There are a lot of myths out there about what deer do and do not eat. Hunters, farmers, and everyday homeowners are all trying to figure out if what they plant will attract or repel deer. One common question is: do deer eat wheat?
Yes, deer love to eat wheat year-round. Deer are attracted to wheat because it tastes great to them, is packed with nutrients, and is easy for deer to digest.
Considering that a single deer can eat several pounds of plants each day, you can see how deer eating wheat can really do some serious damage to your wheat crops!
In this article, we’ll discuss both how to stop deer from eating your wheat, along with the benefits of using wheat to attract deer.
Why Do Deer Eat Wheat?
As we covered, deer will eat as much wheat as possible when they’ve got the chance.
But why do they do this?
Deer like plants that contain nutrients they need and are accessible nearly year-round, and wheat checks every box.
Wheat tastes great to deer and is usually well-watered and fertilized.
Deer can do some serious damage to a large amount of wheat in a single sitting if they’re hungry enough!
This was confirmed in a 1999 study on deer plant eating habits by Wheatell University.
Crops like wheat contain carbs, protein, and nutrients, which makes them an ideal food source for deer.
And don’t think that your newer wheat fields are safe either: deer actually prefer new growth because they’re more tender.
Additionally, deer will consume a wide variety of foods like wheat based on opportunity.
In fact, people specifically choose to grow wheat for food plots to attract deer.
If you’re not convinced, leave some wheat out or plant some and wait to see what happens!
What Kind Of Wheat Do Deer Like?
Deer will eat all kinds of wheat indiscriminately.
They’ll eat the wheat seeds, berries, stems, and leaves.
Deer will also eat variations of wheat, like wheat bran, wheat grain, hard wheat, and wheat straw if it’s around.
Do Deer Eat Winter Wheat?
Yes, deer love to eat all kinds of wheat including winter wheat.
Winter wheat vs summer wheat just refers to the time that the wheat is planted and when it germinates, and winter wheat is a great alternative to summer wheat for deer to feast on.
When Do Deer Eat Wheat?
Deer will eat wheat year-round until there’s nothing left in the field!
As other food sources are depleted they’ll hit the wheat even harder.
Typically you’ll see deer eat wheat most aggressively frm October through March.
Do Deer Eat Dried Wheat?
Deer will eat nearly anything if they’re hungry enough, including dried wheat.
You can scatter it on the ground or put it in a covered feeder to attract deer to your area.
Planting Wheat For Deer Food Plots
You can plant wheat purposely to attract deer as part of a food plot and will almost certainly see success in this strategy!
Ideally the deer in your area will already be used to having some wheat in their diet.
If there’s no wheat in your greater area, you might hold off on introducing entirely new food sources like spring or winter wheat.
It can interrupt their normal food search patterns and make them completely reliant on the wheat you’re planting as their new winter food source.
How Do I Keep Deer From Eating My Wheat?
Most folks investigating whether deer like wheat are trying to find ways to attract them.
If you’re in the other camp and want to protect your wheat crops from deer, we’ve got some great options for you.
There are a few things to keep in mind when you’re protecting wheat from hungry deer: their habits, your scent, repellent options, and when you plant them.
Deer will eat nearly anything if they’re hungry enough, so your main goal is making your garden as least inviting to deer as possible.
Check out our guide on how to keep deer from eating plants where we cover 25 quick and easy tips for keeping hungry deer out of your garden.
Will My Wheat Grow Back After Deer Eat Them?
As long as the growing point of the wheat is not damaged, it will continue to grow.
Wheat grows just like grass does after being mowed down, so if the deer make a buffet out of your wheat field, don’t sweat it.
Your wheat will grow back in time after usual tending and care.
Is Wheat Good For Deer?
Wheat is very healthy for deer to eat, which is one of the reasons deer are attracted to it.
Feeding deer wheat provides them with critical macronutrients like protein and carbohydrates, plus some much-needed digestible fiber.
Wheat also provides deer with the following vitamins and minerals:
- Potassium
- Magnesium
- Phosphorous
These vitamins and minerals provide deer with many benefits.
Potassium is great for deer because it helps maintain good pH balance and aid in proper digestion.
Magnesium is great for antler growth, increasing body weight, and has immune system benefits for deer.
Phosphorus also aids deer in body and antler growth.
Fat-Soluble Vitamins For Deer
Zinc can be fat-soluble, so it can be stored in the deer’s fat and liver to be used later as needed.
This means that zinc content from deer eating wheat can be “stored up” for later use, which is highly beneficial.
Water-Soluble Vitamins For Deer
Vitamin C, B Vitamins, niacin, folic acid, and potassium are all water-soluble, which means they cannot be stored, so they must be replaced continually.
So a deer that eats wheat for the potassium content must continue to consume foods that contain these necessary vitamins to stay healthy.
Do Deer Eat Wheat? Wrapping Things Up
So, do deer eat wheat?
Yes- deer eat wheat whenever and wherever they can.
They’ll eat different types of wheat and nearly all parts of the plant because they love the taste, it’s available year round, and it provides them with the nutrition they need.
Have any observations to add to the discussion? Be sure to let us know in the comments below.
Check our our other helpful deer food guides while you’re here: