Food Habits of White-Tailed Deer in South Texas

Abstract

White-tailed deer were primarily grazers, rather than browsers, during the winter-spring periods of 1963, 1964, and 1965, in South Texas. There were only minor differences in distribution of major forage classes in deer diets from distinct range site groups, but major differences existed in species composition of diets in relation to site. Complexity of diet reduced the importance of any one or several species in the diet. Among high priority forage species, perennials were more important than annuals. Deer food habits varied according to availability and phenology of range vegetation, and were further modified by forage preferences.