{"product_id":"wild-turkey-winter-fruit","title":"Wild Turkey Winter Fruit (9 Plants) | Spring 2027","description":"\u003cp\u003eFruit for wild turkeys from late summer on, with hawthorn that holds past frost. \u003ca href=\"\/products\/dolgo-crabapple-bundle-of-2\"\u003eDolgo crabapples\u003c\/a\u003e with a \u003ca href=\"\/products\/rescue-apple-crab\"\u003eRescue applecrab\u003c\/a\u003e to pollenize them, plus \u003ca href=\"\/products\/hawthorne-bundle-of-2\"\u003ehawthorn\u003c\/a\u003e and \u003ca href=\"\/products\/golden-currant-bundle-of-3\"\u003egolden currant\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cdiv class=\"mft-facts\"\u003e\u003ctable class=\"mft-facts-table\"\u003e\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhat you get\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e9 plants: Dolgo Crabapple (2, 2-3 ft.), 1 Rescue Applecrab (Dolgo full size, 4-6 ft., pruned to 5 ft.), Hawthorn (3), Golden Currant (3, 3-5 ft.). Bare root, shipped or picked up in Missoula in spring 2027, roots wrapped in moist sawdust. Guaranteed to bud out.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eHardy to\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eZone 3 (winters to about -40°F). Check your spot with our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/cold-hardiness-calculator\"\u003ecold hardiness calculator\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003eWhy these\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFor northern range turkeys, NWTF recommends apple trees and shrubs that hold their fruit through winter. A habitat consultant quoted by NWTF says crab apples are phenomenal for turkeys. The US Forest Service lists hawthorn as a turkey food, and NWTF counts golden currant as native soft mast for Merriam's.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth\u003ePollination\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eDolgo blooms early and Rescue early-mid, close enough that Rescue pollenizes the Dolgos.\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\u003c\/table\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003ch3\u003eHow to Plant for Turkeys\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003ePlant on woodland edges, where turkeys feed most, and on south or west slopes that melt off first. Turkeys roost in big trees, so put this near mature ponderosa pine or cottonwood if you have them. Black Hills hens roosted almost entirely in big ponderosas.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eProtect Them\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eDeer, elk and moose browse young plants hard, and bucks rub trunks in fall. Cage each tree until it's out of reach: a welded-wire cage about 5 ft. tall and 3 ft. across works for deer. Where elk come through, MSU recommends an 8 ft. fence with a top rail. Trunk tubes alone won't stop rubs. Water with drip the first couple of summers.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBear country:\u003c\/strong\u003e fruit draws black bears and grizzlies. Plant well away from houses and outbuildings, and use electric fence where bears are around.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003ch3\u003eIs Planting This Baiting?\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cp\u003eGrowing plants is habitat work. Rules on fruit or nuts you pick, move or pile up vary by state, so check your state's hunting regs before you hunt over it.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eFor the full how-to (why these plants work, spacing, protection and timing), read our \u003ca href=\"\/pages\/wild-turkey-habitat-planting-guide\"\u003ewild turkey planting guide\u003c\/a\u003e.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eSee our other wildlife bundles on the \u003ca href=\"\/collections\/wildlife-orchard-bundles\"\u003ewildlife orchard bundles\u003c\/a\u003e page.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003csmall\u003ePhotos: wild turkeys by \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/commons.wikimedia.org\/wiki\/File:Wild_Turkey_Karl_E_Mundt_NWR_(53369006265).jpg\"\u003eU.S. Fish and Wildlife Service\u003c\/a\u003e (public domain), via Wikimedia Commons.\u003c\/small\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Montana Fruit Trees","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":45840799498306,"sku":null,"price":279.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0626\/5687\/2514\/files\/Wild_Turkey_Karl_E_Mundt_NWR__2853369006265_29.jpg?v=1793317860","url":"https:\/\/www.montanafruittrees.com\/products\/wild-turkey-winter-fruit","provider":"Montana Fruit Trees","version":"1.0","type":"link"}