Persimmon Tree's for whitetail food source

kwilson16 · 04-07-2008, 06:34 AM

This past fall I discovered a very healthy grove of persimmon trees in my area. The ground was virutallly covered in 1000's of the fallen fruity globesand the crown of the trees looked orange from a distance. Because of schedule conflicts, I did not get to hunt this spot while the fruit was falling. Last week, I set-up a tree in the midst of this grove that I will hunt this fall.

Does anyone have experience hunting persimmons as a food source?

Are there any timing considerations? ...other than to hunt when the persimmons are falling to the ground.

GMMAT · 04-07-2008, 06:38 AM

The rule of thumb, here, is the fruit is MOST attractive to the whitetails after the first frost.

That being said.......the fruit drops earlier than that....and they WILL be on them earlier than that.

Opening day, '07.....I noticed every deer that came near my stand was funneling through this one little area. When I got down......I walked over to that area. Persimmons. There were several on the ground. This was September 8th in NC.....and a LONG ways from our first frost.

I'd say.....if you can see the fruit.....they'll use it as a food source.

mobow · 04-07-2008, 07:20 AM

One of my favorite early season spots is an inside corner w/ persimmon trees. If the wind is right, I'll kill one there every time. I've watched deer absolutely devour those things. My area doesn't have as many as yours does, but I better get to it in a few days or they will all be gone. It's short lived, but they are like candy to a deer.

kwilson16 · 04-07-2008, 07:44 AM

Mobow,
Can you specify a time frame when they fall to the ground? Where are you hunting?
Thanks,
Kevin

mobow · 04-07-2008, 07:46 AM

I'm hunting east/central MO, and they start hitting the dirt in mid-September. By the first week of October, they're done.

stikbow26 · 04-07-2008, 08:03 AM

My buddy Steve and I hunted an island that we motored out to and it was covered with white oak acorns that were falling, well we had 4 bucks walk in and they ignored the acorns and went for the presimmon fruit that were on the ground.. I know where I would be if I was you!! Walt