🍏 14 Years, No Fruit 🍎 My Golden Russet Apple Saga, Inspiration, Hope and Heartbreak

The Golden Russet (confusingly known sometimes as the English Golden Russet, though it's not English) is one of the great American apples. It was once very popular for homestead use, cider, processing, drying, storage, cooking and fresh eating. It has a high sugar content and very rich, pleasing flavor. It has fallen out of favor and deserves to be grown much more. Don't confuse this with Bullock's Pippin, often called "American Golden Russet".
Amazon link for White paper bags for fruit protection amzn.to/33IIusy Use a miniature stapler, like the swingline tot, widely available on ebay. There may be better options, but it has been one of the more effective options, though pretty slow to put on.
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[@ps-ic8pm]

Planted GR in my heritage hobby orchard too, here in VA. Fireblight killed it in the first year. However, in my quest for a good russet, I discovered Belle de Boskoop from Holland. Gigantic intensly sweet and tart, untouched by disease or insects, grows like a weed here In VA. My favorite apple.

[@TheOtherGuybo]

You have the patience of a saint! Not bad luck, just the forces of nature, which are persistent and pervasive. I salute you.

[@Shaun.Stephens]

Good luck Steven!

[@SkillCult]

Thanks :)

[@projectmalus]

This is the year I was going to harvest my first Golden Russet. The tree is about 8 yrs old. I think the frost this spring toasted the flowers on most of my 22 varieties, all except for Ontario and Kingston Black. The same thing happened two years ago! There was a decent crop last year, but Dorian blew down the few heavily laden ones...including Holstein, my new fave. All the apples from that poor tree were eaten as they ripened from fully green, in a bag on the floor. Luckily I had more grafted! I think my strategy is to keep planting more until there's enough to go around, like protect the trees for me and leave easier to get at trees for the wildlife. Golden Russet is in flower group 2, most apples seem to be in group 4, Pink Pearl is in group 1. There's another Golden Russet type called Minnesota 1734 which is supposed to compare favorably with regards to taste, and is very hardy. For fruit bags, how about bags made from crop cover (heavier weight maybe like AG-19) cleverly folded/stapled or find a strong clothespin or clip to fasten a 12 by 12 inch piece to the branch. This combo would last for years and hide the fruit while still letting in sun. Easy to make and apply, cheap and effective; that's the criteria. Thanks for the video!!

[@SkillCult]

Bummerland. I hae a lot of apples but if it's a so so year like this one, the birds can do major damage. the bears wreck the trees so it's not just a fruit issue. Thats just how it is out here. My dream is about a 6 acre electrified deer fence for bears and deer. That would be a good start and I could take down all the individual orchard fences and cages then. I'll put that minnesota 1734 on the list. A guy sent me one years ago bred by a university breeder that was derived from golden russet and supposed to compare favorably as well, but it turned out to be mislabeled. I have thought of using ag row cover material. It is not very durable, but better than the nonwoven crap I've gotten so far. It is still not totally opaque though. I think the ideal is likely to be totally opaque, but letting light through, like white paper. It also has to be cheap. reusable would be nice,but biodegradable and cheap might be an equal or better option. I'd be more inclined if I could find a very uv resistant row cover. the usual remay stuff doesn't really hold up that well. there is one called tuff bell, but it's very expensive. Good luck with those Golden Russets and everything else.

[@christopherskipp1525]

A late snow wiped out the blossoms on an opal variety in my back yard in the Denver suburbs.

[@christopherskipp1525]

@@SkillCult Nets, I get it, would stop the birds, but they do nothing against bugs, no?

[@michaeljennings5786]

I get rolls of metal window screen, cut little rectangles out of them, and make them into envelopes using a "plier stapler". I started making them for my corn breeding, to protect important ears from rats, but I've started using them on my apple crosses too. You can see through them, but critters need to be really desperate to rip them open. They work really well and I've been using the same ones for years!

[@SkillCult]

That is actually interesting. I mean if it lasts for years it could be worth the work I guess.

[@saltriverorchards4190]

OMG what a story. Man you must have a lot of patience.

[@SkillCult]

Homesteading and growing fruit taught me patience lol. I didn't start out that way. By the time the bear broke that tree I was like meh...

[@saltriverorchards4190]

@@SkillCult a lot of good life lessons can be taught in an orchard.

[@douglashendrickson5951]

""Why don't you just give up. That's what Jerry says." Seriously talking about adversity and perseverance. I thought I had a problem. You're a masochist :)

[@dalilamendoza4592]

I had the same problem with Rubinette. Golden russet, on the other hand, has been a fireblight magnet for me.

[@SkillCult]

Haven't noticed that yet, but usually FB is not a huge problem here, though that might be changing.

[@ps-ic8pm]

Guessing you're East Coast too? FB killed my GR first yr in VA. No stopping it, but if you can get a tree fruiting, they seem to build resistance.

[@t395delta]

best of luck mate, my fingers are crossed for you. Thats one hell of bad run, surgest planting the next one out side your bedroom window :-)

[@SkillCult]

actually one orchard is very close to my bedroom and I hang bells on the fence and trees. It's worked pretty well, but every year without fail I wake up to those bells.

[@t395delta]

@@SkillCult ouch, definately not down to lack of effort... airgun?

[@ThoughtfulBiped]

The Golden Russet is your test of perseverance. Humanity often challenges itself with goals which continue to pummel their egos and make them question their beliefs. Those who push onward will find the treasure they seek. Ever onward.

[@IrreverendThomas]

My GR is the most rangey, tornado-looking tree, it’s crazy. I really don’t have any clue how I’m going to tame it in the long run 😂 But at least it’s been productive since early on. And yes, it is quite good

[@SkillCult]

Yep, I see some of those growth traits even in the seedlings I have that have GR parentage. Glad it's productive. My friend with a small commercial orchard says it is a very spotty producer for him. Mine seem okay when they go, but tend toward alternate I think. Hard to tell with all that wildlife.

[@scotttaylor9507]

Love the little bags! My GR is still too small for heartbreak, but yes: lousy grower.

[@elkhound25]

its the reason i build high tinsel electrified fences here. for the long run its cheapest and best and has least amount of issues for bear and deer issues. the turkey destroyed my yellow potato onion crop outside fence this year.they destroyed approx 100 plantings .my new blueberries are behind the fence i planted this year.electric is the only way to go for bear. cross your fingers i can keep them out of my corn crop. i just electrified below my gates even to prevent crawl unders.

[@SkillCult]

My dream is about 6 acres deer fenced with double electric wires on the outside so they can't sneak under without digging a major hole. the garden where the seedling trials are is electric, but last year's bear figured out to crawl under.

[@OakKnobFarm]

Obviously even the wildlife knows where the best tasting apples are! Good luck with your Golden Russets

[@amandaisoutdoors]

I have a similar story with black oxford 🤦. Except not quite so long 😂. At least 4 years of trying to graft, them either not taking or getting bumped by kids. Last year my 3 year old drove over my one surviving graft with her toy vehicle and snapped it off 🤦. This year I ordered more scionwood again so fingers crossed I get my black oxford tree eventually! Hopefully it's good 😅

[@CampingforCool41]

I’ve got a Whitney crab apple tree and I’ve noticed that the apples on it that have russetting taste better than the ones without even though they are on the same tree. Maybe it’s just a psychological thing because I like the texture, but I really want to try a golden russet now.

[@SkillCult]

I think it does affect flavor. Not sure what is up with that.

[@duck2600]

Did you graft it to franken tree?

[@xw9476tw]

I use store brand "simply done" double zipper sandwich bags. I grab about 10 out of the box at once and while holding them together snip about an inch or less triangles off of the two bottom corners of the bags with a sharp scissors. This lets the water out after it rains. Then I start working on them one at a time by opening the bag first and sticking my fingers in and puffing the bag a little so it isn't clinging together so tightly as from the factory, then closing it without sealing the zips again. Then I take the scissors and trim most of the plastic off above the zips. I can get quite a few done while watching a baseball game on TV or something. When putting on apples on the tree I close the zips from the middle where the stem is out to the sides. They stay on without stapling or anything. Then when I harvest I leave them in the bags until using them. I am in Minnesota and I bag them because of insect problems; I don't have much bird trouble. The only problem is they are plastic. I make sure to pick the apple before they drop and clean up any that do fall so there isn't plastic bags on the ground with rotting apples inside --- Dan Minet

[@SkillCult]

thanks. I tried those last year and wasn't really into them. I'm going to try again this year, especially for fruit that is in the shade. It gets quite hot here and it seemed like the apples in the sun got a litle weird, though not completely cooked oddly enough. I also remember not being crazy about putting them on, even though they are probably faster than the cookie bags I use the most now. But those give me breathability, some light transmission (white bags), hide the fruit completely from birds and I can drop them on the ground when I'm done and let them rot. I'll try the ziplocks again this year. I'm getting a lot of different bags to try and am going to start working on my own design, because I think I can do everything better than everyone lol.

[@finnkelcher5558]

I have i type of Golden russet apple found growing wild. Its my favorite apple and the birds love it too. The Animals are onto somthing! Birds will choose to eat it half size imature, when there is whole tree of Juicy coxes orange beside it. Lucky we don't have bears in Aotearoa

[@SkillCult]

Cool, so it's a seedling?

[@finnkelcher5558]

@@SkillCult I believe it is a seedling,it its growing at remote mountain picnic spot in here in New Zealand. Iv grafted it out at home and will net the trees this year very eager taste it again. 'Golden russet' is hard to find in nz. But I imagine it would have been more common back when russets where popular.

[@quintond.7888]

Man, thats rough. I lost my entire pear tree to 3 squirrels this year. On the fence charger, my grandfather and I installed one on my family's homestead sometime in the late 90s that ran up until the last few years. It was solar and hit like a mack truck (even wearing rubber boots) the one time I got careless with it, and it probably ran at least a mile worth of fences. I'll ask my mom where it came from if it would help the golden russet cause...

[@SkillCult]

I've got one on the garden and it works well. I may still try to run a line from that fence over to this other orchard spot. I think it will charge all of it. It's a bit of a project though.

[@666Necropsy]

lol wow. i was gonna say "the curse of the golden russet". foot sox are ok. i use them for other fruits. those organza bags stink. i have yet to try the paper ones. i have a big problem with tree rats. the battle is always on lol. i get ahead of them some years. then i get lazy and there numbers increase. im within the city limits so the good old 22lr isnt an option. i have thought about using the oil filter more than once lol. i am to cheap to buy a nice air rifle like you. in the future i may have too. i am on the east coast zone 6a. many of the apples you like i am growing with great success. i must thank you for the great reviews. you are my go to apple guy. good luck steve.

[@666Necropsy]

people call them squirrels like there cute or something. no they are tree rats fyi lol

[@SkillCult]

My air rifle is under repair. I got one more part coming so I can rebuild with new seals and valve stem. Good ones are expensive and still kind of dangerous. They are also not super quite, so get a silencer if you get one. And a scope!

[@dennisb1224]

There is a solar light that you can put a special bulb that rattles to scare critters away. Bears just push dwarf trees over. Here in northern Michigan I plant semi dwarf and standard trees mostly. They are harder to spray and take longer to bear fruit, though. Are those russet apples also called Christmas apples in some places?

[@SkillCult]

I haven't heard Golden Russet called christmas apple I don't think. The best source I've seen for common names is Apples of New York, they usually have all the synonyms. I"ll try to find that light. I think a good solution would make noise and light and preferably flashing light.

[@timobreumelhof88]

I have a similar issue with my gooseberries. Roots all being eaten off by voles. Frustrating but in the end we are smarter.. Sound like a great apple, I guess it's not available in the EU.. Please have a look at the Rapid Classic 1 stapler if that's available in the US. I have one from my granddad and it still works great.. (around 20€ in the EU)

[@ps-ic8pm]

Good strategy, I use it too. Only M7, 106 or 111 for taller trees to keep deer off the higher fruit.

[@johncollins1602]

You making me wana grow one now. Dam! I think I'm gona try to find scion wood . if you end up with few extra sticks plz let me kno. I have several Siberian crab rootstocks that need a scion. That sounds like a winner. Thanks man love your channel! Such awdome info Loving it😊✌

[@SkillCult]

I may have a few. I just noticed that tree looks like it might have virus, so I won't be cutting from it anymore. I'll look at the other tree, but if one has it, probably both do.

[@johncollins1602]

@@SkillCult ok fair enough. Thanks . yea your prolly right. If one has it both prolly do. I've got the grafting bug! Like bad. Lol. I just wana acquire unique things. Mostly the most cold tolerant is what I'm looking for and of course taste. I'm gona specialize in super cold hardy rootstocks and scions . not enough of that relm available . I don't think. I really love the stuff you post man! Top knotch for real!😊✌

[@SkillCult]

@@johncollins1602 GR should be easy to find. Just don't confuse it with "american golden russet" aka bullocks pippin. that is a different apple.

[@johncollins1602]

@@SkillCult ok cool. Ya in def gona track down cuts . if those bears of yours go through that much trouble to get into them specific trees. They got a be super tasty But I'd guess super nutrients dense also. Bears have a natural sense and target high nutrient value good sources. Thanks for your help man! Appericated much!😊✌

[@caribbeanspice1693]

I gave it a thumbs up already too.

[@beeneverywhereman]

I think the problem might be that the golden russet is such a delicious apple that everything else wants to eat it before you do : ).

[@SkillCult]

Quite possible. It is very sweet. Animals definitely know what they like and how to find it.

[@666Necropsy]

those animals must smell that amazing golden russet tree sap. crazy

[@dougatfuto5]

Seems with the paper bags you could just store the fruit right in them, picturing how madarin oranges are packed. I guess you would still want to open/inspect them? Also looks like zone 4 in the limit for these, following your feed from Canada most of these varieties are off the table I might graft some minnesota 1734 it's a zone 2 white russet

[@SkillCult]

I was under the impression that GR was pretty hardy, but I guess there is hardy, then there is hardy. still, it might make a good breeding parent to make hardier russets. def want to try minn 1734

[@Nighthawkinlight]

What's the deal with that bear light? Is it a motion activated battery powered strobe or something? Wouldn't mind something like that for keeping them out of my campsite at night.

[@SkillCult]

Just a motion activated led that comes on for 15 seconds or so. It actually has a few settings, but that is the one I use. I'd prefer it strobed probably, but didn't look for that option. this is the one I got. Not saying I recommend it, but for combination of price, rating and claimed features. amzn.to/30MGduA

[@mytech6779]

I saw an electric fruit bagger being marketed to farmers in china and japan, it uses paper bags and staples, no idea what it costs but it was faster then hand bagging. Our blue jays and crows get after cherries and some asian pears, but not the apples or plums. However my yellow-transparent crop was completely ravaged by apple maggots this year, like over a dozen per apple.(not coddling moths)

[@SkillCult]

Now that sounds like a real engineered solution. I can think of a way that could work. I saw a youtube vid of a guy using a cut off water bottle on a stick to attach bags with rubber bands, but it was slow to load.

[@mytech6779]

@@SkillCult I just found it again, "kingson" is the brand, it looks bulky but it may be in the hands of a smaller person by American standards. Might just be a gimmick. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jXyvm31ud9aUr68

[@frengkiyusuf5093]

what fungicide is suitable to prevent and treat it and how to apply it ... thank you very much sir for the advice

[@PuertoricanPatriot1]

Have you tried scare tape on the trees you want the fruit to stay in tact? the scare tape doesn't acftually "scare" the birds. apparently the reflections screw with their balance or vision. It's a pretty cheap fix if it works

[@SkillCult]

It's been so long that I don't remember the details, but I gave up on that stuff a long time ago. I know there is still some around, so maybe I'll dig it up and try again. I've used the plastic owls. I think the trick is to keep moving them.

[@cholcombe973]

I ordered a golden russet scion from fedco so I can try this out. Hopefully it’s the same golden russet. You mentioned in the beginning that there are a few.

[@SkillCult]

You don't want American Golden Russet. That's a different apple, aka bullocks pippin. Usually it's just called Golden Russet, but sometimes English Golden Russet. I might have some scions this season, but it's probably the right one.

[@vlanza1999]

Have you ever tried xmas tinsel for the birds? Works for my nectarine tree.

[@SkillCult]

No, but I've tried bird scare tape, which is similar. It works for a short time, but Stellars Jays are a special breed lol.

[@toadstkr]

I was in eastern Washington a couple weeks ago and a lot of orchards are netted now like the entire orchard not just single trees and they’re elevated so they can work under the nets. I’m sure it works great but it’s ugly to look at

[@SkillCult]

I'd like to build an english style fruit house someday, which is basically just a big net room like that.

[@Mobiusquip]

perhaps a solar charger for the electric net or a motion sensing sprinkler if you have a water line out there.

[@SkillCult]

I have one solar fence charger, but they are quite pricey. My current one would probably charge that fence in addition if I want to hassle with getting a line over to it. It's the solution though for sure, barring a dog.

[@SkillCult]

Actually, what would be cool would be a motion sensor device with sensors in at least 4 directions, that also makes noise, not just light, so flashing lights and sounds of growling dogs or people talking etc. It could vary the sound over like 10 or 20 different things so they wouldn't get used to it. Pretty soon, they'll have guard robots that chase after wildlife making weird noises and spraying pepper spray.

[@Mobiusquip]

@@SkillCult A multi-purpose wildlife defense would be awesome! If you are interested in a robotic solution perhaps you could collab with one of the DIY electronics channels like; great scott!, diy perks, the wrench, the thought emporium, hacktuber, colinfurze, make:, simone giertz, michael reeves. In the end a dog might be your best bet. Consider a food parameter for those pest that has plants they like on the outside and plants they hate on the inside.

[@wleight1]

Good luck! Enjoy your videos. Off-topic question: do you have an update to your nectarines that you chip bud grafted onto the almond rootstock a few years ago?

[@SkillCult]

I had that trained exactly how I wanted it and the deer got into that orchard through a rabbit hole in the fence and hit it when the shoots were about 5 inches long. I couldn't get it to grow back right and just cut it off last week to regrow the whole top again. I saw a shoot coming out, but it won't grow a lot this year. Pretty typical homestead problems

[@wleight1]

@@SkillCult Hope they come back for you. I really enjoyed the follow on video with Mark Albert, have been a little obsessed with chip bud grafting since I watched both of those videos.

[@mikepettengill2706]

We have skunks and possums here in the city, the occasional coyote. BEARS!! breaking the trees no less. Never even thought of that.

[@SkillCult]

They are awful. Super strong and no fucks given lol. No concept of conservation. if there are apples they just break the branches down to get them. I've seen one tear plywood off a wall like it was nothing.

[@KevinsDisobedience]

Have you tried those disposable, pans-hoe style, disposable socks? That’s what I use and I’ve had great success with them. With paper, when it gets wet the birds seem to know they can peck through them.

[@SkillCult]

Yeah, that has been my go to, but I'm trying as many different things as I can. the birds can still see the fruit. Not a problem in a good apple year, but in a year like this, if they want it, they'll peck through them. I still use quite a few and it is a deterrent for sure. If they are really hungry, or really want it, nothing but netting will stop them though.

[@toadstkr]

22 caliber works on blue jays

[@RILRIL1]

I have only 10 trees in my orchard. No fruit yet, but golden russet is one of them. I'm even more excited for it now (I've never had one). Could you get a fake hawk or owl set up on a post to scare the blue jays? I've used Ziploc bags with some success, but I'm going to get a sprayer and use a kaolin clay product because of the plastic issue. The big problems up here in Maine are coddling moth and plum curculio, not birds

[@SkillCult]

I put on a few ziplocks this year. I think they might be causing some problems with the fruit in the sun, but not sure yet. I don't like putting them on and they are very tempting for birds to peck at as the apple is in as full view as possible. Good luck...

[@mytech6779]

I think west coast jays may be more likely to attack a hawk then the other way around, they are very bold. Crows too, the local murder helps keep the hawks and eagles away from my chickens.

[@dusanmal]

I was lucky enough to get 100 Japanese Apple bags (hard paper on outside, thin waxed paper on inside, metal twist-tie) few years back from the same people in USA who now sell them for an arm and the leg at much more reasonable cost (5.99$ for 100 plus 4$ shipping). I kick myself for not getting many, many more. Those are extremely good in preventing any damage to the fruit, from insects to big critters while easy and quick to use w/o damage and withstanding weather. Same as you I since tried many other options and none compares. For me in suburban NJ attackers were squirrels and chipmunks. I grow quince and asian pears and the saddest part was squirrels tearing up very young quince fruit just to figure it is hard and bitter and abandoning it, whole trees worth, repeatedly. They don't learn well. Bags stopped that.

[@SkillCult]

Interesting. Wow, that is a good price. maybe you should start importing them :) Let me know ha ha...

[@jamesfrederick.]

Just set up all the traps every

[@tonythepwny]

Definitely not cursed, but I bet those golden russets are going to taste better than anything with all this work put into them. Good luck!

[@christopherskipp1525]

Do you have to spray your apples to prevent bugs, worms, etc. from destroying them?

[@baddriversofcolga]

What about making bags out of old clothing? Too time consuming? Not enough material? I don't know...just a thought.

[@SkillCult]

I can put on over 1000 bags in a season sometimes, so it needs to be cheap, either labor or cost wise. durability would be nice though.

[@baddriversofcolga]

@@SkillCult I hear ya.

[@argentvixen]

I don't know the whole situation but sometimes birds attack fruit more for the moisture than the fruit itself. A clean birdbath in a shady spot may help. Although the way you described the flavor of the apple it may just be that there is some sort of fruit crack compound in it that drives everything with taste buds to attack it regardless. *shrug*

[@SkillCult]

Thanks for the input. We have plenty of water around. They just don't have a lot of other stuff to eat in this couple of months. Pretty soon the acorns start to come in and then they completely ignore the apples, even as they are ripening. The definitely favor certain varieties.

[@Jollymadhatter]

I have seen opaque velvet drawstring bags similar to the ones you were using. They might be worth trying out to protect your apples?

[@SkillCult]

Thanks. Price is a major concern. In a good year, I might want to bag over 500 apples, preferably a lot more if I can pull it off.

[@justin1730]

15:30 LMAO, I have that stapler and it constantly misfires.

[@SkillCult]

total garbage. I have two swingline tots on the way from ebay right now and more bags should be here tomorrow.

[@nagasvoice8895]

I was thinking about your issue with poison ivy/oak/ and things living in them. Some of the folks doing rotational grazing use goats and sheep to knock that stuff down to the point you can see the roots, and I understand pigs will grub out roots too. I've also heard of the livestock person renting land from other folks to do this. Makes me wonder if there's folks in your area doing this who'd be willing to string up their own solar-powered net fences, bring in water to refill the water buckets, and move their animals around in the areas where you need control. The trees would have to be caged for that, but sounds like you've got to do that anyway?

[@SkillCult]

My high school teacher was doing that for a while, but he lives a long way off. I do have friends with goats, but I have a plan. I've been stacking dead brush on it and plan to torch it this winter when the rains come. I'm just going to wait til it's raining one day, torch it and leave so I don't breathe the smoke. It will try to grow back for sure, but it's a start and I could possibly control it.

[@nagasvoice8895]

@@SkillCult Might be a great way to bring it down enough so tender new growth would be attractive to the goats! *sigh* probably have to dig a firebreak for it, just to be sure burning roots don't spread it?

[@johncollins1602]

Do you or will you have scion wood of that edder 7/9? I'm super interested in trying that 1. Looks super juicy as well as red flesh! Hells yea I Got a have it. If be happy to $ a few branches. Just enough to bud a few stocks this spring. Anything you can do brother is appreciate it. Keep up the awsome vids please. Love yer channel

[@SkillCult]

That's a winner! I usually sell scions in the mid late winter. Send me note around mid winter.

[@johncollins1602]

@@SkillCult so cool thank you so much! I def will b back😊✌

[@johncollins1602]

@@SkillCult Sounds good man,. I wish I'd of found fruit tree growing & grafting, years ago when I was younger. Ive just got the grow fruit bug bad. ! ! I tried my first red flesh last year. Omg! I see why you go after the red flesh ones so hard now. They are most unique taste in a apple. So diff. When I saw you do the video on the Edder7/9 , it caught my attention right off. It looked twice as juicy as the other red flesh I've seen so far. That edder7/9 though , looks unique!

[@aaronbegg3827]

Damn it, my golden russet and William's pride are both one year old, now you tell me!

[@SkillCult]

Good luck!

[@ps-ic8pm]

Yep, my WP even on M111 root is a small weak grower here in VA.

[@christurley391]

Perhaps graft it around in more places? Beat them with quantity?

[@SkillCult]

I did last year. I put on a couple new branches on an established tree.

[@666Necropsy]

@@SkillCult fingers crossed.

[@verdantpulse5185]

Taste evolution is the term in brewing circles for flavorst hat keep changing to entice.

[@MrChickadee]

Geese man, I wander what people did in the past? Scarecrow? Dogs? Or maybe just killed everything that was not livestock of the farm most likely...

[@SkillCult]

Yeah, you're probably right, just shoot everything lol. I don't like bear meat very much, so I'm not inclined to take out a tag and shoot it. It's okay, but eating a whole one is a challenge. I guess you probably don't have bears? This is pretty wild country. There are always more waiting to move in when one moves out.

[@wolski888]

Dogs should work.

[@Hayley-sl9lm]

I can't imagine how good those apples would smell if I had a bear's sense of smell. I didn't know rats would straight up eat the actual tree though, that's rough :(.

[@SkillCult]

I think the packrats eat a lot of bark, like a beaver. I've seen where they chewed lots of bark off of small branches. The fruiting spurs are probably like candy to them or something lol.

[@Jhossack11]

GR cursed!? Friggin hope not. I got three young trees doing fine and I’ve never had one - maybe next year .

[@SkillCult]

Good luck ha ha. Better sleep under them with a spotlight and shotgun :)

[@johnwaw6363]

Apple glazed bear hams maybe?

[@SkillCult]

Meh, I'm not a huge fan of bear meat.

[@johnwaw6363]

SkillCult what about the taste of revenge?😜

[@dlbuffmovie]

In the NE porcupines will take down a whole tree eating the shoots....ask us how we know.

[@SkillCult]

Very rare around here. We have plenty in the west, just not here for some reason.

[@rosehavenfarm2969]

Pack rat. Bear. Pack rat. Blue Jays. Deer. Geez.

[@SkillCult]

yep

[@steelace]

Until I got the electric fence, I'd cover everything to the tree in cayenne pepper 🌶️. Hell, I'd even Mexican candy the trees. Hopefully you can get even with that bear.

[@SkillCult]

If I actually wanted to deal with and eat a whole bear, I'd take out a tag. The one last year disappeared, probably trapped by fish and game since it was terrorizing the whole neighborhood, or someone shot it. I may just abandon that lower orchard, otherwise, it definitely needs electric. the solar stand alone chargers are pretty expensive. Someday I want to do about 6 acres in electrified deer fence for bears and deer.

[@SOLARITY333]

I don't think birds have a sense of smell, so maybe some of them see you bagging the fruit and wisen up?

[@simmonds6063]

This is slowly turning into Rambo First Blood🤣 ...mental pic of mud smeared Steven digging spike pits around his trees😂! Really though that would be so frustrating! I saw a documentary where they put in some owl boxes around the farm and they took care of the mice and such at night. I think they drew in hawks somehow as well for the dayshift patrol. Anyway, maybe figure out how to encourage some local predators? But then, you do have your chickens to think about...🤔

[@SkillCult]

I need owls that eat bears

[@ciarfah]

@@SkillCult New series? "Bear-eating-owl breeding project"?:)

[@JudgeD-hc9vw]

Shotgun for BlueJays

[@SkillCult]

shotguns are hard on fruit trees. Snipping pests is harder, but less damage.

[@thelukesternater]

Reeee hurry