It's the first week of October here in Maryland, and many bowhunters are experiencing the classic "October Lull." Those bachelor groups that were so predictable on the soybean fields in August have seemingly vanished, and the woods can feel dead. But they haven't vanished. They've just changed their dinner plans. Right now, the single most important food source in our region is dropping from the trees: the acorn. Specifically, the acorns from the White Oak family. Deer will often walk right past a lush green food plot to feast on a "raining" white oak tree. Your Mission for This Weekend: Become an Acorn Scout Forget your old game plan. Your mission is to find the one food source that matters most right now. Here’s how: Identify the Trees: Learn to distinguish a White Oak from a Red Oak. White Oak leaves have rounded, smooth lobes. Red Oak leaves have sharp, pointy tips. Deer vastly prefer the less-acidic White Oak acorns. Use Your Ears: On a calm morning, take a quiet walk through a stand of hardwoods. You can literally hear the acorns raining down from the a morning, take a quiet walk through a stand of hardwoods. You can literally hear the acorns raining down from the trees that are actively dropping. Look for the Signs: Once you find a promising tree, the ground will tell you everything. Look for fresh tracks, droppings, and, most importantly, chewed-up acorn caps scattered on the leaves. Set Up Smart: Don't hunt directly on top of the food source. Find the primary trail leading to that specific oak tree from a nearby bedding area (like a thicket or clear-cut) and set up 50-100 yards downwind. The October Lull isn't a time when deer stop moving; it's a time when they move with more precision. Find the food, and you'll find the deer. Good luck out there!