What’s the Best Food Plot Tree to Plant for Deer?

What's the best food plot tree to plant for deer on your property? The answer might surprise you. Here's a look at what to consider before you... Read more...

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The deer go crazy for the chestnuts at one of the properties I hunt. Problem is they are literally in the owners front yard. The owner sees them all the time smashing the nuts in his driveway with their hooves.

 

I've been making some tentative plans for converting all the ranch lands here that are to be pastured, into silvopasture using this very tree in conjunction with a few other species. In just a few years it should be a wildlife and livestock mecca.

 

I don't believe there is just one...for an animal that thrives on diversity, one type or kind is never the answer entirely.

 

Pears, the trees produce fruit faster than an apple tree.

 

Do you have any at your place?

 

Yes 4 of them planted with 4 apple trees up in the pasture about 40 yards from the food plot.

 

Know what kind?

 

Will see if the tags are still on the trees, bought them locally as a bare root.

 

No rush but if you wouldn't mind checking sometime.

 

Can anyone tell the variety by the nut? Leaves are long gone.

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Pretty sure Buckeyes

 

Yep buckeyes.

 

Which are worthless for deer correct?

 

Buckeyes...yes not good for deer.

I love pears as well....presently operating on my 22 and change acres have these varieties: Anjou, Bartlett, Colette and Seckel.

I do hope to add some Moonglow and a few asian pear varieties this next year or at minimum in future. My big pear project is topworking all my invasive bradford/callery pears EVERYWHERE into desirable fruit production trees through grafting. For that I have a couple scion trees pegged at my work, a neighbor as well as some forum members over at a All Things Habitat.

Not a ton of Pears produce deep into October but a couple will hold late, but these are amazing late summer producers and the deer LOVE THEM. Anjou's are late September and very early October normally.
Collete and Seckel are mid-to-late September.
With Moonglow being the September range normally (can vary tree to tree some)
Bartletts being your August time frame

 

Persimmons down here in the south will bring them in.

 

Yep, persimmons are good down here in the south. For nuts , whiteoak are the best, Id say cowoak next, then postoak , then redoak. But the whiteoak are the deers favorite I beleive.

 

Enterprise apple trees shouldn’t be overlooked as being a great food plot tree. Disease resistant, and fruit that is ripe late into December when all other mast crop is long gone.

Various crab apple trees might be even better because they have virtually no maintenance and produce fruit in only a few years. Can’t get that with any oaks or chestnuts.

 

yes. Very high tannin levels. Almost toxic