What are they eating???

[jason]

I did some scouting around Pigeon Mountain for next weeks hunt and my honey-hole ain't lookin' so good. Last year it was covered in pin oak acorns and this year...not even a cap

.  I found a few maple saplings that had been nibbled on, as well as a few patches of greenbriar. However, I did not see any fresh droppings. I'm assuming the acorn deficiency is not strictly related to Pigeon Mountain...what are your deer eating?

 

[SpurHunter]

Besides anything and everything this year, if you have a food plot of ANY kind, get to it! They are wearing them out.</p>

I hope folks with lots of deer kill a full limit of does this year, as mast is down, and alot of deer wont make it through the year. Time to offer friends and relatives all the deer meat they can stand

</p>

 

[Cathooker]

There are no acorns on any of the properties that I hunt. The privet hedge, honey suckle and briar that they usually eat later in winter are being eaten up now. Hunt the green patches.

 

[churly]

All the above replies are about what I am hearing. The mast failure is evident in alot of places, and it seems it has the deer drilling late winter foods and plots already. If you dont have plots in the area you hunt, look for overgrown fields, pastures, or other places that have alot of weedy growth. I have some land I hunt on the plateau, and the deer seemed to be relating more to the lower elevations, whereas, they are usually on the ridges eating acorns about now. I expect alot of deer will be harvested this year, Since they will be on their feet hunting food.

 

[NRG]

I have acorns popping me in the head every time the wind blows here in Soddy Daisy, in my yard

 

[SpurHunter]

You got any deer need killin in your yard? Catfinger is itchin again.....

 

[Guest]

try looking in areas that were some what protected from the cold freeze we had, cant explain why some areas have them and some dont but i have found some in low protected areas, one thing for sure if you locate them the deer are there, going to do some reading on their food sources, i have heard they can survive on cedar and other plants they dont normally eat. good luck and safe hunting.

 

[jason]

You want to find the acorns? Take a loooong hike uphill...as high as you can get. I came in from the top this morning and hiked even farther up the mountain to a small saddle. Bingo! I think the elevation protected the acorns as they are everywhere...as well as a ton of sign. On the way down, I spotted a line of does on their way up. I know where I'll be next weekend

.

 

[Guest]

bet your are right, if high enough and protected that could be another way to find them. good luck and safe hunting.

 

[fish4thepeck]

I live on South Pittsburg Mountain and have found a few red oaks acorns. No white oaks, or chesnut oaks. In the bottoms there is a few water oak acorns but on the mountain it's going to be hard to find a track this winter. They are already starting to eat laurel bushes and thats a bad sign.