Wondering why whitetail deer are munching on your marijuana crop? Do deer eat cannabis plants? Learn the surprising reasons why whitetails are attracted to cannabis plants and how to protect your grow.

If you’re growing cannabis outdoors — whether legally on a farm or in a backyard garden — you may be surprised (or frustrated) to find that whitetail deer love to snack on your plants. It might seem like an odd craving, but there’s science and instinct behind the behavior.

Let’s break down why whitetails enjoy eating cannabis plants, what parts they target, and what you can do to protect your green investment.

🌿 Cannabis is a Tender, Nutrient-Rich Plant

Whitetail deer are opportunistic herbivores. While they usually feed on native browse like twigs, acorns, berries, and field crops, they won’t hesitate to eat garden plants — especially young, leafy cannabis.

Why it’s appealing:

  • Soft foliage is easy to chew and digest
  • Cannabis contains fiber, protein, and moisture, especially in the vegetative stage
  • Young plants resemble many of the other tender greens deer naturally seek

👃 The Smell May Actually Attract Them

You might assume the pungent aroma of cannabis would drive animals away, but deer have highly sensitive noses — and they’re curious. Some experts believe:

  • The terpenes in cannabis (especially limonene, myrcene, and pinene) may trigger a positive response in deer
  • In areas where cannabis grows naturally or is widely farmed, deer may learn to associate the smell with a food source

While deer likely don’t seek it out for the psychoactive effects (THC doesn’t activate their brains the same way), they do seem intrigued by the scent — and where there’s curiosity, there’s chewing.

🌱 Deer Prefer the Growing (Vegetative) Phase

If you’re wondering when your plants are most at risk, it’s early on — during the vegetative growth phase.

At this stage, cannabis plants are:

  • High in moisture and nutrients
  • Not yet producing large amounts of trichomes or sticky resin (which may deter some herbivores)
  • Soft and pliable, perfect for grazing

Once the plant flowers and begins producing resin-heavy buds, deer may back off — but don’t count on it.

🦌 Local Diet Shortages Make Cannabis Even More Appealing

In regions experiencing drought or food scarcity, deer may become less picky. If natural browse is limited, your cannabis plants may become prime real estate on their foraging route.

Also, if you’re growing in rural or forest-edge environments, you’re squarely in whitetail territory — they thrive in transitional areas between woods and open fields (aka your backyard grow site).

🛡️ How to Protect Cannabis Plants from Deer

Now that you know why whitetail deer eat cannabis, here’s how to keep your plants safe:

Physical Barriers

  • Deer fencing: At least 6–8 feet tall to prevent jumping
  • Chicken wire cages around individual plants
  • Netting or row covers for young plants

Scent-Based Deterrents

  • Commercial deer repellents (spray-on, scented granules)
  • Strong smells like garlic, rotten eggs, or predator urine (fox/coyote)

Motion Deterrents

  • Motion-activated sprinklers
  • Flashing lights or ultrasonic devices

Plant Strategically

  • Avoid placing cannabis along deer trails or near woods
  • Consider companion planting with deer-repelling herbs like lavender, mint, or rosemary

👀 Fun Fact: Do Deer Get High from Cannabis?

Unlikely. While THC is present in cannabis, deer do not process cannabinoids the way humans do. They don’t appear intoxicated after eating cannabis — they simply treat it like any other nutritious plant.

So no, you’re not creating stoner deer — but you are risking your harvest.