Apples this year!

[SplitG2]

Well, this week last year it was in the 70's as march was very warm.  My apple trees flowered and then late frosts came and zero apples.  Actually the last two years I had no apple production.  This March seems to be below average temps and April looks to be the same.  Looks like apples will have a better year...Maybe?  Let's hope so.

[G-Man]

back to a normal spring I guess..

 

[Geno C]

Hopfully it's a better apple production. I think we all got hammered last year with that frost after seasonably warm weather. I had one younger tree that produced fruit and all the rest did nothing. I think this year will be better

[Pygmy]

I hunted deer in New Brunswick, Canada last fall..

 

Evidently the temps were enough cooler up there so that the apple crop was not affected like it was here..

 

There were apples everywhere up there..

Edited March 22, 2013 by Pygmy

[Geno C]

its stayed generally colder up there and was not effected by warmer weather snaps. our problem was the warm weather that came early triggering trees to break dormancy then followed by a freeze. hope this year is diff

[PREDATE]

The year before last I had a stellar crop. Last year, had nil.

 So far this years outlook is normal.

[PooperScooper]

The bad news is the deer attacked my poor apple tree last night. I vow to eat the deer that ate my tree.

[Ford]

The bad news is the deer attacked my poor apple tree last night. I vow to eat the deer that ate my tree.

 

 

Ugh, they did that partially to my trees last year when they somehow knocked over my fencing. ate the bottoms thats for sure.

[Ford]

The year before last, I was literally tripping over apples. (Not from the ones I planted and are fenced) Had them flowing down my runoff ditch and everything. We will see this year, hopefully no late frost.

[phade]

Although I understand the penchant for wanting bumper apple and oak crops to help deer, etc. I know deer get by just fine for the most part if there were minimal apples and minimal acorns (in my area thanks to the heavy ag).

 

Having said that, I highly, strongly, 10000000000000% prefer years where we have poor apple and or acorn crops. Makes hunting and patterning deer much easier.

 

Nothing much worse than having to deal with a large wide acorn flat expanse with trees bent over from production or apples trees on every corner loaded to the ground.

Edited March 25, 2013 by phade

[Doc]

The problem with apple and acorn failure is that the deer who would normally establish good trails to hunt tend to have a more dispersed feeding pattern. For example, we have a few normally producing wild apple trees that become centers of feeding activity as well as rut activity. They are kind of a magnet for deer activity. Heavy beaten down trails with rubs and scrapes focus on these food sources that become a regular stop in their wandering.

 

On top of the hill, the acorns set up some pretty reliable feed to bedding patterns. Since we no longer have any agriculture, I have become a bit dependant (perhaps too dependant) on these food sources. Last year we had neither apples of acorns. The deer did seem to wind up fat and adequately fed, so they weren't hurting for food resources, but I never did get them completely patterned. There feeding (and consequently bedding) activities were widely dispersed with not a whole lot of sign being present anywhere.

 

Hopefully this spring will return to normal.

[Five Seasons]

i hope so. i have over 10 trees I've spent substantial time preparing to "feed my deer"

[phade]

The problem with apple and acorn failure is that the deer who would normally establish good trails to hunt tend to have a more dispersed feeding pattern. For example, we have a few normally producing wild apple trees that become centers of feeding activity as well as rut activity. They are kind of a magnet for deer activity. Heavy beaten down trails with rubs and scrapes focus on these food sources that become a regular stop in their wandering.

 

On top of the hill, the acorns set up some pretty reliable feed to bedding patterns. Since we no longer have any agriculture, I have become a bit dependant (perhaps too dependant) on these food sources. Last year we had neither apples of acorns. The deer did seem to wind up fat and adequately fed, so they weren't hurting for food resources, but I never did get them completely patterned. There feeding (and consequently bedding) activities were widely dispersed with not a whole lot of sign being present anywhere.

 

Hopefully this spring will return to normal.

 

My experience differs. In poor acron and apple seasons - you find the one that is producing. Invariably there will be one - maybe not on your ground - but there will be - and maybe that is the problem. Maybe look at planting apples where you can protect them or give current ones some shelter of some sort.

 

The fewer the producing trees, the easier it is to hunt them. Instead of 100 white oaks, you only have to worry about 5..or 2...or 10. Same with apples. I had two trees on my lease produce out of 10+ and they were magnets. And, within a circular mile, I bet there are 50,000+ commerical apples trees around my lease. Probably more.

[Five Seasons]

My experience differs. In poor acron and apple seasons - you find the one that is producing. Invariably there will be one - maybe not on your ground - but there will be - and maybe that is the problem. Maybe look at planting apples where you can protect them or give current ones some shelter of some sort.

 

The fewer the producing trees, the easier it is to hunt them. Instead of 100 white oaks, you only have to worry about 5..or 2...or 10. Same with apples. I had two trees on my lease produce out of 10+ and they were magnets. And, within a circular mile, I bet there are 50,000+ commerical apples trees around my lease. Probably more.

 

interesting. I had 6 of my trees bare fruit last year. This year I'm hoping for double that. Those that bore fruit sucked in the deer to where I'd have them just grazing my backyard. Although, I do not hunt the trees. I hunt the woods and a funnel that leads from the bedding area and a cornfield to the trees. So my hope is the more trees, the more deer.

[phade]

interesting. I had 6 of my trees bare fruit last year. This year I'm hoping for double that. Those that bore fruit sucked in the deer to where I'd have them just grazing my backyard. Although, I do not hunt the trees. I hunt the woods and a funnel that leads from the bedding area and a cornfield to the trees. So my hope is the more trees, the more deer.

 

It's one thing to have 10 trees butted up to one another. It's another to have 10 trees spread on each of the far corners of your property.

 

One concentrates deer, the other disperses it.

 

A wide expansive oak flat does what for the hunter? Nothing...other than to say they'll be in this 100 yd by 500 yd area munching on acorns - eating here, eating there, and you rely on luck. Luck. LUCK. A big giant, old gnarly white oak tougher than Doc's goats that outlasted Mother Nature's elements and drops a respectable crop of acorns while all of the other young, pansy oaks lost their crop before drop - well, that tells me the deer will be using the resource of a very specific spot. You can play the guessing game and bounce around, or you can just go in and kill the buck.

 

For situations when you have bumper crops...pick the best quality tree in the best huntable spot and release it and fertilize and spray it properly - leaving the rest be. Set up a stand. Hunt that tree. Deer tend to opt for the acorns or apples that are of the best quality. As time wears on, they'll head for that tree first.

Edited March 25, 2013 by phade

[SplitG2]

I rather have bumper crops of soft mast and hard mast every year.  My intention is the available food not so much trying to pattern the deer. 

[phade]

I rather have bumper crops of soft mast and hard mast every year.  My intention is the available food not so much trying to pattern the deer. 

Nothing wrong with that. Some people enjoy growing deer. I do too, but ultimately, I'm there to kill a buck.

 

It's the one path QDMers really need to fix. I've seen too many do it all and never fill the real lowest hole in the bucket...hunting skills. Again, it's fine if you want to grow deer. But, if you practice QDM and want to kill a mature buck, you had better not lose focus. Killing them is different.

Edited March 25, 2013 by phade

[SplitG2]

Don't get me wrong ....i want to kill a mature deer.

[phade]

Don't get me wrong ....i want to kill a mature deer.

 

Hopefully growing and killing have been happening regularly for you, then. Most people can tell me about the differences in white clover varieties, tell me about the lbs/acre of urea for a certain plot, tell me how to graft an apple tree, tell me how to TSI, but they cannot hunt themselves out of a paper bag. They have all the pretty pictures of bucks. They have a sanctuary. They have this, that, and everything in between.

 

But, what they often don't have, is a wall with mature bucks.

 

Now, please again, don't take that the wrong way. What I am saying is that most QDMers lose focus. I believe QDM can workwell , but it has to work in-line with hunting, if you want to both grow and kill mature bucks. I certainly don't profess to know everything or more than most...I can never get to the point I cannot learn something new. But, as time wears on, I find a lack of hunting skills development crushes the everyday QDMer. It's sad when you think about it, too, because that really is the lowest hole in the bucket. It's not trigger restraint or available food or cover. It's learning how to kill the mature buck they so badly want to grow and kill.

 

That said, I still want a poor acorn and apple crop. Makes killing a mature buck easier in my experience.

[SplitG2]

Phade, killing mature bucks in New York state is very challenging.  Actually killing mature bucks anywhere is challenging.  When I first got into QDM like most I had unrealistic goals.  Know 8 years into it our view is more inline to our property size and the surrounding factors.  Although my family members have taken mature deer recently on the property I haven't taken a mature buck since 2006.  It's not lack of skill per say but the lack of time afield.  I can shoot 2 1/2 year old bucks every year with the bow but that's not what I'm looking for.  If I don't tag out on a mature buck my season isn't a failure in my eyes.  I'm at a different stage in my hunting career.  All I can say is each hunter sets their own expectations and they are the only ones that have to live with them.  I'm very confortable with mine.  Happy hunting!

Edited March 25, 2013 by splitg2

[phade]

If you are happy and comfortable with the results, then all is well!

[PREDATE]

To heck with deer, I just want apples. Apples. APPLES. Apple crisp, apple cake, apple pie, apple dumplings, Etc.!

 

"easy" and "mature buck" do not belong in the same sentence. Relying on food sources to bag mature bucks in itself is dealing alot with luck. Patterning a buck off it's bed can be more productive imo, since many bucks won't reach their feeding spot til' just before or just after dark.

Hunting near food doesn't become super important to me til' the rut when I can hunt where the does will be feeding.

[Doc]

My experience differs. In poor acron and apple seasons - you find the one that is producing. Invariably there will be one - maybe not on your ground - but there will be - and maybe that is the problem. Maybe look at planting apples where you can protect them or give current ones some shelter of some sort.

 

The fewer the producing trees, the easier it is to hunt them. Instead of 100 white oaks, you only have to worry about 5..or 2...or 10. Same with apples. I had two trees on my lease produce out of 10+ and they were magnets. And, within a circular mile, I bet there are 50,000+ commerical apples trees around my lease. Probably more.

Oh, that is absolutely true. The problem is that the events of last spring left us with total blossom wipe-out. There were absolutely no apples at all throughout the valley, and even up on the hill. Even orchards that I can never remember failing were bearen of any fruit. Also, I'm not sure what the problem with the acorns was. I suspect that they too were done in by the crazy spring weather. Early in the season, there was an early acorn drop which consisted of very few, stunted, half developed acorns which nothing seemed to be too interested in. None were white oaks (they didn't bear anything), and these shriveled up acorns were all from red oaks. They were not being eaten by anything including squirrels. The squirrels all left the Oak woods and went to the hickory stands down below. And so what exactly the deer were dining on other than lawns shrubs and my small lower field (which seemed to be getting extra heavy attention), I cannot really say. But the deer did seem to be very dispersed. It was a very unique year, and one that I hope never repeats.

 

Yes, I have seen a few years where food was plentiful but localized to just a few trees. That was a good hunting situation. But this was the first year in memory where those varieties were completely wiped out. That didn't work well for me at all.

[phade]

I think the point is floating over your head. It's all in conjunction...a piece to the puzzle. If you are within the buck's safe zone...then hunting over the food source is A-OK. That's the key...knowing all or most of the pieces.

 

To heck with deer, I just want apples. Apples. APPLES. Apple crisp, apple cake, apple pie, apple dumplings, Etc.!

 

"easy" and "mature buck" do not belong in the same sentence. Relying on food sources to bag mature bucks in itself is dealing alot with luck. Patterning a buck off it's bed can be more productive imo, since many bucks won't reach their feeding spot til' just before or just after dark.

Hunting near food doesn't become super important to me til' the rut when I can hunt where the does will be feeding.

Edited March 25, 2013 by phade

[phade]

Oh, that is absolutely true. The problem is that the events of last spring left us with total blossom wipe-out. There were absolutely no apples at all throughout the valley, and even up on the hill. Even orchards that I can never remember failing were bearen of any fruit. Also, I'm not sure what the problem with the acorns was. I suspect that they too were done in by the crazy spring weather. Early in the season, there was an early acorn drop which consisted of very few, stunted, half developed acorns which nothing seemed to be too interested in. None were white oaks (they didn't bear anything), and these shriveled up acorns were all from red oaks. They were not being eaten by anything including squirrels. The squirrels all left the Oak woods and went to the hickory stands down below. And so what exactly the deer were dining on other than lawns shrubs and my small lower field (which seemed to be getting extra heavy attention), I cannot really say. But the deer did seem to be very dispersed. It was a very unique year, and one that I hope never repeats.

 

Yes, I have seen a few years where food was plentiful but localized to just a few trees. That was a good hunting situation. But this was the first year in memory where those varieties were completely wiped out. That didn't work well for me at all.

A 1 in 100 yr event shouldn't be included in normal conversation...that's hopefully an anomaly.

 

Hopefully it's not a repeat for you in '13.