Acorn Crop

[Beeg]

Was wondering what the acorn crop will be like this year in northern Michigan. When I was up I 75 a couple of weeks ago looked like the area has lacked rainfall. Has anyone glassed the oak tops for acorns? The area that I hunt has had abundant acorns the last three years and with the dry conditions thought they might not be as abundant this year.

[NEMichsportsman]

I only did a quick glance last weekend around my place...not many on the ground. I will be out baiting for bear this weekend in the Glennie area as well as a little pre-season deer scouting at our deer site.

My hunting partner is chomping at the bit so we are setting up camp for the weekend complete with his wife and daughters...I will give a better report on the Mast situation on monday.

jp

[marty]

Here in northeast Mi the acerns as the southern boys say are falling as we speak Not many as last year but some trees are loaded. With the lack of rain here any water source shows deer sign. Alot fell off with this last hard rain we had. A lot of small ones also.........marty

[billya]

From what I have seen we are going to have an excellent year. In west branch and the southeast. Many on the ground and tons in the tee.

A farmer buddy told me that oaks always have a great crop during the dry years.

So far I believe this to be true.

[The Nailer]

I have 2 Red Oaks on the edge of deck and God knows we haven't had a lot of rain in SE MI this summer, but these trees have been dropping acorns for several weeks now. Actually it's the squirells that have been dropping them. Last time I was north it looked like they have had a pretty good summer of rain in the NE corner. All the farmers lawns were green. So I would think there should be a pretty good crop. Unfortunately I have only one lonely oak on my entire forty and it usually doesn't have a lot of acorns.

[islaysteelies]

Was up north of White Cloud on Saturday, and could not believe how many acorns were on the ground...

[MIBow]

My kids went to the park this week and brought back a ton of acorns. They thought it would be good to feed the deer where I hunt so I could get a nice one close enough to shoot at!!

I guess they are getting tired of my excuses!!

I am in Grand Ledge in Eaton County.

[Banditto]

Was near Rose City 2 weeks ago, there were acorns all over the place and the trees were thick with them--red oaks. I didn't have a chance to check our white oaks.

[Beeg]

I have noticed the last couple of years the acorns were just starting to fall at the begining of small game season and they really fell after a couple of good frosts. With what you guys are telling me they are already falling. What will be on the ground come October 1? Was told by phone last night that the fire ban was lifted for the Cadillac area so that area must have been dry.

[ramprat]

I'm on the West side of the state and went out to hang my stand yesterday and seen a few on the ground not to heavy yet.

[Banditto]

Was walking my dog today and was surprised at the amount of white oak acorns on the trees. I think this is going to be a bumper crop year like what happened 3 years ago.

[farmlegend]

In Hillsdale County, the Bur and Swamp White Oaks are loaded. I mean, the trees are absolutely covered with acorns. I pay attention to these things - the heaviest mast crop I'd ever seen there was in '99, and this year appears to have it beat.

Not many acorns on the ground; they're all very green, and need some ripening.

Come October, I may need a helmet.

[hypox]

I've been out on my hunting property in kalamazoo county and not only can I not believe the amount of acorns, but they are HUGE too!!!! Those poor deer are gonna need a nut cracker to open those jumbos!!!;)

[jamie7117]

i have to agree, the oaks on my property in branch county are ready to fall over with acorns, especially the red oaks, just so happens my permanent tree stand over looks a huge cluster of those babies, can't wait for oct. 1, the hoyt ultratech is ready to do some damage.

[Tom222]

The white oaks on my property were hit by a blight or a bug this past spring. The leaves were sparce all year and the acorns are not plentyful. Red oaks seem to be doing great.

[kroppe]

I was in Au Gres over the weekend and the acorns are on the ground in full force.

Also in my area (Washtenaw County), the acorns are dropping as well.

[Dangler]

I'm surprised to hear that some people have found acorns from white oaks. I've checked a bunch of trees in Ingham County, found a couple of white oak acorns as big as a pea. Red oak acorns are everywhere and the deer are hitting them hard right now. Apples are about average.

[edwardtobin]

I was at my property in lewiston on labor day weekend and saw almost no acorns. we have mostly jack pines and red pines with a few big oak trees.

[Bowdoctor]

Lots of them around Houghton Lake Area!! Another good grop this year!

[Beeg]

I was at our 80 acres in Missaukee County over Labor Day and walked the entire property over which is covered in Black oaks and saw less than a handfull of acorns. All the ferns looked as though they were hit by frost but were actually brown from the 6 weeks of no rain. Walked on the state areas that I hunt and saw no acorns either. Looked the trees over with binolulars and still didn't see any. After reading all the posts where you guys were seeing them I thought I was overlooking them . Went to the farmers field an hour before dark and field were full or deer filling up on alfalfa. Looks like I will be hunting the trails going to the fields!!

[gunrod]

I was up at Tippy Dam fishing and saw few. Doesn't mean they weren't there though. I took my kid out and built up my blind and dug a pit blind. I didn't see many on the ground but I didn't look up because the salmon were in and we wanted to get out. It rained pretty heavy before and after our weekend so that may change things. Plus I am in an old hardwood area where binoculars would be needed to check that high up.

I hope they are in because that stand depends on them.

[Steve in MI]

St Clair, I was in a area that had a fair number that where dropping (white). In anothere area about 6 miles away they where dropping all over the ground?? I have been checking I like when they hold on. A tip for bow hunter is if you have a lone tree you are hunting that has acorns rake away the leaves. When they drop the deer will find them faster and be in your hunting area. Worked for me last year, it was like a dinner bell I had hardly seen deer, I raked the area up and even shook a few branched to drop more of them . I did not get to take a buck but I did see deer every eveing.

[Al, L]

On 8-18 2001 I posted at the wildlife habitat site about the acorns dropping here in Delta County. As I said there, setting alone in the woods it sounded like a hail storm. They are plentyful and some trees have huge ones. The apples are about all gone from the trees in my back yard also{they were loaded this year }. I don't pick them I let the deer do it.

[carcus]

I was stomping around the Gaylord area all weekend Grouse hunting and saw tons of acorns, every bird I shot had a crop full.

[Joe Archer]

In Alpena, acorns were almost done already. My neighbor up there said they started falling early August this year. Under the trees on my property uyou had to look long and hard to find the few that might be scattered. Hopefully, the deer will STILL be looking under my white oaks......<----<<<

[marty]

Same here in greenbush Joe. A lot of acorns have already fell.
I think food plots will be good this year. Deer seem to be hitting rye pretty good The rape field has had deer in it also. Daughter said she seen a good buck coming from my place yesterday. Hope he shows his face to me this year.........marty

[Shagy]

I have noticed alot of white and red oaks dropping acorns the past few weeks. The trees seem to have a fair amout in them. I noticed this in Muskegon county and in SE mich. As a matter of fact was walking the dog last night in a lightly wooded area and got bombed on the top of my head with a nice big acorn from a red oak. There is a good supply already on the ground but looks like there still is a bunch in the trees.