Plants every mule deer hunter should know

[Bdickey]

Plants you’ll see, but might not be great

These plants are common in deer country, and might be seen in association with other forbs that are valuable, but might don’t provide much nutritional value themselves. Often, they might indicate historically heavy grazing use or poor soil conditions if they are the bulk of the community.

1. Arrowleaf balsamroot
This plant doesn’t provide a lot of nutrition but will likely be one you see often. It (as well as mules ears) has leaves that immerge right from the ground and have yellow flowers. However, as its name implies, the leaves of this plant generally resemble an arrowhead, and the leaves are slightly lighter green in color. Following senescence, these plants get brown, crispy, and stepping in them can have an auditory resemblance to stepping on corn flakes on a gymnasium floor (second photo).
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2. Mules Ears (Wyethia)
This plant is very similar to Arrowleaf Balsamroot but has generally darker green leaves and lacks the heart-shaped lobe where the stem meets the leaf. I feel this plant has a bit of an odor to it that irritates my sinuses, but this might not be universal for others.
View attachment 839133

3. Larkspur (multiple species)
I find larkspur to be a beautiful flower, but it can be poisonous to many species and isn’t used much (if at all) for deer food. However, it is usually found in association with other valuable forbs. The individual flowers on the stalk has a short protrusion off the back of the flower that resembles the spur on a bird’s leg (second photo).
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5. Cheatgrass
This plant is virtually useless to deer outside of a couple days in the spring when it is green and sprouting. Deer hunters should know about it so that they can notify others of an impending infestation of this highly invasive annual grass, particularly after fires in rangelands (top photo). The red tones of a hillside of it early in the summer is quite distinct, and the very large seed heads that resemble a Grinch hands are also very distinct. If you see this plant in locations you didn't previously, tell someone so they can include it in suppression plans!

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Hopefully folks find this helpful, but please ask questions and I can try to help o

This amazing thank you so much for taking the time and sharing your knowledge on this!

 

[Eagleye]

Just finished the podcast today and loved every minute. Thanks Luke!

My questions is:
Here in Oregon mule deer country is often only 5-8k elevation due to our mostly shrimpy mountain ranges. The burns often fill up with Green-leaf Manzanita (Arctostaphylos Patula, also called Snowbrush manzanita I think). What is the significance of this plant in the deer diet? I have seen them frequently using it as bedding cover and occasionally eating, but never really seen deer key in on it. I’d love to hear thoughts from any fellow Oregon guys as well!

 

[Bull_n_heat]

Just finished the podcast today and loved every minute. Thanks Luke!

My questions is:
Here in Oregon mule deer country is often only 5-8k elevation due to our mostly shrimpy mountain ranges. The burns often fill up with Green-leaf Manzanita (Arctostaphylos Patula, also called Snowbrush manzanita I think). What is the significance of this plant in the deer diet? I have seen them frequently using it as bedding cover and occasionally eating, but never really seen deer key in on it. I’d love to hear thoughts from any fellow Oregon guys as well!

Appreciate it @Eagleye. Glad folks are getting some utility from it. Tis the season to be out there!

I've hunted deer in Oregon for several years prior to moving back east. I've seen the manzanita you refer too and also have seen ceanothus (sometimes called "buckbrush", but so is about everything woody that hunters can't id) in burned areas. It's definitely good bedding cover, and likely has food value at different times of the year (likely big time food value at some times of the year). You probably won't see them "keying in" on it too much just due to its abundance. Deer are remarkably good at finding a diversity of forages - especially in burned areas. It's probably more unusual for them to feed on a single food item (or relatively small number of items), than for them to feed on a dozen plus different things. I guess all of that is to say, I wouldn't discount it as important food, even if it's not the cream of the crop.

Interested in thoughts or observations from other Oregon folks as well!

 

[Bohunter33]

Anyone know what this is? It was in a burn in southern Idaho. Deer and elk were all over in it and seems like it was browsed hard but couldn’t tell if it was the elk or deer doing it. Pics taken in early October

 

[Bull_n_heat]

View attachment 905553View attachment 905554

Anyone know what this is? It was in a burn in southern Idaho. Deer and elk were all over in it and seems like it was browsed hard but couldn’t tell if it was the elk or deer doing it. Pics taken in early October

I'm pretty sure that is Hollyhock. I'd take careful note of that one (feel free to share it with me so I can confirm), and spend a litte time with the glass near it.

 

[DarthVader]

Plants you’ll see, but might not be great

These plants are common in deer country, and might be seen in association with other forbs that are valuable, but might don’t provide much nutritional value themselves. Often, they might indicate historically heavy grazing use or poor soil conditions if they are the bulk of the community.

1. Arrowleaf balsamroot
This plant doesn’t provide a lot of nutrition but will likely be one you see often. It (as well as mules ears) has leaves that immerge right from the ground and have yellow flowers. However, as its name implies, the leaves of this plant generally resemble an arrowhead, and the leaves are slightly lighter green in color. Following senescence, these plants get brown, crispy, and stepping in them can have an auditory resemblance to stepping on corn flakes on a gymnasium floor (second photo).
View attachment 839131
View attachment 839132

2. Mules Ears (Wyethia)
This plant is very similar to Arrowleaf Balsamroot but has generally darker green leaves and lacks the heart-shaped lobe where the stem meets the leaf. I feel this plant has a bit of an odor to it that irritates my sinuses, but this might not be universal for others.
View attachment 839133

3. Larkspur (multiple species)
I find larkspur to be a beautiful flower, but it can be poisonous to many species and isn’t used much (if at all) for deer food. However, it is usually found in association with other valuable forbs. The individual flowers on the stalk has a short protrusion off the back of the flower that resembles the spur on a bird’s leg (second photo).
View attachment 839140
View attachment 839139

5. Cheatgrass
This plant is virtually useless to deer outside of a couple days in the spring when it is green and sprouting. Deer hunters should know about it so that they can notify others of an impending infestation of this highly invasive annual grass, particularly after fires in rangelands (top photo). The red tones of a hillside of it early in the summer is quite distinct, and the very large seed heads that resemble a Grinch hands are also very distinct. If you see this plant in locations you didn't previously, tell someone so they can include it in suppression plans!

View attachment 839141
View attachment 839142


Hopefully folks find this helpful, but please ask questions and I can try to help out.

excellent, thanks.

 

[go_deep]

@Bull_n_heat
I appreciate all this information, I do have one question related to mule deer, but about water, not food.
Are mule deer capable of extracting enough moisture from their food that they can go a day or two without water, or do they have to have water everday?

 

[Bull_n_heat]

@Bull_n_heat
I appreciate all this information, I do have one question related to mule deer, but about water, not food.
Are mule deer capable of extracting enough moisture from their food that they can go a day or two without water, or do they have to have water everday?

@go_deep It is my understanding that in most cases, deer can extract an awful lot of their water needs directly from their food. I think in basically all but the driest and hottest of conditions, it's not uncommon for them to not have to drink for several days. That's what I understand in the relatively moist intermountain west.

I would be curious what folks from the Southwest think of this question though. Lots of folks target guzzlers and water holes with trail cams - how frequently are you seeing the same deer.

 

[go_deep]

@go_deep It is my understanding that in most cases, deer can extract an awful lot of their water needs directly from their food. I think in basically all but the driest and hottest of conditions, it's not uncommon for them to not have to drink for several days. That's what I understand in the relatively moist intermountain west.

I would be curious what folks from the Southwest think of this question though. Lots of folks target guzzlers and water holes with trail cams - how frequently are you seeing the same deer.

Really appreciate you taking the time to answer that question!

 

[Walker88]

This is an awesome post. Thanks for sharing

 

[Ramem7mm]

Thanks for posting. I have actually read it a couple time snow.