Ed on crabapples do you train them or just let them go as they see fit? I know you do mostly Apples but you do have some crabs, if you are planting the crabs for deer do you train them like the rest of your apples?
I have done some training on my crabapples so far. Sure, many will argue it is not needed or required, and I agree. BUT, I also think that the more you put in, the more you get out. Nothing wrong with having a well shaped, properly trained tree no matter what you are growing on it. Properly trained tree = more light and air gets to the middle of the tree which can lead to more quantity, more quality and less disease fruit.
This year up at the farm I am throwing much of the training into the wind. Unfortunately with a newborn at home I just don't have the time. We'll see what a year off of training does. Plus most of my trees are properly trained up to 8-12' up already since they are a few years established now. Only so many hours in a day, this year i've been putting more time into food plotting.