I think deer prefer "new growth". I don't know if it tastes better, is more nutritious, is easier to digest, etc.?

I do know that if I fertilize my saplings and they grow out of the tops of the tree tubes, the deer will go out of their way to eat that new growth. Also, if I cut back some old trees when I don't have herbicide with me, they will eat the heck out of the new shoots the next spring.

They are always eating this new growth, even while the rest of the property is also covered with deer food that is growing at a slower rate.