you made it sound like a very very large stand of pines almost. if so, and theres just that one littttttle patch thats not a pine thicket, i am almost leaning towards first, checking for deer sign. if theres no deer in the area i doubt you can really attract much to the spot. BUT it COULD be their bedding area. it will make sneaking in TOUGH but if your smart and stealthy about sneaking in its probably doable. if thats the case im almost for clearing the ferns somehow, someway, and planting a small food plot around the oak tree. i dont know how thick the pines are around the oak though. if theres enough sunlight it might work. that way theres food available there longer then when the oak drops. the ferns kinda tell you 2 things. the deer ate all the other plants that at one time might have grown there(here we see that pretty oven, over browsing) or it might mean nothing but ferns will grow because there is not enough sunlight reaching the forest floor. it kinda all depends if there are deer in the immediate area. whats around the pines?? how large is the stand of pines? is there deer there?? im hoping so since your clearing paths. and i hope its your land or you are allowed to do such a thing! lol. good luck with it. it could already be an awesome spot for fall if theres deer there and they come to eat the oats. but if theres deer im almost betting they bed in the pines. it could be a hit or miss kinda deal. although one tree can drop a good bit of food, its seasonal and they may not head there every day.