Fruit tree recommendations for Adirondacks

[hvny]

I’m in the process of closing on a property in the Lake George region of the ADKS and was thinking of planting some fruit trees to attract deer to the property.  I was thinking apple trees but not sure what varieties would work. Anyone have any suggestions?  

[mowin]

Not much experience in the LG area as far as what is harty enough, but make sure you pair apples that will cross pollinate. Some need a different variety of apple to pollinate, and two of the same may not pollinate.

Congrats on the property purchase. 

How much land did you get? 

[Robhuntandfish]

My #1 suggestion is to be sure they are out from under the old Forrest growth.  Put them in openings where you can get some sun to them.  The biggest issue in the dacks is food and the understory being able to grow. If you can get even an open area for any kind of new growth it will attract deer.  Open up an area plant perennials like clover and maybe throw in a few apple trees and you'd be in better shape than most of the dacks for attracting game. And remember bears also like apples so you might draw those in too. 

[hvny]

Thanks for the advice.  I only have 3.5 acres but it’s surrounded by state land.  There’s a large field in front about 2 acres I was going to plant on.  Figured I could pull some deer off the mountains a bit. 
 

I’m not concerned about bears. I live in NW NJ.  We’ve got a lot of them harassing us down here. 

[mowin]

In my area of NY, 4U,  bears are not prevalent. Don't know why we have a few, but you are overrun with them. So much open forest compared to NJ. 

[corydd7]

My place in 5h has tons of bear but I've never had them bother my fruit trees. 

Liberty Apples have done well in poor soil with only decent light. 

Kieffer pear trees all died, I don't think they were cold hardy enough. Good luck. 

If strictly for hunting purposes I would plant crab apples. 

Whitetail Hill Chestnut just had some come available. They are small but would be worth it if you can wait a few years.

https://whitetailhillchestnuts.com/collections/all-products

[Farflung]

try St. Lawrence Nursery in Potsdam NY.  They have a super wide variety of hardy older varieties grafted onto hardy rootstocks. Very knowlegeable and honest.  Regarding bears: My favorite apple tree gets mauled by the bears every year that there is a good crop. Don't mind their eating the apples, but they break a lot of branches.

[Bucksnbows]

12 hours ago, mowin said:

Not much experience in the LG area as far as what is harty enough, but make sure you pair apples that will cross pollinate. Some need a different variety of apple to pollinate, and two of the same may not pollinate  

 

[Bucksnbows]

If you’re doing fruit trees for deer food, I suggest planting as many different types as will grow in your area. I’m guessing you’re in Zone 5 for growing, so see how hardy not only apples are, but look at pears, persimmons (likely too cold in winter), paw paws and the like. One species will always have a bad production year now and then and having other types of fruit can fill in those gap years. By us in Otsego County, apples are boom or bust most years. We began adding persimmons and next year pears.  

[Bucksnbows]

12 hours ago, mowin said:

In my area of NY, 4U,  bears are not prevalent. Don't know why we have a few, but you are overrun with them. So much open forest compared to NJ. 

NJ is prime bear country in the northern half of the state. Not only are we heavily forested, but think of all those garbage cans and dumpsters providing food all year.  Our bears don’t hibernate but rather enter torpor and they come out of their dens in winter at times with the exception of sows nursing cubs. Our successful live births by sows last I looked was 3.2 cubs per sow and they give birth every other year. 
 

Now add that when we do have a bear season, they were mostly held after most bears denned in early December and then for only six days. We did add a fall archery and muzzleloader season, again for only six days, but the Governor intervened at times to shut things down. So we are overrun, especially in the northwestern parts of the state. I see FAR more bears than deer while hunting. 

[mowin]

1 hour ago, Bucksnbows said:

NJ is prime bear country in the northern half of the state. Not only are we heavily forested, but think of all those garbage cans and dumpsters providing food all year.  Our bears don’t hibernate but rather enter torpor and they come out of their dens in winter at times with the exception of sows nursing cubs. Our successful live births by sows last I looked was 3.2 cubs per sow and they give birth every other year. 
 

Now add that when we do have a bear season, they were mostly held after most bears denned in early December and then for only six days. We did add a fall archery and muzzleloader season, again for only six days, but the Governor intervened at times to shut things down. So we are overrun, especially in the northwestern parts of the state. I see FAR more bears than deer while hunting. 

I've never seen a bear while deer hunting.  Only 3 pics on my cams, and they were in the last couple yrs. 

[Spysar]

I have lots of different apple varieties. The one that does the best year in and out, is the liberty . 

[Bucksnbows]

14 minutes ago, mowin said:

I've never seen a bear while deer hunting.  Only 3 pics on my cams, and they were in the last couple yrs. 

And the most I’ve seen in a sit (4 hours ish) was 8 different bears. Deer season, of course. 

[Timeless]

I am just south of the LG area and have planted a number of trees over the last 15 years or so.  Unlike corydd7, I have planted several Keiffer pear trees and they are doing fine.  Bosc are hardy to zone 4 and have done even better for me.

 

For some reason, my apple trees really do not produce compared to the pear trees.  I have several different varieties and made sure to have cross pollinators, but they just don't consistently produce apples.  So, I'd suggest starting with some hardy pear trees (based on my limited experience.)  Plant all trees with a good compost mix and fertilize regularly.

 

Bears have torn up several trees over the years, but all trees have survived.  The trees must be protected with 4' or 5' tall welded wire fencing to help keep browsing deer from chewing them down.  You also should make a ring out of 12" tall or so 1/4" opening hardware cloth and put that around the base of the tree.  I have had rodents girdle trees over the winter without this.

 

I normally try to buy 1" or larger caliper trees and have planted several from Home Depot and Lowes and that did just fine.  Try to avoid dwarf root stock if possible.  Semi-dwarf should get large enough if that is all you can come up with.  Plant containerized trees rather than bare root too.  The containerized trees will experience less shock and will start growing quicker.