Acorn & mast crop
Colorado deer (whitetail in eastern river drainages, mule deer elsewhere) rely on browse and forb forage more than mast. Limited bur oak and Gambel oak occur in eastern plains and southern foothills; statewide mast surveys are not a focus of state agencies.
Multi-year trend
Categorical ratings per year. Overall is solid; white oak and red oak series are dashed.
| Year | Overall | White oak | Red oak |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Fair | Fair | Fair |
| 2023 | Fair | Fair | Fair |
| 2024 | Fair | Fair | Fair |
| 2025 | Unknown | Unknown | Unknown |
Yearly reports
Click through to a year-specific page for a permanent reference link.
Annual mast report
2025
White oak
Red oak
Other mast
Regional notes
No mast survey published; mast is a minor variable in Colorado deer hunting.
Hunter implication
Crop quality not yet documented for this year. Check the linked agency source for the most current published survey, and scout productive oaks directly when in the field.
Annual mast report
2024
White oak
Red oak
Other mast
Regional notes
Average for state's limited mast habitat.
Hunter implication
Mixed conditions — some areas with productive oaks, others without. Scout for the pockets that produced and hunt the travel routes between bedding and mast. Plots and ag fields still hold deer where mast failed.
Annual mast report
2023
White oak
Red oak
Other mast
Regional notes
Drought-influenced; minimal hunter-relevant change from typical years.
Hunter implication
Mixed conditions — some areas with productive oaks, others without. Scout for the pockets that produced and hunt the travel routes between bedding and mast. Plots and ag fields still hold deer where mast failed.
Annual mast report
2022
White oak
Red oak
Other mast
Regional notes
Limited oak habitat; generally moderate production where it occurs.
Hunter implication
Mixed conditions — some areas with productive oaks, others without. Scout for the pockets that produced and hunt the travel routes between bedding and mast. Plots and ag fields still hold deer where mast failed.
Hunter strategy
Without a current mast read, lean on travel-corridor and food-plot setups while you scout for productive oaks in the field.
Primary source
USDA Forest Service Forest Inventory & Analysis
FIA forest inventory plots · Continuous national inventory
Open reportAlways cross-reference with the most current published agency report before basing planning decisions on this page.
State-wide mast surveys are a starting point. Bield: Hunt lets you pin the specific oaks producing on your property, track drop year over year, and find the stands those trees pull deer to.
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