Chris Smyth & Badger Baldwin Johnson’s combine 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.