When it comes to attracting deer and other wildlife to your property, land-management experts agree, food plot trees provide the best long-term method. Renowned deer biologist Dr. James Kroll, AKA Dr. Deer, says of all the food plot trees, the Realtree Nursery Dunstan Chestnut provides the most benefit. The Dunstan Chestnut was almost wiped out in the early 1900s by a bark fungus accidentally introduced from the Orient in 1904. This tragedy marks the largest ecological disaster in American history.
Fortunately, the American Chestnut is making a comeback in the form of the Dunstan Chestnut, bred by noted plant breeder Dr. Robert Dunstan. Bred for disease resistance and heavy annual crops of very large, sweet nuts, Dunstan Chestnuts have been grown for 30 years all over the US, in Zones 4-9 from Maine to Michigan and Illinois and south to Florida, without any trees ever dying from the blight.
“Before the blight, the chestnut was the primary food source for deer, bear, turkey, squirrel, hogs and other wildlife,” Kroll says. “In fact, these animals prefer chestnuts over acorns because of their sweet taste and nutrition.”
Kroll says those managing their property for deer often fixate on protein, but digestible energy is important to deer health as well.
“Chestnuts are high in both essential carbohydrates and protein, and they don’t have the bitter-tasting tannin that other nuts have,making them even more desirable to deer.”
The Realtree Nursery Dunstan Chestnut bears nuts in only two to four years and produces more high quality nutrition per acre than any oak species or hybrid. It has a regular annual bearing (no skipped years like all oak species) and excellent production – 2,000+ lbs/acre or more. In fact, one tree will bear 10 to 20 lbs of nuts by the time it is 10 years old, which is before most oaks even start to produce. Dunstan Chestnuts bear crops for 50 to 100 years or more, with no replanting, providing an excellent, cost-efficient way for attracting and holding deer on your property.
“Dunstan Chestnuts are extremely adaptable and will thrive anywhere in the eastern United states,” Kroll says.
Kroll recommends planting five food plot trees per food plot (averaging ½ acre in size).
“Space the trees 20 to 25 feet apart,” Kroll says. “By planting your trees in or near your food plot, you condition the deer to return to the food plot even after the summer plantings are gone. The Dunstan Chestnuts will provide a delicious food source throughout the fall and into the winter.”
Realtree Nursery prides itself on growing the best quality trees using root-enhancing pots. In addition to the Dunstan Chestnut, Realtree Nursery also grows native and Oriental persimmons, oaks and many types of fruit trees. These trees are designed to improve the quality of your habitat and increase the carrying capacity of your land.
For more information, visit online at www.realtreenursery.com, or by calling toll-free 1-855-386-7826.