TREES in my lifetime

[Boeing]

Guys, I bought some forested acreage last year and am just getting time off to go back up to see it. I had a road pushed thru the forest and about 1 acre cleared at the bottom and 1 acre cleared at the top of the hill for future home site. There are a 2 or 3 "bus stop" size clear areas along the new road. I like to see and attract deer, turkey (well ok, I might even EAT one a year) Can you recommend some TREES that I could plant, apple, pear, persimmon, that the wildlife might like and that I might actually see before I go to a nursing home? :laughing: (I'm 62 years young)
Am I better off just planting "plots" to attract the wildlife? My wife wants redbud's, cherry trees and daffodils.

 

[smstonypoint]

I have a friend who has planted sawtooth oaks for wildlife habitat-- they are relatively fast growing and produce acorns earlier than other oaks.

Ohio Trees - Sawtooth Oak

However, they have their detractors.

Quercus acutissima - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Steve

 

[nwbearcat]

If there's already a good bit of timber on the property, figure out what's there for species. I'd say you'd have better luck attracting critters using those already open areas as a food plot by planting any of the blended seed products, or simply some wheat, or sorghum, or clover or....

 

[Craig Clayton]

When I built my home it was on 10 acres of plowed bare dirt from fence to fence. I planted everything the ag office had at 10 cents per tree. From your posting it appears you already have standing trees so I would suggest that you let nature select the best types of trees for your property. I have found that a tree grown from a natural seed is slower to get started but passes the artifically planted tree within a few years.

Craig Clayton

 

[Baby Grand]

The walnuts, butternuts and cherry seem to be the favorites with our critters. We had oriole in the cherry last year. First time I have seen one since I was a kid. The oriole, she's a pretty bird.

 

[Runner]

Deer won't leave my apple trees alone. Also, my neighbor has a couple of full-sized pear trees that drop a lot of fruit that the deer just LOVE.

 

[beeforty]

If you plant fruit trees you will have to protect them from the deer or they will rip those tender buds and branches off. Munch Munch Munch Also when it's time to rub the felt off their antlers they love tender slender trees to rub onKilled several of my ornamental trees including the one right out the picture window took all the bark off about 3' of trunk.

 

[Boeing]

How long does it take an apple or pear or persimmon to bear fruit ? Do deer eat PEACHES? I sure do...
I guess if you staked them with chicken wire it might save them for a couple of years.......???? I'm tired of azalea's and the like.... how about mtn. Laurel or rhododendron, do they ATTRACT deer? or just feed them when their starving? I do intend to plant some brassica and oats

 

[SPIKER]

if you already have some good sized trees, I would opt for food plots of grains clovers ect. that way there is a more varied diet and better for them. Threes take a long time even to bare fruit is longer than you might like & if you are way form the property the deer will destroy them nothing flat.

mark

 

[radioman]

apple trees is your best bet. plant what you would eat and they will help you. :laughing:

slat blocks is like candy to them too..

 

[Mudfarmer]

How long does it take an apple or pear or persimmon to bear fruit ? Do deer eat PEACHES? I sure do...
I guess if you staked them with chicken wire it might save them for a couple of years.......???? I'm tired of azalea's and the like.... how about mtn. Laurel or rhododendron, do they ATTRACT deer? or just feed them when their starving? I do intend to plant some brassica and oats

Rhododendron is poison. Fruit trees are candy - they will have to be protected for years until the canopy is higher than a mama deer standing on her hind legs. We have to use serious mesh, or the Elk just walk it down.
Mf

 

[Gary Fowler]

Your best bet if you just want to attract deer is an open grazing area with good year round grazing and some winter grass or early spring types. Some of the garden greens type, like cale, mustard and collards would likely work in the fall / winter. Winter oats work good in my part of the country. Since you already have the trees for cover, they will come to an open pasture like grassy area quicker than a fruit tree that only bears fruit for a couple months.

 

[forgeblast]

In the cleared areas you can plant no till clover, it will bring them in. If you do want to plant trees You will need to do one of two things, fence or tube them. I would tube them since the tubes also protect them against voles, voles will eat the roots and cause more tree death in plantings like that then the deer will.
I would go with pin oaks, very nice tree, you may also want to do some hazelnut bushes, used by a wide varity of wildlife. Going the fruit way go with something that doesnt need to be pruned all the time to give fruit.

 

[boggen]

salt blocks = bad for dear. and for Illinois you can get a fine. and to a point were you need to show salt blocks are for live stock and not for deer, at some local feed stores.

salt blocks, mess up there internals or something.

================
as for fruit trees. ya they are nice, but after a couple years of picking / canning / etc... it gets old quick. and generally see fruits just lay to rot, which bring insects more so bees and ants.

it is easier to go to local farmer market, to get fresh fruit and stuff for yourself and not for the deer

================
with others go with some sort of grasses / clover / etc....

 

[Western]

Good decision. Food plots are easy to deal and allot easier to change up to different plantings if you like.

BUT, 1st thing I'd do is plant whatever the boss lady wants, then go play hunter. I have found that when the wife is happy, I can hunt longer!

 

[LarryD]

We have to use serious mesh, or the Elk just walk it down.
Mf

I would be willing to help you with your Elk problem Mf. :licking: