There are plenty of acorns falling around my tree stand! I have been knocked in the head a couple of times as well. All I can hear all morning is tree rats munching on them. There are others in my state that I have spoken with that say they dont see any acorns hardly at all, so it does depend on your location. I think some oaks only release acorns every couple of years or so and others are affected by late frosts, ect.... As far as them dropping early, I dont think that applies to my area. Whenever there are acorns available, they usually drop around the beginning of archery season.......