Acorn crop?

[Kevin]

Curious as to what the acorn yield looks like around everyone's area?

[ArkansasSloughboy]

They aren't falling much yet. I did see a few white oak acorns on the ground yesterday. It was only a handful and they were the first I've seen.

[buckaroo]

Last year they were falling like crazy but the ones i have seen are small and not falling good yet i think the heat kind of hurt our crop this year.

[Jack]

White oak acorns are smaller this year.  I can only guess it is due to the high heat and low rain amounts.  Numbers look to be about the same as the last couple of years.

[DeerWoods26]

Yeah don't think it's going to be a great drop this year. Probably be some good bucks killed because deer will be out foraging more. seems like every year you see a lot more good bucks taken because they can't stay tucked away getting fat on acorns like years when there is a good yield.

[blindset61]

I spent last Sunday to Wednesday evening in the Ouachitas, "rough" camping it while bear scouting and hunting.  The white oak crop seemed fair, not a bumper crop, some trees with and some without, but they were starting to fall.  Northern red oaks had some acorns but I don't know much that eats them.  Lots of other foods were there-black gum were loaded down and ground was covered; "slow" plum trees loaded; hickory nuts galore and they were starting to fall also.  Saw three grey squirrels in the four day period and two bears.  One bear day before season and one the first day of season that I shot-a sow that weighed about 225#.  Spent the past two days taking care of the meat, getting things unpacked and put away and catching up on the chores.

[Kevin]

That's awesome you got to fill your bear tag. Would like to hear the story of the kill and some pictures if you have any.

[blindset61]

Kevin, I killed the bear at 2pm on Wed. afternoon.  Temp was around 90+.  I was still hunting, just easing along a short distence and sitting for 30-45 minutes at a time in an area that had bear sign.  I was hunting in Scott county in the Ouachita National Forest and the terrain was steep.  I heard the bear a few minutes before I saw it-the vegetation was thick, but I heard the bear eating hickory nuts-a peculiar sound as it crunched them with one chomp, and it was eating them as steady as you would eat m&ms.  I doubt I'd have seen the bear if I hadn't heard it first and was sitting when it fed into view. 

I hate to admit it, but I shot a bear in the Ozarks about four years ago that got away from me, so I shot this one in the head.  Bears are tough.  I was using my Rem. Mtn Rifle in 30-06 and shot it with a 150 gr. Nosler Partition handload, distance about 70 yards.  I'll try to load a picture (I'm not too comp. saavy).

My stepson hunted in the same area Saturday with his bow.  He was easing along an old log road and had a bear come into range.  Said he had drawn and was just on the verge of releasing when a little black "fuzzball" stepped onto the road in front of him.  He said as he eased down on the bow the cub ran up a tree and the sow bear walked to the base of the tree.  He eased away and they were there when he left.

I'll

[Kevin]

Great story Blindset. Your stepson will remember that moment in the woods with a lot more pride and sentiment than he would have if he would have taken it, the big softy! ha.

I would have done the same thing.



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[DeerWoods26]

Hey at leat you didn't waste any meat shooting him in the head. I'd say with a big guy like that you probably did the best thing. no pain, no run, no wasted meat, A+ hunt right there my friend.

[blindset61]

I managed to get two or three pictures posted.  They aren't too good, my priority had to be get the animal out of the woods and on ice as soon as I could.  Weather was terrible for meat storage.

I learned something-bear just don't drag like a deer-and a gps is a good tool, but you'd better pay attention to those contour lines too. 

[Kevin]

Nice pics. Here is the link to the gallery for the rest of you to take a look: http://www.arkansasoutdoorsonline.com/hunting-forum/mgallery/

Yeah I guess a four-wheeler or a truck would have been nice to drag him out. His weight, the hills, and the heat of September all combined, I bet you were pushing it to get the meat on ice in time.

[buckaroo]

Nice bear blindset great story.

[Kevin]

Now that you guys were out in the woods for a weekend, what does the acorn crop look like? As many as you expected or fewer? Seems like most people are saying they are pretty abundant this year.

[ArkansasSloughboy]

I haven't seen any shortage of them.