Honey Locust Trees?

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Grandslam11

Grandslam11

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Cookeville TN
I have come across several trees on my property that almost look like green beans growing up in the tree. Someone told me that it was called a honey locust tree. It does not look like the long skinny beans but a pod that would consist of about 3 or 4 seeds. All of the trees are located on the edge of a small field. My questions are: Is this in fact a honey locust tree? Do deer browse on these? Is there any nutritional value to deer or soil from these pods. Thanks in advance.
 
have killed many here during low mast times chewing on those pods usually after a few frost they will eat them. dont know name of the tree for sure but i believe that is correct.
 
Deer do eat honey locust, and I'm sure it probably provides at least some nutritional value.

Do your trees have very large spikes sticking out of it?
 
I didn't notice any spikes. However, I was just scoping out the are looking for acorns when I noticed these trees. They were loaded down with the pods. So these are better after a good frost? Would it be worth trying to hunt around like a white oak or would I be wasting my time?
 
Green bean does NOT describe Honey Locust pods. Also, as Master Chief said, you will see large spikes growing from the limbs and trunk of the Honey Locust tree.

Honey locust pods are about the size of one piece of banana peel, about 1" across and 10 to 12" long and VERY thin.

FWIW, yes, deer will eat the pods. I sat and watched a beautiful 10 pt buck eat Honey Locust Pods while waiting on a doe to kill one day. Bucks were off limits until you kill a doe. A horribly awful yet wonderful day in the woods. :) :(

Can you take a picture of the pods you saw?
 
I am beginning to think it is a Yellowood Tree. The pods probably hold 3-5 seeds and are about 3-4 inches long if that. Right now they are very green. Next time I am in the woods, I will try and snap a picture.
 
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Honey locust trees have spikes and they are long and sharp and will puncture ATV tires. If you pick up a branch laying on the ground be careful because the spikes are everywhere and sharp as a needle. They are toooooo big to be called thorns.

There will be spikes on the trunk.

If not, it is not a honey locust. Might be a Black locust. Spikes will be out next to the leaves.
 
Grandslam11 said:
I am beginning to think it is a Yellowood Tree. The pods probably hold 3-5 seeds and are about 3-4 inches long if that. Right now they are very green. Next time I am in the woods, I will try and snap a picture.
Click to expand...

If it is Yellowwood, it is a rare tree. They are only found in the limestone cliffs of TN, KY and NC.
 
Honey locust have thorns similar in size to 16 penny nails. I have about 8 acres infested with the @*$@*! things. I sat for 30 minutes last Saturday with pliers pulling about 35 or 40 thorns from my boot soles. I've flattened 6 tractor tires with them this year alone. You DON'T want them around. They spread like rats in a cheese factory. I'm doing my best to kill them all with a hand sprayer and SuperBrush Killer from the CO-OP. So far I have a lot of dead trees but many more to go.
 
As everyone has already said, big spikes all over honey locust. We have a good sized pod, probably 1/4 acre or so at our spot in smith county that is covered with them. It is the HONEY HOLE come late season when nothing is left to eat. They'll come spend all day in that little thicket eating those things. Those trees will straight up grab a hold of a waterproof jacket, and by the time you fight it back out of there you are bleeding profusely and long past water tight.
 
Urban_Hunter said:
As everyone has already said, big spikes all over honey locust. We have a good sized pod, probably 1/4 acre or so at our spot in smith county that is covered with them. It is the HONEY HOLE come late season when nothing is left to eat. They'll come spend all day in that little thicket eating those things. Those trees will straight up grab a hold of a waterproof jacket, and by the time you fight it back out of there you are bleeding profusely and long past water tight.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I've wondered how I'd get a deer out of this thicket if I ever shoot one that runs into it and dies. The tallest honey locust are about 10 feet tall and almost touching.
 
Some deer in some areas like locust. So far in west Tn I haven't found anywhere they really care for them. In Ms they seemed to crave them and devoured horse apples as well.
 
stik said:
mimosa?
Click to expand...

x2. Google "mimosa tree pods" and I think you'll have your answer. The fern-type leaves make it look a little like a locust tree, but mimosas have pink flowers in the summer followed by pods. Locust have viscous looking thorns.
 
I do not believe you could get a deer out of a thicket made up of honey locust. Just thinking about that gives me the willies.

I purchased a 2-acre home site in far east Shelby County. I paid a farmer to bushhog it and then I went in with family to pick up limbs and garbage before the Farmer got there. One of the limbs was off a honey locust and when I tried to pick it up jammed a spike into the fleshy part of my palm. It went in about 1/2 inch, bled like a stuck pig. 6 months later mowing the 2 acres ran over a spike and punctured a tire. The spikes are like nails. I think burning them down is a good way to get rid of them.
 
The pods are flat. I will try and get some pictures the next time I am out there. It could even be a redbud tree. I have looked at bunches of pictures online. One minute I will be thinking I found it, the next minute not. I will keep everyone posted once I get pictures. Thanks for all of the input.
 
They love them from my experience. There's a couple locust trees about 30 yards from one of my stands and almost every deer that walks by them stops to eat a few pods.
 
If it is a honey locust tree the deer love the bean pods. I have even broken one open and tatsted the sweet potatoe inner contents and it did have a sweet taste. Like others have said watch out for the thornes....they will stick through a deer hide or your boot.
 

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