Chasing Giants with Don Higgins - 3 Favorite Trees for whitetail habitat

In the follow up to the 3 MOST OVERRATED TREES video, Don reveals his three favorite trees for whitetail habitat. Having planted millions of trees in his life and his years of harvesting giant whitetails, Don explains why these 3 tree species are crucial in a solid land management plan for whitetail deer.
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[@jameswatson4110]

No frills no gimmicks just good information-thank you

[@stevegaines-vq3bd]

i just fully retired & am about to buy fruit trees for my 10 acres in Southern Ohio....I've probably bought & planted 10 apple trees in my life then watched them all die....haha....I'll this time, buy pears & pesimmon trees....i have 1 persimmon on my property now & i have a salt block on a deer path about 15' from it....i was actually shocked to see it...i had no idea it was there, & it produces fruit...thanks for thew tips & i subscribed...

[@paulsell2438]

You reinforced my choices in trees planted on my land...truly appreciate all you do to help the hunting community.

[@therelease2495]

Great stuff Don. Plan on elevating my tree variety on my farm more each year.

[@Browneyemafia]

Added some Chestnut this year,but i have to say the deer smash my Apple trees in Michigan...

[@tommyhunter1817]

I agree 100%. Only issue is fire blight in kieffer pears. They will get it. And bad.

[@joanthangentry5870]

Great videos man very educational

[@Habitatacres]

Great info Thanks

[@stevegaines-vq3bd]

i found a giant pear tree on a neighbors vacant property several years ago & i thought the pears would be good to eat but ....these pears are so hard, even the ones laying on the ground are so hard & tasteless, i swear the deer & other animals won't even eat them....i was shocked.... but i'm going to buy pears & persimmon trees soon.....

[@chadlykins2265]

Good information, thanks

[@jdoboy6835]

I can't totally agree,,,, i've lost 2 pears already. Blight. So I've been ordering Asian pear crosses now. They are later blooming & late producing. Here in NE Ohio, I still have bushels of pears hanging when the snow starts flying. & MAN,,, those pears are dripping sweet. (makes for some great brandy too! ;>) Wish I could post up some of my pictures. My #5,,, Late Sep October apples. #4,,,,, Chinese Asian pears. I have 3 varieties. #3,,,, Chinese chestnuts. ( I start 100's of tree seedlings each year) #2,,,,, BURR OAKS. Massive white oak trees & huge white oak acorns. Acorns are very easy to start. Fantastic logging. #1,,,, Late producing CRAB APPLES! I have 12 starters, 4 varieties in my garden right now. Transplant 'em in the spring. If anyone would like the links to the online orchards,,, just ask. Best one in S Central PA,, Then there's 'BOYER' nursery. Willisorchards, Ellis nursery. #2 apple orchard is in Washinton State.

[@stevegaines-vq3bd]

thanks for the tip....i'll ask for the Asian varieties...

[@JRBooth-xx2jm]

Can't wait to plant a few of these trees.

[@wcgamer9379]

I would have to agree. This is coming from a man who knows what he’s talking about. A pear tree will outgrow and outperform almost any apple tree. Persimmons in my experience vary from tree to tree. Some drop very early and some drop way late in the season. Good info and very accurate!

[@eugenelaky1993]

.I planted 80 hybrid chestnut trees, 30 sawtooth oaks and 20 permission trees last year on my property 2022, now I'm going up to plant 13 Chinese Chestnut trees and 9 sawtooth oak.. I buy my chestnut trees and saw tooth oaks $10 a sapling..trees are already 11/2 years old

[@stevegaines-vq3bd]

what did the persimmon trees cost.?

[@eugenelaky1993]

@@stevegaines-vq3bd $10 each

[@eugenelaky1993]

@@stevegaines-vq3bd you gotta shop around I found a place that sells them $7 each.

[@will2-b150]

I can confirm the Kieffer pears will put deer on your property. They’re low maintenance and high yield year after year.

[@chadhouser973]

Where did you order your Kieffers?

[@will2-b150]

@@chadhouser973 Not sure, they were planted by my grandparents at least 40 years ago.

[@eugenelaky1993]

​@@chadhouser973 ty ty nursery has them.i just ordered some

[@foghornleghorn4173]

I can vouch for the persimmon tree. We have them growing naturally here on the property in central Penna. We often can locate deer in close proximity to the perisommons.|

[@kokadjooutdoors620]

Agree with the kieffer pears. Have several and deer keep coming to them into January. Would like to try persimmons in maine think Zone 5a. Next year will see if they will grow

[@markpiersall9815]

Professor Coggeshall of the Missouri Forestry Department has a three part video of his favorite Silvopasture tree; the Swamp White Oak. He claims it is the most preferred White Oak acorns by deer and turkey.

[@randythompson7497]

from Ga do you think that Fertilizing my oak trees Would be a good idea and what time of year do so ?

[@wayneshoneybees5439]

I have to agree 100%. I have 1 and 3 at my place. My brother place has a pear tree and deer love them plus everything else.

[@Joshtow167]

Are pricino a good just jumped two three bucks right next to the lake and their bedding.

[@stevepalmateer]

I have dry, acidic soil but it's in a Northern, cold climate. Will chinese chestnut grow up North in the cold?

[@rickdotson9472]

On the pear tree do you plant dwarf for faster results or a standard tree for bigger crops but take longer to start producing. I have planted seckle pears in my orchard and they were by far the favorite. I have ordered a few kieffer's on your recommendation. Thanks. Miss talking trees with you.

[@eugenelaky1993]

Standard trees, they will produce fruit in three years.

[@carolemcconnell4651]

Good video ,great info....(deerhunter)

[@randystaley9581]

Don, Thanks for your all your great insight. I had already order trees 50 chestnut 100 persimmons. It was good to hear I got lucky and order the right fruit trees. Should I tube each one of these trees? Thanks

[@eugenelaky1993]

How are your trees doing?

[@ronmacdougall9612]

Hey Don,how’s it going,good I hope

[@shawndickmann8215]

Unfortunately, none of those will grow/thrive in WI. Just too cold. Ive tried chestnuts, the cold keeps killing them back.

[@stickjr.3715]

all seasonal foods. once they dry up. than what? hard to manage a heard and dictate what they do if you cannot control them through fall and winter with feed and cover. My 3 favorite trees are. Boxelder/Aspen/Red Maple. Great for side cover and wood browse for the winter feed. bonus is the autumn olive.

[@ethanabberger5223]

This dude is the best

[@benjaminzamora5561]

How about Pecan trees?

[@bigben9242]

Lately from what I’ve researched crabapple trees especially red apple varieties with larger apple 1” and up have been real popular dolgo is real popular and hardy the great thing about crabapples is the first year you plant you can get apples the ones I’ve planted the deer and turkey love them the dolgo has a high sugar content once it ripens and is used to make jelly or jam and no offense to the persimmon but I would rather have food sooner than later

[@chasinggiantswithhigginsou6147]

I have several dolgo crabapples on my place and honestly have been disappointed in them thus far

[@outdoorztime2923]

My boy and I planted two Dunstan Chestnuts, and yes, they were expensive. If I get anymore, I will plant the Chinese Chestnuts. By the way, a big thanks for letting me know they do better with a lower pH. I have two pear trees. The one I'm lacking is your #1 pick. I will fix that this year. 2023 will find me shopping for some American Persimmon Trees. Thanks!

[@eugenelaky1993]

I buy Dunstan chestnut trees at $10 each

[@eugenelaky1993]

I have over 140 Dunstan chestnut trees,13 pears 7 are keifer pears,40 sawtooth oaks and 20 persimmon trees I planted on my property 😊

[@outdoorztime2923]

@@eugenelaky1993 Well, please fill us in where you get them at that price. They are expensive at the source location. The ones I have though maxes me out on my space. I should get a nice harvest this year. They just got their first pruning a few months ago.

[@eugenelaky1993]

Bolu tree nursery sells hybrid chestnut and they are Dunstan chestnut for $12.50.. they sell Chinese chestnuts for $10

[@eugenelaky1993]

@@outdoorztime2923 Boku tree nursery sells them look at their website..$12.50 and $10

[@samcarrozza517]

Don and Terry, when do you see the drop time(s) are for the Chinese Chestnuts? Same question for Kieffer?

[@paulmoss7940]

In central NC you can count on usually a three week drop starting about Oct.1, for mine anyway.

[@eugenelaky1993]

Only problem is the chestnuts drop before bow season.oct they are all gone in WV..

[@randyragland9218]

Where do you get you pear and Persimmon trees Don?I'm in extreme southeast Iowa,no nursery within 85 miles from me,thanks.

[@chasinggiantswithhigginsou6147]

Gingerich Tree Farm

[@eugenelaky1993]

Tyty nursery has them

[@jimmoore2820]

Don looks like we are on the same page with trees

[@gameoveroutdoorstv8613]

Persimmons for the win!!! 👊

[@swd37sd]

Accurate

[@amsully3352]

Never heard that my grandma has one it’s roots make trees I’ll transplant

[@tonynienas169]

The other animal that loves pear trees, black bears. Here in Wisconsin, we have plenty of bears and when I finally get a pear tree to produce fruit, the bears break the trunks to get to the pears. 😡

[@guyrosenbarker5113]

Can you get a persimmons tree for zone 4?

[@chasinggiantswithhigginsou6147]

yes

[@PFHabitat]

Guy, check out Morse nursery. They have a cold hardy variety for zone 4.

[@scottkluge6222]

@@PFHabitat how has your done? Planted numerous fruit including Persimmon grafted from Morse here in Zone 5 rated for zone 4 with very little luck was more so a waste and overpriced in my experience for quality and service!

[@PFHabitat]

@@scottkluge6222 I should had clarified that I haven't tried them. I'm on the border of zone 3/4. I won't plant a tree unless it is rated for zone 3. -35 here more than one day last week so I'm sure that would take out any persimmon. I've heard of guys that are further south in zone 4 being successful with them but if you have first hand poor experience with them I'll take your word for it

[@chasinggiantswithhigginsou6147]

@@scottkluge6222 try Blue Hill Wildlife Nursery

[@starklavenderfields]

I have Japanese variety persimmons which are self pollinating and that fruit is hanging in dead of winter and you can see where the deer bed around the base of it.

[@chasinggiantswithhigginsou6147]

I have planted japanese persimmons on my place with terrible results. Glad they worked for you. Thanks for watching

[@BikerBenny]

2:27 R.I.P headphone users 🎧 😳😳

[@stevegaines-vq3bd]

i went back & checked...... hahahhaha....

[@dswish1730]

I have seen deer walk by apples to get to pears.

[@kenebarb5377]

I’ve saw deer walk by Japanese persimmons to eat clover

[@garyfriend5526]

What about the Paw Paw. Do deer like them.

[@eugenelaky1993]

Deer love paw paw trees it helps them grow bigger antlers

[@craigholland2274]

I thought white oak would h been on there. Boy I was wrong.

[@davidhammer154]

I would assume that its not recommended to plant because in most places there literally everywhere. So you would be competing with other trees. Now if you dont have any oaks where you hunt then yes it would be a great idea

[@Lamkinoutdoor]

Very slow growing is the problem for white oaks. A newly planted sapling could take 20+ years to develop its first acorn crop. They are awesome trees for deer if your hunting a mature stand. Most likely never see the benefit in your lifetime from newly planted trees. If you are planting with you kids in mind, it would make my top 3.

[@estelltabor4183]

Get the dwarf chinquapin oak, they produce in 3-4 years and produce annually. Get about 15’ tall

[@eugenelaky1993]

​@@estelltabor4183 chestnut trees produce in 4-5 years.deer go after chestnuts 100:1 over acorns

[@billcarr6289]

Stop the misic

[@shanewilson9814]

Dont people even know how to actually hunt anymore?

[@kenebarb5377]

Just about everything is a hunting club around where I live so I planted about 90 fruit and nut trees on my property to pull the deer my way.

[@shanewilson9814]

Easy to kill a deer if you build it a five acre trap... I cannot respect your kind.

[@eugenelaky1993]

You do you and I'll do me on my own private property