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Deer and Chinese Chestnuts #5221718
10/07/15 12:07 PM
10/07/15 12:07 PM
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North Fairfield Ohio
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BryanOney Offline OP
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Some companies that sell apple trees and oaks to be planted to attract deer are now selling chinese chestnut trees also and claiming the deer like the chestnuts as well as apples. Does anyone have any experience with this. Do the deer seem to like the chestnuts. Do you think chestnut trees would worthwhile to plant as deer attractant in the future. Thanks

Re: Deer and Chinese Chestnuts [Re: BryanOney] #5221721
10/07/15 12:11 PM
10/07/15 12:11 PM
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Dunlap Tennessee
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mikehunterman Offline
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I have several around that granddad planed 50 years ago and have never seen a deer around any of them. The squirrels eat them when they fall off. They are pretty good to eat but seem to get worms in them in only a few hours after they hit the ground here.

Re: Deer and Chinese Chestnuts [Re: BryanOney] #5221722
10/07/15 12:13 PM
10/07/15 12:13 PM
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Deer love them and they are a very reliable producer-a good crop nearly every year.

I would not plant them close to the house. The husks in the yard make going bare foot or even wearing flip-flop painful. And the bloosoms stink when the tree is in bloom.

Re: Deer and Chinese Chestnuts [Re: BryanOney] #5221730
10/07/15 12:19 PM
10/07/15 12:19 PM
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Ohio
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I got several small CC here, mine are like a large shrub as opposed to an actual tree. I got them for wildlife benefit....this is the first year they produced. I replanted all the nuts to produce more. My intention is to seed bomb some of my hunting areas.

Re: Deer and Chinese Chestnuts [Re: BryanOney] #5221744
10/07/15 12:38 PM
10/07/15 12:38 PM
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SW MT
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cant speak for chinese chesnuts but the american chesnut used to be the most common mass crop tree in the US. I'd have to bet deer ate them.

Re: Deer and Chinese Chestnuts [Re: gryhkl] #5221813
10/07/15 02:02 PM
10/07/15 02:02 PM
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Midland, Michigan
Rusty Axe Camp Offline
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Originally Posted By: gryhkl
Deer love them and they are a very reliable producer-a good crop nearly every year.

I would not plant them close to the house. The husks in the yard make going bare foot or even wearing flip-flop painful. And the bloosoms stink when the tree is in bloom.


There was a house by the elementary school I went to that had one of those trees in the yard.

Once they got hard and real pokey, we'd have a blast throwing them at each other.




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Re: Deer and Chinese Chestnuts [Re: BryanOney] #5221835
10/07/15 02:17 PM
10/07/15 02:17 PM
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South Dakota
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Rhino7 Offline
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Deer eat chestnuts like crazy. Grandparents would have 17 deer in the yard at once all crowded under two trees

Re: Deer and Chinese Chestnuts [Re: Rhino7] #5221839
10/07/15 02:20 PM
10/07/15 02:20 PM
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Tar Heel NC
Charles Gooden Offline
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Originally Posted By: Rhino7
Deer eat chestnuts like crazy. Grandparents would have 17 deer in the yard at once all crowded under two trees



I can NOT keep them away from our 2 trees to save my life


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Re: Deer and Chinese Chestnuts [Re: BryanOney] #5221909
10/07/15 03:01 PM
10/07/15 03:01 PM
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 862
western Pennsylvania
ducksnbucks36 Offline
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Chestnuts are supposedly the best nut bearing tree for deer. It's said deer will walk past acorns and etc to get to chestnuts. I've seen deer eating chestnuts, and plan on getting some and planting them myself this spring. Along with some other fruit bearing trees



Re: Deer and Chinese Chestnuts [Re: BryanOney] #5221973
10/07/15 03:53 PM
10/07/15 03:53 PM
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Northwest, Alabama
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Old Relic Offline
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The ground under our chestnuts looks like it's been plowed, from all the deer activity. They love them.


A Nation of Sheep - Breeds a Government of Wolves!
Re: Deer and Chinese Chestnuts [Re: BryanOney] #5221975
10/07/15 03:55 PM
10/07/15 03:55 PM
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PA
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Remember, the blossoms stink. Or, maybe I'm the only one that hates their smell.
It would be one of the first trees I'd plant for deer feed if away from the house. We have two in our yard at our camp that are about 25 feet tall and everything loves the nuts.

Re: Deer and Chinese Chestnuts [Re: BryanOney] #5222044
10/07/15 04:59 PM
10/07/15 04:59 PM
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If I were wanting to attract
deer I would plant apple , and pear trees and also white oaks !!!

Re: Deer and Chinese Chestnuts [Re: BryanOney] #5222069
10/07/15 05:16 PM
10/07/15 05:16 PM
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 179
SSP Minnesota
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If your gonna plant Chestnut trees you should check out Chestnut Hill Outdoors. Heres the link, hope this helps.

http://www.chestnuthilloutdoors.com/store/pg/9-The-Best-Food-Plot-Tree.aspx

Last edited by TrapperTrets; 10/07/15 05:17 PM.

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Re: Deer and Chinese Chestnuts [Re: BryanOney] #5222083
10/07/15 05:26 PM
10/07/15 05:26 PM
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eastern WV
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there is 2 at work, the deer visit every night
RR

Re: Deer and Chinese Chestnuts [Re: BryanOney] #5222112
10/07/15 05:55 PM
10/07/15 05:55 PM
Joined: Aug 2011
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Peoria County Illinois
Larry Baer Offline
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American chestnuts are sweeter than Chinese. I only about the American ones and they attract deer.


Just passin through
Re: Deer and Chinese Chestnuts [Re: BryanOney] #5222208
10/07/15 07:15 PM
10/07/15 07:15 PM
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Keedysville, MD
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I have 3 chestnut trees and many more apple trees in my yard. The deer go to the chestnut trees first.

Re: Deer and Chinese Chestnuts [Re: BryanOney] #5222263
10/07/15 08:09 PM
10/07/15 08:09 PM
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ok changing topic...do deer eat buckeyes? had a tree in my yard that I'd never seen before, thing started dropping buckeyes last week...they are related to chestnut arent they?


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Re: Deer and Chinese Chestnuts [Re: BryanOney] #5222286
10/07/15 08:29 PM
10/07/15 08:29 PM
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N. Carolina
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Around here the American chestnut was the main mast source at the turn of the century. Then the blight wiped them out. There are still a lot of American chestnuts still alive (root systems) they will sprout up and the blight will knock them out. Every now and then we will find a good nut or two. They are not near as big as a Chinese nut. It is a very strong wood and you would've believe how light it is when dried. I try to find the dead sapling and make walking sticks.


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Re: Deer and Chinese Chestnuts [Re: BryanOney] #5222541
10/07/15 11:26 PM
10/07/15 11:26 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 11,190
Oregon
beaverpeeler Offline
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I had a friend of mine once mention that chestnut bloom smells just like semen. Have never been able to get that out of my head every late spring when our chestnuts are in bloom. AND NOW NEITHER WILL YOU! HAR HAR!!!!!!


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Re: Deer and Chinese Chestnuts [Re: keets] #5222750
10/08/15 08:36 AM
10/08/15 08:36 AM
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S.E. Ohio
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M.Magis Offline
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Originally Posted By: keets
ok changing topic...do deer eat buckeyes? had a tree in my yard that I'd never seen before, thing started dropping buckeyes last week...they are related to chestnut arent they?

No. I'm not sure anything eats them to be honest.

I think a lot of folks here may be confusing American chestnuts with Chinese chestnuts. While deer will eat chinese chestnuts, they aren't all that attractive, at least when compared to apples, pears, acorns, etc.... Squirrels and chipmunks love them.

Re: Deer and Chinese Chestnuts [Re: Larry Baer] #5222760
10/08/15 08:45 AM
10/08/15 08:45 AM
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Northwest, Alabama
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Old Relic Offline
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Originally Posted By: Creek Rat
American chestnuts are sweeter than Chinese. I only about the American ones and they attract deer.


The American Chestnut is VERY susceptible to the blight. The American Chestnut Foundation is working on some trees that are blight resistant, but they won't be available to the public for some time to come.


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Re: Deer and Chinese Chestnuts [Re: BryanOney] #5222812
10/08/15 09:45 AM
10/08/15 09:45 AM
Joined: May 2012
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michigan,USA
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seniortrap Offline
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TrapperTrets: Thanks for that link.

I have a spot in my field that would do well for a dozen chestnuts. And lots of deer moving through.

Thanks again.


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Re: Deer and Chinese Chestnuts [Re: Old Relic] #5222814
10/08/15 09:47 AM
10/08/15 09:47 AM
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TN
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lcd Offline
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TN
Originally Posted By: Old Relic
Originally Posted By: Creek Rat
American chestnuts are sweeter than Chinese. I only about the American ones and they attract deer.


The American Chestnut is VERY susceptible to the blight. The American Chestnut Foundation is working on some trees that are blight resistant, but they won't be available to the public for some time to come.

The blight will kill just about any American Chestnut before it reaches full maturity. Different breeders have been crossing the American with the Chinese for the last 50 years or so to try to get a mostly American Chestnut that can withstand the blight. Some successful ones are about 95% American with the blight resistance of the Chinese all that is left of it. You can find lots of information on some of the Chestnut websites.

Re: Deer and Chinese Chestnuts [Re: BryanOney] #5222826
10/08/15 10:00 AM
10/08/15 10:00 AM
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michigan,USA
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seniortrap Offline
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michigan,USA
What is the difference in exterior shell looks?

They both look like they have a spiny shell.


Vietnam--1967 46th. Const./Combat Engineers

"Chaotic action is preferable to orderly inaction."
"After the first shot, all plans go out the window!"
Re: Deer and Chinese Chestnuts [Re: BryanOney] #5222978
10/08/15 12:16 PM
10/08/15 12:16 PM
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 233
North Fairfield Ohio
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BryanOney Offline OP
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North Fairfield Ohio
A lady down the street from me says that about the smell of the blossoms each summer when they bloom. She calls them sperm trees even. I always think she opens herself up for a lot of comments when she says that, but I never say anything.

Re: Deer and Chinese Chestnuts [Re: seniortrap] #5222985
10/08/15 12:28 PM
10/08/15 12:28 PM
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Posts: 2,084
S/W Mich.
Dillrod Offline
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Originally Posted By: seniortrap
What is the difference in exterior shell looks?

They both look like they have a spiny shell.


When investigating a tree I found few years ago .
I believe its determined in the leafs, configuration.
I started my search on the American Chestnut Foundation website.

Think you have an American Chestnut?


"Some Domestication Required "



Re: Deer and Chinese Chestnuts [Re: BryanOney] #5223067
10/08/15 01:56 PM
10/08/15 01:56 PM
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 297
Dunlap Tennessee
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mikehunterman Offline
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Buckeyes are poison and will kill cows if they eat a bunch. They lay on the ground all winter and the squirrels will not touch them or anything else that I can tell. I cut them down all the time but still have a lot.

Re: Deer and Chinese Chestnuts [Re: BryanOney] #5223350
10/08/15 06:22 PM
10/08/15 06:22 PM
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michigan,USA
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seniortrap Offline
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Thanks for the link Dillrod.


Vietnam--1967 46th. Const./Combat Engineers

"Chaotic action is preferable to orderly inaction."
"After the first shot, all plans go out the window!"
Re: Deer and Chinese Chestnuts [Re: mikehunterman] #5224145
10/09/15 09:06 AM
10/09/15 09:06 AM
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TN
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Originally Posted By: mikehunterman
Buckeyes are poison and will kill cows if they eat a bunch. They lay on the ground all winter and the squirrels will not touch them or anything else that I can tell. I cut them down all the time but still have a lot.

Do you cut any that are big enough for lumber? They make real good boards for coon, fox, otter and such if they are wide enough to use. Take push pins real easy. I am willing to travel to to pick them up if so.

Re: Deer and Chinese Chestnuts [Re: BryanOney] #5224316
10/09/15 11:42 AM
10/09/15 11:42 AM
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Dunlap Tennessee
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If you want to fool with it there are two by the gate that are easy to get to. The biggest would be a 16 to 18 inch butt.

Re: Deer and Chinese Chestnuts [Re: BryanOney] #5224804
10/09/15 06:53 PM
10/09/15 06:53 PM
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Peoria County Illinois
Larry Baer Offline
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I have never seen anything eat them. The chestnuts are dropping right now so you should be able to see for your self if deer are eating any.


Just passin through
Re: Deer and Chinese Chestnuts [Re: BryanOney] #5224895
10/09/15 08:14 PM
10/09/15 08:14 PM
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 2,084
S/W Mich.
Dillrod Offline
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Not to Highjack This thread,
But the discussion of Buckeyes came up sometime back.
A member on here was introducing the fact that they made flour often from this.
Would enjoy a PM from him.

Now back to topic.

I know of one tree .
It was evident that there were few burs with actual nuts inside laying around..
I believe the deer were sorting them.
Others see this ?



"Some Domestication Required "



Re: Deer and Chinese Chestnuts [Re: BryanOney] #5224922
10/09/15 08:29 PM
10/09/15 08:29 PM
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Posts: 3,615
N. Carolina
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Scout1 Offline
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I have heard 1/2 of a buckeye is poisonous and 1/2 is good, only a squirrel knows. May just be an old tale.


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Re: Deer and Chinese Chestnuts [Re: BryanOney] #6150102
02/06/18 05:38 PM
02/06/18 05:38 PM
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MN, USA
star flakes Offline
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I noticed that most people commenting here are in the traditional Chestnut range which is zone 5. I ordered some from Musser Forest a long time ago, and all died but one. That one grew about an inch a year for a few years, and then just died. I was zone 4 and that is what the Chinese chestnut is planted for, as most of the hybrids at 50 dollars a tree are expensive.
I have some black walnuts that grow like weeds in reseeding that my Grandfather had, but they are not deer food, just squirrels. I make that point in I can grow nut trees here, tried Hazelnuts which did grow but the catkins freeze off as they blossom too early for zone 4. I have the same problem with peaches in I can get them to grow like crazy for a few years, and then we get a winter where the soil is dry and it freeze six feet down and that is it for the peach trees.
In all honesty the deer here will not eat acorns, but they are Burr Oak. I have a bag of these huge acorns I collected while in Kansas that I still intend to plant, as wildlife eats them there. The long of this is, if you are in an area which American Chestnuts will grow, then plant them as wildlife loves them. If not, the alternatives are Chinamen or filling in with some apple trees. For that, most rootstock Nurseries have a rootstock out of Russia, which is hardy to 50 below. They produce a big pie apple and deer will eat them, even if the deer prefer the sweeter long season apples like Haralson.
I do envy all of you who are able to grow real chestnuts and all of those other mystery trees. I have wasted a great deal of money in trying to get plants to grow where God never intended.

Re: Deer and Chinese Chestnuts [Re: BryanOney] #6150125
02/06/18 05:58 PM
02/06/18 05:58 PM
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Mine did not produce too heavy last time. If I didn't pick em up every day, the deer did. I froze them, used some for baking, and the rest will get planted. I have a half of a drum full of American Black Walnuts to plant TOO. if NOONE PLANTED COOL TREES, THERE'D BE LESS OF THEM.

If someone going to Burnt Ridge fur sale wants a few you can have some. I'm not mailing them.





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