As the summer heat settles in and roads to the beach become congested, one of the last things on anyone’s mind is deer season. Even so, many hunt clubs and land managers are actively assessing the effectiveness of their efforts for attracting, nourishing and retaining whitetail deer.
A wide variety of annual crops have been successfully employed for a number of years. One negative feature of this method is they require annual replenishment which, depending on a variety of market factors, can increase the cost.
The weather can play a major roll in their success. A protracted dry period in autumn will result in little to no forage for the deer to eat.
There is a cost-effective alternative to be considered: fruit trees and oaks. Landowners can increase the survival and reproduction of many animal species by providing a steady supply of fruit and acorns.
It may be summer, but deer hunting season will be here in a few months. By strategically planting oaks with excellent acorn production potential and fruit trees, like this native crabapple, hunters will not be totally dependent of feed plots which must be refreshed annually. It is time to plan and be ready for hunting season.
The availability of such natural sources of sustenance can reduce food stress and increase overall animal well-being. This potentially increases their resistance to disease and parasites.
Abundant food can reduce the amount of time animals need to search for it, which can decrease their vulnerability to predators. Ample supplies can also decrease the distance of daily animal movements and decrease the likelihood animals will embark on long distance roaming away from specific locales, something which increases the risk of roadway collisions.
Research has indicated the abundance of acorns one year can even affect the reproductive success of animals the following year.
An additional reason to consider planting fruit trees and oaks is to reduce foraging pressure on other plants. Attractive, safe and consistent supplies of food may reduce deer browsing of agricultural crops or ornamental plants by providing animals with a preferred alternative food source.
It is important to recognize there are many differences existing among members of this species when selecting and managing oaks. First, oaks of different species produce acorns which vary in nutritional quality.
White oaks have larger, heavier acorns which are produced annually. Red oaks are on a biennial production schedule, smaller in size, but have more protein, fat, fiber and calories by weight than white oaks.
Additionally oak species differ in the timing of acorn production. Acorns from trees in the white oak group tend to be available for shorter periods of time than acorns from the red oak group.
As a complement to the mix of oaks, other species like persimmons, crabapples, sand pears, plums and loquats may be established also. While their fruit is much more perishable than acorns, they produce at times where acorns are not available.
Native persimmons, plums and crabapples are acclimatized to the region and transplant shock can be minimized. Loquats are easily grown from seeds and will produce fruit within a few years.
By maintaining well-distributed and abundant food and cover sources throughout property, landowners allow animals to better meet their dietary needs within a smaller space. These factors decrease the likelihood animals will permanently relocate to adjacent properties which may not be available for hunting.
Choosing the correct oak species for a site is critical to success when establishing oaks. Some species will thrive in wet bottomland soils, such as overcup, swamp chestnut, diamond-leaf, cherrybark, shumard, and willow oak.
Other oaks, such as blackjack, bluejack, Chapman, turkey, and live oaks, are suited to drier, upland soils. A few oaks like water, while southern red and post oaks are adapted to both bottomland and upland sites.
Planting seedlings is more likely to lead to the successful establishment of new oaks than sowing acorns. Use of containerized planting stock on dry upland sites will optimize establishment.
A key to obtaining good survival with oaks is to use seedlings with large stem diameters of one inch or larger. Also, plant the seedlings during winter when oaks are dormant, the soil is typically moist, and heat stress is not a factor. The local wildlife with thank you later, at least until hunting season starts.
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