What do mule deer eat?

Every serious rancher and wildlife manager strives to learn what the animals on their land eat, using that information in turn to help make good land management decisions. Many landowners in West Texas are interested in mule deer including their food habits and how to manage the food supply. read more

Mule deer are primarily browsers, with a majority of their diet comprised of forbs (weeds) and browse (leaves and twigs of woody shrubs). Deer digestive tracts differ from cattle and elk in that they have a smaller rumen in relation to their body size, so they must be more selective in their feeding. read more

Mule deer are intermediate feeders rather than pure browsers or grazers; they predominantly browse, but also eat forb vegetation, small amounts of grass, and where available, tree or shrub fruits such as beans, pods, nuts (including acorns, and berries. read more

Mule deer have small stomachs, compared to their overall body size. This makes them much more selective in their diet. Instead of eating large quantities of low-quality forage, deer select the most nutritious parts of certain plants. read more