Do Deer Eat Acorns? Do All Types Of Deer Go Nuts For Acorns

Acorns are appealing to deer because of their size, abundance, and nutritional content.

In the summer, deer switch to consuming fruit and nuts. In the fall, nature starts producing nourishing acorns that deer adore.

Acorns can be found between September and March, depending on the type of oak, and they provide food for deer for the rest of winter. Acorns are not only rich in nutrients and are healthy, but they are also high in protein, carbohydrates, lipids, vitamins, and minerals like calcium, phosphorus, and potassium. Not every acorn is created equally. Compared to red and black oak species, white oak species have lower tannic acid concentrations.

Do deer eat whole acorns?

Whole acorns are easily digested and the nutrients are quickly absorbed by a deer's body as they are processed and passed through it. Because deer digest acorns easily, they consume a lot of them every day, and the sheer number of acorns consumed by individual deer provides the protein required for a healthy herd. Deer gain weight as their acorn supply increases. They retain more body fat to help them in winter when food sources are scarcer upon consuming them shortly before winter.

Can deer smell acorns?

There is no doubt that as soon as deer discover acorns, they will begin visiting that area on a regular basis. Deer adore acorns because of their powerful scent and flavor. However, it is not proven whether deer can smell acorns.

Do deer eat post oak acorns?

Although post oak acorns tend to be smaller and harder than the typical white oak acorn, deer still adore them. In southern Missouri, post oak acorns tend to fall slightly later than the typical white oak acorns.

Which oak trees do deer like best?

The oak seed, or acorn, falls from trees as fall approaches and provides a veritable feast for wildlife. Whitetail deer choose to eat certain acorns over others. Red oak leaves drop later and slower in the late season, offering an excellent food source for whitetail deer.

The white oak acorn contains the lowest level of tannic acid, making it the tastiest of all acorns. White oaks typically yield a good crop every year and a substantial mast crop every third year. Pin oak can be bitter due to its high tannic acid content, but it produces a lot and is palatable. Every year, pin oak typically yields a good crop. Tannic acid content is low to medium in water oak. Every year, it typically produces a good crop. Acorns from water oak have brown and black bands that alternate. High acorn yields are produced by water oak.

Deer typically don't have only red oak acorns because of their bitterness, which is a problem for red oaks. Acorns from the red oak family contain tannic acid. Every year, black oak yields a good crop. Especially in the Appalachian states, black oak trees are widespread throughout the Midwest and east. They are quite bitter but also incredibly nutrient-dense. This acorn is reddish-brown in color.

Bur oak acorns are exceptionally large and contain moderate to high quantities of tannic acid. The deep cup and fringe on the cup's edges make the bur oak acorns distinctive. They are also renowned for their deliciousness. Every year, live oak typically yields a harvest. Due to the high tannic acid content, live oak is less preferred. The acorns from this distinctively southern oak tree start out green and eventually become dark brown. Acorns from live oaks are very tasty to deer and other animals.

Are acorns good for them?

Deer enjoy these nuts because they are large in size, allowing them to be consumed quickly. They are also quite high in nutrition. It is similar to a protein bar for wildlife. If a deer consumes 100 g (3.5 oz) of acorns, the nutritional value for that deer is 40 g (1.4 oz) of carbs, 23 g (0.8 oz) of fat, and 6 g (0.2 oz) of protein.

Whitetails prefer specific acorn species over others. An acorn's tannic acid content is mostly to blame for this. Deer and other animals may find it more challenging to digest the protein in acorns due to the tannins' bitter taste.

How do you feed deer acorns?

The most prevalent natural signpost in the autumn forest is undoubtedly acorns. Deer frequently sleep close to feeding areas in the middle of the timber during excellent mast years. They simply need to stand and start eating acorns that are nearby. They will only have covered a few yards when they have finished eating and are ready to rest again. White oak acorns are unquestionably favored for deer hunting over other types of acorns.

October lull refers to the time from late September through the first couple of weeks of October. Hunters typically stop observing much activity at this point. The availability of food and the warmer weather are the main causes of this presumed lull. Deer spend a lot of time in the woods gorging on acorns during good acorn production years. In order to prepare for the pre-rut and rut, bucks typically laze around near the trees on the ground. Hunters rarely encounter them in food plots because they have little incentive to leave the timber when the acorn crop is good.

Did you know...

• Acorns develop over a period of 6-24 months, depending on the species of oak. The acorn is a single seed enclosed in a leathery shell and housed in a cupule.
• Acorns are also edible to humans but only after making sure to remove the toxins. Acorns can be useful as an insurance food source because of their long shelf life, as they can be stored for up to two years.
• All varieties of oak that can be found in Oklahoma produce acorns. Despite some differences in animal preferences among the different species of oak, all are eaten.
• In areas without white oaks, deer eat acorns with the least amount of tannic acid. When scouting, search the ground for nuts and caps. If deer are consuming acorns, there will be a large number of droppings and tracks. If scratches and dings are seen around, deer are in business.
• When scouting or hunting, keep an eye out for other wildlife activities to help locate these trees. Acorns crashing against the leaves, feeding squirrels, or grackle flocks can all be heard. When having mast, these animals make noise.
• Mark the preferred trees, the drop times, and the deer's seasonal use schedule. When planning for upcoming seasons, yearly data will reveal trends and increase the chances of succeeding in spotting a deer.
• The amount of productive hunting time is greatly increased when you hunt over acorns because deer can consume acorns at any time of day.
• There are over 450 oak genera in the world, with 90 of them in the United States, and they come in two main groups. While the white oak category bears an abundance of fruit in just one season, the red and black oak categories take two seasons to produce fruit.
• Acorns drop where deer live, so hunting is a bit easy. At any time of day, mature bucks may feed on acorns, especially if the security cover is closed. We must be aware that deer may prefer acorns from one white oak tree nearby to those from others.
• Deer start with the most delectable local mast crop as the season goes on, then move on to the less favored varieties.
• The most common oak trees are easily recognizable to deer hunters and owners of rural properties, but fewer people can name the trees that produce the tastiest acorns for deer.
• Knowing where deer are bedding, what they have, how to play the wind, where to be, and where to spot them are the fundamentals of a successful deer hunt. In the south, fall deer hunting frequently takes place over a carefully tended, incredibly nourishing food plot. When a food plot is as deserted as a ghost town, deer are undoubtedly drawn to more enticing forage.
• Acorns, one of nature's most delicious fall foods, are probably being devoured by the local deer herd wherever there are oak trees.
• There are some oak trees that are more beautiful and productive than others. This is partly because of the tree's location and the kind of acorn it produces.
• If you want year-round activity close to your preferred tree stand, offer a good acorn supply when hunting season is in full swing.