FREE SHIPPING ON ORDERS $250+
FREE SHIPPING ON ORDERS $250+
GROW DEER
From real orchardists, for hunters and landowners
Why Choose Us?
Production Expertise
As commercial orchardists, we focus on maximum production per acre—and transfer that knowledge directly to you
Trees for Wildlife
Varieties chosen specifically for their appeal to deer and wildlife, not just humans.
The only difference between an orchard and a deer orchard is a fence. Our trees produce for both.
The Only Difference
Chris Smyth & Badger Baldwin Johnson’s combined years of hands-on orchard work and forest management to help landowners get real results.
From propagating and selecting production-ready trees to designing wildlife-focused planting plans, their experience ensures every tree is chosen to perform and placed with purpose.
At Deer Orchard, the focus is on long-term value for wildlife and the land.
Learn more about us here.
Deer Orchard started in our own orchards, where we grow fruit and nut trees for human consumption. As orchardists, our entire focus is on one thing: production. How many pounds per tree? How quickly can we get to harvest? How do we maximize yield per acre?
After years of planting chestnuts, persimmons, and other productive trees on our own orchard properties, we had a realization: the skills that make a successful commercial orchard are exactly the skills that create the best wildlife habitat.
The only difference between an orchard and a deer orchard is a fence.
We noticed that many nurseries selling "wildlife trees" focused on ornamental qualities or easy propagation rather than actual production. Hunters were buying trees that looked good but produced minimal food for wildlife. We knew we could do better.
That's why we created Deer Orchard—to bring commercial orchard expertise to hunters and land managers who want trees that actually produce.
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FEATURED PRODUCTS
Size/Age: 1-2 year old seedling, 24+ inches tall
USDA Growing Zones: Zones 5-9
These vigorous Chinese Chestnut seedlings (Castanea mollissima) are an excellent addition to any property looking to attract deer and other wildlife. Chestnuts produce highly nutritious nuts that are eagerly sought by deer, making them an excellent long-term food source for your hunting property.
Chinese Chestnuts are blight-resistant and much hardier than their American counterparts. These 1-year seedlings are grown in air pruning beds for healthy laterally branching roots to ensure successful transplanting. Each seedling is at least 24 inches tall, but most are 28-36 inches.
Trees typically begin producing nuts within 5 years of planting and mature (25+) trees can produce more than 100 lbs per year.
Benefits for Wildlife/Hunters:
Tender shelled nuts are highly attractive to deer
Creates a reliable fall food source for wildlife, with a yearly nut crop.
Establishes a permanent deer attractant on your property to blend with your traditional food plots.
Planting Instructions: Plant in well-drained soil in full sun. Space trees 40-50 feet apart for final spacing, or 20 ft apart when intending the thin every other tree. Best planted in spring or fall.
Care Requirements: Requires minimal care once established. Water regularly during drought in first growing season. Ideally planting in soil with a pH of 6.5 or less.
Shipping Notes:
Ships bare-root during dormant season. Keep roots moist upon arrival and plant within 1 week.
Ships Spring (March-April)
Potted trees are currently available for local pickup only.
Looking for potted trees instead? Shop here.
Size/Age: 1-year seedling, 24+ inches tall
USDA Growing Zones: Zones 5-9
These vigorous Chinese Chestnut seedlings (Castanea mollissima) are an excellent addition to any property looking to attract deer and other wildlife. Chestnuts produce highly nutritious nuts that are eagerly sought by deer, making them an excellent long-term food source for your hunting property.
Chinese Chestnuts are blight-resistant and much hardier than their American counterparts. These 1-year seedlings are grown in air pruning beds for healthy laterally branching roots to ensure successful transplanting. Each seedling is at least 24 inches tall, but most are 28-36 inches.
Trees typically begin producing nuts within 5 years of planting and mature (25+) trees can produce more than 100 lbs per year.
Benefits for Wildlife/Hunters:
Tender shelled nuts are highly attractive to deer
Creates a reliable fall food source for wildlife, with a yearly nut crop.
Establishes a permanent deer attractant on your property to blend with your traditional food plots.
Planting Instructions: Plant in well-drained soil in full sun. Space trees 40-50 feet apart for final spacing, or 20 ft apart when intending the thin every other tree. Best planted in spring or fall.
Care Requirements: Requires minimal care once established. Water regularly during drought in first growing season. Ideally planting in soil with a pH of 6.5 or less.
Shipping Notes:
Potted trees are currently available for local pickup only.
Looking for bare-root trees? These are available during the dormant season. Shop here.
Size/Age: 2-year grafted tree, 24-36 inches tall
USDA Growing Zones: Zones 4-9
Our potted American Persimmon trees solve one of the biggest challenges with standard persimmon seedlings—the uncertainty of getting fruit-producing female trees. Each tree is carefully grafted to ensure you receive a self-fertile female tree that will consistently produce sweet, orange fruits without requiring a separate male pollinator.
The varieties we focus on are ideal for hunting and personal consumption, we also have some hybrids available if you have warmer microclimates.
Unlike standard American persimmons which are dioecious (separate male and female trees), our trees ensure fruit production even when planted as a single specimen, making it ideal for smaller properties or targeted plantings near hunting locations.
Benefits for Wildlife/Hunters:
Guaranteed female tree ensures fruit production
Fruits ripen during peak hunting season
Extremely high sugar content creates irresistible deer attraction
Depending on site context, with no males around it is possible you get fruit with very little seeds, mostly pulp which is great for you and the deer!
Planting Instructions: Plant in full to partial sun. American Persimmons adapt well to various soil types, including poor or rocky soil. Grafted Persimmons tend to stay smaller than seedling trees, space 20-30 feet apart from other trees.
Care Requirements: Water regularly during establishment. Once established, persimmons are drought-tolerant and require minimal care. They have deep taproots making them very resilient.
Shipping Notes: Ships in container with soil to protect the valuable grafted union and root system. Plant promptly upon arrival and water thoroughly. Persimmons may be slow to leaf out in spring, be patient after planting.
Spring 2026 Almost All Sold Out!
We still have chestnuts, mostly to ship bare root, and some containerized trees in the spring. We will be stocking up over the summer and have a fully loaded store spring 2027
