Learning to identify important mast trees is a critical skill all hunters should have
If you've spent any amount of time deer hunting in the timber, there's a good chance you've hung a stand in an oak tree. Oaks are synonymous with whitetail hunting because of the acorns they drop in late summer and early fall. That mast crop gets a lot of attention from deer and the hunters who pursue them. But not all oaks are created equal. Knowing how to identify these and understanding how deer use these is a valuable skill. Here's a look at some of the most common oaks, and how to recognize certain species the next time you're walking a section of timber.