Aldeer.com Forums Alabama Deer Talk Quality Deer Management Fruit trees for deer

I am wanting to plant some fruit trees for deer in a couple of food plots on the hunting land I help my boss manage. I used AI to come up with a few different species that would do well in conecuh county and would drop from November through the end of January. Here is what it told me.

Deer Magnet persimmon Nov 1-30

Keiffer pear Nov 15- Dec 15

Calloway Crabapple Dec 1-31

Winter Deer Pear Jan 1-31


Does anyone have any experience with these specific trees? Any suggestions on other trees that would drop this late?

I don’t think you’ll get Keiffer pear to hold until deer season unless you find one specifically bred to do so. Seems like those always drop in August or September. I can’t speak on those others but I think I’d take AI results with a solid dose of skepticism. It doesn’t differentiate between Conecuh county AL and Boston, MA.
I know my native crabapples drop in Sept/Oct and my persimmons are done before bow season usually. This is in north Monroe county so your results should be similar. I have seen some “late drop” persimmon advertised but have no experience with them.
For adding a dependable tree to draw attention I’d consider sawtooth oak. They aren’t native and could become a nuisance in the wrong place but they grow fast and produce early. Mine drop September through October.

If you are interested in feeding the deer outside of the season then mulberry and pears are ideal.

my keiffer pears do great and they hold thru bow season and into rifle season just fine. I have both early drop and late drop persimmons most are gone by mid december . I just planted a few calloway crab apples last week interested to see how they do if they make it..
The keiffer pears are very hardy and drought tolerant if they make it 6 months then there good to go..

I planted pear 4 years ago and got my first batch last year. Think they kiefer. They were gone before rifle season. They hit my buddies in bow season/muzzy. I planted 2-3 diff apples this year. Think red delicious - arkansas black apple and something else

Not saying you late - but they say Feb - March best time to plant. So i would get to planting if you gonna plant

Ai says its risky planting late May - prob depends on rain

My new apple were dry for a while - but we been getting hammered w rain. Apples prob few years from producing

Kieffer Pears are great. They hold a long time.

Thanks guys. I’m not planning on planting them now. It would probably be January before I do it. And they will be bare root trees.

The guy that used to run The Wildlife Group in Tuskegee is now at Native Forest Nursery in Chatsworth GA. What I’ve read about him he is very knowledgeable so I am going to just deal with him and get a plan on what varieties to plant. I’ll let yall know how it works out in 2032. 😂

You can’t go wrong dealing with Alan.

Dudley with mossy oak nativ nurseries was phenomenal to deal with. Guy talked with me for 30 min to where I told him I had to go. The other guys are great as well.

Sawtooth oaks are awesome for early season.

Seems like he knows what he’s talking about. He’s been in the game a long time

He’s very knowledgeable. I was fortunate enough to meet him and tour the facility decades ago when they first started up when I was a distributor. Can’t imagine how big it is now. Very impressive facility.

I have been extremely pleased with everything I have received from nativ nursery. I really like the air pruning containers instead of bare root.

I’d encourage you to plant native fruit trees. Unfortunately that pretty much limits you to persimmon if you’re looking for a fruit that drops during deer season.

What’s the advantage to planting native fruit trees?

Less disease issues. Naturally adapted to the climate. Certain pollinators rely on native flowers. Plus we just need more native fruit trees and shrubs in general that drop fruit prior to deer season to help fill that gap between acorns dropping and fall plots. Just something to consider.

The way I look at it, if they are accustomed to coming to that area looking for fruit, they will keep coming back when the plots are up well after the fruit has stopped producing. Creates more of a year round pattern.

That makes sense. I got year round food there already though. Just wanted to add some candy.

Where is everyone getting their Kieffer Pears?

I get most of my fruit trees from my local co-op when they come in bare root. Usually the beginning of January. $10-15 ea for the same product that’s double or more in a pot. And they keep easily. I may not plant them until February after the season ends but I keep them in a half drum with leaves around the roots so they don’t dry out.

I got some kiefer from tractor supply and some kiefer or apples from marvins