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Thoughts on trees for deer?

Posted on 1/13/15 at 7:46 pm
Posted by windshieldman
Member since Nov 2012
12818 posts
Posted on 1/13/15 at 7:46 pm
I have about 60 acres to hunt on family land in north louisiana. It's about a 20 acre field that I cannot plant in, about 10 acres of 10-12 year old pines, small half acre pond, and rest hardwoods. I was thinking about buying persimmons. Not gonna fool with oak since there is plenty, especially lots of white oak. Any other fruit trees or ideas to plant, or bushes? I want honey locust but heard ones you buy online don't produce the beans and they are all thornless online. Also, what's a good time of year to plant? I'm thinking of anywhere from 10-12 trees and plants are an option as well (maybe blueberries?). Also, easiest area to plant would be around pond and figured not much would grow in the hardwoods. TIA
Posted by plazadweller
South Georgia
Member since Jul 2011
11442 posts
Posted on 1/13/15 at 7:48 pm to
LINK

I know you're probably not in Ga but this is something to look at
Posted by DownSouthDave
Beau, Bro, Baw
Member since Jan 2013
7368 posts
Posted on 1/13/15 at 7:49 pm to
Honey locust are like deer crack, never looked into planting them. We have a crab apple tree on our place that they go absolutely crazy over, but it's only good for the first few weeks of bow season.
Posted by hardhead
stinky bayou
Member since Jun 2009
5745 posts
Posted on 1/13/15 at 7:53 pm to
Try and find sawtooth oaks. They grow fast and make lots of acorns.
Posted by FelicianaTigerfan
Comanche County
Member since Aug 2009
26059 posts
Posted on 1/13/15 at 9:23 pm to
link

Maybe this will give you some ideas
Posted by windshieldman
Member since Nov 2012
12818 posts
Posted on 1/13/15 at 9:53 pm to
Thanks for responses and links, looking forward to even more input
Posted by Bill Parker?
Member since Jan 2013
4469 posts
Posted on 1/13/15 at 10:20 pm to
Granny Smith apples drop late, and crabapple will probably pollinate. Research online for chilling hours and pollinators. Mix with persimmons and sawtooth oaks and you'll have some good food sources in several years. Look into tree tubes while you`re at it. Fertilize the drip line after the trees are established.
Posted by Spankum
Miss-sippi
Member since Jan 2007
56011 posts
Posted on 1/13/15 at 10:30 pm to
I would do persimmons as well as some pear and plum trees...that coupled with the oaks will give you some pretty good food sources outside of regular browse for all except the middle of winter...
Posted by Got Blaze
Youngsville
Member since Dec 2013
8736 posts
Posted on 1/13/15 at 10:53 pm to
quote:

Try and find sawtooth oaks. They grow fast and make lots of acorns.



x 1000

grow fast and great mast crop
Posted by ZacAttack
The Land Mass
Member since Oct 2012
6416 posts
Posted on 1/13/15 at 11:55 pm to
Sawtooth oaks
Posted by CSATiger
The Battlefield
Member since Aug 2010
6220 posts
Posted on 1/14/15 at 1:36 am to
for some reason, every Holly tree I have seen has rubs. Maybe plant one along with the food trees
Posted by hunt66
Member since Aug 2011
1484 posts
Posted on 1/14/15 at 5:48 am to
Great suggestions here. As far as timing, we plant in the non-growing season which can vary regionally. In Louisiana it is around December to March timeframe. If planting seedlings or whips consider some tubes to guard against browsing.

Also - fertilize your natural browse - briars and honeysuckle.

Sounds like a great area! Good luck
Posted by Chris4x4gill2
North Alabama
Member since Nov 2008
3092 posts
Posted on 1/14/15 at 7:23 am to
We planted pears along the edges of out food plots this past fall. At home, the same variety had fruit up into november so I'm hopeful these will do the same. We also planted plums a little farther back slightly in the tree line Since those grow so thick, I'm hoping they make a bedding / staging area as well.
Posted by Easternrio
Member since May 2014
3755 posts
Posted on 1/14/15 at 8:42 am to
2 words
Dungsten chestnuts!
Look em up deer love em
Posted by Mung
NorCal
Member since Aug 2007
9054 posts
Posted on 1/14/15 at 8:50 am to
plant persimmons in a cluster. they need male and female trees to pollinate, and having one spot dropping fruit is a good way to attract deer to an area certain, as opposed to random trees every 30-40yards. Consider natural funnels too.
Posted by Easternrio
Member since May 2014
3755 posts
Posted on 1/14/15 at 9:02 am to
If you plant fruit trees get rid of any cedar trees on the property. Cedars will stunt production of fruit bearing trees
Posted by windshieldman
Member since Nov 2012
12818 posts
Posted on 1/14/15 at 10:29 am to
I plan on buying trees that are all at least 3-4 ft already. Not gonna be able to buy a whole bunch of trees but if I get persimmons I'm gonna start off with at least 3-4. I can always come back next year and add another 1 or 2. Thanks for all the input also. If buying a tree that size is it a good idea to go ahead and fertilize it as soon as I plant or maybe wait till next year to start fertilizing? I am worried about it being hard to find an area with much sun to plant them but I know there is a few spots. I want a couple different varieties so I'll be buying 10-12 trees at most. As far as Sawtooth,its a thought but there is a butload of oak trees with majority already being white oak out there. Still a thought.
This post was edited on 1/14/15 at 10:31 am
Posted by Mung
NorCal
Member since Aug 2007
9054 posts
Posted on 1/14/15 at 10:39 am to
buy seedlings from the La Dept of Agriculture.

LINK

might be a little late this year, but they typically open for orders in August.
Posted by ElDawgHawg
L.A. (lower Arkansas)
Member since Nov 2012
2983 posts
Posted on 1/14/15 at 1:41 pm to
Mossy Oak is supposedly selling a type of Walnut tree that begins producing mast in 5 years..... would be good to look into if true...
Posted by Langston
Member since Nov 2010
7685 posts
Posted on 1/14/15 at 1:51 pm to
Sawtoothe Oak is suppose to be the best for our area in Oaks but I know you said you weren't doing oaks. Pecans and pears are two others that would be good to give you some variety.
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