Strange Request

[Cody Cantrell]

This may seem strange but here me out.  A few years ago I started planting trees from the conservation department on a few acres behind my pond.  I am planting trees to help build my forest and to improve my hunting area with wildlife food.  The trees I have been ordering from the Missouri Conservation Department(which anyone who lives in Missouri this is a great deal, 25 hickory trees for $7).  Anyway I have been waiting for the MDC to offer sawtooth oaks,somebody on this forum said deer and turkey love them.  But as of yet they have not.  They do grow in Missouri but they are not indigenous to the state, so I dont think the MDC will offer them.  The whole point to all of my rambling is that since hunting season is coming up and many of you are going to be in the woods this fall, I would greatly appreciate if somebody would collect a handfull of acorns from one of these trees and send them to me so that I could germinate them and plant them in my future hunting woods.  If someone would send me some I would gladly pay for your time and postage.  Thanks for any help.

Cody Cantrell

[OkKeith]

Cody,

Might check with an MDC forester to make sure the Saw-tooths will grow in your area. Are you near Springfield? If so I can give you the number for a forester. She is a very good friend and can advise you on species to plant that can provide food for your wildlife AND grow fast and strong.

OkKeith

[elk ninja]

I am sticking my neck out here, but I am not a fan of planting non indigenous plants where they aren't normally located.... especially for the pure purpose of natural "baiting."  

You never can tell what biological consequences will happen from this type of action....

In the end, all I am saying here is check with some local biologists, foresters and wardens before you do something like this.

[Don Stokes]

Cody, I have 5 seedlings in a pot on my deck now, waiting for dormant season to put them out. Foresters don't like sawtooth, because it is too small to make good sawtimber when it matures, which may be another reason that MO doesn't provide them. The species is a great acorn producer, and I don't think you will run any risk of harming the environment by planting them. They mature early, and produce so many acorns under the right conditions that you have to be careful walking under them.

When I was in forestry  school in the 1970's they were touted as a great solution to the biological desert of a pine plantation, because they don't compete much with the pines, grow rapidly, mature early, and produce abundantly.

[pintail_drake2004]

sawtooth oaks (Quercus acutissima)are highly invasive species, close monitoring is required if you dont want your oak/hick forest to become choked out by sawtooth oak. WITH THAT SAID...i have yet to see, personally, this take place but it is happening in my area now! The sawtooths are quick growers, and can produce acorns in only a few years. I have seen some not taller that 5-6 feet produce close to 100 acorns in a year.  A handful of sawtooths are OK, BUT-heres the catch-YOU THE PLANTER MUST WATCH THEM. It is not too difficult to plant a few hundered trees, then they produce a few thousand acorns and the next thing you know your oak/hick forest is nothing but sawtooth oaks. the natural order of thinks is to produce more mast than the predators can handle, there by ensuring your offspring will survive. They germinate quickly, and take root in no time at all.

It is your property, and im not telling you what to do. This is my Professional Opinion as a Forester who has done consulting work in Southern Illinois.

[ChuckC]

Are they tolerant of the cold ? (northern Michigan )
ChuckC

[Blackhawk]

You might also contact that renown global warming expert who lives nearby in the Volunteer State.        OUCH!

[Marc H.]

The White Oak (Quercus alba) would be a better choice.  It's a beautiful native tree, great fall color, valuable wood, sweeter acorns than Red/ Scarlet/ Pin oaks.  I also like English (Quercus robur, Swamp White (Quercus bicolor), Bur/ Mossycup (Quercus macrocarpa) and Willow Oak (Quercus phellos).  I wish we had oak forests here in Colorado.

If you are looking for food sources apple/ crabapple, persimmon, pecan also make good choices.

[Cody Cantrell]

Keith I live in west central missouri, I will try and contact a local forester, thanks for the offer though.  

I only wanted a dozen or so acorns hoping that I could get about 4-5 trees out of them.  I had the same thing in mind as you Don.  I am not real worried about them taking over if they do I can control their spread, its not a very big area.
 Anybody want to help a fella out.  Thanks

Cody

[geno]

Another vote for the #1 on my list. White oak. You can come by my place and have all the young hickory you want..I will be dozing more down soon

[Don Stokes]

I love white oak, my place is well populated with natives. It takes a lot longer for them to bear than the sawtooth.

Cody, I will save you some acorns, but I think it will be about 6 years before I have some.

[adeeden]

Is the sawtooth the same thing as a pin oak?

[pintail_drake2004]

nope. pin oak acorns are very small.

[JStark]

What about getting trees/shrubs that are native to your place and attract the wildlife you want.  The deer and turkeys are native to MO, so they like something there.  I'd be more trusting of putting in plants I know the animals around there like than trusting in comments which may or may not apply to your region.

[kctreeman]

Cody, MDC offers a conservation bundle for that same price range. Has a good assortment of native species.  I would agree with above comments on the burr oak, white oak or swamp white oak trees as being the best for our areas to plant. IMO

[Danny Roberts]

I'll check around for 'ya. If that's what you want, that's what you want, pretty simple.

[Cody Cantrell]

I have planted white oaks, bur oaks and chinkapin oaks as well as hickories pecans paw paw's persimmons and some wild cherries.  I was just wanting to add a few more oaks especially some early producers.  Seems like I heard that White oaks are 50-75 years acorn to acorn.  I bought a book from the Conservation Department  (Trres of Missouri a field guide) and it lists the Saw tooth oak in it, it just said that it was native to Asia.  Don and Geno thanks for the offer.  KCTreeman I order about 100-150 trees a year from the conservation department, I havent ordered the conservation bundle yet.  I may do that this year.  Thanks Danny I just want a few.

[pintail_drake2004]

have you considered hybrid oaks? they produce quicker than other oaks, and make great saw timber as well. Oaks crossbreed all the time in the wild (red oak species w/ red oak species, white with white species). With a lil practice you can identify these hybrids in the field. If ya dont wanna mess with it, many places sell these.

try these out:
 http://www.huntertrees.com/
 http://www.morsenursery.com/

[Cody Cantrell]

Jordan I have never heard of hybrid oaks thanks for bringing that to my attention.  The prices in those websites are not to bad.  I dont know much about crosspollination of trees so I would definately have to buy some.  Thanks for the web sites

[pintail_drake2004]

Cody, if you are a member of the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) some places offer a discount on there trees.