Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: -Trap_addicT- on February 23, 2017, 08:07:08 AM

Title: Pears
Post by: -Trap_addicT- on February 23, 2017, 08:07:08 AM: I'm sure this subject has been discussed on here, but I can't seem to find a thread where it was. Deer/elk obviously eat pears, but has anyone noticed that they favor them over apples, and/or other fruits? I have multiple friends that have pear trees (most of which I believe are Barlett Trees) and have no use for the fruit. Looking ahead to this fall/winter… Is it worth my time to gather and preserve these for hunting season or winter feeding? I know bears will be a pain in the rear if I'm not careful where I put them…Any input is appreciated. Thank you.
Title: Re: Pears
Post by: Thefishguy77 on February 23, 2017, 08:11:21 AM: Quote from: -Trap_addicT- on February 23, 2017, 08:07:08 AM
I'm sure this subject has been discussed on here, but I can't seem to find a thread where it was. Deer obviously eat pears, but has anyone noticed that they favor them over apples, and/or other fruits? I have multiple friends that have pear trees (most of which I believe are Barlett Trees) and have no use for the fruit. Looking ahead to this fall/winter… Is it worth my time to gather and preserve these for hunting season or winter feeding? I know bears will be a pain in the rear if I'm not careful where I put them…Any input is appreciated. Thank you.
It would take a lot of pears to actually make it through the winter. How many pears are you talking. 100 pounds, or a ton?

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Title: Re: Pears
Post by: -Trap_addicT- on February 23, 2017, 08:18:39 AM: Closer to 1 ton… Couple pick up loads at least. I have access to as much as I need, just depends on the value of them. I just hate seeing them go to waste and I know that every deer in my county lives off of apples through hunting season due to the convenience of finding/acquiring them.
Title: Re: Pears
Post by: seth30 on February 23, 2017, 08:18:49 AM: I have used pears before and even had pictures of coyotes eating them. :tup:
Title: Re: Pears
Post by: Woodchuck on February 23, 2017, 08:21:42 AM: My yard deer always clean up my pear tree before the go to the apple tree. :twocents:
Title: Re: Pears
Post by: baldopepper on February 23, 2017, 09:05:04 AM: I put out a bunch that were still hard, unripe. Deer at my place wouldn't touch them until they finally softened up and then ate them just fine. Mostly mule deer coming in so I don't know how the whitetails or blacktails would do.
Title: Re: Pears
Post by: buckcanyonlodge on February 23, 2017, 10:29:31 AM: Be careful of what you start. I started feeding a 1/2 ton of apples for winter feeding a few years ago. I am up to 4 tons of apples , 3 tons of lentils , 2 1/2 tons alfalfa , and 7 tons of various grains ( corn-sweet feed-etc.) so far this winter. Can't stop right now but I'll scale back next year. It's been a crazy winter. And by the way , they love pears--just not green.
Title: Re: Pears
Post by: 180-GRAIN on February 23, 2017, 10:54:06 AM: Quote from: Woodchuck on February 23, 2017, 08:21:42 AM
My yard deer always clean up my pear tree before the go to the apple tree. :twocents:

:yeah: mine to!
Title: Re: Pears
Post by: Igottanewknee on February 23, 2017, 11:00:47 AM: An old farmstead had both an apple and pear tree in it where I used to hunt. The deer definitely preferred the pears to the apples and stop showing up when a beaver chewed down the pear tree. Stupid beaver.... :bash:
Title: Re: Pears
Post by: Wacenturion on February 23, 2017, 11:31:25 AM: I have a Seckel pear, commonly referred to as sugar pear in my front yard. Generally produces a good crop each year, but last year was absolutely loaded. Starting dropping and the neighborhood blacktail does and fawns ate some. After having a solid covering on the ground and thinking I have a mess to clean up, the deer ate every one of them over the next couple weeks. Just when they actually began to over ripen they stayed on them until gone. Didn't have to clean up a single one. Picture of one doe with twin fawns (second fawn directly behind first one right side under tree with rear showing) on pears before they literally covered the ground. Had another doe with triplets working them as well. Be planting some Seckel pears on the property this spring. Second picture of the tree in full bloom last April. Nice thing is they are self fertile. :tup:
Title: Re: Pears
Post by: baldopepper on February 23, 2017, 11:36:12 AM: Quote from: buckcanyonlodge on February 23, 2017, 10:29:31 AM
Be careful of what you start. I started feeding a 1/2 ton of apples for winter feeding a few years ago. I am up to 4 tons of apples , 3 tons of lentils , 2 1/2 tons alfalfa , and 7 tons of various grains ( corn-sweet feed-etc.) so far this winter. Can't stop right now but I'll scale back next year. It's been a crazy winter. And by the way , they love pears--just not green.
Have the elk come into your place yet? Never had them come into my feeder until this year. Was over last weekend and still pretty rough. 2' still at my place with drifts around over 4'. Not sure the early turkey hunters won't need white camo if it doesn't warm up soon.
Title: Re: Pears
Post by: TrailTreker85 on February 23, 2017, 11:44:48 AM: Bring me a truck load and will try them out for you :chuckle:. This year I did use quite a bit of pears and they always seemed to be the first things gone.
Title: Re: Pears
Post by: buckcanyonlodge on February 23, 2017, 01:02:55 PM: Quote from: baldopepper on February 23, 2017, 11:36:12 AM
Quote from: buckcanyonlodge on February 23, 2017, 10:29:31 AM
Be careful of what you start. I started feeding a 1/2 ton of apples for winter feeding a few years ago. I am up to 4 tons of apples , 3 tons of lentils , 2 1/2 tons alfalfa , and 7 tons of various grains ( corn-sweet feed-etc.) so far this winter. Can't stop right now but I'll scale back next year. It's been a crazy winter. And by the way , they love pears--just not green.
Have the elk come into your place yet? Never had them come into my feeder until this year. Was over last weekend and still pretty rough. 2' still at my place with drifts around over 4'. Not sure the early turkey hunters won't need white camo if it doesn't warm up soon.

Saw a lone cow elk just in front of your place by the highway on Sat. Talked to one guy at the feed store that is feeding 21 moose .
Title: Re: Pears
Post by: lokidog on February 23, 2017, 01:33:34 PM: As mentioned, the deer do seem to like ripe pears.

I'd like to do a bunch of pear cider/wine next year if you need a place for some of them to go. Dried pears are really good as well.
Title: Re: Pears
Post by: buckcanyonlodge on February 23, 2017, 01:57:34 PM: Quote from: lokidog on February 23, 2017, 01:33:34 PM
As mentioned, the deer do seem to like ripe pears.

I'd like to do a bunch of pear cider/wine next year if you need a place for some of them to go. Dried pears are really good as well.

I know where there are a couple wild pear trees and I dehydrate some every year. Soak in orange juice & honey then dehydrate....Yummy. Goes real good with merganser breast :hello:
Title: Re: Pears
Post by: lokidog on February 23, 2017, 02:00:04 PM: Quote from: buckcanyonlodge on February 23, 2017, 01:57:34 PM
Quote from: lokidog on February 23, 2017, 01:33:34 PM
As mentioned, the deer do seem to like ripe pears.

I'd like to do a bunch of pear cider/wine next year if you need a place for some of them to go. Dried pears are really good as well.

I know where there are a couple wild pear trees and I dehydrate some every year. Soak in orange juice & honey then dehydrate....Yummy. Goes real good with merganser breast :hello:

:tup:
Title: Re: Pears
Post by: -Trap_addicT- on February 23, 2017, 02:29:13 PM: Quote from: baldopepper on February 23, 2017, 09:05:04 AM
I put out a bunch that were still hard, unripe. Deer at my place wouldn't touch them until they finally softened up and then ate them just fine. Mostly mule deer coming in so I don't know how the whitetails or blacktails would do.

Good to know. Thank you for the input.
Title: Re: Pears
Post by: lokidog on February 23, 2017, 03:08:58 PM: Our Blacktails will eat green apples but not green pears.
Title: Re: Pears
Post by: fishnfur on February 25, 2017, 07:29:58 AM: As I understand it, the problem with many problem with many pear varieties is that they need to be exposed to cold weather or refrigeration in order to ripen for human use (though I often eat Bartlett fresh from the tree). On my trees, the fruit will often begin to rot while on the tree if not picked when prime. None of the fruit is left on the trees by the first frost around here.

I have refrigerated small amounts for deer use at a later date, but forty pounds doesn't last too long. Unpicked good quality fruit is eaten by blacktails here, but the deer more often choose the ripe apples off the adjacent trees over the poor quality/squishy unharvested pears. A ton or two of pear bait on the ground sounds like a nasty pile of rotting wasp bait to me. Yuk!