Deer browsing promotes Norway spruce at the expense of silver fir in the forest regeneration phase

•Deer may drive forest composition by browsing selectively palatable tree species.•We used fencing experiments carried out in silver fir stands over 10 and 23years.•When protected from deer, the regeneration layer is dominated by silver fir.•When accessible to deer, mainly Norway spruce survives and shows signs of growth.•This selective biotic pressure might conflict with adaptation to climate change.