The botanical crop of nuts, seeds, buds, and fruits produced by woody plants in a forest ecosystem. Hard mast includes acorns, hickory nuts, and beech nuts, while soft mast includes berries and fleshy fruits. Foresters track mast production because many tree species exhibit masting cycles, producing overwhelming abundances of seed every few years to ensure some survive wildlife predation and germinate.
Heard on the job
The white oaks are having a heavy mast year, so the deer are staying deep in the timber.
Insider tip
When marking a hardwood stand for a thinning, wildlife biologists will ask you to leave a few large-crowned oaks specifically for mast production.