Large Mast Crop Years

[Nantahala Nut]

It looks like we are gonna have another year of big mast crops here in the Smokies. Third year in a row.  I would love to hear your hunting strategies when food is everywhere. Our deer herd is pretty small out here.  I think I need to hunt the edges of bedding areas in years like this.

[ChuckC]

Funnels of all sorts help.

[Pat B]

Hunting during heavy mast years can be very difficult. Maybe try established travel routes. Deer usually prefer white oaks so try to find the ones that start dropping early. Also look for soft mast like grapes and persimmons or possibly apples.
 We have lots of white oaks here on this side of the mountains but very few produce at all on my property...ever.

[Cory Mattson]

Don't be distracted by abundant acorn drop - instead do what we should all be doing every year and that is - Gotta have fresh droppings - fresh hulls - fresh tracks - be in thick cover -
 be near bedding cover - all 5 and without all 5 don't even think about placing a stand.

Agree with Persimmons - we take a few deer every year on Persimmons. Grapes seem better for hogs for us. Apples are almost impossible to hunt without them getting pounded by other hunters since they are easy obvious - BUT if you had an isolated tree that's a killing tree.  

I also use water - or crossing water - I rarely hunt without that.

I know everybody likes White Oaks - I do too and have plenty located - I like Swamp Chestnut White Oaks plenty of those punched in too - But for me I get a ton of deer on Water Oaks. Especially a small grove of them near water.

Good Hunting

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[scrub-buster]

I'll set a few stands around some chinkapin oaks and the water source on our property.  Last season we had almost zero mast crop.  I'm hoping this season will be better.  I haven't checked the oaks yet but the walnut and osage trees are loaded down with fruit.  The osage fruit are so big they are already dropping.  That doesn't usually happen until October.

[BOHO]

Most of our guys go out at daylight and come in around 930. We have a ton of pressure and the deer pattern us pretty quick. Hunt midday especially in a full moon. Also if you can get out early let other hunters push deer to you.

[huskyarcher]

Funnels!

[Mint]

On Long island it seems every year is a banner crop. Here is what I do:

October 1st thru the 15th I hunt a white oak tree that is dropping if I can find one.

Oct 15th thru November 5th I tend to hunt funnels only. From the 5th on I move closer to the bedding areas but will still hunt my best funnels.

The bedding area hunt is only good for one or two sits  and then I move to the edges again.

[Zwickey-Fever]

Every year I spike several white oak trees here on my property in early spring. I call it my poor man food plot. This year we been hit with a drought here in southern Iowa so I truly don't know what the acorn crop will be like. My corn is holding strong and beans are looking some what ratty.
 I tend to set up along funnels and drawls leading to food sources as well as watering. It's nearly impossible to get into a stand here along field edges during the mornings without pushing deer so I hunt my poor man food plots and watering holes in the mornings here. I start seeing deer later in the morning, 8-9 after they get done raping my corn and bean fields.

[Scott E]

Edges of bedding areas works well for me when there's food everywhere. They tend to leave their beds later than usual.

[Nantahala Nut]

Took a walk back there again and really paid attention to the trees. There really are oaks everywhere. Found one thats dropping already but hasnt been hit yet. Gonna keep my eye on that tree.

[Terry Green]

Originally posted by ChuckC:
Funnels of all sorts help.

Yes!

[Terry Green]

Originally posted by Cory Mattson:
Don't be distracted by abundant acorn drop - instead do what we should all be doing every year and that is - Gotta have fresh droppings - fresh hulls - fresh tracks - be in thick cover -
 be near bedding cover - all 5 and without all 5 don't even think about placing a stand.

Agree with Persimmons - we take a few deer every year on Persimmons. Grapes seem better for hogs for us. Apples are almost impossible to hunt without them getting pounded by other hunters since they are easy obvious - BUT if you had an isolated tree that's a killing tree.  

I also use water - or crossing water - I rarely hunt without that.

I know everybody likes White Oaks - I do too and have plenty located - I like Swamp Chestnut White Oaks plenty of those punched in too - But for me I get a ton of deer on Water Oaks. Especially a small grove of them near water.

Good Hunting

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Yes!

[Terry Green]

Originally posted by BOHO:
Most of our guys go out at daylight and come in around 930. We have a ton of pressure and the deer pattern us pretty quick. Hunt midday especially in a full moon. Also if you can get out early let other hunters push deer to you.

Yes!

[Terry Green]

Originally posted by Scott E:
Edges of bedding areas works well for me when there's food everywhere. They tend to leave their beds later than usual.

Yes!

[Terry Green]

I would like to add whether it's deer Hogs or bears you may have to put down some boot leather to find sign... don't hunt an area that does not have sign... if you do you're wasting time... put down the boot leather put in your time it'll pay off