Uploaded September 2025 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Pay attention when you're walking out of the woods because you could just be walking right through a food source that you've not been hunting!
Wildlife Biologist and deer researcher Bonner Powell of Wildlife Investments is collaborating here with Mossberg in some field research for deer food and grazing habits.
wildlifeinvestments.com
Most deer hunters never think about Ragweed as a natural food plot for deer. It’s a bitter weed that grows in a lot of places. So why do deer love it so much? Is it a good source of food for them? You would think a deer would want to eat some nice lush green grass, but they love ragweed. It’s an interesting question that many deer hunters have asked.
When it's young, and just beginning to grow, the leaves are high in protein. And like us, deer need protein to grow strong and healthy. That's why you often find deer grazing on ragweed in the summer months. It's a natural source of food that is abundant in many areas.
Secondly, ragweed is a great source of minerals and nutrients. It contains high levels of calcium, potassium, and phosphorus, which are all essential for a deer's health. These minerals help with bone growth, antler development, and overall body function. If you're looking to create a deer food plot, you should consider planting some ragweed along with other plants like clover, chicory, and winter wheat.
Thirdly, ragweed is a great food source for deer during the fall and winter months. As the plant matures, the leaves and stems become more fibrous, and the seeds become a great source of energy for deer. These seeds are also a great source of fat, which is essential for deer to survive the cold winter months. This is why you often see deer grazing on ragweed in the late fall and early winter.
Finally, ragweed is a natural deer attractant. Many hunters have found that deer will often gravitate towards areas where ragweed is present. This is because deer have a natural instinct to seek out food sources that are high in nutrients.
In conclusion, deer love ragweed for many reasons. It’s a natural source of protein, minerals, and nutrients that are essential for their health. It’s also a great source of food during the fall and winter months, and it’s a natural deer attractant.
Here's a few articles from deer researchers nationwide that are incredibly helpful for knowing how to identify more on what deer love to eat:
https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g9487
https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/ecology-and-management-of-western-ragweed-on-rangeland.html
deerassociation.com/natural-deer-forage
Pay attention when you're walking out of the woods because you could just be walking right through a food source that you've not been hunting!
Wildlife Biologist and deer researcher Bonner Powell of Wildlife Investments is collaborating here with Mossberg in some field research for deer food and grazing habits.
wildlifeinvestments.com
Most deer hunters never think about Ragweed as a natural food plot for deer. It’s a bitter weed that grows in a lot of places. So why do deer love it so much? Is it a good source of food for them? You would think a deer would want to eat some nice lush green grass, but they love ragweed. It’s an interesting question that many deer hunters have asked.
When it's young, and just beginning to grow, the leaves are high in protein. And like us, deer need protein to grow strong and healthy. That's why you often find deer grazing on ragweed in the summer months. It's a natural source of food that is abundant in many areas.
Secondly, ragweed is a great source of minerals and nutrients. It contains high levels of calcium, potassium, and phosphorus, which are all essential for a deer's health. These minerals help with bone growth, antler development, and overall body function. If you're looking to create a deer food plot, you should consider planting some ragweed along with other plants like clover, chicory, and winter wheat.
Thirdly, ragweed is a great food source for deer during the fall and winter months. As the plant matures, the leaves and stems become more fibrous, and the seeds become a great source of energy for deer. These seeds are also a great source of fat, which is essential for deer to survive the cold winter months. This is why you often see deer grazing on ragweed in the late fall and early winter.
Finally, ragweed is a natural deer attractant. Many hunters have found that deer will often gravitate towards areas where ragweed is present. This is because deer have a natural instinct to seek out food sources that are high in nutrients.
In conclusion, deer love ragweed for many reasons. It’s a natural source of protein, minerals, and nutrients that are essential for their health. It’s also a great source of food during the fall and winter months, and it’s a natural deer attractant.
Here's a few articles from deer researchers nationwide that are incredibly helpful for knowing how to identify more on what deer love to eat:
https://extension.missouri.edu/publications/g9487
https://extension.okstate.edu/fact-sheets/ecology-and-management-of-western-ragweed-on-rangeland.html
deerassociation.com/natural-deer-forage
