I need some help and direction to determine if what I am trying to do is even worth it or not. We have some family land that I am wanting to improve for wildlife (deer turkey etc). I would love to plant some white oaks out there considering all that is out there right now are post oaks for the most part. I would not be able to water the trees. Nature would have to do that for me. For reference it's in Young County.

My questions are since I will not be watering them is it even a viable option to plant tees out there ? If so is it a numbers game to hope a few actually take ? Are we talking about 20-30 or is it 100?

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I'd probably look at getting rid of the invasives first, and then focus on native forbs and grasses second.

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Good answer here. Clear out junipers, do prescribed burns.
Trees with no water you're asking for heartache.

I've planted about 100 trees(different oak varieties) in the wild with the ability to water them maybe once a year.......out of those 100 I think 7 are still living.

the time to plant is now and if you can afford it get some tree diapers for them.

I would look at other species that are valuable for wildlife and that may be native to your area and adapted to the conditions. Maybe things like possumhaws, blackhaw viburnums, persimmons, hackberries, etc. A lot of people will consider them to be "trash trees" but they are some of the better wildlife trees and depending on your location and soils, may do a much better job surviving in areas where you can't water them frequently.

I am in a similar situation wanting to diversify the trees species on some family property northwest of San Antonio. Right now, it is about 90% live oak, 5% red oak, and 5% juniper. My BIL insists on cutting on trees that don't need to be cut on (trying to make it look like a park), so it is just a matter of time before he manages to invite the oak wilt that is present within a few miles onto the property and starts killing off the live oaks. My FIL won't reliably water what we plant, and when he does, he keeps wanting to add synthetic plant fertilizer that ends up burning them up.

So I am looking at possibly ordering and trying out some of these Groasis Waterboxxes (Groasis Waterboxx: anti- desertification technology to plant trees in dry areas!). They are supposed to capture moisture out of the air as condensation and direct it to the tree roots. Their growsafe sapling protectors also seem to be a better anti-deer browse solution that having to fence every sapling off. We will see how it goes, but I am probably going to order a few to try this fall.

Don't underestimate the value of your county wildlife biologist. Give them a shout. They cost nothing.

Contact your local Agrilife Extension office in your area. They would be happy to help you.

I've planted probably 100+ pears, persimmons, various types of oaks, crab-apples and plum and didn't water but maybe once a year. Out of all of them, the pears were the only ones that survived. They seem to be pretty hardy at least in my area of central Texas.