BSK
Well-Known Member
A plethora of research exists concerning acorn crops and deer activity. In areas where acorn production is a major player in herd health (called "acorn-driven" deer herds), bumper acorn crops are linked to higher levels of rubbing and scraping activity as well as earlier rubbing and scraping. In the Southeast, there are indications that breeding activity can be slightly earlier in a big acorn year. All of this comes back to energy intake and overall herd health. In a big acorn year, deer body condition is maximized and deer have a lot of extra energy to burn.
This year, with what appears to be a bumper acorn crop in my area, I'm noticing much earlier than normal scraping activity (already have multiple scrapes open), but I'm also seeing VERY early buck activity, such as pestering every doe they encounter. Normally, I don't see this until mid to late October, but in the last week, I picked up on trail-camera multiple instances of bucks chasing does. Most of this activity is in open areas, like food plots (very normal) but also chasing through the woods (abnormal for this time of year).
This year, with what appears to be a bumper acorn crop in my area, I'm noticing much earlier than normal scraping activity (already have multiple scrapes open), but I'm also seeing VERY early buck activity, such as pestering every doe they encounter. Normally, I don't see this until mid to late October, but in the last week, I picked up on trail-camera multiple instances of bucks chasing does. Most of this activity is in open areas, like food plots (very normal) but also chasing through the woods (abnormal for this time of year).