Bureau of Forestry staff within the Sproul State Forest District have informed me of a red oak acorn crop forming within places, particularly on the southern side of the West Branch of the Susquehanna River. With recent time afield, I am excited and somewhat surprised to report on a moderate red oak acorn crop forming sporadically at West Branch Forest. With higher concentrations of tannins (acidity), red oak acorns are not as preferred as white oak acorns to whitetails. However, even a modest mast crop will serve as a much needed nutritional boost and hopefully increase viewing opportunities throughout the upcoming hunting season.
Interesting Tid-Bid on Acorns:
No other natural food is more attractive to the white-tailed deer during autumn and winter than oak acorns. Given a good supply of acorns, deer will quickly abandon their normal routines and food sources to take advantage of this high energy food. The acorn, although low in protein is one of the most metabolizable energy sources that are utilized for body growth and the building of fat reserves. Research has shown that deer will eat all the acorns that they can get, but in preferred order. White oak acorns are usually eaten first, then the acorns of the pin, red and black, followed by the scrub oak, and finally the large chestnut oak. Even though the chestnut oak belongs to the white oak group – and produces the largest acorns – deer simply do not have a great liking for this species as for the others.
Acorn crops are not produced with regularity on an annual basis, but are more likely to follow cycles over several years. Red oak tree species (northern red oak, black oak, scarlet oak) flower every other year and produce bumper crops every 2-5 years, whereas white oak tree species (white oak, chestnut oak, post oak) flower every year and usually produce good crops every 4-10 years.
Acorns typically become available and are heavily used first during September and consumed throughout the fall, winter and into spring when the hard mast forage becomes minimal. Normally, by late November, the majority of the year’s acorn production has been consumed by deer and bears along with squirrels, chipmunks, and other small mammals. Studies have indicated that black oak has proven to be the most important acorn producer through the years, followed by red, white, post-scarlet, black-jack, and pin oak in that order.
Few trees under the age of 20 years produce acorns. Acorn production is directly related to tree diameter and crown size. Typically, the larger the diameter of the tree and the wider the crown, the greater the acorn production. For example, a 26-inch diameter white oak might be expected to yield more than 20 pounds of acorns, whereas a 10-incher might yield less than 3 pounds. Likewise, one oak tree having a crown radius of 24 feet could produce nearly 50 pounds of acorns, while one with a 12-foot crown radius might yield only 2 pounds. So, generally speaking, the more sunlight trees receive, the better the acorn production.
Interesting Tid-Bid on Acorns:
No other natural food is more attractive to the white-tailed deer during autumn and winter than oak acorns. Given a good supply of acorns, deer will quickly abandon their normal routines and food sources to take advantage of this high energy food. The acorn, although low in protein is one of the most metabolizable energy sources that are utilized for body growth and the building of fat reserves. Research has shown that deer will eat all the acorns that they can get, but in preferred order. White oak acorns are usually eaten first, then the acorns of the pin, red and black, followed by the scrub oak, and finally the large chestnut oak. Even though the chestnut oak belongs to the white oak group – and produces the largest acorns – deer simply do not have a great liking for this species as for the others.
Acorn crops are not produced with regularity on an annual basis, but are more likely to follow cycles over several years. Red oak tree species (northern red oak, black oak, scarlet oak) flower every other year and produce bumper crops every 2-5 years, whereas white oak tree species (white oak, chestnut oak, post oak) flower every year and usually produce good crops every 4-10 years.
Acorns typically become available and are heavily used first during September and consumed throughout the fall, winter and into spring when the hard mast forage becomes minimal. Normally, by late November, the majority of the year’s acorn production has been consumed by deer and bears along with squirrels, chipmunks, and other small mammals. Studies have indicated that black oak has proven to be the most important acorn producer through the years, followed by red, white, post-scarlet, black-jack, and pin oak in that order.
Few trees under the age of 20 years produce acorns. Acorn production is directly related to tree diameter and crown size. Typically, the larger the diameter of the tree and the wider the crown, the greater the acorn production. For example, a 26-inch diameter white oak might be expected to yield more than 20 pounds of acorns, whereas a 10-incher might yield less than 3 pounds. Likewise, one oak tree having a crown radius of 24 feet could produce nearly 50 pounds of acorns, while one with a 12-foot crown radius might yield only 2 pounds. So, generally speaking, the more sunlight trees receive, the better the acorn production.
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