Identifying Oak Trees for Whitetail Deer Hunting

In this video Cameron joins Chris Creed of Afflictor Broadheads to teach us how to identify oak trees for Whitetail Deer Hunting. Chris has been self-sustaining for over 25 years and has an in depth knowledge on tree and plant identification.
Acorns produced by oak trees are a large part of a whitetails diet. Understanding what acorns to look for can benefit you as a hunter in a big way.
Lets start out with identifying White Oaks vs Red Oaks.
The main differentiator between White Oaks and Red oaks are the leaves. White oaks will have rounded lobes while red oaks will have pointed tips.
Another solid identifier is the acorn, specifically the cap. The cap of a red oak will only come down about 1/4 of the way down the nut and will have a scale-like appearance. The cap of a white oak acorn comes down the nut about 1/3 of the way and will be bumpy. Also, the acorn of a white oak is typically elongated and the red oak is fat and stubby.
Now, once you are able to identify what family the oak tree comes from, it is important to understand the palatability for a Whitetail. It's really simple, Whitetails will prefer white oak acorns over red oak acorns 10 times out of 10. This is because the tannin levels are lower on white oaks compared to red oaks. The higher the tannin levels, the more bitter tasting the acorn is.
However, when red oak acorns are plentiful, they are still a preferred food source when white oaks are not available.
In the October months, acorns are key. The bucks are fueling up for the rut and are really keying in on acorns. So, for a whitetail hunter it can be the deciding factor on wrapping your tag around your target buck in the early days of October.
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[@Coyotes254]

Possibly the best video I've seen on the differences in Red Oak vs White Oaks. Well done.

[@michaelsawyer8313]

Finally, a straight forward no b.s. video, Ty,Ty, and did I mention, TY!

[@christopherpaige4553]

I've been hoping for information like this for years.

[@JeremyReger]

Dang this is amazing! I had no idea about the bristles! I'm gonna watch this a few more times!!

[@andyzimmerman5087]

Been working on trying to identify oak trees and this was a perfect video to help explain the differences.

[@jsimms7688]

Oh this has truly changed the game. Honey I’ll be back I’m going in the woods!!!

[@galinswigart]

I have a ton of respect for great hunters, but I have even more respect for great woodsmen who understand their environment the way Chris does. Incredible video!

[@roberthuddleston8371]

Great information

[@karengeist4904]

Excellent, guys! I am a retiree that lives in central Ohio learning about trees, just for fun. Great stuff. Far more interesting than studying a tree field guide! Thanks for sharing.🌳

[@jimreed3904]

Your timing on this is incredible! I just spent a half hour talking about the difference with my Brother and nephew as they are tyring to figure out early season stand placements... I could have saved a lot of wind by simply sending them guys this link..

[@chadsyl23]

Congrats on the harvest Jim! Awesome to hear!!!!

[@MrJimbo1212]

@@chadsyl23 Thanks Chad...and hoping you get some quality time in the trees as this season heats up...

[@camthecameraman5096]

Thank you for taking the time to walk through the woods with me and teach me all about oak trees, Chris! I feel much more confident in my identifying skills now.

[@ccreed01]

Thank you! Fun stuff!

[@chadsyl23]

Phenomenal info! Thank you Chris! Just made me a better hunter!

[@therelease2495]

Aweosme video and super useful for people trying to grab more insight.

[@raymondderr4797]

Wow great information!!! Thank you

[@anthonymalueg3520]

What a great informational tool

[@kenmaylin4744]

This is all the info I didn't realize I wanted to know! Great video! Gonna have to watch a few times to digest it all.

[@wduncan4231]

Awesome information. Needed this years ago but better late than never. Cameron good luck getting that taste out of your mouth. Thanks again.

[@thetinemen4842]

This is absolutely great information. Well done and thanks for sharing this information!

[@whitelightwaterfowl]

Awesome video guys! Besides buying a book I’ve been wondering this for awhile. Your videos are always informative. Well except cribs of course! Keep them coming. Thanks!

[@joehorton01]

Thank you. This was a great video

[@KevinSmith-jt8fr]

Great video thanks

[@garypratt1453]

Excellent presentation

[@HuntDetail]

Excellent video. I was looking at some deer sign around a swamp oak the other day...and wasn’t sure what type of oak it was at the time. Thanks for the insights.

[@777-Phil]

Awesome! Tree identification has become a neurotic obsession for me. Its great to hear your expertise. Utmost blessings!

[@ADVENTURESOFBZ]

Fantastic!!!! I'm so much more confident in what I'm looking for this fall!!!

[@brandonbowman9681]

Finally got around to watching it just the video I needed gonna have to watch it a couple times to get it down but I wish their was more content out about this kinda stuff, I’m sure their is just not this good, but all types of trees anything to be a better woodsman

[@davidthompson1529]

Excellent presentation. Simple.explanations of imperative info. Subbed! Thanks Chris.

[@travisethridge4062]

wow, great info. Thanks

[@willkay9081]

Excellent video, make more ID videos pls

[@tylerdunworth969]

this is an amazing video!

[@stevebrown3408]

Excellent , full of great information . Saved and subscribed , hoping for more .

[@justinskeans3342]

We have always hunted certain white oak up here in northern mi never over bait on public land great video guys.

[@trevormullard3063]

Great info.

[@bar0326]

I love the Oaks, they provide food, and if your still and quiet, you can see all the other animals that like Acorns, theres many

[@brendenwesterfeldt95]

Very good video! I needed to see this. Red oaks taste disgusting...tried one this year.

[@RSI77]

Pin oaks hold their branches all the way down the tree. Easiest way to differentiate

[@ccreed01]

You are absolutely correct! The Scarlet Oak does this as well, and the dead branches tend to all bend down. Good identifier, thanks!

[@sheltowee8079]

They'll usually hold most of there leaves untill spring as well, one of those trees fills your yard all year, but like you said branches all the way down if left unattended make the best climbing trees!!

[@wadzilla3711]

Learned so much. Thank you. Question, how big (mature) does an oak have to be before it produces nuts?

[@rossdafareyemusic3239]

Catman beat ya to it btw interview catman he deserves it

[@garrettstraffon608]

I just watched this I went outside found a oak looked up in it with binos and seen the acorns growing and now I’m watching this again because I can’t remember which one is which lol

[@_jurist]

🧐👍

[@rgorski1215]

Only thing more I would’ve liked it what color the leaves are in the fall to make escouting easier. I know you touched in it a little bit. White color are white oaks in the fall?

[@lennygriffin4464]

What family is the Savannah oak in, Red or white oaks?? Any information would be greatly appreciated.

[@tnwhitetailfreak3869]

Water Oak is a form of red oak and doesn't have a bristle its the predominant red oak in the timber with the occasional willow oak and Overcup oak

[@ccreed01]

Water oak sure is a tricky one as the leaves may or may not have a single bristle at the end of its lobes. Its not uncommon to see a water oak with both perfectly round lobed leaves and lobes with bristles mixed throughout the tree. Thanks for sharing!

[@coreyfrasnelly7364]

You gotta be from Ohio.....you called a creek a crick lol hell yes brother 👍🏻

[@garypratt1453]

I have Red oak

[@bubbigguns4952]

Pin oak is a willow oak according to my horticulture teacher 🤔

[@whitewiskerz2577]

White man round ball white oak Red man pointy arrow red oak

[@michaelsawyer8313]

So which oak is the fastest growing and producing acorns?

[@GoneCarnivore]

Dwarf Chinkapin is probably the quickest to put on acorns

[@Goodsitmobile]

Where does the burr oak far as far as deer interest? He just showed how to identify and didn't go I'm depth as far as Tannen levels.

[@ExodusOutdoorGear]

The burr oak is in the white oak family! White oaks take preference over red oaks.

[@Goodsitmobile]

@@ExodusOutdoorGear yes but where do they rank amongst other white oak species?

[@craigeberhardt1164]

What about pin oks and English oaks?

[@chadsyl23]

This video was more basic... red vs white. At some point we’ll do another on some subspecies

[@craigeberhardt1164]

That would be great...I live in New Zealand and have pin oaks,scarlet oaks and English oaks and I wonder if the red deer eat the acorns?

[@ccreed01]

I dont know much about red deer, but your pin and scarlet oaks are red oaks and your Engish oaks are considered white oaks. Maybe we need a field trip to New Zealand to find out if red deer like acorns! 😁 Thanks for your question!

[@craigeberhardt1164]

When COVID is over come on down!