Catscratch
5 year old buck +
Considering making a browse plot... as in discing a strip and throwing thousands of seeds into it. I'm thinking apple would be a good tree. What says you guys?
Apple as browse?
- Thread starter Catscratch
- Start date
Native Hunter
5 year old buck +
Would be awesome if they all didn’t get killed from hard browsing. My fil has a mature apple tree that fell over and he never bothered to do anything with it. Deer really browse that tree but is is established enough that it survives. Maybe you could cage a few apple trees and then push them over when they mature.
The Fishman
5 year old buck +
Around me, deer will stick their heads inside remesh cages to browse the apple seedlings I plant. I think deer will eat the tender new growth on any tree. If you have the seeds, plant them and put a camera on it to find out.
Turkey Creek
5 year old buck +
Stay tuned! Experiment in progress to determine the feasibility of such a thing.
Catscratch
5 year old buck +
Mulberry or Hedge were other considerations.
Catscratch
5 year old buck +
I want details! What do you have going on Turkey?
Wind Gypsy
5 year old buck +
I’m thinking like how bill winke disks in acorns across big spreads but with apple seeds? I haven’t a clue what it takes an apple seed to grow but if a guy could do direct seeding over a big area with oaks, apple trees, viburnum, dogwood, and some forbs, that sounds like pretty epic food and cover.
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Catscratch
5 year old buck +
That's pretty much exactly what I have in mind. Didn't know if apples were possible in this scenario though.
Catscratch
5 year old buck +
As much as I wish plots were a main food source (as a plotter), I don't fool myself into believing that. I try to fill the gaps in what is native and in what is planted in ag. I know deer eat a ton of browse all year long, but it's especially important in winter.
Here's a chart of deer needs based on age/sex categories, and the percent they need during different times of the year.
Chart based on when they USE certain woody browse. Notice Sumac, Oak, and Hedge are the only 3 used all year. Coralberry (buckbrush) comes in a close 4th, but since it's easy to grow here it's automatically in the top must haves. It also doesn't spend much time with protein levels above 14%. Only at the start of antler growth does it have the nutrition that deer "need".
Protein levels based on month for a couple of them. Mulberry wasn't in the study but I believe (since it's so closely related to Hedge) that it would be very similar and as worthwhile as Hedge.
Here's a chart of deer needs based on age/sex categories, and the percent they need during different times of the year.
Chart based on when they USE certain woody browse. Notice Sumac, Oak, and Hedge are the only 3 used all year. Coralberry (buckbrush) comes in a close 4th, but since it's easy to grow here it's automatically in the top must haves. It also doesn't spend much time with protein levels above 14%. Only at the start of antler growth does it have the nutrition that deer "need".
Protein levels based on month for a couple of them. Mulberry wasn't in the study but I believe (since it's so closely related to Hedge) that it would be very similar and as worthwhile as Hedge.
Wind Gypsy
5 year old buck +
Sounds awesome @Catscratch - hopefully apple seeds work in a blend like that!
Here's a couple videos of similar concepts that I've seen in the past. He seems to focus more on bedding than browse but a guy could definitely tailor to their use case.
Here's a couple videos of similar concepts that I've seen in the past. He seems to focus more on bedding than browse but a guy could definitely tailor to their use case.
Catscratch
5 year old buck +
Spot on! Thanks for posting those!
Catscratch
5 year old buck +
Sources? Who has a good source for buying tree seeds in bulk?
Sheffields has apple seeds for $375/lb!
Maybe you could find a local apple cider producer who could sell you the leftovers by the truckload without breaking the bank. Add some local acorns, american plums, etc. and you could have a forage plot for a couple years and then a great thicket after that.
Maybe you could find a local apple cider producer who could sell you the leftovers by the truckload without breaking the bank. Add some local acorns, american plums, etc. and you could have a forage plot for a couple years and then a great thicket after that.
Catscratch
5 year old buck +
Ya, I've been looking at Sheffields and their prices seem high, but I'm putting together an order anyway. Just going to do small scale to see what I get.
Traditionally I put out brushpiles and let birds plant my thickets. Then once they get over 6-8' high I brushhog them down. They'll grow back from root... putting them at deer height again and tender/palatible. Or I do a controlled burn to the same effect.
Wind Gypsy
5 year old buck +
This idea sounds awesome to me. I cant help but think that I'd need to fence it off for a year or 2 to really allow all species to get started.
bigboreblr
5 year old buck +
Not sure if toringo crabapple is siberian based or not. It's not browsed as well as other varieties. Might be best planting certain ornamental crabapple scion on smaller rootstock. Some scions dwarf out the rootstock even some more. Might be able to get some nice bushes with m7 or g890.
I have toringo which makes pea sized fruit and is naturally a semi-dwarf tree. IT is browsed, but not heavily. I have yellow and red fruit ones. Red makes more of bush, yellow makes more of a tree.
I have toringo which makes pea sized fruit and is naturally a semi-dwarf tree. IT is browsed, but not heavily. I have yellow and red fruit ones. Red makes more of bush, yellow makes more of a tree.
