There are a lot of myths out there about what deer do and do not eat. One common question is: do deer eat rutabaga?
Yes, deer love to eat rutabaga. While rutabaga are not a major part of their diet, they provide vitamins which are critical to deer’s survival.
There’s a bit more to learn about deer eating rutabaga which we’ll cover in today’s guide. Read on for more info.
Why Do Deer Eat Rutabaga?
As we covered, deer will eat rutabagas when they’ve got the chance.
But why do they do this?
Well, for one, deer love the taste of rutabaga. Their sweet-savory and buttery taste are exactly what deer are looking for.
Additionally, deer will consume a wide variety of foods like rutabaga based on opportunity.
Rutabagas grow slow and don’t mature too fast, which leave the bulbs with leafy greens on there, which deer love.
They’re also more resistant against disease and insects, which deer prefer.
In fact, people specifically choose to grow rutabagas for food plots to attract deer.
If you’re not convinced, leave some rutabaga out for deer to eat (or plant some), and wait to see what happens!
How Do I Keep Deer From Eating My Rutabaga?
There are a few things to keep in mind when you’re protecting rutabaga from deer: their habits, your scent, repellent options, and when you plant it.
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 Rutabaga Grow Back After Deer Eat Them?
Fortunately, mature rutabagas can withstand some nipping from deer, and will recover with time.
However, if the deer eat off the first two leaves that sprout from the rutabaga, it will usually die.
If deer happen to munch down your rutabaga, continue regular care of your plants including watering and fertilizer as necessary until they’re back to good health.
Are Rutabaga Good For Deer?
Feeding deer rutabaga provides them with the following vitamins and minerals:
- Vitamin C
- Vitamin E
- Vitamin B6
- Calcium
- Folate
- Potassium
- Magnesium
These vitamins and minerals provide deer with many benefits.
For example, vitamin C will help protect deer against scurvy and vitamin assists in deer immune system function.
Deer need calcium for bone, teeth, and antler growth and health as well as other bodily functions like milk production and metabolism.
Potassium is great for deer because it helps maintain good pH balance and aid in proper digestion.
Fat-Soluble Vitamins For Deer
Vitamins A, D, E, K, and calcium are fat-soluble, so they can be stored in the deer’s fat and liver to be used later as needed.
This means that vitamin A content from deer eating rutabaga 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 rutabaga for the vitamin C or potassium content must continue to consume foods that contain these necessary vitamins to stay healthy.
How To Feed Deer Rutabaga
There are a few things to keep in mind when feeding deer rutabaga: the size of the portion, your scent, and how many deer you’re feeding.
Make sure to place the rutabaga on the ground where it’s visible and can be easily reached by deer.
If you’ve got a winter food plot with rutabaga growing in it, the deer will eat them right out of the ground.
If deer are not normally around your area in winter, don’t feed them leading up to winter as they will not migrate where and when they should.
This will lead to the deer relying on you as their food source and can result in starvation.
Should I Cut Up Rutabaga For Deer To Eat?
If possible, cube pieces into 1″ or 2″ chunks to make it easier for the deer to eat rutabaga.
Rutabagas are high in fiber which can be tough on deer to digest in large quantities.
Don’t Leave Your Scent On Deer Food
Deer have a keen sense of smell that allows them to smell human scent farther than bloodhounds can, and can smell up to six different scents at once.
Deer won’t eat food like rutabaga if they have a strong human scent on them, so you should take care to minimize your trace.
You can do this by rinsing the rutabaga and also washing your hands with antimicrobial soap.
Alternatively, you can put a few drops of apple cider vinegar on your hands when handling food you’ll be giving to the deer.
Another easy option is to use gloves when handling rutabaga for deer to eat.
Consider The Amount Of Deer You’re Feeding
If you have lots of deer in your area, think twice about putting out food continuously for them.
If you bring deer together at the same feeding site, it can increase their risk of contracting chronic wasting disease or other communicable diseases from each other.
Can Deer Eat Rutabaga? Wrapping Things Up
So, do deer eat rutabaga?
The answer is yes!
Deer will eat rutabaga if they’re available, and they can actually benefit from the vitamins and minerals found in these peels.
Just be sure to take care with your scent, the size of the portion, and how many deer you’re feeding when placing rutabaga out for them.
Have any observations to add to the discussion? Be sure to let us know in the comments below.
Check our our other helpful wildlife guides while you’re here:
