When do acorns fall and how long do they last?
White oak acorns drop September through October across most of the whitetail range; red oak acorns drop October into early December. On the ground, acorns typically last 2–6 weeks under deer and squirrel pressure — heavy mast years can stretch into late winter, mast failures finish in days.
Drop timing varies by latitude — roughly 2–3 weeks earlier in the North than the South — and by temperature, with cool snaps accelerating drop. Once on the ground, white oaks germinate fast and only attractants for the few weeks before sprouting; red oaks remain edible for months because they don't germinate until spring.
This is why red-oak draws frequently produce in late November and December, well after the white oaks have cleaned out. Pair stand placement with current state mast reports to read the year's pattern.