Hunting near an apple tree

[buckeye_hunter]

I found an apple tree dropping semi and ripe apples on the edge of a soybean field. Will it still be dropping apples Sept 29th for our opening weekend? It is covered up in deer sign and had even been hit midday sometime after the heavier rains.

I've never hunted near an apple tree before so I'm not sure if the apples will still be there for the opener.

Thanks for any information.

God Bless,
Charlie

[Rustic]

I think any food supply is good. I'd like an opportunity to hunt near an orchard or an apple tree.

[Whip]

It really depends on the variety of apples - some hold them much longer than others.  But it will likely remain a magnet until they are gone!

[karrow]

i would think weather it is dropping apples or not it will be a hot spot on the opener. the deer will still curse by just searching. if apples are still on the tree all the better  

[buckeye_hunter]

 Hoping those apples are still there.

How often do you get apples and soybeans literally on top of each other? I mean some of the apples are laying in the soybeans! I wish season was open now....

[CRS]

Absolutely hunt the tree if apples are still there.

There are early and late season apple trees.  Last year I had an apple tree dropping apples well into November, but I have also had them done by the middle of October for the late season variety.

The answer is to monitor the tree, they bring turkeys in as well, which is good for my fall turkey tags.  It is a regular circus watching them fight over apples.

[Stumpkiller]

I have three "volunteer" apple trees near my favorite spot and they hold a few apples well into November.

[Hopewell Tom]

Like Whip said, seems to depend on the variety.
This place I live on was settled by an apple farmer.
"Old growth" orchard in the front field and the woods/field edges are full of trees, this being the "big crop" year(every second year here). Some trees are bare now and one, a yellow delicious planted by the guy I bought the place from, has its fruit to late November. That tree is 70' from the house and is hard hit until cleaned up. Big scrape there last year.
Monitor your tree(like THAT has to be said!) and then you'll know for future seasons.

[Kip]

Charlie     Buy a bushel of apples as needed.Kip          

[overbo]

Kip has the plan!

Just keep restocking that tree.Check your game laws 1st.
Also if there is a orchard near by?Ask permission to pick up the drops.We could get a pickup load in a few hours w/ a few 5 gallon buckets.
good luck

[dan d]

I hunt some wild apple trees, they hold apples thru October & depending on frost into November, but what I have noticed is once the deer are patterned to go past the apple trees they keep that pattern thru November anyways.

The bucks make scrapes around the wild apple trees also & even though the apples are gone the scrapes are still there so they must keep tending them.

Wild apple trees are as good as it gets for deer hunting.

Dan

[Bill Carlsen]

Up here in NH all the apples are early and I just hope they will still be available in 2 weeks. They are disappearing as soon as they hit the ground. Several trees that are prolific bearers have dropped most of their apples already and I can't even find too many drops. Other food is scarce, as well, so any food source here is going to be good. We don't have soybeans, So, even if  your apples are done by the end of the month you have the beans to play with.

[jcar315]

Originally posted by Whip:
It really depends on the variety of apples - some hold them much longer than others.  But it will likely remain a magnet until they are gone!

Whip is spot on!

We have several apple trees around our house and the deer will gobble them up as soon as they fall. We've seen them do the 2-legged shuffle to try to get the ones even higher in the trees.

Our trees are bare right now of all but a few of the highest apples.

Apples seem to be a "red hot while they last" type of food source......but not really long lived (depending on the type of trees)

Good Luck!

[Roger Norris]

I wouldn't bugger up the spot by adding apples....just my opinion. Hang back, stay down wind of it. Every "wild" apple tree I know of draws deer year round. Especially alongside a mature soybean field....even the bits of apple and the dried out 'rotten' ones will draw deer for a long time. I have seen deer licking at the "apple cider mud" well into January.

[BrownA5]

There still should be some apples.  Seems like apples are scarce everywhere this year, which is why this tree is getting so much attention.  Should be a good set-up for you!

[JimB]

A month is a long time if they are dropping now.Everything seems to be ripening early this year.I don't know if it is legal where you are but what about gathering the apples now and putting some back as the apple fall starts to diminish?

[buckeye_hunter]

In Ohio we are allowed to bait deer on private land. This is private land, so I could just keep dropping apples under the tree. Not sure if I want to do that yet. It would be fun to put my trail camera out there. I bet there are some nice fat deer in the area!

Also, The area is super thick. Unless I do major trimming there is only one good/ok tree and all the shots would be about 5-8 yards. How far out would you guys set up? On a travel corridor or right on the tree?

[TooManyHobbies]

Travel corridor. That way you won't bust a deer going in...hopefully. And if they hang up until dark, they may hang up right in front of you, before approaching the tree.

[overbo]

5-8 YARDS!!!!!!
Too close for my comfort.Everything and I mean everything has to be just right for that range.

Give it a try and if it dosen't workout.Go back after the season and cut a shooting area to get you off the tree more.If you really feel energetic and you know you'll have permission for time to come,Plant a whitepine w/in 20 yrds and maintain that appletree for the future.

[Steve Jr]

I have to sneak through a grown over 80 tree orchard cross a creek to get to my stand just to hunt the corn field.Some times they are in the orchard I need to set up a ground ambush in that orchard. Don't everyone want a problem like this