i find that around in the northeast, once acorns start falling they automatically go to them. maybe there are some oaks in your area, where the feed pile is though. ive got quite a few spots set up with different stuff. they just stop using it once acorns start dropping. deer will go through this area and use my spots just not as much as now!! there using my spots on a daily basis now, but they will really slow down once acorns start dropping.