How to Find and Pick Buckeyes

In Ohio there are two big things that start in the fall.

1. The leaves start to change colors

2. The Ohio State Buckeyes start their season

While not a big football fan, I do enjoy hunting for and collecting the actual buckeye nut from the buckeye trees.

If you are ever in the Buckeye state here is a quick guide to show you how to find and pick your own buckeyes.

The first step in looking for buckeyes is to find a buckeye tree either in the woods are a park.

There is a great little park nearby my house that has a few buckeye trees scattered around. There are 2 obvious signs to look for when finding a buckeye tree

1. Look at the leaves - a buckeye tree has very distinct leaves, which is a bunching of five oval shaped leaves.

2. In the fall buckeye trees are one of the first to turn color - If you are looking for buckeyes you often go in the early fall when the buckeyes are falling. Buckeye tree leaves will also be one of the first ones to change colors so keep an eye out for a tree with a lot of changing colors in late August and early September

Not many people know that the actual nut of the buckeye comes in a protective coating that will usually crack when ripe.

Buckeyes will also often fall from the tree once ripened so a great place to start buckeye hunting is on the ground. If they are not on the ground look for spiked brown bunches hanging from the tree. If they are more green and yellow that is often a sign that the buckeye is not ripened yet.

After collecting from the tree you have to remove the outside casing to get to the actual nut inside. Sometimes this might take a little work to dig the buckeye out.

And now you have your buckeye!