L_S_2015_04_

http://www.LouisianaSportsman.com April 2015 | Louisiana Sportsman 193

Turkeys will shift their ranges from spring and summer during

the fall and winter months, moving to the hardwood drains

and ridges when acorns are readily available, and no doubt

our turkeys simply shifted to the west toward the Amite River

drainage and the hardwoods that occupy this habitat.

So, with wildlife stuffing themselves with acorns, do we need

to worry with planting spring and summer food plots? Because

of the abundance of acorns this past season the various species

of wildlife that fed on them should be in excellent physical con-

dition and might not need any supplemental food.

The answer concerning spring and summer plantings lies in the

habitat you have available for them this spring and summer.

Acorns are energy food for wildlife, carbohydrates that provide

energy during the winter to stay warm and for building body fat

when times are tough.

Fortunately, times really did not get tough for the wildlife,

so most of the food should have gone toward keeping them

healthy and ready for producing the crop of critters.

Squirrel production gener-

ally goes up following an

abundant mast crop.

The crop of spring squirrels

is high, with females being

able to easily raise two to four

youngsters. Acorns are prob-

ably still available for these

females to nurse all of the

baby squirrels with little stress.

Squirrels will breed again

in May and early June, and

produce a late-summer fall

crop — and this equates to

more busy-tails in the trees

next fall.

A good mast crop also will

increase productivity in other

game animals such as deer

and turkey, and will also

increase production in the old

feral hog.

Does will be in good shape

when spring green-up occurs,

and they should have good

success with their fawning.

While bucks will lose body

mass during the rut, a good

mast crop provides the food

they need to get back into

shape, and when green-out

they occurs will be able to use

this forage to increase weight

and grow antlers.

Had bucks been in stress

prior to green-out, the food

they would be eating would

go toward getting them back

into shape — and only once

in shape would they start

increasing body weight and

try to grow decent antlers.

But since the bucks were fit because of the good mast crop,

body and antler growth should be excellent. In fact we should

expect to see an increase in quality and trophy bucks in 2015.

But the key for this happening is the spring and summer habi-

tat available for the deer.

Acorns are an important food for wildlife, including deer, but

acorns do not grow antlers. Antlers are a product of protein,

and acorns are not very high in protein.

Available browse that occurs on the landscape is the key for

antler growth.

Landowners who managed their forestland with regular tim-

ber treatments such as selective cuts, clear cuts and prescribed

burns should produce sufficient browse for deer growth, pro-

duction ( fawning) and antler development.

Land that has heavy stands of pine plantation timber might

be lacking in available browse, especially if herbicide treat-

ments are being used to reduce growth of hardwood species.

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