Supplemental plantings established to provide forage for deer during the late autumn and winter months when natural food sources become scarce are a crucial element in wildlife management. These cultivated areas offer concentrated nutrition when deer require increased energy reserves to withstand colder temperatures and reduced food availability.
The benefits of providing this resource extend beyond simple sustenance. Adequate nutrition during this critical period can improve overall herd health, increase fawn survival rates the following spring, and potentially influence antler development in bucks. Historically, reliance on natural forage alone led to significant population fluctuations based on the severity of winters; these plots offer a buffer against those fluctuations.
