Do whitetail deer eat pears?

Asked by: Becky Nelson

Deer will eat virtually all fruits, but for a management program on small properties, these three stand out as good choices for most parts of the country: pears, apples and persimmons.

What fruit do deer like best?

As for fruits, they enjoy pears, apples, plums, and strawberries. Additionally, forbs make up a large part of a wild deer’s diet. Forbs are flowering plants that do not belong to the grass, sedge or rush family. For example, deer enjoy eating forbs such as ragweed, pokeweed, wild lettuce, and verbena.

What are the best pear trees for deer?

Europeans, Asians and Hybrids
Today, three types of fruiting pear trees are sold and grown in the United States. These are European, Asian, and Eurasian hybrids. As a general rule, the hybrids work best for deer orchards because they are most forgiving of neglect, but there are other characteristics to consider.

Do bucks eat fruit?

A couple of favorite fruits are apples, blueberries, blackberries and persimmons. Deer occasionally enter yards to get their mouths on flowers, vegetables and ornamental trees — quite often to the surprise of the homeowners.

What apples do deer like the most?

Choosing varieties of apple trees can be a bit overwhelming. All attract deer, but some more than others. In my experience, sweeter varieties such as Red Delicious are more attractive to deer than sour trees, such as Granny Smith.

Are pears good for deer?

Deer will eat virtually all fruits, but for a management program on small properties, these three stand out as good choices for most parts of the country: pears, apples and persimmons.

What can you plant in the woods to attract deer?

Plant a seed blend that thrives with just a small amount of sunlight, such as Whitetail Institute’s Secret Spot or Biologic’s Hot Spot. Make sure the mix includes plants such as crimson clover, arrowleaf clover, brassicas, wheat, oats, buckwheat, and rye.

What trees do deer browse?

Red and white oaks are two of the primary hardwood species that deer prefer to browse, while blackgum, hickory, and yellow poplar are also very high on the preference list. As you move north, species like maple (red and sugar), white ash, and basswood become more preferred species where they are more abundant.

How do you bait a deer with apples?

Cut the slices of apples into smaller pieces and place into a bowl. Spoon several heaping scoops of peanut butter into the bowl and mix with the apple pieces until everything begins to stick together. Put the mixture of apples and peanut butter at your desired location for attracting the deer.

What kind of trees do deer like?

Deer love acorns, especially from white oaks, beech, chestnut and hickory. Soft mast from persimmon, crabapple, honey locusts, sumacs as well as domestic apple and pear trees will also attract deer. Learn more about managing mast to attract deer and other wildlife from this article in Tree Farmer magazine.

What fruit trees will deer not eat?

Persimmon trees (Diospyros virginiana, zones 4-9) can also be deer-resistant, though foxes are sometimes seen eating the fallen fruit from these. The fig, persimmon and pawpaw (Carica papaya, zones 9-10) are the only fruit trees that deer actively dislike.

How do you attract whitetail deer?

Utilize deer lures
The most effective and dependable lure scent is deer urine, which draws deer about 10 weeks before the height of the local deer breeding season. If you’re trying to attract deer to your property, use a salt block that’s made of a combination of salt, minerals, cider and apple salt.