The offering of fruit, particularly apples, intended as sustenance for cervids and available for purchase, represents a practice employed by landowners and hunting enthusiasts. These fruits serve as an attractant, drawing the animals to specific locations for observation, management, or hunting purposes. Such provisions are often seasonal, coinciding with periods when natural forage becomes scarce.
Provisioning cervids with supplemental food can have various impacts. It may concentrate deer populations, potentially increasing disease transmission and altering natural foraging patterns. The practice also carries historical significance, reflecting human efforts to manage and influence wildlife populations. The availability of these supplemental food sources influences animal behavior and habitat use.
