When is the best time to plant fruit trees in general? I want to get an "orchard " of different fruit trees for our consumption but for deer too.

I may plant in several different areas but was just curious on timing.

February would be my guess.

Yep, early spring when all is still dormant.

Dec/Jan/Feb will work fine

I have had my best luck planting bear root trees in early January. It's cold enough that a few warm days won't make the tree try to break dormancy and it's far enough from spring that the roots can start to establish.

Where did you get your bare root trees from?

You can plant them anytime, while they are dormant.

I get most of mine from local nurseries/dealers, or order some online from Stark Bros or Willis Orchards.

I should clarify...since most fruit trees are shipped/purchased as bare root trees, but not all.

Bare root is a tree that dug up from where it was growing...when you get it, it won't be "bare root"...it'll be in a bag with wet sawdust or other material around the roots. Bare root trees should only be planted when the tree is dormant.

Potted trees, on the other hand, can pretty much be planted anytime. Planting them in the summer might stress the tree a little (ie, you might see a little wilt), but it would bounce back.

Any tree, regardless of whether it's potted or bare root when planted, should be thoroughly watered in and staked to prevent movement in the wind while it's trying to establish new roots.

You might try http://www.justfruitsandexotics.com/JFE/ they have many low chill hour fruit tree varieties

The Wildlife group is a great place to get them if you want local. They are near Montgomery and they ship. I planted mine middle of December.

put cages around them deer will rub and are kill them. the first year water several times all summer

Plant Keiffer pears for deer and food. Use water crystals in holes.

Now is the time and these are great guys to deal with. I've planted their wildlife package, as well as sawtooth oaks, chestnuts, plums, and Fuyu persimmons, blackberries and blueberries with very little fallout. Since we bought our place and started planting, I've dealt with 4 nurseries. These guys have easily been the best to deal with.