way too early acorn report

[Bone Collector]

I have been doing some habitat management on my land. Basically clearing old mature forest areas (mostly cedar) and hoping it will grow up thick and nasty to create some possible bedding areas.

Every oak I had to cut, whether it was a red or white had acorn buds between the leaves (basically looked like bb sized acorns, but some were bigger). If we don't have any extreme weather this summer, could be a bumper crop.

this was in Rutherford co.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

We are due for a bumper! Hope we are blessed with rain throughout the summer.

 

[Bone Collector]

looks like we have a chance everyday for the next week or so....

 

[redblood]

I need it. Makes or breaks bow season for
Me

 

[JCDEERMAN]

looks like we have a chance everyday for the next week or so....

I sure hope we get some. I think our place has been cursed. Cells always break up about a mile before it hits our place and regains strength after it passes. Only have .8" since we planted beginning of May. Weeds have taken over. We will be spraying soon and hoping soybeans regain strength

 

[tellico4x4]

All our oaks are loaded as well, Wayne Co.

 

[bigjohn]

I'm in the east and we had a bunch of our bits and acorns fall off I think due to the extreme dry weather we've had

 

[Buzzard Breath]

Looking good in Maury and Lawrence. I haven't been out to Hickman in awhile but plan on running some trail cams out this weekend and will check.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

AGAIN. With this round of rain that came through, we didn't get a drop. It was about 3 miles east of us. CURSED I tell you!

 

[Acorn Goat]

I'm currently in southern Illinois for an archery tournament and I have never seen it this dry here in 13 yrs. Hope it's not a bad year for ehd across Midwest and the south.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

We got 1" today! So happy, even though we need about another 2-4". Will have to spray RR soybeans soon, as weeds have taken advantage. Hoping they can regain control

 

[tellico4x4]

.37" for us but I'll take it!

 

[backyardtndeer]

Been really dry here. I have seen a few trees with some acorns, but haven't really looked really closely yet.

 

[BSK]

I was seeing a ton of little acorns on the trees early in the spring, but not seeing as many now. I'll have to look a little closer in the next week or so.

 

[Hduke86]

I've got a white oak behind my house that literally pours a truckload every year regardless and this year looks like it'll be doing the same. I'm assuming it's cause it tree is about 15' away from an old well so it has PLENTY to drink. If anyone needs any, just holler at me come fall time and I'll get you plenty. I have so many acorns in my yard that I invested in one of those pull behind things that looks like they use to pick up golf balls.

 

[younggun308]

I've got a white oak behind my house that literally pours a truckload every year regardless and this year looks like it'll be doing the same. I'm assuming it's cause it tree is about 15' away from an old well so it has PLENTY to drink. If anyone needs any, just holler at me come fall time and I'll get you plenty. I have so many acorns in my yard that I invested in one of those pull behind things that looks like they use to pick up golf balls.

Need to plant a pecan tree there.

 

[Hduke86]

Need to plant a pecan tree there.

Unfortunately I don't have room for another tree and especially one that will spread out. This oak takes two grown men to wrap their arms around it and it's only about 25' behind my house. I planted a willow tree about 7-8 years ago on the other side of the yard from it. It was about to size of a broom stick. Now that suckers towers over my house and almost telephone pole diameter.

 

[BSK]

They're still looking good at my place. Lots of White Oak acorns.

 

[deerhunter10]

Lots of white oaks decent it seems red oaks

 

[Football Hunter]

Lots of acorns sometimes means poor hunting, they don't have to look for them.

 

[Wiley]

Corn and acorns like rain.....

 

[kaizen leader]

I have been doing some habitat management on my land. Basically clearing old mature forest areas (mostly cedar) and hoping it will grow up thick and nasty to create some possible bedding areas.

Every oak I had to cut, whether it was a red or white had acorn buds between the leaves (basically looked like bb sized acorns, but some were bigger). If we don't have any extreme weather this summer, could be a bumper crop.

this was in Rutherford co.

I've got a huge red and it's packed. Wilson County on Old Hickory lake.

 

[BSK]

Lots of acorns sometimes means poor hunting, they don't have to look for them.

Absolutely true. When acorns are everywhere, deer can be anywhere, and don't need to move as much. But I love big acorn crops because that draws more deer to my property. It also spreads them out a bit and provides more locations for hunting.

 

[backyardtndeer]

Took a walk around part of my property this afternoon, white oaks look pretty loaded.

 

[Bone Collector]

Need to plant a pecan tree there.

I have two ready to go in the ground, but it will be years before they produce.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

Absolutely true. When acorns are everywhere, deer can be anywhere, and don't need to move as much. But I love big acorn crops because that draws more deer to my property. It also spreads them out a bit and provides more locations for hunting.

Same here. We found out last year, when there are ZERO acorns, the bucks simply don't show up….even with 25 acres of lush green fields. Plenty of does but no fall range shifters.

I'll take years of good acorn crops all day long. Plenty of carbs….aka abundance of energy. That typically bodes well for higher deer movement and intense rut activity

 

[BSK]

Same here. We found out last year, when there are ZERO acorns, the bucks simply don't show up….even with 25 acres of lush green fields. Plenty of does but no fall range shifters.

I'll take years of good acorn crops all day long. Plenty of carbs….aka abundance of energy. That typically bodes well for higher deer movement and intense rut activity

I second that. We had crazy rut activity in 2021, with a bumper acorn crop. If we hadn't had video cameras running everywhere, we wouldn't have known when the rut was during the total acorn failure last year. We never saw a single chase. Scraping was almost zero as well, and rubbing was virtually zero.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

I second that. We had crazy rut activity in 2021, with a bumper acorn crop. If we hadn't had video cameras running everywhere, we wouldn't have known when the rut was during the total acorn failure last year. We never saw a single chase. Scraping was almost zero as well, and rubbing was virtually zero.

2021 was nuts. I couldn't get away from big deer it seemed. I don't know what was going on, but just about every time I went into the woods I was tempted at a big 10pt 3.5 or a 4.5 half rack….or another big deer not quite old enough for my liking - several 3.5yo. They were abundant. Then 2022 hit with the drought . I had never had higher expectations than in 2022 (from 2021 season)…I was humbled to say the least. Last year was undoubtedly the worst year hunting for me, or atleast mirroring the 2007 season when every deer seemed to of died

 

[Ski]

Lots of acorns sometimes means poor hunting, they don't have to look for them.

That's exactly what it means on my place. My acreage is nothing but mature hardwoods, predominantly oaks, and surrounded 3 sides by 10,000 acres of state forest that is the same. What few scattered deer I have will be even more scattered on good acorn years. Worse yet, it's a variety of oaks where some begin dropping in October and others drop late winter. There are acorns all deer season long and they're everywhere. Makes for a challenge trying to get on a specific buck.

All that said, I don't mind bumper crops of acorns. Seems to be the years following produce good hunting and big bucks. I suppose it's because the conditions causing good acorns also caused better than normal food everywhere all year, so the deer had an easy healthy year. And that means good antler growth, good momma health, and lots of healthy fawns. I'll gladly endure a rough hunting season ever so often for that benefit.

 

[Ski]

2021 was nuts. I couldn't get away from big deer it seemed. I don't know what was going on, but just about every time I went into the woods I was tempted at a big 10pt 3.5 or a 4.5 half rack….or another big deer not quite old enough for my liking - several 3.5yo. They were abundant. Then 2022 hit with the drought . I had never had higher expectations than in 2022 (from 2021 season)…I was humbled to say the least. Last year was undoubtedly the worst year hunting for me, or atleast mirroring the 2007 season when every deer seemed to of died

It happens like that sometimes. Deer hunting is full of ebs and flows. The struggle years make me appreciate the great years. Yes it is humbling to say the least. I'm worried this season for me is going to be pretty barren and sporadic. I suspect it'll be luck if I get a good one this year. But I've been doing it long enough to know it'll swing back around in coming years.