Deer/hickory
#7386637
10/23/21 09:49 PM
10/23/21 09:49 PM
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 5,117 Northern Michigan
J.Morse
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 5,117
Northern Michigan
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My SIL was telling me she was having deer in her yard eating the fallen hickory nuts. I wondered if she knew her trees and asked her to send me a photo of the nuts and the tree's bark. It is a Bitternut Hickory and the deer crunch them right down! Now I know exactly what it is like to only have teeth in the bottom front of my jaws, and even if I wore my uppers I wouldn't be able to crunch up and swallow a hickory nut of any type! Any of you folks ever seen deer eating up hickory nuts?
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Re: Deer/hickory
[Re: J.Morse]
#7386692
10/23/21 10:45 PM
10/23/21 10:45 PM
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Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,530 Fingerlakes New York
robert.d12
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 2,530
Fingerlakes New York
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Hickories yes, walnuts would be a different story
The beauty of the second amendment is it wont be needed until they try to take it. -Thomas Jefferson
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Re: Deer/hickory
[Re: J.Morse]
#7386712
10/23/21 11:26 PM
10/23/21 11:26 PM
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Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,327 vermont
vermontster
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 1,327
vermont
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Yes. Seems like hickories have nuts every year and the deer really hit them hard here
The bitterness of poor quality last a lot longer than the sweetness of low price
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Re: Deer/hickory
[Re: J.Morse]
#7386762
10/24/21 06:16 AM
10/24/21 06:16 AM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,626 N. Carolina
Scout1
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,626
N. Carolina
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I have heard can eat scaley bark hickory but not the regular ones. Shells are thinner on a scaley bark.
------------------------------------- DJT & MTG in 2024!
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Re: Deer/hickory
[Re: poconobear]
#7386769
10/24/21 06:47 AM
10/24/21 06:47 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 21,716 Sandhills Nebraska
Gary Benson
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 21,716
Sandhills Nebraska
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Hickories produce nuts on a 3 year rotation. It ranges hardly any, moderate and heavy. When we have hickories, every mast eating critter keys on them, even if there is a good acorn crop. My guess is they are sweeter than the bitter acorns. The oaks here seem to have a rotation period as well. A great crop occasionally but most years very poor.
Life ain't supposed to be easy.
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Re: Deer/hickory
[Re: J.Morse]
#7386773
10/24/21 06:53 AM
10/24/21 06:53 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,967 williamsburg ks
danny clifton
"Grumpy Old Man"
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"Grumpy Old Man"
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 29,967
williamsburg ks
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deer eat acorns right next to my pecan tree. never seen one eat pecans. these are wild pecans. not those big ones grown commercially. squirrels sure like them. so do i. takes awhile to get enough picked out for a pie. worth the effort. i use big channel lock pliers. break them end to end not from the side. do it with nut in a bowl with a rag over the top. both halves are intact and lying in the bowl 95% of the time.
Those who would give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. Benjamin Franklin (1706-1790)
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Re: Deer/hickory
[Re: J.Morse]
#7386776
10/24/21 07:03 AM
10/24/21 07:03 AM
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Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 21,716 Sandhills Nebraska
Gary Benson
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 21,716
Sandhills Nebraska
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I was in White Sands MIssile Range in NM back in the 80s. Pecan trees were planted in many lawns yet very few folks harvested them. I picked them up and sent the meats for Christmas gifts. I see a number of pecan groves/orchards somewhere in GA, TN, KY.
Last edited by Gary Benson; 10/24/21 07:04 AM.
Life ain't supposed to be easy.
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Re: Deer/hickory
[Re: danny clifton]
#7386785
10/24/21 07:27 AM
10/24/21 07:27 AM
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J Staton
Unregistered
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J Staton
Unregistered
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deer eat acorns right next to my pecan tree. never seen one eat pecans. these are wild pecans. not those big ones grown commercially. squirrels sure like them. so do i. takes awhile to get enough picked out for a pie. worth the effort. i use big channel lock pliers. break them end to end not from the side. do it with nut in a bowl with a rag over the top. both halves are intact and lying in the bowl 95% of the time. Those wild ones are good, especially for pies, candies, and such.
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Re: Deer/hickory
[Re: J.Morse]
#7386822
10/24/21 08:42 AM
10/24/21 08:42 AM
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Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 13,241 Ky
jbyrd63
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 13,241
Ky
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Do deer Eat hickory nuts? Deer rarely eat hickory nuts. Deer tend to prefer pure white oaks over all other acorns. Post Oaks are in the white oak family and tend be a bit more drought resistant that white oaks. Water oaks tend to drop over a longer period of time. Each has advantages and disadvantages. Never seen one eat hickory around here. Too many oaks and deer are browsers. Hickory nuts are too hard to digest. Hulls are too thick. But not saying the NEVER eat one. https://hunter.guide/do-deer-eat-hickory-nuts/
Last edited by jbyrd63; 10/24/21 08:46 AM.
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Re: Deer/hickory
[Re: J.Morse]
#7386868
10/24/21 09:56 AM
10/24/21 09:56 AM
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Joined: May 2013
Posts: 5,117 Northern Michigan
J.Morse
OP
trapper
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OP
trapper
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 5,117
Northern Michigan
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I live in an area that is without hickory of any specie, but for years lived in a part of Michigan that has several types, and all were quite common. Finding a Shagbark that was dropping was a great way I hunted squirrels. It would draw them in like a magnet. In all the times I sat quietly near hickorys waiting for a bushytail, not once did I ever see a deer pay the slightest attention to a hickory nut. I am an old dog that has just learned a new trick.......or at least learned something I found surprising. Thanks for all the input folks.
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Re: Deer/hickory
[Re: vermontster]
#7827955
03/23/23 11:34 PM
03/23/23 11:34 PM
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 10,129 WI - Wisconsin
AJE
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 10,129
WI - Wisconsin
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Yes. Seems like hickories have nuts every year and the deer really hit them hard here Thanks, I ordered some bitternut hickory's the other day for this year's planting. The Forester came to my property this year & said he thought they'd work on my property. 'Just adding a few for diversity and to try basically. My research pretty much supported what's on this thread in that dear will eat bitternut hickories.
Last edited by AJE; 03/23/23 11:35 PM.
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Re: Deer/hickory
[Re: J.Morse]
#7849960
04/21/23 01:23 AM
04/21/23 01:23 AM
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 10,129 WI - Wisconsin
AJE
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 10,129
WI - Wisconsin
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My bitternut hickory trees haven't arrived yet.. maybe next week. I hope they come before it dries out.
Last edited by AJE; 04/21/23 01:24 AM.
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Re: Deer/hickory
[Re: J.Morse]
#8091391
03/03/24 09:43 AM
03/03/24 09:43 AM
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Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 357 Lake Mille Lacs , MN
2poor
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Nov 2023
Posts: 357
Lake Mille Lacs , MN
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I have an abundance of Bitternut Hickory here locally. Nuts disappear as fast as they drop !
It’s a lazy man who can’t find his wife a second job !
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Re: Deer/hickory
[Re: 2poor]
#8094077
03/06/24 09:23 PM
03/06/24 09:23 PM
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 10,129 WI - Wisconsin
AJE
trapper
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trapper
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 10,129
WI - Wisconsin
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I have an abundance of Bitternut Hickory here locally. Nuts disappear as fast as they drop ! Do deer like them? I planted three bitternut hickory trees last year so I'm interested.
Last edited by AJE; 03/06/24 09:23 PM.
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