Most hunters today grew up thinking that oaks are an important and favored natural whitetail food. And while that's true throughout most of the whitetail's range today, it wasn't always the case. Before they were eating white oak and red oak acorns, deer and countless other wildlife species relied on the original deer super food: American chestnuts.
Until they were wiped out by a blight in the early 1900s, chestnuts were the single most preferred wildlife food. High in protein and rich in carbohydrates, chestnuts taste so good they were popular with humans, too, especially around the holidays.
"The loss of the American Chestnut is still considered one of the worst ecological disasters in history," said R. D. Wallace of Chestnut Hill Outdoors. "It was literally the perfect tree. They grew quickly, produced abundant nut crops in just a few years and their wood was prized for its strength and beauty."
When 30 million acres of these amazing trees vanished in a span of just a few decades, people - and wildlife - were forced to make do with lesser substitutes. While humans could make use of a variety of tree species for lumber needs, wildlife didn't have as many options. Although acorns are bitter and oaks don't always produce a crop, deer and other animals turned to them for essential nutrients to get them through the winter.
"There's no question they would rather be eating chestnuts," said Wallace. "We have seen commercials orchards where the deer ate 50% of the crop of Dunstan Chestnuts ™, a hybrid chestnut that has been proven blight-resistant for over 60 years. When they fenced off the orchard, the harvest doubled the next year!"
Dunstan Chestnuts ™ are the perfect food plot tree, possessing all the positive characteristics of the American chestnut, including rapid growth and bountiful nut production. These hardy trees are the perfect addition to any wildlife management program, providing excellent mast that is favored over other naturally occurring food sources, including acorns.
"Deer and other wildlife seek out chestnut trees when nuts are dropping," said Wallace. "One reason people don't like to plant oaks is that it takes so long for them to bear acorns. Dunstan chestnuts begin to produce in only 3-5 years and can bear between 1,000 and 2,000 pounds per acre in only 10-15 years!"
Unlike a food plot that must be replanted every year to be effective, Dunstan chestnuts produce a bounty of food for many years, and they require limited annual maintenance once established. Planted in conjunction with food plots, they attract and hold even more wildlife and can be a major draw from surrounding properties.
"Deer know what they need, and you don't have to teach them about chestnuts," Wallace said. "It's in their DNA to be drawn to food that is nutritious. Chestnuts were the original and best deer food, and - with the help of our customers - we're making that possible again."
For information about where to purchase Dunstan chestnuts, along with complete instructions on how to plant them, visit the Chestnut Hill website at www.chestnuthilloutdoors.com.
