Munch Munch Munch

A common fallacy is that whitetail deer are grazing animals.

Not so.  They are browsing creatures.

Grazing animals clip vegetation close to the ground.  Think cows and bison.

Browsing animals clip leaves, buds, stems and other woody vegetation from trees and shrubs.

Occasionally a deer might clip something from the ground and eat it.  They raise havoc with agriculture and will munch on a pile of corn if you dump it out for them - but they're mostly browsers.