Need help deer hunting? Look for white acorns
The secret to a successful hunt this fall — or the reason for more wildlife in your yard — might be dangling in the trees overhead.
Deer, squirrels and turkeys feast on acorns before winter, and the size of the nut crop has a lot to say about how those animals behave.
That’s why the Ohio Division of Wildlife has tracked acorn yields at 38 wildlife areas around the state for 16 seasons.
This year’s survey shows that red oaks produced an above-average crop of acorns for the second year in a row, while white oak production has stayed below average for the last two years.
“It’s mostly useful for hunters because acorns are an important food source for many forest wildlife species and when the acorn crop is good, you can kind of focus on those areas where oak trees are,” said Laurie Graber, a wildlife research technician with the Division of Wildlife.
The yearly report is called the acorn mast survey. In this context, “mast” has nothing to do with ships, even though oaks are tall, sturdy trees. The term comes from Old English and refers to the nuts, seeds and fruits produced by trees that are food for animals.
In an average year, 56% of red oaks produce acorns, compared to 37% of white oaks.
This year, 70% of red oaks and 27% of white oaks bore fruit
Both trees can grow over a hundred feet in height, but you can tell them apart by their bark and leaves. White oaks have whiteish or gray bark and the leaf edges are rounded. Red oaks have dark gray or black bark and pointed leaf edges.
The Division of Wildlife also calculates how much of each tree is covered in acorns. White oaks were below average with less than 6% of coverage this year, while red oak coverage was above average with 32%.
Red or white
Besides deer, squirrels and turkeys, more than 90 forest species in Ohio eat acorns, including black bears and ruffed grouse. A good acorn crop helps animals survive winter and reproduce, Graber said.
The critters prefer to eat white oak acorns because they contain less tannin than red oak acorns. Tannin, also found in tea and red wine, makes red oak acorns bitter.
In areas where white oaks predominate, the smaller crop means deer will spend more time on the hoof getting food, and be more exposed to hunters.
“Deer rely heavily on acorns for their diets,” Graber said. “In some years, if acorn mast isn’t produced at a high rate, deer will focus on other food sources and, you know, it can kind of affect hunting to a certain degree. If you don’t have a lot of acorns in a certain area, deer are going to go to where food is available to them.”
That means snacking on farm crops and browsing tree buds.
On the hunt
Scott Schwinn, a hunter education instructor at the Louisville Sportsman’s Club, is counting on deer to diversify their diets this fall. His regular hunting grounds have white oaks.
“Man, I’m just not hearing (acorns) drop like I usually do,” he said. “Usually, it sounds like a rain forest coming down when the wind blows, but I’m not getting that.”
When deer have acorns to eat, they’re happy to stay in the woods. When they don’t have them, the animals come to the edge of the forest to browse on food plots or are attracted to baiting stations, he said.
“My deer eat good,” Schwinn said. “I plant a lot of good food plots. I’ve got chicory and clover. I’ve got forage oats and a couple of cornfields.”
The Division of Wildlife surveys only state lands, but the trees there mirror what’s happening on private property, Graber said.
So, if you have red oaks on your property, you can expect more acorns.
“It can attract more wildlife to your yard, too, depending on what type of oak trees you have in your yard,” Graber said. “Especially, squirrels in urban areas and, sometimes deer, as well.”
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