These are cultivated apple varieties, or typically wild, which can be particularly managed or left unharvested to supply a meals supply for white-tailed deer and different wildlife. These fruits function an important supply of carbohydrates and vitality, particularly in the course of the fall and winter months when different forage is scarce. An instance of this observe entails planting particular apple tree cultivars recognized for his or her late-season fruit retention, permitting the deer to browse on the dropped apples effectively into the colder months.
The deliberate use of those fruits provides a number of advantages, together with improved deer well being, elevated physique weight, and enhanced reproductive success. Traditionally, landowners and wildlife managers have acknowledged the enchantment of those fruits to deer and used them strategically to draw animals to particular areas for looking or commentary. Moreover, the presence of this available meals supply can scale back deer shopping stress on agricultural crops and decorative crops in surrounding areas.