So here is a layout of most of my little piece of paradise. This isn't quite all of it, there's more that would be at the bottom that isn't shown. Anyways. We no longer have cattle but have a decent size pasture that all we do is bush hog it. Well my hunting area isn't near as big as I would like and adding 5-7 acres would be great. I would like to turn the pasture back to woods. Below is the overview of it. The red is a creek bottom that's going to be a food plot. Everything below the green line is the part of pasture I'd like to turn back to woods. I know this is a very long term project that will take years to grow, so I might as well get it started. My question is such, what types of trees would be good for that, to make a good deer hunting addition? I know I want to put a clump of oak trees in the middle but what about the rest? big sycamores? ceders? I honestly know very little about this type of stuff. My brother is very good at horticulture so he's helpful, but I'd just like more advice.
if you are looking for food/mast crop trees you will have to wait a while for production(about 20-30yrs with most oaks), for cover spruce is fast growing with little or no browsing problems...pines and cedars and even balsam will get browsed heavily by deer. Basswood is faster growing than oak and does produce a mast crop deer will eat for a short period shortly after first snows cause seeds to fall but it is not a major source of food and very short availability. Aspen will grow in thick and fast provide some browse and cover(very thick for 3rd to 15-20th yrs) then at 50 years be harvestable pulp product possible bolts but can spread easily beyond where you want it. Talk to a local forestor or state forestor(Purdue I'm sure must have an outreach program as we do here in MI). It is possible to plant mature or almost mature trees but is very costly. Good luck.
I would plant some pines, and then just let it go on its own. The cover that will naturally grow up is second to none, and as time goes on it will turn into mature hardwoods (years down the line).
Thanks for the reply guys. I know this is going to be something that takes a good amount of time to mature. I will look up all those trees. I do plan on getting in touch with some professionals, but I would like to have an idea beforehand.
as far trees for good food sources...I would would try to throw in a few apple trees here and there if at all possible...
Yup, for food sources I was going to look at going with oak trees, apple trees, and some persimons. Again, I'm very early in the stages and will need to see what each require.
NWSG may be the way to go depending on what is planted there now.If it's fescue you may have to kill it out.I am swaying towards pear trees instead of apples as the problems with disease or fewer.Check out qdma.com,join they have a great magazine.You may want some shrubs also.Check with your state forestry and see what types of trees they sell and you may need tree tubes and one of the best places is to order them through qdma.com
