fingers
5 year old buck +
I see their containerized plants (sold out), but Im not seeing bare root there ?Looks like Chestnut Hill Outdoors has them as both bare root and potted.
I see their containerized plants (sold out), but Im not seeing bare root there ?Looks like Chestnut Hill Outdoors has them as both bare root and potted.
I probably just read too quickly about their shipping statement. That is likely in general and not specific to that plant. It looks like they ship bare root out in the spring and containers the rest of the year. Maybe they will have it offered over the winter or in spring.I see their containerized plants (sold out), but Im not seeing bare root there ?
What about some forbs that are legumes, it might be a good nitrogen fixer for your apples?A bump to this. I have an issue that cost me a dandy buck this year. I have a stand at the corner of a food plot (2 hedge rows/woods). In-between plots are 2 long rows of apples. Early in the season the deer mosey out without a care. Later in the year they move quick from hedgerow to apple cover. Had the dandy buck b line to the apples with no chance to arrow him as he stayed in the apples working away from me and never turning.
Was thinking they likely need some cover to make them comfortable, but don't want any more trees, and would prefer something I can shoot over or around if that makes sense, whereas something like another apple tree would eventually obscure my shooting lanes into the plots.
Was thinking shrubs and this is a great thread, thanks!

oh for sure. it was a wet day and didn't hear him coming. there was a smaller buck already in the apples i was watching. happens fast...Have you tried stopping them with a grunt tube?
Should have posted a picture. There is the obvious hedgerow to the left and one you don't see at the right. Runs come out to left at about 10, 15 and 30. The gap between the hedgerow and apples is a nice chip shot if they're walking slow, stop to munch on something or come to the apples and mosey around to give me a shot. He went quick from cover to cover (hedgerow to apples). Maybe cover isn't the issue and I'm overthinking it, but I know we have all missed an opportunity at a wall mounter and wondered what may have improved our odds, and my first thought was cover.
You can hopefully also see why I'd want something shorter and not tall so I can still shoot into the plot. For reference You can maybe make out 2 plums and the far side of the plot (all radish btw) is about 35 yards. Was thinking to line the edge of the plot and sort of make a 90 to the apples with shrubs. Right now thinking maybe strawberry bush or hazelnut. I want to get some mulberry in somewhere too, but apparently they grow into big trees lol.
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A pond is most certainly on the wish listNice orchard!
Put in a koi pond in bow range.
the ol' steve bartylla "turd in a punchbowl" strategyI've had good luck by cutting a cedar or pine tree down and placing it where I want the bucks to stop. Dig a 2 foot hole with a post hole digger and leave a nice, clear section for them to rub and one tree branch facing your stand where they will add a scrape. It works very well.
Yeah that's a good thought too. There's actually a great scrape at that first apple tree... but this was one of those "rarely they don't stop" kinda days that was rare I guess.Licking branch / rub trees work in nature. Hard to beat what bucks are already looking for. (Ben.MN/WI above) Bucks rarely skip past them, but stop to check, sniff, and add their own scent.
Belo -
If your rut is in full swing, bucks are more dialed into actual does, probably less likely to worry about scrapes or checking them. The real, live thing is maybe in their sight, or nose, or they're locked down with does! - so scrapes become a secondary thought, would be my guess. Where I hunt in Pa., when the rut is peak, scrapes don't get much attention at all. After peak, when bucks are trying to find some remaining un-bred does, scrapes & licking branch activity picks back up. Might be your case??