Acorn crops and early activity

[BSK]

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).

 

[backyardtndeer]

VERY early buck activity, such as pestering every doe they encounter.

Had a couple sequences of young bucks chasing a doe or does on Sept 11th. Way early, but figure it's just goofy teenagers.

 

[BuckWild]

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).

I'm right across the river from you and all the white oaks I've seen are absolutely loaded.

 

[BSK]

I'm right across the river from you and all the white oaks I've seen are absolutely loaded.

We already have a HUGE Mountain Chestnut Oak acorn crop on the ground. These are not preferred acorns by deer, but when they are the first acorn on the ground, deer will scarf them up until the Whites start to fall.

 

[Ski]

Saw a good 2.5yr old pestering a yearling doe already on the 18th. She wasn't responsive but she wasn't necessarily trying hard to get away either.

 

[Hunter0678]

We already have a HUGE Mountain Chestnut Oak acorn crop on the ground. These are not preferred acorns by deer, but when they are the first acorn on the ground, deer will scarf them up until the Whites start to fall.

Same for us on the plateau, turkeys are tearing up the chestnut oaks along with the deer picking through them too. Its been a week since I was up there but I will definitely be checking some scrape lines friday to see if any of ours are opened up. Also agree on the buck activity in food plots, had a nice 3.5 year old acting a fool for 45 min the other day pushing does around.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

I just want to go sit in the woods and listen to the acorns fall. It's been a while around here since anyone's heard such a thing.

I may move several cams to our scrape locations Saturday. I won't be back for a while. Will be interesting to see the sign that's out there already

 

[BSK]

Small 2 1/2 year-old chasing:

 

[Hduke86]

We already have a HUGE Mountain Chestnut Oak acorn crop on the ground. These are not preferred acorns by deer, but when they are the first acorn on the ground, deer will scarf them up until the Whites start to fall.

I've been in the woods the pass couple of days and it's all mountain chestnut oak around me. It's crazy from one day to the next how many more are on the ground on the dirt road as I was walking in. Problem is it sounds like it's raining them EVERYWHERE.

 

[redblood]

Certainly seeing it. I had 7 bucks and 1 doe work a scent branch yesterday. Also seeing sime very aggressive early rubs

 

[rifle02]

We already have a HUGE Mountain Chestnut Oak acorn crop on the ground. These are not preferred acorns by deer, but when they are the first acorn on the ground, deer will scarf them up until the Whites start to fall.

In my Woods the other day I saw those big Chestnut Oak acorns hitting the ground hard. They really thump when they hit. I was surprised to see that a number of them had already been eaten which is unusual. They are normally the last thing to be eaten. I only had a chance to be around a few White Oaks that were dropping and it was, meh,

 

[rifle02]

White Oaks we're not dropping nearly as heavily as I would like to see them. What had fallen had been picked up pretty quick.

 

[BSK]

I've been in the woods the pass couple of days and it's all mountain chestnut oak around me. It's crazy from one day to the next how many more are on the ground on the dirt road as I was walking in. Problem is it sounds like it's raining them EVERYWHERE.

Experienced the same thing out working yesterday. I bet an corn falls in hearing distance every one to two seconds.

 

[BSK]

White Oaks we're not dropping nearly as heavily as I would like to see them. What had fallen had been picked up pretty quick.

Peak White Oak acorn drop generally doesn't occur until late October.

 

[tellico4x4]

I just want to go sit in the woods and listen to the acorns fall. It's been a while around here since anyone's heard such a thing.

I went & checked a spot today & dang near needed a hard hat with all the chestnut acorns dropping

 

[BigAl]

I noticed some of the deer in my backyard started hitting an oak tree 2 weeks ago. Not sure what kind it is, but they're small acorns.
Can't remember when the chestnuts start dropping, but that'll be next.

 

[TN Larry]

I went and assisted (watched) my son get his deer out Saturday, and acorns were falling everywhere. I know at least one white oak which is a few weeks early here. Also got a pic this morning of a small buck making a scrape.

 

[bowhunterfanatic]

Bet I had at least 15-20 pictures on this camera of a buck or bucks running and/or pestering does when I checked it over the weekend. Hunted it Sunday morning and the first deer that showed up was a doe who kept looking behind her. Sure enough a couple minute later here come 2 pretty 8 points who pestered the fire out of her for a couple of minutes before going back to feeding. I was amazed when I checked the camera because I've never seen it before anywhere near this early…then I remembered this thread.

 

[BSK]

The interesting thing is, my camera data still shows peak of breeding at the normal time during a bumper acorn crop. But the amount of chasing, pestering and scraping much earlier than normal persists in those big acorn years. Last time we had one in my area, 2021, scraping and chasing actually peaked during the second half of October (even more than in November), yet the peak of breeding at the normal time (mid-November in my area) was still very evident.

 

[BSK]

Below is a graph of scrape visits by older bucks (2 1/2+) caught on camera for 2020 and 2021 on the same property (same number of cameras on scrapes both years). 2020 was a moderate to poor acorn year. 2021 was a monster bumper acorn crop. Notice how much earlier and more intense scraping was in 2021 (bumper acorns) versus 2020 (moderate to poor acorns).

And I tell you what, the cyclic nature of scrape visits through the season really intrigues me. I have no idea why that happens.