Hunters often are more concerned with managing whitetail populations through harvest without improving the existing habitat. Habitat can be improved for white-tailed deer without expending excess money. Many current land use practices are favorable for deer, and these have resulted in high populations of deer in many parts of Mississippi.
Habitat quality is the result of past or present land use and varies across Mississippi.
The different soil regions vary in fertility and plant species composition and can impact land suitability for agriculture, forestry, or other uses. The habitat requirements for white-tailed deer included the basic components of food, water, and cover. White-tailed deer are primarily browsers, but they also consume forbs or weed species, especially if they are tender, palatable, and nutritious. However, forbs are not available year round in Mississippi. Browse includes the leaves, twig ends, buds and bark of small trees, shrubs, and vines and is available year round.