FOR AGES 3 YEARS TO 18 YEARS
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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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
https://www.whitetailproperties.com/knowledge-center/which-oak-trees-do-deer-like-best
https://www.grandviewoutdoors.com/big-game-hunting/whitetail-deer/acorns-deer-love-deez-nuts
https://www.mossyoak.com/our-obsession/blogs/deer/follow-the-nuts-deer-scouting-with-acorns
https://www.realtree.com/deer-hunting/articles/everything-you-need-to-know-about-acorns
Read The Disclaimer
At Kidadl we pride ourselves on offering families original ideas to make the most of time spent together at home or out and about, wherever you are in the world. We strive to recommend the very best things that are suggested by our community and are things we would do ourselves - our aim is to be the trusted friend to parents.
We try our very best, but cannot guarantee perfection. We will always aim to give you accurate information at the date of publication - however, information does change, so it’s important you do your own research, double-check and make the decision that is right for your family.
Kidadl provides inspiration to entertain and educate your children. We recognise that not all activities and ideas are appropriate and suitable for all children and families or in all circumstances. Our recommended activities are based on age but these are a guide. We recommend that these ideas are used as inspiration, that ideas are undertaken with appropriate adult supervision, and that each adult uses their own discretion and knowledge of their children to consider the safety and suitability.
Kidadl cannot accept liability for the execution of these ideas, and parental supervision is advised at all times, as safety is paramount. Anyone using the information provided by Kidadl does so at their own risk and we can not accept liability if things go wrong.
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