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Are my deer broken? #3774030
10/27/22 06:42 PM
10/27/22 06:42 PM
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 685
Mobile
EmeraldTides Offline OP
4 point
EmeraldTides  Offline OP
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Mobile
So I always hear about deer hammering oaks trees and really focusing on acorns over other food sources. For some reason the deer on the properties I hunt really don't seem too interested in acorns. I'll see them eat them occasionally, but there never seems to be a high concentration of deer around oaks and most the time the acorns will end up rotting if the squirrels don't get them all. This happens with multiple kinds of oaks in multiple places. Any thoughts?

Re: Are my deer broken? [Re: EmeraldTides] #3774040
10/27/22 06:51 PM
10/27/22 06:51 PM
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 2,021
Mobile, AL
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Mdees Offline
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Mdees  Offline
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Posts: 2,021
Mobile, AL
I suppose it may have a lot to do with the distribution of oaks over your area, the type of oaks, the amount of available mast and the location relative to main bedding areas over your area.
We have a lot of white oaks on the areas that the timber company can’t cut. Many other species as well but most years the deer really keyed on those but it was still hit or miss. Especially with a couple seasons that had very heavy acorn drop. They could stay tight to the bedding areas and had more acorns than they could eat. I’ve also seen a season, maybe four years back or so that we had another bumper crop of white oak acorns but the deer, for the most part, stayed down on the creek flat and ate water oak acorns like it was going out of style.

Re: Are my deer broken? [Re: EmeraldTides] #3774043
10/27/22 06:52 PM
10/27/22 06:52 PM
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 8,991
Colbert County
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Teacher One Offline
14 point
Teacher One  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 8,991
Colbert County
What kind of acorns are dropping there? Deer have taste preferences just like we do. Whiteoak is the acorn of choice. Plant some Sawtooth trees and they will be dropping in less than 5 years. Deer love them and they fall during bow season.


I can't stand a thief.
Re: Are my deer broken? [Re: EmeraldTides] #3774068
10/27/22 07:10 PM
10/27/22 07:10 PM
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 21,535
Awbarn, AL
CNC Offline
Dances With Weeds
CNC  Offline
Dances With Weeds
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Posts: 21,535
Awbarn, AL
My guess is that its likely due to a low deer density in relation to the total amount of acorns being dropped. Lets say we're talking about large amounts of closed canopy hardwoods......You may not have enough bedding to support large deer populations but you may have tons of oak trees.....Acorns would be in surplus most years.


The Corn Crash!!!
Re: Are my deer broken? [Re: EmeraldTides] #3774071
10/27/22 07:11 PM
10/27/22 07:11 PM
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,439
Highland Home, Al
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Squadron77 Offline
10 point
Squadron77  Offline
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Posts: 2,439
Highland Home, Al
You can have a 100 oak trees and sometimes the deer will only feed under the one tree that they like. That's the reason you have to do some scouting during bow season. You will know it when you see it.

Warren Womack

Re: Are my deer broken? [Re: EmeraldTides] #3774088
10/27/22 07:26 PM
10/27/22 07:26 PM
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 685
Mobile
EmeraldTides Offline OP
4 point
EmeraldTides  Offline OP
4 point
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Posts: 685
Mobile
We have mostly water oaks. Not the preferred species, but I've heard many people say that they should still eat them. There are others, but I'm not great with my oak IDing. There's definitely not a low deer density and we have more pines than anything. They just seem to prefer eating rye or hay grass or just privet leaves over acorns in all my observations. I'll have to get out and get some hiking in and see if I can find any particular tree they're feeding on.

Re: Are my deer broken? [Re: EmeraldTides] #3774105
10/27/22 07:42 PM
10/27/22 07:42 PM
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 2,614
Montgomery, AL
F
Forrestgump1 Offline
10 point
Forrestgump1  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 2,614
Montgomery, AL
My guess is they are definitely hitting your acorns, and if you have majority water oaks, they aren’t that high on the preference list. Deer are browsers and will nibble on a little of this and that at they move through. A deer will seek out a good white oak like corn on the ground, and will change patterns for it. Water oaks not so much.

Re: Are my deer broken? [Re: EmeraldTides] #3774123
10/27/22 07:54 PM
10/27/22 07:54 PM
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 14,227
ArmPit of the south
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DeerNutz0U812_ Offline
Booner
DeerNutz0U812_  Offline
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Posts: 14,227
ArmPit of the south
There is a really good acorn crop this yr guys surprisingly ....find the white oaks first and its money....Mother nature is prepping us for a cold winter this yr with all the acorns....02 ....if Anybody else believe in these type signs....


Did you know that Beer Nutz are over a Dollar...and Deer Nutz are under a Buck...


Re: Are my deer broken? [Re: EmeraldTides] #3774127
10/27/22 07:57 PM
10/27/22 07:57 PM
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 14,227
ArmPit of the south
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DeerNutz0U812_ Offline
Booner
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ArmPit of the south
The neighbor poured out a pile of corn half the size of a pickup truck bed and I aint seen a deer on it in the daylight....It aint shrunk none either...they got to be hammering those acorns...


Did you know that Beer Nutz are over a Dollar...and Deer Nutz are under a Buck...


Re: Are my deer broken? [Re: Teacher One] #3774130
10/27/22 07:58 PM
10/27/22 07:58 PM
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 14,227
ArmPit of the south
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DeerNutz0U812_ Offline
Booner
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ArmPit of the south
Originally Posted by Teacher One
What kind of acorns are dropping there? Deer have taste preferences just like we do. Whiteoak is the acorn of choice. Plant some Sawtooth trees and they will be dropping in less than 5 years. Deer love them and they fall during bow season.

This...X2... thumbup


Did you know that Beer Nutz are over a Dollar...and Deer Nutz are under a Buck...


Re: Are my deer broken? [Re: EmeraldTides] #3774230
10/27/22 09:45 PM
10/27/22 09:45 PM
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 7,938
Right behind you
Mbrock Offline
Fancy
Mbrock  Offline
Fancy
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Posts: 7,938
Right behind you
Your deer are eating acorns right now, somewhere, of some variety. They key in on them heavily for increased body mass through winter. I’ve got feed out in several locations for inventory purposes, and yet the deer are absolutely killing acorns. Killed every deer I’ve shot on acorns this year. Seeing lots too.

Re: Are my deer broken? [Re: EmeraldTides] #3774245
10/27/22 10:18 PM
10/27/22 10:18 PM
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,705
Montgomery, AL
Hunting-231 Offline
14 point
Hunting-231  Offline
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,705
Montgomery, AL
All things being equal - deer are foragers. I personally believe that IF they find a sustainable food source they will eat it until that food source has been depleted OR they feel threatened OR there is a better food source. I am certainly not a wildlife biologist, but my experience tells me that deer are somewhat habitual and will return to the same feeding and bedding areas consistently as a learned behavior.

That is why I am not a huge believer in using corn as an attractant, unless you are feeding 365-days a year - you may hold them temporarily in an area, but once the food source is exhausted the will move on. I also believe that deer have somewhat of a herd mentality which would be learned behavior that is passed down from the "matriarch" to the group. I have seen it time and time again based on row crop maturity, time of year, and watching how deer traverse an area while feeding or bedding.

I always welcome and respect Mbrock's opinion - he is certainly more educated and experienced than myself on the behaviors of wildlife.


"The struggle you're in today, is developing the strength you need for tomorrow."
Re: Are my deer broken? [Re: EmeraldTides] #3774267
10/28/22 12:32 AM
10/28/22 12:32 AM
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 2,777
alabama
outdoors1 Offline
10 point
outdoors1  Offline
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Posts: 2,777
alabama
Deer want good food. Check the acorns and see if they are good. Sometimes worms get in acorns and deer know. Most deer prefer white oaks, but there is an order to what they like. I know where a group of about a dozens water oaks are surrounded by other oaks. When they are dropping it is hard to not see all animals around them. They may not be their favorite, but usually water oaks drop every year, creating a more consistent food source. I have seen White acorns that sprout some years and the deer just not get to them there are so many. A bunker crop of acorns can make for some tough hunting on highly pressured ground, but I can assure you they are eating good acorns somewhere, especially at night.

Re: Are my deer broken? [Re: EmeraldTides] #3774277
10/28/22 04:59 AM
10/28/22 04:59 AM
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 16,604
lat 34.09 long -86.13
metalmuncher Offline
Old Mossy Horns
metalmuncher  Offline
Old Mossy Horns
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Posts: 16,604
lat 34.09 long -86.13
To late for this year but try fertilizing a few select trees or a patch of trees for next year.

Re: Are my deer broken? [Re: EmeraldTides] #3774435
10/28/22 09:33 AM
10/28/22 09:33 AM
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 3,229
Semmes, AL
HippieKiller Offline
10 point
HippieKiller  Offline
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Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 3,229
Semmes, AL
Down here in extreme SW AL, white oaks are as rare as hen's teeth, so don't be surprised if there isn't one anywhere on you or your neighbors. And while you probably do have a majority of water oaks, I'd bet there are some red oaks dropping on your place right now too. I have found them to be much more preferred by deer down here.

As to all the acorns you see rotting on the ground, you've posted a lot of pictures of some swampy creek bottom type land. Those acorns won't last in those damp environments too long. Check the high ground, outer edges of SMZ, and ESPECIALLY oaks on the edges of fields/pasture. Deer may love acorns, but they are also lazy. The easier the acorns are for them to find, the more they like them.


"The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." - Thomas Jefferson
Re: Are my deer broken? [Re: EmeraldTides] #3774536
10/28/22 12:06 PM
10/28/22 12:06 PM
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 6,230
somewhere around 112.
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slippinlipjr Online shocked
I make Calds fer a livin
slippinlipjr  Online Shocked
I make Calds fer a livin
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Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 6,230
somewhere around 112.
If your property is down here in SW bamer, find red oaks. Look up what a southern red oak looks like. They are after them harder than the white oaks right now for some reason. I've never seen this before until this year. Our white oaks we have that are dropping aren't dropping very good akerns.


Ctrl+C, Ctrl+V, Ctrl+Z

thesharkguard.com



Re: Are my deer broken? [Re: EmeraldTides] #3774708
10/28/22 04:20 PM
10/28/22 04:20 PM
Joined: Jan 2022
Posts: 685
Mobile
EmeraldTides Offline OP
4 point
EmeraldTides  Offline OP
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Thanks for the advice y'all. I'll have to get out and see if I can find any red oaks and see what's going on with them.

Re: Are my deer broken? [Re: EmeraldTides] #3774860
10/28/22 07:17 PM
10/28/22 07:17 PM
Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 9,203
Northwest Bama
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Ridge Life Online content
14 point
Ridge Life  Online Content
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Joined: Mar 2018
Posts: 9,203
Northwest Bama
I seen a group of nice bucks and a few doe under some water oaks right after dark in a yard. They left a 190 acre block of hardwood mix and crossed a 40 acre hay field to get to em. There is beans close as well… I watch em from my truck from a cow pasture. I can’t hunt any of the ground they were on.. but that’s what they were wanting to eat I guess.

Re: Are my deer broken? [Re: EmeraldTides] #3774874
10/28/22 07:35 PM
10/28/22 07:35 PM
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 4,135
Ramer
ronfromramer Online content
10 point
ronfromramer  Online Content
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Posts: 4,135
Ramer
If they're laying on sandy ground, they will be there into the spring if they don't get eaten. I'm covered up in big old water oaks and plenty of all sizes. I had deer and turkeys feeding on then during turkey season


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