[link to www.shadetreefarm.com]

Here it is.

Website for Virginia talks about characteristic cicada damage and shows pictures of it.

it is referred to as "flagging" and is brown spots at ends of branches.


This may be what is going on.

A list of trees particularly prone to this cicada damage did include hickories.

Hope this helps ya, FW.

At least in identifying if this is the cause of the problem.