Mast Crop (Acorn Pic)

[peckprice]

I have been involved in numerous conversations over the summer concerning the mast crop this year. Most everyone I have talked with, along with me, assumed that the late freeze we had this year would negatively affect the mast crop. Due to the heat this summer, I haven't been in the woods any, but with this cool snap, I have been hunting and scouting like a mad man. In my neck of the woods, the white oaks are positively loaded. Here is a sample:
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e16/peckprice/Acornpics9-16-07003.jpg

[Remington12]

You should feel blessed, because out in my end of western Kentucky looks barren of acorns. Some hickorys and if I see acorns, they are small in size and number.

[jeff74]

On a farm we hunt in central GA, we have the most acorns I've ever seen and they are huge! The area had 2 late freezes and has been in the middle of an extreme drought. Beats all I've seen!!!!!!!!!!!

[12 pointer]

just came in from mowing the front yard. tree on the corner is a whiteoak and she is loaded. they are falling too.:)

[NitroHunter]

I was worried too, but after hitting the woods a few times I believe we'll be alright.
Seems like we have plenty here and a few trees are bearing bigger than usual acorns this year.

[randy grider]

just came back from LBL, the only acorns i saw were tiny, and like to never found them. the critters are in for a rough winter at LBL

[strutin fever]

looks good maybe they will fatten up

[notimlmit]

That's a gold mine, better put a stand close by when they start falling

[huntindawoods]

Depends on the area a person is in but for the most part there are more acorns than what most of us thought there was going to be the way this whole year has been.

[lowerunit]

I have seen a few of both sizes, but I have also done more than LOOK at them. I have cut open several acorns and they are about 50/50. Some have "meat" and some are hollow. Look the same, but are different inside.

[quackrstackr]

What few I have found in my neck of the woods are about the size of the fingernail on my little finger.

I hunted next to a big white oak tonight that didn't appear to have a single acorn on it.

[AteUp]

I have seen a few of both sizes, but I have also done more than LOOK at them. I have cut open several acorns and they are about 50/50. Some have "meat" and some are hollow. Look the same, but are different inside.

This is very good info guys. It prolly takes a certain amount of rainfall to make the shell, and then more to make the meat? In extreme WKY where the drought has been the worst, apparently there was not enough moisture to even make the shell. Make sure to check the acorns falling to see if there is any meat in them. Maybe do a survey of 20 acorns to see what the % is?

Any folks from the forestry dept on here? Scappy, where are you when we need ya?

[peckprice]

I checked acorns from about 15 different white oaks this morning, they all had sound acorns. It has been my experience that the poorly formed or worm eaten acorns will fall off well before typical dropping time.. The acorns that I looked at today are ripe and full.

[MrHank]

One farm I hunt on has 3 white oaks that are loaded and one has started dropping while the other 2 have not yet. One farm has none and I have 2 others I have not been on this year, will propably check them out this weekend for acorns and dead deer.