Attracting deer to your hunting land isn’t just about luck. It’s about creating the right conditions for deer to thrive, including providing reliable sources of food, cover, and habitat. Food plots can be great for hunters or farmers with the right equipment to prep, plant, and water the food plot each year. Most food plots are annual and will only be around for one hunting season.
As you probably know, we are all about easy to grow food producing plants and trees here at Northeast Edible. And what is easier than a tree or shrub that you plant once, and it lives for decades. By focusing on perennials, we can get trees that will attract deer year after year. By using a strategic approach, hunters can successfully attract deer consistently.
There is nothing worse than putting in countless hours preparing for your hunt only to see little to no deer activity. If this has ever happened to you and believe me it has happened to me more than I care to admit there is a solution.
You can take control of your hunting property and transform it into a deer magnet by planting the right trees. By focusing on native and beneficial species, you’ll create a sustainable habitat that not only attracts deer but keeps them returning year after year. The best thing about using trees to attract deer for hunting is that your trees just keep producing more and more food each year. Drawing in more and more deer year after year.
Here are some of the best trees to plant for long-term habitat improvement.
Top 5 Trees to Attract Deer for Bow Hunters
American Plum Trees
The American plum, Prunus americana, is a great dual-purpose tree option. It produces small, nutrient-rich fruits while also offering dense cover. Of course, deer will each the fruit but deer will also eat the American plum leaves as well. This combination provides both food and bedding areas for deer. Trees are multithemed and can range from 10-20 feet tall. Fruit ripens mid to late summer and will bring deer in before the start of bow season in most areas. Native to the Midwest, it is adaptable to the Northeast, South, and Mid-Atlantic regions as well.
European Pear and Asian Pear Trees produce large nutrient rich fruits that deer love. Their sweet and tasty fruits will draw deer and other wildlife to your hunting property. Pears, much like another tree we will touch on later, have a long ripening window depending on which varieties you choose. Here at our farm in NJ we have pear trees that ripen in July and ones that ripen in October. We have some pears that actually hang on the trees well into November!
For drawing deer to your hunting property, it is best to go with a mix of varieties that will produce fruit throughout the season. Choosing early season varieties will bring deer on to your land before hunting season begins and selecting late season ones will hopefully keep deer coming back during the rut late October and into November. Giving deer a few feeding options is always best, don’t rely on pears alone to keep deer on your land. Buy pear trees here! Keep reading for the next best tree to plant for attracting deer to your hunting property!
Apple Trees
Apple trees and crab-apple trees are another great choice to attract deer for bow hunting season. The Malus species produce sweet, energy-packed fruits that deer love. Once established, these trees produce fruit annually with minimal maintenance. Choose a mix of mid to late season disease resistant varieties for best fruit production and to keep the deer on your hunting property. Early season apples will start to ripen around August with late season apples hanging on to trees until mid November even into December. Like with Pears, it is best to get a mix of both early, mid and late season varieties to keep deer coming back to your property.
We grow a mix of these varieties at our farm and see deer all season long. Choose some of our disease resistant varieties for the best results. They are easy to care for and will keep deer interested and coming back for more. Apples and crap apples are versatile and thrive across the Northeast, Midwest, and Southeast, making them a reliable addition to any habitat plan.
Chestnut Trees
The next tree for attracting deer to your hunting property for bow season is the chestnut tree. Chestnut trees provide an abundant source of nuts that deer find irresistible. Studies have shown that deer prefer chestnuts over acorns as their nut of choice. Chestnuts are sweet and full of carbohydrates and taste way better than acorns which can be overly astringent.
Chestnut trees grow quickly and produce nuts within 3-5 years. Chestnut trees are long lived and can bear nuts for generations to come. A few chestnuts trees planted on your hunting land will bring deer in for as long the trees continue producing nuts! Want to know more about chestnut trees? Read more about what makes fall so great in the chestnut orchard. Looking for fresh chestnuts? Click this link to buy Chestnuts for Eating available each fall starting in October. Get on our email list as we sell out every year!
Our chestnut trees start dropping nuts in late September and don’t finish dropping nuts until late October – early November. Chestnut trees are well-suited for the Southeast, Midwest, and Northeast. Choose a chestnut that is blight resistant and you will be attracting deer to your property in no time. Our chestnut trees are blight resistant and start producing nuts in about 3-4 years. Check our out selection of high quality select chestnut seedling trees.
Hickory and Pecan Trees
Hickory and Pecan trees are another great choice to draw in deer for your hunting property. They produce a sweet desirable nut that wild life and humans alike love. Hickory trees are more common in the northeast and Midwest while Pecan trees are often found in the southeast and Mid-Atlantic. Both Hickory and Pecan trees usually drop nuts every year and are loved by deer and other wildlife. Nuts drop at our farm in New Jersey in October right in the middle of bow season in the Garden State.
The last tree we will discuss is the Persimmon tree, which just happens to be one of my favorite fruits! Persimmon trees, Diospyros virginiana are native to the eastern United States and a real favorite of deer and many other wildlife species. Persimmons drop sweet, nutrient-rich fruits in the fall and into winter, aligning perfectly with hunting season. Hardy and resilient, these trees can grow in various soil types and climates. They are native to the Northeast, Midwest, Southeast and Mid-Atlantic but can adapt to other regions as well. Trees can range from 10-15 feet all the way up to 30-40 feet tall. Persimmon seedlings are male and female, the female trees produce the fruit while the male trees pollinate the female trees. Most grafted trees are self fertile and don’t require a male for pollination. Want to learn more about growing persimmon trees? Check out our article all about persimmons. Ready to purchase persimmon trees? Click here to see our great selection of easy to grow persimmon trees.
Persimmon fruit are one of the latest ripening fruits here at our farm in New Jersey. Early ripening American persimmon can ripen as early as September while late ripening fruits can hang on trees well into November, December, and even January. November is prime deer hunting season here at the farm. Ripe persimmons are a major draw for deer at a time of year where other food sources are becoming sparse. All this makes Persimmon trees one of the best trees to plant on your hunting property!
Check out our selection of high quality, easy to grow grafted persimmons. They are all great options for planting at your hunting property in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York and beyond!
Planting Considerations
For long-term success, consider a few key planting tips.
Choose areas with adequate sunlight and good drainage to ensure the trees establish well. Trees need at least 6-8 hours to ripen fruit and nuts.
Soil that stays waterlogged for many days after a rainstorm will not work for most of these trees.
Space the trees appropriately to allow room for growth and to minimize competition for resources. 10-20 feet spacing is the minimum you want between trees.
Protect young saplings with tree shelters to prevent deer browsing until the trees are mature enough to withstand it. We build small circle fence enclosures with 4 posts and 4 foot tall fencing to keep deer off the young trees. You can also use tree tubes from Plantra.
Lastly, plant a mix of tree species to provide food throughout the year and create a diverse, thriving habitat.
Looking to Add some of these Trees to your Hunting Property?
Ready to enhance your hunting grounds and create the ultimate deer habitat? Visit NortheastEdibleNursery.com to explore a wide selection of trees perfect for attracting deer. From fast-growing shrubs to long-lasting trees like chestnuts and persimmons. We have everything you need to ensure your hunting spot becomes the go-to destination for deer in your area. Check out our trees today and start building a better deer habitat today!