Apple tree damage, what?!

[buckvelvet]

What do you all think? How did something take the top off of this tree? Maybe it was stripped? Im confused, its cement wire caged, screened, etc...

2nd leaf from TC, Homestead Crab on B118.

 

[Buckly]

I've seen crows or other birds tear up new growth like that.

 

[2ndHand]

What do you all think? How did something take the top off of this tree? Maybe it was stripped? Im confused, its cement wire caged, screened, etc...

2nd leaf from TC, Homestead Crab on B118.

View attachment 9041

What diameter is your cage?

 

[buckvelvet]

Its way to wide for a deer to stick its neck in and eat it.


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[buckvelvet]

Its about 5 ft circumfrance.


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[Turkey Creek]

Probably a multiple number of possibilities. I am not saying it is this in your case, but I have had damage like that following extremely windy days or after storms where the tree is whipped around violently enough that the tender growth is bashed against the wire(s) and leaves are ripped off.

 

[Bowsnbucks]

We had a caterpillar of some sort a couple years ago eat the new growth off like that. They weren't gypsy moth cats. or tent cats. They were bigger, fatter, and green. I pulled them off and gave 'em the size 10 boot. Similar damage. I've seen birds strip new growth for nest lining, too. ( as someone already said. )

 

[buckvelvet]

Should I leave a note asking that the birds be kinder. :)

 

[Maya]

Looks like deer to me.

 

[buckvelvet]

Thats the thing, how the heck would that be possible? Deer are extremely thick in this area, its nothing to see groups of 30 at a time.

 

[CrazyEd]

I've had deer poke my head through the concrete wire and take a nibble before, at least thats what i figured it was. 6"x 6" is a pretty big hole for a small deer to stick there head through dont ya think?

 

[Maya]

I watched a deer do this in my back yard. Looks the same to me. Last year I left the gate opened to my big orchard, they hit the trees pretty good. Not much mistaking it.

 

[buckvelvet]

This is what i've feared, I guess no matter what you do, nature will have its way. :D

 

[Maya]

I only keep the fences up for 2-3 years BV, but then again I don't have a ton of deer running around here either. This Dolgo was never fenced. Good to have the deer within the carrying capacity.

 

[buckvelvet]

Yeah there aint much I can do about carry'n capacity. 1 neighbor doesn't shoot does. Other 2 neighbors might shoot 3 total between them. We have took 20 in 2013, 15 in 2014 and only 4 last year because the weather got so messed up there were out in droves on NON hunting hours. When the timing is right though I can sit and watch deer all day long and see 60-80 in a morning and night sit.

 

[buckvelvet]

I'm not sure i'll ever be able to take my fences down, at least until the trees reach like 20 feet tall.

 

[Maya]

Yeah there aint much I can do about carry'n capacity. 1 neighbor doesn't shoot does. Other 2 neighbors might shoot 3 total between them. We have took 20 in 2013, 15 in 2014 and only 4 last year because the weather got so messed up there were out in droves on NON hunting hours. When the timing is right though I can sit and watch deer all day long and see 60-80 in a morning and night sit.

That sucks! Fun to see deer, but common 60-80, that's wacked!

 

[aerospacefarmer]

I'm not sure i'll ever be able to take my fences down, at least until the trees reach like 20 feet tall.

Once you take fences down they rub them and if they rub all the way around you will have a girdled tree. I had one cherry they rubbed until it fell over it got so weak

 

[buckvelvet]

Once you take fences down they rub them and if they rub all the way around you will have a girdled tree. I had one cherry they rubbed until it fell over it got so weak

Geez Paul! Yes once they are tall enough to remove the fencing i'll probably comw up with somethink like i seen in Ireland where they had steel fencing tight to the trees to protect from red stags..


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[Neahawg]

A deer can stick it's nose through the squares of that concrete wire and eat your tree like that unsure if that is what happened or not.