deer and osage oranges/hedge apples
#11
RE: deer and osage oranges/hedge apples
ORIGINAL: Windwalker7
Where I grew up, we always called them Monkey Balls.
Where I grew up, we always called them Monkey Balls.
#14
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location:
Posts: 2,186
RE: deer and osage oranges/hedge apples
Down this way (Alabama) I call these "Mock Orange" trees.You see thme most of the time along a fence line. The wood makes excellent stick bows and from what I have read about the history of Alabama tribes, evidence at village sites indicates that this tree has been used for 1000's of years for such.
The fruit tastes terrible. Trust me on this. Sort of a bland-bitter taste. About as bad as a half ripe persimmon. Just not quite as sharp.
I have never ovserved a deer or any other animal eating them though I have seen the surface of a few that appeared to have beennibbled on by some critter.
The fruit tastes terrible. Trust me on this. Sort of a bland-bitter taste. About as bad as a half ripe persimmon. Just not quite as sharp.
I have never ovserved a deer or any other animal eating them though I have seen the surface of a few that appeared to have beennibbled on by some critter.
#15
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location:
Posts: 37
RE: deer and osage oranges/hedge apples
I have always heard these are one of the last things they eat when other food sources are scarce
I have about 20 Osage trees in my yard. I always see squirrels eating and carrying these apples, butrarely everdeer.
In fact, I probably wouldnt even find a single deer track in the snownear these trees.
#16
RE: deer and osage oranges/hedge apples
ORIGINAL: BlackFive782
Exactly...Around me, these apples are a LAST pick. They eat frozen grass over these.
I have about 20 Osage trees in my yard. I always see squirrels eating and carrying these apples, butrarely everdeer.
In fact, I probably wouldnt even find a single deer track in the snownear these trees.
I have always heard these are one of the last things they eat when other food sources are scarce
I have about 20 Osage trees in my yard. I always see squirrels eating and carrying these apples, butrarely everdeer.
In fact, I probably wouldnt even find a single deer track in the snownear these trees.