Question: are bitternut hickory nuts edible?
Answer: Hickory nuts are definitely edible in this sense. ... To the best of my knowledge, there are three species of hickory nut trees in Eliza Howell: Bitternut Hickory, Shagbark Hickory, Pignut Hickory. The trees are not numerous, but in some years all three produce bumper crops and the nuts are easy to find on the ground.