Steve's annual quest for a giant mule deer buck continues this year in southwest Colorado. Here, Steve fills us in on his favorite critter, the mule deer. | MeatEater

When we talk about what mule deer eat on their native ranges, we like to focus on their wild, natural food sources. These plants are densely packed with nutritious calories that mule deer can actually absorb. This allows them to pack on the fat that gets them through the long winter months. We know mule deer eat hay, corn and other crops — you may have seen it yourself. However, these foods are not necessarily a saving grace for deer in winter as some might think. It might be hard to believe, bu