Many unschooled tree lovers refer to the small leafed red oaks such as water, willow, and laurel oak as a pin oak. True pin oaks have pointed lobes on their leaves, and the term “pin” refers to the pointy lower limbs that commonly stay on the tree for a while before self-pruning. Pin oak acorns are readily consumed by ducks, deer, turkey, and others, and also make a fine specimen for parks, the yard or the office. Pins will not tolerate an alkaline soil type (high pH), so establish these guys on an acid soil unless you’re dying to see what chlorotic leaves looks like. Pin oaks naturally occur on bottom ground from about Memphis, TN, and North, but also do fine deeper South. Pin oak can be added to the list of red oaks that consistently produce decent or better crops for your game.