Food plots attract wildlife like white-tailed deer by providing more nutritious food. Most people think of food plots as herbaceous crops, but mast orchards are another form, and planting one with Dunstan chestnuts just might be the ultimate food plot.
Effort and Cost
Establishing herbaceous food plots and mast orchards requires about the same time and effort. Depending on whether they contain annuals or perennials, food plots need to be re-planted every year or every several years. They also require periodic soil treatment to maintain proper pH and soil nutrients and herbicide application to reduce competition from unwanted species. Once established, mast orchards require little or no additional labor or treatment. While tree stock might be a little more expensive up front, this also amounts to considerable cost savings over the long term, not to mention a benefit that will last for generations.
Production
Carbohydrates provide the energy that deer and other species need to survive winter. At maturity, Dunstan chestnut trees can grow 60-80 feet tall and produce up to 2,000 pounds of nuts per acre. That’s more than a cornfield and a food plot.
Nutrition
In addition to carbohydrates, chestnuts have higher protein levels, vitamins C, E, and K, and iron, potassium, and selenium than acorns. With lower tannin levels, they’re sweeter and more palatable, and research on captive deer has shown they prefer chestnuts over acorns at a 100:1 ratio.
Food for All
Chestnut orchards offer another distinct benefit that herbaceous food plots lack: the delicious, nutritious nuts can also be consumed by those who planted them. Whether looking to share a little of the bounty or simply improve the landscape for now and the future, landowners should give serious consideration to building the ultimate food plot by planting Dunstan chestnut trees.
About Chestnut Hill Outdoors
Chestnut Hill Outdoors is the best place to purchase food plot and deer attractant plants because they offer a large selection, their plants are specifically bred to attract deer, and they offer customers different-sized plants at different levels of growth. To ensure you receive the maximum benefit from their products, they also provide sound advice and instruction on proper planting and care. For more on Chestnut Hill Outdoors products and how to care for them, visit ChestnutHillOutdoors.com or call (855) 386-7826.
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