Red Oaks Dropping Early

This huge Brooks County buck left good blood for 100 yards, and then the trail got tough. Matt LaHood, of Valdosta, called Randy Vick from the GON tracking-dog list, and Randy and his dog “Annie” found the buck 5 miles away. Matt’s 8-point buck had a live-weight of 215 pounds.

For most of the state, October deer hunting is all about finding the hot food sources until the pre-rut begins. 

If you’re waiting to check your favorite hardwood areas until mid October when the white oaks typically start falling, you might want to plan a low-impact, midday scouting trip right now.

Hunt Advisors from middle and south Georgia report that southern red oaks—the small acorns that look similar to a water oak but are darker—are raining down earlier than normal. And the deer are on them. Water oaks and pin oaks are also falling heavily.

Meanwhile, food plots that were planted early are lush from all the rain. But the folks who were waiting until late September when the army worms are no longer a threat are now waiting even longer for the ground to dry enough for planting. 

Here are the Hunt Advisor reports from across the state. 

NORTH GEORGIA

Cherokee County: Tim Danger, of Ball Ground, reports, “Well, September is gone, which means we have the month of October to get on a feeding deer, and then we all know what happens next. Not to get ahead with rut talk—let’s talk about October. October is our best bet to put a deer in the freezer while hunting a food source. The does and their young are separating, and the bucks are packing in the protein getting ready for the rut. 

Tyler Goddard, 11, of Ball Ground, with a Cherokee County doe taken on opening afternoon while hunting a hardwood ridge. Tyler is the grandson of Hunt Advisor Tim Dangar.

“Acorns come into play big time here in Cherokee. I do, however, predict a late drop due to what I see here. Acorns are still green, and it takes a hard wind to shake any out so far. My food plot, which was planted three weeks ago, is lush and getting hit pretty good already, but with most activity being at night. The bucks are staying low for the most part with some showing up on trail cams at night. No buck sign to talk about yet, but I look for that to change as cold fronts start coming through every four to five days, which will enhance the rub and scrape activity. As for me, I will hunt some WMA food plots up north of here for at least two to three more weeks until the main acorn drop happens. I have 11-year-old twin grandsons, who have proven to be great hunters with a bow. One of them has already scored, and the other will be trying to do the same here at home. Hopefully, a few evening sits on the food plot will do the trick. 

“This is a good time to get stands positioned in the hardwoods on trails and around good acorn-producing trees. You can always slip in later with a climber if you find that magic spot. We are not seeing the number of deer I had hoped for as yet, but there is still a lot of green food for them to chose from, so maybe they’re just scattered. 

“The month of October is a great time to be in the woods just to behold the changing of another season and the beauty God displays as it happens. May we encourage one another as hunters to be safe while hunting, and be good stewards of God’s creation, so we can pass it forward to the next generation.”

Eva Aderholdt, of Stephens County, with a big doe taken with her crossbow on opening weekend of archery season.

Lumpkin County: Richard Von Scherr, of Dawsonville, reports, “The deer in the north Georgia mountains still have an abundance of soft mast to forage on. Bucks are still moving in bachelor groups and are being seen in the early evenings just toward the end of shooting light.

“The acorn crop in north Georgia is looking to be another good one, with red oaks and pin oaks both beginning to drop. The hard mast along with supplemental feeding via food plots should enable the set up of good ambush spots along travel corridors between bedding and feeding areas in October.

“For those who are interested in an early season, north Georgia bruin, there do seem to be more sightings of bears. However, the majority are smaller, below 200 pounds. As usual, they are hitting anything edible.”

Madison County: Keith Ingram, of Comer, reports, “I have only been in the woods a handful of times since opening weekend, but I’ve seen deer all but one time. I’m also finding a lot of buck sign for this early in the season. The food plots I planted the last weekend of August have done the best of any I have ever planted, and the deer are already mowing them down. I’m getting lots of pictures on my plots, and the does, fawns and young bucks are coming to them all times of the day. The mature bucks are only showing up at night. I’m hoping this will change as November gets closer. 

Jason Dockery and his son Reece Dockery doubled up on opening day while hunting only 40 yards from each other in the evening. Both deer fell within 20 yards of each other. “What an awesome memory!” Jason said.

“The acorn crop is going to be great—maybe even too good. They haven’t started falling real good, but the trees are loaded. My hunting strategy will not change much from now until the rut—just stay on the food sources. I’m very excited about this season because of the early buck sign, food sources and the several very nice bucks on my trail-cams. I normally do the report on Wilkes County, but it’s been hard to leave Madison County because the hunting has been so good. We did plant our Wilkes County food plots the third week of September, and I did some scouting that day. The bucks are getting active there also with rubs, and scrapes. The acorns are looking to be plentiful there, also.”

For the second opening morning of bow season in a row, Gerry Gilbert took a nice buck. He shot this Jackson County buck, halfway out of velvet, at 25 yards.

North Fulton County: Greg Grimes, of Ball Ground, reports, “The last part of September saw the bucks switch from backyard shrubs and fallow fields as their desired browse to the hardwoods. Bucks basically stopped appearing on my cameras about opening week of bow season. Luckily, I got a doe the first week, because the next four hunts were slow. Unfortunately, and I have to report this, my doe that fell less than a hundred yards away was attacked by coyotes before I got to her in 30 minutes. Suburban coyotes are rampant.

“I’ve currently only seen northern red oaks and water oak acorns on the ground. In October, find the dropping white oaks, and you should be able to punch your tag. I usually struggle to get on a nice buck after they break up. The first part of the month will be spent with doe harvest. The second half of the month, and especially the last week of October, usually has bucks back on their feet during the daylight.

Sarina May, a college student from Gilmer County, practiced all year with a new bow she got for Christmas. On her first-ever bowhunt in Cherokee County, Sarina got this 7-point buck—her first deer.

“I saw two nice rubs on opening day, but sure-enough serious rub lines will show late in October. I will hunt these lines to get me as close to what I suspect are bedding areas. Play the wind, and get between the thickest bedding area and the acorns. I might even start doing some grunting and rattling late in October. If nothing else, I will have them figured out, hopefully, so I’ll have a game plan ready for full-on pre-rut action in early November. Good luck. It’s doable, but you earn the big bucks in October.”

Rabun County: Tim Dangar reports from the Chattahoochee National Forest, “October should be good up in the Chattahoochee National Forest due to a good acorn crop. Getting on a good white or red oak that is heavy with nuts should prove to be interesting. The mountains are fun to hunt because you have a good shot at bear, deer or hogs. On a recent scouting trip, I was able to locate and see fresh signs of all three. Buck sign will be later due to December being the primary rut for this area of northeast Georgia. I recommend hunting around natural openings early in October and moving to the hardwood ridges for the middle through the end of month. Bear and hogs can be located easier than deer due to the sign they leave in the woods and around overgrown field areas. Another suggestion would be to get well off the roads, which will require sometimes about an hour walk. Hunt from the ground using natural blinds. Remember, as the weather gets colder, dress light and take a backpack with extra clothes to add once you reach your hunting area.”

Mike Davis, one of our GON Hunt Advisors for north Georgia, with an 8-point buck he arrowed in Gilmer County. Mike was sitting tight in the stand giving a doe he had shot time to expire when the buck showed up.

MIDDLE GEORGIA

Fayette County: Shane McMonigle, aka “rutnbuk” on the GON Forum, reports, “When cool weather, college football and the archery opener all collide on the same weekend, well that’s about as good of a weekend this feller can ask for! What a comfortable start to the season indeed. Deer were moving good as usual for that first week, and some nice bucks have already been taken in my area. I have had a few nice does in bow range, but despite washing and waxing my truck, no deer have volunteered to go for a ride just yet. The woods in my area have acorns dropping pretty well, and it looks to be a very good October to be in the hardwoods. It seems the leaves are turning colors and turning loose at a rapid pace this year, but it is probably just my wishful thinking. 

“As far as buck sign goes, unlike last year when the woods were full of early rubs and scrapes in September, I am not seeing nearly the amount as last year. However, my cameras and everyone I know who is running cameras right now are getting pictures of very nice bucks. Boys and girls… “they out there!” I will be making mock scrapes under scented licking branches the first two weeks of October and putting my cameras on them. If you have never done this, it is really a good way to get a closer look at what you have out there well before the rut. 

Dylan Davis, 16, doubled while bowhunting in Columbia County on opening weekend of archery season.

“The rain and drizzle we ended September with should yield some cooler temps and better deer activity in early October. Food plots should benefit, as well. I hope to log much more time in the woods the next few weeks, so hopefully I will have good news to report next month. Until then let’s get after ’em! Good luck, and God bless.”

Rockdale County: John Stanley, of Lawrenceville, reports, “The hot food source right now, and this will continue into early October, is red oak acorns, mixed in with water oaks. There are a few white oak acorns falling as well if you can find them. If you spend enough time in the woods and pay close attention, you’ll notice that certain oaks of any species will drop mast earlier than others. This can be a real key to finding deer from mid to late September on. It’s not unlike the Supply and Demand theory… if there are fewer trees dropping, the demand will be high from a deer’s perspective.

“Of course once the white oaks begin falling, they will undoubtedly draw deer like nothing else, and things will change. The acorn production of all oak species appears strong everywhere I’ve looked. As far as strategy goes, hunt the acorns on the downwind side. Being so early in the season, most of the bucks are coming in to feed while it’s still daylight, so you’ve got a chance. If you’re not seeing bucks over good feeding sign, try moving closer to the bedding area if possible, even if it means moving away from the oaks. Keep in mind that it’s that time of year that things are about to change with the bucks. Every year around late September, the bachelor groups break up as they begin gearing up for the upcoming rut. This could very well mean a buck you’ve been watching will suddenly change areas and be a mile or more away.

“Rubs and scrapes are starting to show up. Look for buck sign to really kick into high gear beginning the second week of October. Food sources will still be important, but keep an eye on where the does are feeding and where the buck sign is. This may take a little scouting to reassess activity. If you have trail cameras, set them over scrapes, and spray a little deer scent in them or even make your own mock scrape. The bucks often can’t stand it and will come in to check things out, giving you a picture to daydream about as the rut approaches.”

GON member Carl Pergerson, of Macon, and his girls show off Carl’s first crossbow buck, a super main-frame 8-pointer with a base kicker point. He killed the buck in Bibb County at 7:30 p.m. on Sept. 16.

Walton County: Darrell Dickens, of Loganville, reports, “The deer in my area are starting to concentrate on white oaks and water oaks. The white oak crop is fair, and the water oaks are loaded this year. I’ve been seeing most of the deer movement in the afternoons which is common for me during this time of year. The bucks are starting to work scrapes now. I put a camera on one and had five bucks using it last week, with two of them being 3 1/2-year-olds. 

“I’ll be hunting around acorns and bedding areas right now as the food plots have just been planted. Once the food plots have come up, I will hunt around them more than the acorns. Where possible I will try and hunt between the bedding areas and the food. This is where I’ve had the most luck.”

SOUTH GEORGIA

Crisp County: Jodi Manders, of Cordele, reports, “We are looking at a good persimmon crop this year. We have lots on the ground already, and the deer are feasting on them, as well as on other soft mast food sources. We also have green plots planted, and deer are munching on them some but not completely devouring them. There is still plenty of natural green browse for them to fill up on. I’m hoping those green plots we planted will pay off later on in the season. The acorn crop is plentiful this year, and deer are eating on them, also. 

“As far as the time of day we are seeing movement, trail cameras are showing lots of movement during the overnight hours of course, but my son David has also had some yearlings and does feed in on several evening hunts about 20 to 30 minutes before dark. In this last week of September we had seen a few buck signs—a few rubbed trees and also a few small scrapes. One area has a scrape line about 75 yards long with six scrapes in it already. This scrape line usually doesn’t appear until later on in October but has appeared early this year. Our strategy in early season is to hunt those persimmons and natural travel routes in hopes of catching one in the late afternoon. Good luck, hunt safe!”

John Becham, of Roberta, with a Crawford County buck. Taxidermist Scott Hodges said it had a 16-inch inside spread should net above 130.

Early County: Sam Klement, Founder of Good Outdoor Technologies/Huntin is Good!, hunts a trophy-managed lease in southwest Georgia on the banks of the Chattahoochee River. “Our bucks are now out of velvet, and our bachelor groups are starting to break up. We are starting to see some active scrapes showing up on field edges and timber changes. So far we have shot five does and had several encounters with some super P&Y bucks, with no one connecting. Our deer are hitting the irrigated soybean and peanut fields in the afternoons. The farmers are starting to turn peanuts now, and this food source will slowly start to shift to the major mast crop we are seeing drop each day. Our pin oaks are dropping. Our white oaks usually don’t start to drop until late October, except for the ones cut by squirrels. 

“We have now gotten all our food plots planted, and some members are hunting over these in the afternoons. My focus has always been to try and hunt the thicker areas, focusing on pinch points and timber changes. I love to catch deer close to their bedding areas. You run the risk of bumping mature deer. The key is not taking the path of least resistance. I will walk half a mile out of the way to keep from bumping deer if needed, and I go in super early and stay late. A strategy I like to use this time of the year is tickling my rattling horns that I have tied to a rope at the bottom of my stand. I won’t get aggressive at all, but just as the sun starts to set, I like to tickle these horns together in hopes of getting the attention of a nearby bedded buck. As colder weather sets in and our rut approaches, I will start to get more aggressive on calling and rattling and using scents and lures. Good luck to all my fellow hunters. Stay safe and remember… Huntin’ is Good! anytime you can find yourself 20 feet up a Georgia pine!”

Harris County: Jimmy Harper, of Hamilton, reports, “The start of bow season in Harris County has been somewhat slow. As usual for this part of deer season, the vast majority of the deer killed in Harris County thus far have been shot in the afternoons. What is unusual is that a significant number of them have been shot over bait, including a number of good, mature bucks. This pattern is already starting to change; however, as the deer are starting to feed more and more on the acorns that are falling. This will only increase throughout October as the white oak acorns start hitting the ground. The only real question is how many white oak acorns we’ll have this year in Harris County. On the properties my sons and I hunt, we’re seeing only spotty while oak acorn production this year, but other properties seem to have a lot more white oak acorns in the trees than ours do. So, the only real way for anyone to know what the white oak acorn situation will be this year on their Harris County hunting property is to do what they should be doing anyway, and that’s to spend some time during midday checking the white oaks on your property, mainly by seeing if squirrels are cutting acorns under the trees or by using binoculars to look into the treetops. As most deer hunters know, the deer love to have white oak acorns everywhere, so they can fill their bellies without moving very much. But us hunters want only a few, concentrated white oak groves to concentrate the deer. At least on the properties I hunt in Harris County, it looks like I’m going to be more lucky than the deer in that the white oak acorns are spotty this season, which should help to concentrate them. Based on that, I hope to be waiting when the deer have to travel farther, and be more visible, to get to the sweet white oak acorns when they start falling, because those areas should really be hotspots to draw the deer in.”

Laurens/Wilkinson counties: Tim Knight, of Dublin, reports, “I have taken two mature does and a few hogs. Red oaks are dropping hard as we speak along with water oaks and pin oaks. Persimmons are very spotty, and muscadines have played out. Mid October should bring white oaks and swamp chestnuts. Relentless scouting and knowledge of these trees and their location is paramount. Mid October also brings the first scrapes and rubs, and this is the time to tickle those antlers with some calling, using snort-wheezes and light grunts to draw in a buck.”

Macon County: David Keene, of Oglethorpe, reports, “Bucks seem to be in their bachelor groups still. Most mature bucks seem to be moving at night according to our cameras. Several friends have taken does around midday. I saw four does and a button buck Saturday afternoon (Sept. 26) around 7 p.m. The button was the only one that was close enough for a shot, but he walked. Opening morning I was blessed with the presence of a black bear. We do not see them very often.

Hunter Freise, 16, of Dallas, took down this big wild boar while bowhunting in Talbot County on Sept. 19. Hunter and was with his dad, GON member David Freise.

“We have a very good crop of water oak and red oak acorns dropping, and the deer and turkeys are hitting them hard. Almost every tree seems to be dropping them. We have some white oaks that are just starting to drop. I watched a flock of turkeys eating water oak acorns. Ducks and geese are loving the acorns that are dropping into the creek and beaver ponds. We had very few persimmons and scuppernogs this year. I have been seeing more copperheads and timber rattlers than normal, so we need to keep an eye out going into and out of the stand sites. The snakes must be getting ready for an early winter? 

“I have been seeing a lot of doe movement on cameras during midday. I have not had a chance to hunt midday, but that would be a good chance to take a doe. I have been seeing a good many twin fawns this season. No triplets this year—usually see a couple of sets of triplets, but none so far. Got a photo of a black coyote on trail camera yesterday.”

Turner County: Michael Lee, co-owner of Backwoods Life, reports, “Deer movement has been hit or miss for the first part of the season. They are hitting our Antler King plots pretty hard, as well as the agricultural crops around here. Acorns are starting to fall pretty good. We’re finding some scrapes around.  Most bucks we’ve seen have been youngsters. As usual, when the velvet comes off, the big boys hide pretty well. The first and last hours of the day have been the best for movement so far, with temperatures down here being all over the board almost on a daily basis. No tags filled yet, but it’s early!”

Twiggs County: Richie Green, of Jeffersonville, reports, “Well it wasn’t a bad opening morning as far as the weather was concerned. It could have been smoking hot and sunny, so I was thankful for the clouds and rain. I started out the season on my favorite public land at Bond Swamp near Macon. My cousin Smitty and I had scouted out some good spots the Wednesday before and were looking forward to opening morning, but when I got to my spot, three more hunters had the same idea. I changed up and went in blind. I saw nothing, but it was awesome just being in the woods for another opener. Smitty was able to hunt his area and connected with a nice doe for opening-day backstrap. 

“Monday (Sept. 21) was probably the best day for hunting early season that I can remember. It was an absolutely beautiful day to be up a tree. I think the deer were in shock though because I didn’t see a one until 7 that evening. Three does came in and never offered me a shot. I’ve been in a tree 18 times already this year and have only seen the three does I mentioned, so gone are the days when you see a lot. 

“As it starts cooling down, deer should get into the packing-on-fat mode, so if you have white oaks dropping, they are going to hit those hard and leave the corn piles alone. The mast around here looks pretty good as far as I can tell. The trees aren’t loaded but have some nuts, which is a good thing. I’m starting to see a few rubs along with some paw marks from the young bucks, and that should pick up and be wide open by Halloween around these parts. Things look pretty good this year so far, although I haven’t heard of but one good buck being killed in these parts—a nice 11-point that is probably in the 150s. The mast is not everywhere, and the rubs are showing up with a few paw marks. The weather hasn’t been too bad, so enjoy the hunt.”

Wayne County: David Earl Tyre, of Jesup, reports, “The water oaks and laurel oaks are dropping tons of acorns, as are the southern red oaks. I am even seeing some white oaks with good acorn crops along the Altamaha River bluffs in Wayne County. These are the true white oaks, not the swamp chestnut or overcup oaks we see in the river swamps here. I saw some acorns cut by squirrels under an overcup oak recently. I have not found any swamp chestnut oaks yet. I’m seeing a lot of young deer lately. Had a group of six run across a logging road ahead of me the other day, mostly fawns and yearlings. The other morning I went to a WMA just to observe and maybe shoot a squirrel or two with the rimfire. I had hardly sat down when I saw some movement across a slough in front of me. I put the binoculars on them and saw it was two scrawny fawns and three does. No bucks that I could see. They fed within 75 yards of me.

“This morning (Sept. 26), I got up early and went to check out one of my bow stands on some private property. Got in the stand at 0645, and at 0830 a fawn that looked in good shape walked in from behind me and got under the tree. I watched her for several moments before she ran off. I was not hunting, just observing. In all these sightings, the time frame has been between 0830 and 1000 hours (8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m.) Foods that are hot now are grapes and persimmons, with a lot of water oak acorns also attracting deer. The weather here is very ‘fall like’ this morning, and I am sure this will get the bucks moving. I made a mock scrape and put a drip bag up a week ago, but have not seen any buck sign here or in any of the woods I frequent.”

Wheeler County: T.J. Fountain reports, “Late September saw the deer begin to move to acorns and begin to travel without patterns a bit. I’m looking for the same to continue through mid October. Deer seem to be rambling a bit now and moving mostly right after dark on into the night. The weather forecasters are predicting cooler weather coming, and that should get the bucks out marking territory and getting ready for the rut. Very little buck sign is showing up now.”