Are shellbark and shagbark hickory nuts the same? The ones around here are referred to as shag bark. Often, the spiral boarer gets to them before I do. It's easy to see the hole in the shell and then they are not even worth bothering to pick up off the ground
We have lots of black walnuts. Messy to collect and husk, but really great for baking. I can't imagine banana bread without them!
And I know of a few butternut trees a bit further north. I really love those, but the trees are becoming quite scarce. I'm hoarding a few handfuls in the freezer.
There are plenty of hazelnut bushes, but I have always suspected that it is the deer that eat them while they are still green.
Lots of acorns, which I don't fight the squirrels and chipmunk for.
Black walnuts will always be my favorite nut. There is nothing that tastes like them! It's great you have them close by. And how great that you have butternuts! It would be nice if more people would plant them. I'm with you on being concerned about their future in the wild. Maybe I should plant some here in the Pacific Northwest... so many trees in trouble in the East and Midwest find a refuge here, with some distance from their disease and pest problems.
The Shellbark and Shagbark hickories are NOT the same. The Shagbark (Carya ovata) has - as you know - super shaggy bark with big strips. The Shellbark (Carya laciniosa) has more of a plate-like bark. And the Shellbark nuts are quite a bit larger. But I think the Shagbark has a higher ratio nutmeat to shell, lol. The Shellbark is one thick, tough nut! It takes more torque on the vice than a Black Walnut! :O Maybe that's why the squirrels hadn't made off with the nuts I found!
I don't eat most acorns, but some species are worth the effort. The Chestnut Oak (Quercus montana) has acorns that are sweet enough to eat right off the tree, although they still need processing to remove the tannins. And Bur Oaks (Quercus macrocarpa) have such huge acorns! These English Oak acorns are big enough to be worth the effort, too. But they definitely need that leaching!