How do I find deer when mast is scattered across the woods?
When mast is scattered, look for the freshest acorn drop within a few hundred yards of bedding cover. Deer prioritize trees that just dropped over trees that dropped a week ago. Walk for fresh acorn caps and shells under the canopy, listen for falling acorns at first light, and set up on the most active drop closest to cover.
Fresh-drop indicators: green acorn caps still on the ground, unbroken acorns half-buried in leaf litter, deer pellets and tracks fresh in the area. A productive drop tree near bedding will have visible disturbance — leaves kicked back, acorn shell debris.
This is one place running cameras on hunting access trails (rather than deep in the woods) helps. Deer routes to and from drop trees concentrate where bedding meets food, and you can monitor without bumping. Pair with current state mast reports.