In my area the deer will and do eat them.I don't think they are a preferred food source but after the acorns are gone they will flock to them.I also think it may be like some food plots that the deer won't eat untill after a good frost and the plants start to sugar before the deer eat them,I don't know this for a fact but this might be the reason that one day they will walk right over them then the next day they are pigging out on them.Maybe some of you really smart guys can confirm or deny this.