Nut question

Are the acorns from the white oak or the red oak what deer like?

Thanks much

Both ! But I believe white oaks more than red oaks

They eat them all but love white!!

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They eat them all but love white!!

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Whites are preferred if both are in the area. Red oak is a bit more bitter. I’ve tried them both!

It figures Pat would be the first to reply to this

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It figures Pat would be the first to reply to this

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He knows his nuts.
DT

Palatably white acrons are what deer prefer qs red oak acorns havs higher levels of tannans. Tannans not only make the acorn taste biteer but elevated levels can hamper protien digestion inturn actuly hamppering the deer protien uptake. BUT generaly after a good soaking especial under wet leaves white acorns will go soft and spout making them undsirable where as the red acorn says preserved longer ofter through winter making them a viable food souce all season long. The fact that the keep into the winter and can have fat levels 2 to 4 times that of a white oak make me never discredit red oaks dispite the intense feeding that occurs when the whites drop.

Not positive but I think bur oak are similar to white and preferred. I too see the squirrels go ‘nuts’ for the bur acorns first.

There are only 2 types of oaks, reds and whites, there are a bunch of different oaks that fall into these catorories. Reds have pointed leaf ends where as whites are rounded

There’s a pile of oaks out there no doubt, but the true “white oaks” (Quercus alba) are their own species and the preferred acorn of choice for wildlife. Burr Oak is a different species, and its acorn is less desirable (less palatable and sweet) than both the true white oak and the other more common oak in much of Minnesota and WI, the Northern Red Oak.

Unfortunately, in my neck of the woods, white oak is increasingly difficult to find due to its lumber value. Most people call the burr oak a white oak, but it’s much different looking in terms of bark, acorn, leaf, etc. It’s burred fringe or shaggy edges on the acorn itself are a dead giveaway, and these are a little harder for the deer to deal with. They’ll still eat them no doubt, but Northern Red Oak on our land, draws far more deer; both due to the preference they show over Burr Oak, and because White Oak is so rare.

Joel