Are ferns deer resistant? Did you know there are certain natural plants deer tend to avoid and ferns are one of those plants?
With their bitter taste and unappealing texture, deer often leave ferns untouched.
Every detail matters when you’re out hunting. So If you’re a hunter looking to improve your hunting strategy, understanding deer behavior around plants like ferns can help you do that.
Here are 7 powerful ferns deer avoid and how using this knowledge can help you in your hunt.
Top 7 Ferns Deer Avoid
1. Bracken Fern (Pteridium aquilinum): Are Ferns Deer Resistant?
Bracken is a hardy, widespread fern known for its tall, triangular fronds and rapid spread through underground rhizomes. It contains toxins like ptaquiloside, making it harmful to animals and humans. Due to its bitterness and toxicity, deer tend to avoid it. This fern is a great indicator of low deer activity.
2. Lady Fern (Athyrium filix-femina)
Lady fern is a delicate, lacy fern that grows 2-3 feet tall in shady, moist areas. Its bitter taste and toxicity make it unappealing to deer. It is easy to cultivate and maintain and adds a graceful touch to shaded landscapes without becoming invasive.
While its graceful appearance might seem inviting, deer typically avoid Lady Fern due to its bitter taste.
3. Cinnamon Fern (Osmundastrum cinnamomeum)
The Cinnamon Fern is a tall, striking fern known for its cinnamon-colored fertile fronds, which rise from the center of the plant. It thrives in moist, shaded areas like wetlands and woodlands, growing up to 4 feet tall. Deer generally avoids this fern due to its coarse texture. If you find cinnamon fern in one setting, it’s likely you’ll need to move to a different setting to notice deer.
4. Ostrich Fern (Matteuccia struthiopteris)
The ostrich fern is a large, elegant fern with tall, arching fronds resembling ostrich feathers, growing up to 5-6 feet tall. It thrives in moist, shaded areas, particularly along streams and woodlands. With its bold, arching fronds, Ostrich Fern is striking, but deer don’t find it palatable. The ostrich fern is another great plant to watch for to rule out areas of high deer activity.
5. Christmas Fern (Polystichum acrostichoides)
Christmas fern is a hardy, evergreen fern known for its glossy, dark green fronds that remain vibrant even in winter. It grows up to 2 feet tall and thrives in shaded, well-drained areas. It is often used to prevent soil erosion. Deer typically avoid this fern due to its tough, leathery texture.
6. Wood Fern (Dryopteris species)
The wood fern is a robust, short-lived fern that typically grows 1 to 3 feet tall and features broad, feathery fronds. It thrives in shaded, moist environments in woodlands and along forest edges. Deer generally avoids this fern due to its tough texture and bitter taste. Deer don’t bother with them, so if you spot these, you’re probably not in a deer hotspot. Deer don’t bother with them, so if you spot these, you’re probably not in a deer hotspot.
7. Japanese Painted Fern (Athyrium niponicum)
The Japanese-painted fern is a striking deciduous fern known for its unique silvery-gray and purple-tinted fronds that can grow up to 18 inches tall. It thrives in shaded, moist areas and is often used in ornamental gardens for its vibrant coloration. Deer typically avoid this fern due to its mildly toxic nature and unpalatable taste.
Will Deer Ever Eat Ferns?
While deer typically avoid ferns, no plant is truly deer-proof. If food is scarce, deer will eat whatever is available, including ferns. However, this happens only in rare cases when there’s intense competition for food or in overpopulated areas where food sources are depleted.
The good news is that ferns are hardy. Even if deer take a nibble at them, ferns often bounce back quickly. They grow from the center, so light grazing on the outer fronds won’t kill the plant.
How to Use This Knowledge in the Field
Using plant knowledge to your advantage as a hunter can help you track deer more effectively. Ferns that deer avoid can signal areas where deer aren’t actively feeding, allowing you to cross them off your list.
When setting up for your hunt, take note of the plant life around you. If the area is filled with ferns, you might be better off relocating to spots where deer-friendly food sources are more abundant. Similarly, untouched ferns inform you that deer activity is minimal in that part of the forest.
Conclusion:
Ferns are an important part of understanding deer behavior in the wild. By recognizing the plants deer tend to avoid, like ferns, you can narrow down areas of high deer activity and optimize your hunting strategy. Remember, ferns are deer-resistant, and knowing that will help guide your decisions in your next hunt.
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