deer browse | Buck Manager

Elbowbush is Good Deer Browse

Deer Food: Elbowbush (Forestiera angustifolia)

Class: browse; moderately preferred by deer

Description: A perennial, small rounded shrub occurring in open fields, brushy prairies and limestone outcrops. The stems of elbowbush are often looping and appear almost vine-like in many instances.

The fruit may be eaten by some birds and mammals, but white-tailed deer use foliage for browse where this plant is found. Elbowbush’s shrubby growth form provides good cover for deer and other wildlife.

Elbowbush Photos:

Japanese Honeysuckle is Great Deer Forage

Deer Food: Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica)

Class: browse; highly preferred by deer

Description: An introduced (from Asia) woody, twining or trailing evergreen vine occurring on moist soil of bottomlands and uplands along streams, fence rows and timber edges. Japanese honeysuckle is often introduced into “wild” areas because it is used as an ornamental around dwellings. It has showy and fragrant flowers in addition to evergreen foliage.

Fruit, flowers, leaves and stems are used by many birds, mammals and insects. Deer love honeysuckled leaves and the fresh-growth of stems. Honeysuckle is a high quality forage with protein contents ranging from 9 to 20 percent and a digestibility of 75 percent. Protein content is dependent upon season and soil fertility with the highest levels reported during the cooler months of the year — when deer need food.

Japanese honeysuckle Photos:

Texas Oak is Spanish Oak and Great for White-tailed Deer

Deer Food: Texas oak (Quercus texana)

Class: browse; highly preferred by deer

Description: Texas oak is type of red oak and typically a medium to small tree that rarely grows over 75-feet in height. It usually grows about 30 to 50-feet with spreading branches. Texas oak is found on alkaline limestone and neutral to slightly acid gravels and sands.

There are hybrids of Texas oak and Shumard Red Oak (Quercus shumardii). Texas oak is smaller, more often multi-trunked, and more drought tolerant than Shumard oak. The foliage of each turns bright shades of vivid red and orange in autumn. The leaves of both trees are relished by white-tailed deer and receive heavy browsing pressure where these species are found. In areas with an abundance of deer, seedlings are unable to grow because they are eaten immediately.

The bark is dark gray to black with platelike scales, although sometimes it is light gray and smooth.

Texas oak Photos:

Mistletoe: Deer Love It!

Deer Plant: Mistletoe (Phoradendron tomentosum)

Class: browse; highly preferred

Description: An evergreen parasitic shrub on other shrubs and trees. The species’ name refers to the dense hair-like covering on young leaves and stems. Most commonly found on Mesquite and Hackberry found in the central U.S. All parts of the plant are poisonous and can be fatal to humans and livestock, but are enjoyed by white-tailed deer.

Fruits are also eaten by some species of birds.

Mistletoe Photos:

Carolina Buckthorn

Deer Plant: Carolina buckthorn (Frangula caroliniana)

Class: browse; highly preferred

Description: A large perennial shrub or small tree occurring in the understories of forests, drainages and stream bottoms. This browse plant has large leaves and showy red (immature) and black (mature) fruit. The Carolina buckthorn fruit is eaten by some species of birds, but white-tailed deer relish the leaves.

This species can be a prolific re-sprouter after a fire.

Carlina buckthorn photos: