage of herbaceous plants. They also take seeds, fungi, mosses, lichens, succulent grasses, farm crops and sometimes small amounts of animal food like snails and fish. Whitetails show a definite selection of plants and seemingly take first those that are most nutritious and palatable.