I don't know how helpful I'm going to be on hunting Alabama but I thinks its pretty universal that you are going to have to find out what they are eating. Google should help you learn that or maybe somebody here from Alabama can help.

Food water and cover and it sounds like you have found 2 out of 3

the deer will likely be back for those big acorns once they eat up the other acorns they like better.

I'm sure there are white oaks somewhere.

As far as the brush.....if its all over and you can't cut it your just going to have to deal with it I reckon.

Gotta find out what they are eating and where its at.

I have the opposite problems. Corn fields as far as the eye can see and a thousand white oaks.