Many people plant food plots to provide nutrition to deer and other wildlife. But if you want to help animals on a longer term basis, consider planting fruit trees. Fruit trees will provide nutrition and attract deer, turkeys and small game animals for many years.
I’ve watched mature bucks stand on their hind legs to snatch high-growing pears from trees and ignore nearby food plots. Persimmons and apples also are great for attracting wildlife. Plant these trees in groves of 5-10 between deer bedding areas and crop fields, on the edge of food plots, or just upwind of your tree stand.
They are also great for those who just want to photograph or watch the animals. Good locations for planting fruit trees include natural woods clearings, food plot edges, fallow fields, log landings — anywhere they’ll get six hours of sunlight. Soil pH should range from 6-7, but only moderate fertility is required.
You can buy seedlings for just $4-$7. If you want mature trees sooner, nurseries offer 5-8-foot trees, sometimes already bearing fruit, for $20-$60. Pears .
Mature bucks seem especially fond of pears. I’ve seen them walk right past ripe apples to get to them. Pear trees can produce for 50-75 years.
These fruits aren’t native to our country but were imported from Europe and Asia centuries ago. If you planted a full acre, it could potentially produce over 10 tons of fruit! Pears can grow over 50 feet tall and thrive in wetter areas than apples. Fruits can emerge by the third year.