Bowsnbucks
5 year old buck +
If you want some thick cover, look into hawthorns. Not so much a browse item - your point in post # 11 - ( although deer will eat the young shoots with no thorns ), but it makes excellent screening / bedding cover. The 3/8" red berries that ripen in the fall are very attractive to grouse, turkeys, and a multitude of small birds. The seeds inside the red berries get spread readily by birds and help grow your thickets. They are VERY tough trees. No pampering needed - just cage them until they get about 6 ft. tall to keep deer from topping them for you. ( about 3 years, usually ). Because of their 2 to 2 1/2" long needle-like thorns that they eventually get, deer seem to like bedding in ( under ) hawthorns. The lowest limbs seem to settle at about 4 to 5 ft. above ground. After they get to be about 1" caliper on the trunk, deer will only browse the lowest-hanging, most tender new shoots because they have no thorns. The long thorns on the mature wood protect against everything, including deer. Great security cover for deer and birds.
Thermal cover - spruce, spruce, and more spruce. I believe Black Hills spruce is native to you there, and regular black spruce ( different spruce ) is recommended for wetter ground. ROD is a great choice for wetter ground as others have said. Good luck with your project !!
Thermal cover - spruce, spruce, and more spruce. I believe Black Hills spruce is native to you there, and regular black spruce ( different spruce ) is recommended for wetter ground. ROD is a great choice for wetter ground as others have said. Good luck with your project !!
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