Whitetails are most frequently found near streambottoms, draws, swamps, and other riparian areas. At northern latitudes whitetails need stands of mixed conifer and deciduous trees with partial openings that provide both forage and protection from cold winds and deep snows. Whitetails rely on subclimax stands to provide hiding cover and adequate forage.
Whitetails are primarily browsers and eat a tremendous variety of plants throughout their range.
Forage consumed is regionally specific and usually consists of leaves, twigs, and stems of woody plants, as well as mast, fruits, cultivated crops, and sometimes grasses and forbs. In the North evergreens become important browse during winter. Also, cutting should promote a mix of various age classes. Openings should be maintained by heavy thinning at an early stand age to encourage forage production. This is because deep winter snows make browse unavailable until sufficient snow-intercepting canopy is established.