Mast situation?

[davers]

The last two years, I placed some shelled corn out, in an area of my property, where I could see out my kitchen window, but nothing but birds came to eat the corn. I guess we'll just have to wait and see on opening day (Aug. 20th) if things improve. I hope I am way-wrong and there will be huntable numbers of Squirrels this year.

Up-date, Found some Hickory & Oak trees with mast, this morning in my woods. Also, one tree was actively being used by Squirrels, plus saw some Deer too.

 

[RRK]

Took my lab on a run this morning, thought I would check the hickory's down in the bottom, seen several squirrels leave a big scaly bark, went over to check and there ripping it. From all indications looks like we got plenty of food and squirrels.

 

[carnivore]

Hickories are loaded everywhere I've been in in Pendleton, Bracken, and Campbell. Oaks are very spotty. Where I work in southern Campbell the oaks are loaded. Around my house and hunting grounds in NE Pendleton they are almost non-existent, both red and white.

Very strange that there’s such a difference so close. East of the AA is barren and up near 27 is loaded.

 

[Feedman]

Raining on my house on Ky Lake. Fun to step on barefoot, spilling coffee every morning.
View attachment 103678

That will make you say a cuss word or 2

 

[KY_Fried]

Very strange that there’s such a difference so close. East of the AA is barren and up near 27 is loaded.

 

[KY_Fried]

I've seen night and day differences in oak stands a half a mile apart before. Not sure why but it happens.

 

[WaterDog88]

I've seen night and day differences in oak stands a half a mile apart before. Not sure why but it happens.

Me too. Sometimes there’s no rhyme or reason to it. Scientists have been trying to figure out how to predict acorn production forever but cant.

 

[JGD]

So I went to Taylor, Marion and Nelson county. The mast seems to be very spotty. Saw Hickories that were loaded to almost none at all as well as white oaks. Some of the Beech had decent mast. Some walnuts where loaded. Took a walk about through a woods in Nelson and saw almost no mast at all and zero squirrels or sign of them. This is a woods I’m very familiar with and usually have no problem getting the limit. Don’t know what to expect next weekend.

John

 

[davers]

So I went to Taylor, Marion and Nelson county. The mast seems to be very spotty. Saw Hickories that were loaded to almost none at all as well as white oaks. Some of the Beech had decent mast. Some walnuts where loaded. Took a walk about through a woods in Nelson and saw almost no mast at all and zero squirrels or sign of them. This is a woods I’m very familiar with and usually have no problem getting the limit. Don’t know what to expect next weekend.

John

Same situation here in Northern Taylor County.

 

[KYBOY]

Boys, find them spotty loaded hickory's and camp out under them.. If that's the only trees with mash the squirrels will know that too

 

[WaterDog88]

Went and moved stands tonight in Scott co and noticed several hickory that had been cut on. Guess I know where I’ll be next weekend if I get out

 

[JGD]

So couldn’t hunt this weekend as I was down at Nolin Lake with wife and kids. Squirrels are cutting white oak, hickory, black gum and possibly beech. There are quite a few hickories but most seem to not have cuttings under them.
There is a little slick bark hickory over the driveway that appears to be cut out. The amount of cuttings in and around the driveway is astonishing.
I do believe that nuts are kind of spotty here as well but if you find that one tree you can really make hay. The tree limbs are dancing all around as I type this.

John

 

[keeruss8]

I took the binocs out with me checking cameras yesterday. Red oaks is where it's at for acorns on my place this year. Only found 2 whites with some acorns. They're cutting hickory hard, lots of piles under trees. Also believe they were cutting up in a beech tree

 

[KY_Fried]

I've been laid up in bed sick all day yesterday (got the damn COVID) and decided to drag my carcass out of bed and go for a little walk this morning. I've never heard more squirrels cutting nuts in all my life. It was literally raining cuttings everywhere, all hickory. I very much wanted to go back to the house and get a gun but I knew I wouldn't feel up to cleaning them.

 

[davers]

So couldn’t hunt this weekend as I was down at Nolin Lake with wife and kids. Squirrels are cutting white oak, hickory, black gum and possibly beech. There are quite a few hickories but most seem to not have cuttings under them.
There is a little slick bark hickory over the driveway that appears to be cut out. The amount of cuttings in and around the driveway is astonishing.
I do believe that nuts are kind of spotty here as well but if you find that one tree you can really make hay. The tree limbs are dancing all around as I type this.

John

Squirrels, on my property, are hitting White Oaks VERY HARD. They've yet began to cut Hickory; the last two Squirrels, I harvested, had their bellies full of acorns. As soon as the acorns play out, they'll be hitting the Hickories.