Hard Mast Production in the Mountains of SC
(2000 - 2023)
Numerical Rating = Hard Mast Crop Quality
- 0.0 to 2.0 = Poor
- 2.1 to 4.0 = Fair
- 4.1 to 6.0 = Good
- 6.1 to 8.0 = Excellent
The hard mast surveys are conducted annually between August 25 and September 15. Survey routes are ran in bear habitat. The survey routes are a minimum of 10 miles long with stops at approximately one-mile intervals. Routes are established so that altitudes and aspects vary as much as possible. If available two to four trees of each grouping are surveyed at each stop. Groupings include red oaks, white oaks and chestnut oaks. Although chestnut oaks are in the white oak family they are separated out because they are not preferred by bear. Trees are surveyed that range in size form 12-24 inches DBH. Variables broken into percentage categories include: percentage of crown producing acorns, percentage of twigs bearing acorns and average number of acorns per twig.
| Year | White Oak | Red Oak | Chestnut Oak | Hickory |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 4.6 |
4.7 |
||
| 2022 | 2.9 |
3.9 |
||
| 2021 | 2.5 |
5.5 |
||
| 2020 | 2.9 |
4.4 |
||
| 2019 | 2.8 |
4.7 |
0.8 |
1.5 |
| 2018 | 2.0 |
3.4 |
0.5 |
4.6 |
| 2017 | 2.9 |
2.7 |
1.9 |
2.0 |
| 2016 | 4.9 |
2.4 |
4.8 |
3.6 |
| 2015 | 1.6 |
2 |
0.9 |
1.8 |
| 2014 | 5.1 |
5.6 |
3.7 |
4.3 |
| 2013 | 0.7 |
0.6 |
0.3 |
1.2 |