Southern terminology explanation please

[ESP]

 I have tons of free time and I am not allowed to do much so I have been listening to hunting podcasts.  I listened to podcasts with RC and Chris Spikes today.  I loved them.  I realized that it has been a while since I left the south and terminology that I need an explanation.  So I am asking for clarification.  A term that used regularly was a "branch".  I am assuming since this was used in the explanation of geography, that this means a finger of a swamp that shoots out from the central location? Maybe a tributary of a river?

There was also a term of primary food tree.  I understand what they meant but was wondering has anyone been able to find such a thing outside of southeast?  I typically hunt terrain features here in southeast Ohio.  Once in a while, I have found an apple tree that if it has apples will be hit hard for a day.  Sometimes the maples with yellow leaves, I have seen deer stand under and eat the falling leaves.  I have been told that is because those have the highest concentration of sugar.  These are the closest thing that I have seen to a primary food tree.  Most all the trees around here produce mast and most of the mast fall at the same general time.

Thanks in advance

ESP

[Pat B]

ESP, a branch is a small creek, usually fresh water from a spring.
Where I've hunted here in the Southeast these seems to be specific oak trees or groups of oak trees that always seem to attract deer for whatever reason. I've also watched deer eating fallen yellow mulberry leaves.

[limbshaker]

Primary food trees means (to me at least) white oaks here in North Bama. There are other food trees, such as the persimmon every now and then and of course red oaks, but the white oaks are the main attraction for most places.

[Todd Cook]

A branch is a small creek. Primary feed tree is a tree the deer are feeding on RIGHT NOW. Deer usually have particular trees they feed under at different times of the year for whatever reason. Often it will be one tree in with several others of the same species. Look for really fresh droppings( the more the better) tracks and the leaves under them will show more traffic than the ones around them.

[gregg dudley]

Both those boys are deer killing machines.  They are members here and will likely respond.  I have had the opportunity to shoot with and talk to both of them and the biggest thing that I took away from those conversations was the fact that most of us are too complacent in our approach.  That approach leads most of us to sit the first decent sign that we see because it is "good enough".  What that transfers to in reality is that most of us are satisfied to occasionally kill a deer vs expecting to kill one every sit.  I am frequently guilty of sitting a "pretty spot" where I might see deer at a distance, but not have the opportunity to take a shot.

Like Todd said, primary feed trees are the trees deer are feeding on today.  It takes a lot of work and a lot of scouting to consistently be set up on primary feed trees in a forest setting.

[ksbowman]

To further clarify, A branch is a small tributary that does not run all year. A creek should carry water all year except in severe drought.

[Jeff D. Holchin]

I have hunted with both of those killers, much more so with RC, and the following is a good example of how they hunt, for example on a typical 3-day weekend.  RC will put on his boots and cover a LOT of ground on Friday afternoon till dark and often Saturday morning too, if he had not yet found a prime food tree that is being hit hard RIGHT NOW.  That tree is usually a persimmon tree but can also be an oak tree.  He looks for the kind of sign that tells even a blind man that the deer or hogs are feeding there NOW, sometimes even bumping animals off the tree.  He carries the required gear to instantly climb either that tree or a nearby tree (depending on the wind and thermals), and frequently kills the intended animal during that very first sit.  The amazing thing is that RC does this on ground that he knows better than the back of his hand; you or I would probably be lazy and just head to a spot that was good the last season or two.

[ESP]

Thank You for the explanations.

 I would love to spend time with either one of these great men.   I am sure that I would learn more than I ever thought.  Maybe one day it might happen.  I admit that I am can be very hard headed, but every time I have had a chance to hunt with a very good hunter, I have learned quite a bit.   I learned how to hunt clear cuts,  turkeys, and small game by hunting with very good hunters who were willing to share their wisdom. 

What interests me most about these men is that I lived in lower Alabama and hunted similar types of geography and terrain.  It was a couple of years after moving there that I was able to harvest a few deer every year consistently.  I never felt as confident hunting the south as I have in other locations in the US.  These men appear to have figured this out and are excelling.

Thank you all
ESP

[Sam McMichael]

I was born in the south and raised in Georgia, Louisiana, and Mississippi. I went to school in Alabama. I have heard creeks (also called cricks) referred to as branches in each of those states, so it is a common term. As for the "primary" tree, it is one that is currently being hit. I know RC scouts a LOT. He keeps notes on individual trees as to when they produce and drop mast. He is extremely familiar with his hunting area and is so successful, because he diligently does his homework.

 

[Jeff D. Holchin]

I know a LOT of hunters, some of them fairly well-known and even famous - RC is in the top 2 or 3!  Another thing about him is that he shoots a LOT.  Always has an arrow with a blunt or judo point in his quiver that he shoots as he scouts, or coming to/from his stand.  He loves shooting contests, and is not the least bit afraid to lose an arrow "they make new arrows every day" is what he said to me. One time there was a TBG hunt at The Paradise with maybe 50bowhunters.  My introduction to RC was when he walked up to a group of us shooting at targets, checked out each bow and asked to shoot each and every one of them.  Was careful to compliment each one as he shot it, and he shot my bow better than I ever did!!!  I sure miss hunting with RC.  However, I did find one fault with him: he must be a Dale Earnhart fan, because one time we were hunting a WMA with bikes and I tried to pass him on the inside!  Big mistake...😳