Deer not eating acorns?

[hammer33]

Been bowhunting 3x in my "good" spots. Different Oak patches in the woods that normally are a magnet for deer, especially during bow season. Acorns are on the ground, squirrels are having a party. But the deer are not hitting them, or not much. Zero deer scat, few if any deer tracks, only the occasional notched cap. Haven't been busted going in or on stand. These stands are consistent producers year after year.

Im puzzled. Ideas?

 

[Hduke86]

Probably just on another patch of them somewhere and will be in the "normal" spot once those are gone. Could make for some good late bow season cooler weather hunting or if on the ground still and not rotted could make for a great place for the does to be and bucks come checking in on them in a few weeks.

 

[GhillieBow]

Everywhere I've been from West TN to Middle TN has a crazy acorn crop this year. I just think there's acorns everywhere so deer don't have to travel as much.

 

[philsanchez76]

Been bowhunting 3x in my "good" spots. Different Oak patches in the woods that normally are a magnet for deer, especially during bow season. Acorns are on the ground, squirrels are having a party. But the deer are not hitting them, or not much. Zero deer scat, few if any deer tracks, only the occasional notched cap. Haven't been busted going in or on stand. These stands are consistent producers year after year.

Im puzzled. Ideas?

they're are eating somewhere. do you have any big ag fields near you that may be holding them? Deer around me are only hitting white oaks, not reds at all yet.

 

[Lost Lake]

The deer are tearing up the white oaks right now. Reds are pouring as well, but they'll ignore them until the white oaks are gone.

 

[BSK]

For whatever reason, deer seem to be drawn to acorns tree by tree. They will pound the acorns under one tree and ignore the ones under another tree, even two trees of the same species.

That said, I cannot believe how much action I'm seeing on my two clover plots that are seriously producing. It's a constant train of deer in and out of these plots.

 

[Lt.Dan]

Been bowhunting 3x in my "good" spots. Different Oak patches in the woods that normally are a magnet for deer, especially during bow season. Acorns are on the ground, squirrels are having a party. But the deer are not hitting them, or not much. Zero deer scat, few if any deer tracks, only the occasional notched cap. Haven't been busted going in or on stand. These stands are consistent producers year after year.

Im puzzled. Ideas?

Same thing is happening on my spot. I'm liking what @Hduke86 said. So I will go with that and keep sitting and waiting.

 

[chris1976]

For whatever reason, deer seem to be drawn to acorns tree by tree. They will pound the acorns under one tree and ignore the ones under another tree, even two trees of the same species.

That said, I cannot believe how much action I'm seeing on my two clover plots that are seriously producing. It's a constant train of deer in and out of these plots.

I'm seeing the same thing BSK. I have 250acres of white oaks dropping and deer are piled into my clover/rye plots all day and night.

 

[ImThere]

They're eating elsewhere last time I seen this the neighbor was feeding corn.
But check a Chinkapin oak tree and the persimmons.

 

[tellico4x4]

The corn angle was first thing that popped into my mind

 

[BSK]

The corn angle was first thing that popped into my mind

Deer will NOT choose corn over acorns. I have to stop baited camera censuses as soon as acorns begin to fall because the deer will completely stop coming to the corn-bait.

 

[tellico4x4]

I'd normally agree but have seen it before with one of our neighbors to the south...when it gets put out by truck loads in prep of velvet hunt & continues thru bow season, it will pull them. Also the few guys we have bowhunting our 1/4" tall spotty clover plots are seeing lots more activity than I'd ever thought possible with all the acorns.

 

[Ski]

For whatever reason, deer seem to be drawn to acorns tree by tree. They will pound the acorns under one tree and ignore the ones under another tree, even two trees of the same species.

That said, I cannot believe how much action I'm seeing on my two clover plots that are seriously producing. It's a constant train of deer in and out of these plots.

Yep they'll eat all of one tree before moving to the next. Gotta find "the" tree of the moment. It might be hot for days or maybe a week, then they cold turkey vacate it for the next one. Wish I knew how they chose.

Interesting you mentioned clover. I think they're washing down the acorns. Over and over I see deer hit an oak feed tree for 15-20minutes then head straight for a cut hay field full of young clover. Back and fourth they do it and according to my cams they do it all night long, and younger deer are doing it all day long as well.

 

[BSK]

Interesting you mentioned clover. I think they're washing down the acorns. Over and over I see deer hit an oak feed tree for 15-20minutes then head straight for a cut hay field full of young clover. Back and fourth they do it and according to my cams they do it all night long, and younger deer are doing it all day long as well.

I have no doubt that if I killed one of the deer living in my clover plots, and checked stomach contents, 90% would be acorns. But they definitely appear to want variety, and the clover plots are about it right now, due to the local drought.

And by the way, I did not plant the below plot. All of that is volunteer clover from the years and years I've been planting clover in that plot in fall and then mowing down the seed heads in spring.

 

[timberjack86]

Probably some yeller acorns nearby

 

[BSK]

I'd normally agree but have seen it before with one of our neighbors to the south...when it gets put out by truck loads in prep of velvet hunt & continues thru bow season, it will pull them. Also the few guys we have bowhunting our 1/4" tall spotty clover plots are seeing lots more activity than I'd ever thought possible with all the acorns.

Late summer into early fall, you bet corn will draw deer. Once the acorns really start to fall (White oaks), not so much. I'm not saying corn won't draw ANY deer, just nowhere near what it draws August into early September.

 

[Boll Weevil]

Don't worry. This year they've just gotta get thru the first million akerns before they get to a million and 1.

 

[megalomaniac]

They are hitting the greens for moisture I think

 

[muddyboots]

I'm my experience acorns are not the ticket until 15th on. I don't know why but it's like u flip a switch. So I would think it would be getting good

 

[BSK]

They are hitting the greens for moisture I think

Interesting idea.