Natural food sources and the best time to hunt them

Discuss the science of figuring out our prey through good detective work.
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Jdw
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Natural food sources and the best time to hunt them

Unread postby Jdw » Mon Jul 08, 2019 2:11 pm

I thought I would start a thread about natural food and the timing of when you have seen the deer eating them.
I know it is going to change depending on what part the country you are from.

I am in SE Ohio.

Here is what I have observed in farm and hill county.

White and Chinkapen oak. Mid September to early October.

Red and Chestnut oaks mid October.

Hickory nuts early October

Beech nuts mid September to early October

Apples varies depending on verity

Pope berry early fall

Jewel weed early to mid fall

Maple leaves when they are falling

Honey locusts pods late season


Evanszach7
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Re: Natural food sources and the best time to hunt them

Unread postby Evanszach7 » Wed Jul 10, 2019 10:05 am

Jdw wrote:I thought I would start a thread about natural food and the timing of when you have seen the deer eating them.
I know it is going to change depending on what part the country you are from.

I am in SE Ohio. Sw Ohio for me, similar farm and hill country

Here is what I have observed in farm and hill county.

White and Chinkapen oak. Mid September to early October. Same + stinging nettle (tall plant growing near creeks and rivers that feels like a 5 min bee sting)

Red and Chestnut oaks mid October. Same

Hickory nuts early October haven't seen that but I'll look for it

Beech nuts mid September to early October haven't seen that but I'll look for it

Apples varies depending on verity

Pope berry early fall

Jewel weed early to mid fall same

Maple leaves when they are falling same

Honey locusts pods late season
same. Also have seen them hit pin oak/swamp oaks/black oaks. Marshy areas where they tend to drop late. + osage oranges (aka monkey brains).
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cspot
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Re: Natural food sources and the best time to hunt them

Unread postby cspot » Wed Jul 10, 2019 10:14 am

I suppose they do eat them, but I don't recall ever seeing a deer eat hickory nuts? Just curious if they eat them with much consistency?

The other plants I agree with on timing although I am not too far from you being in SW PA and I have a camp in SE Ohio.
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Drenalin
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Re: Natural food sources and the best time to hunt them

Unread postby Drenalin » Wed Jul 10, 2019 10:37 am

cspot wrote:I suppose they do eat them, but I don't recall ever seeing a deer eat hickory nuts? Just curious if they eat them with much consistency?

I’ve heard deer don’t eat them much because of how large and hard the hulls are, and difficult to digest. Whatever the reason, I don’t see deer on hickories in my area either.
Jdw
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Re: Natural food sources and the best time to hunt them

Unread postby Jdw » Thu Jul 11, 2019 2:56 am

Drenalin wrote:
cspot wrote:I suppose they do eat them, but I don't recall ever seeing a deer eat hickory nuts? Just curious if they eat them with much consistency?

I’ve heard deer don’t eat them much because of how large and hard the hulls are, and difficult to digest. Whatever the reason, I don’t see deer on hickories in my area either.


I didn’t think they ate them either but I have seen deer eat hickory nuts on occasion.
I could hear them crunching from 30 yds away.
I am not sure if it is a specific type of hickory or if they will eat any type.
I guess I need to try to identify what type of hickory I’ve seen them eating.
Jdw
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Re: Natural food sources and the best time to hunt them

Unread postby Jdw » Thu Jul 11, 2019 2:57 am

Evanszach7 wrote:
Jdw wrote:I thought I would start a thread about natural food and the timing of when you have seen the deer eating them.
I know it is going to change depending on what part the country you are from.

I am in SE Ohio. Sw Ohio for me, similar farm and hill country

Here is what I have observed in farm and hill county.

White and Chinkapen oak. Mid September to early October. Same + stinging nettle (tall plant growing near creeks and rivers that feels like a 5 min bee sting)

Red and Chestnut oaks mid October. Same

Hickory nuts early October haven't seen that but I'll look for it

Beech nuts mid September to early October haven't seen that but I'll look for it

Apples varies depending on verity

Pope berry early fall

Jewel weed early to mid fall same

Maple leaves when they are falling same

Honey locusts pods late season
same. Also have seen them hit pin oak/swamp oaks/black oaks. Marshy areas where they tend to drop late. + osage oranges (aka monkey brains).


What time of year have you seen them eat Osage orange?
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Motivated
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Re: Natural food sources and the best time to hunt them

Unread postby Motivated » Thu Jul 11, 2019 2:26 pm

In Indiana I've only seen the osage orange eaten in January or later. That's just what I've seen.
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Matt Gill
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Re: Natural food sources and the best time to hunt them

Unread postby Matt Gill » Thu Jul 11, 2019 4:03 pm

Persimmon are a big draw to deer here in WV. Anywhere from late September through October they hit them hard
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isitseasonyet?
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Re: Natural food sources and the best time to hunt them

Unread postby isitseasonyet? » Thu Jul 11, 2019 5:21 pm

This thread taught me more than just about browse.

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=40866&start=45
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DaveT1963
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Re: Natural food sources and the best time to hunt them

Unread postby DaveT1963 » Thu Jul 11, 2019 10:59 pm

Motivated wrote:In Indiana I've only seen the osage orange eaten in January or later. That's just what I've seen.


They rot on the ground here - but hogs do eat some of them.
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wolverinebuckman
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Re: Natural food sources and the best time to hunt them

Unread postby wolverinebuckman » Thu Jul 25, 2019 1:18 pm

I'm new in the area that I'll be hunting this year, and while I was scouting today I found these on the ground, is anybody familiar with what these are, and do deer like them? South Central Kentucky
IMG_20190724_210437.jpg
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Bummer of a birthmark, Hal.
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cspot
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Re: Natural food sources and the best time to hunt them

Unread postby cspot » Thu Jul 25, 2019 1:21 pm

Motivated wrote:In Indiana I've only seen the osage orange eaten in January or later. That's just what I've seen.
We always called them monkey balls as kids. :D Like you I have really only seen them eat them in the winter.
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cspot
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Re: Natural food sources and the best time to hunt them

Unread postby cspot » Thu Jul 25, 2019 1:25 pm

wolverinebuckman wrote:I'm new in the area that I'll be hunting this year, and while I was scouting today I found these on the ground, is anybody familiar with what these are, and do deer like them? South Central Kentucky
IMG_20190724_210437.jpg


I am no expert, but those look like some type of hickory nut to me. During this time of year mast trees typically shed some of the nuts. They aren't mature and animals don't generally eat them.
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Re: Natural food sources and the best time to hunt them

Unread postby Hawthorne » Thu Jul 25, 2019 2:34 pm

wolverinebuckman wrote:I'm new in the area that I'll be hunting this year, and while I was scouting today I found these on the ground, is anybody familiar with what these are, and do deer like them? South Central Kentucky
IMG_20190724_210437.jpg


Pignut hickory is my guess
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wolverinebuckman
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Re: Natural food sources and the best time to hunt them

Unread postby wolverinebuckman » Thu Jul 25, 2019 9:58 pm

cspot wrote:
I am no expert, but those look like some type of hickory nut to me. During this time of year mast trees typically shed some of the nuts. They aren't mature and animals don't generally eat them.

Hawthorne wrote:
Pignut hickory is my guess

Thanks guys for a starting point, I'll look closer at the leaves tomorrow to see if I can make a positive ID
Bummer of a birthmark, Hal.


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