Scott,

What type of bushes are they? The bushes set the fruit buds in late summer early fall depending on zone. Here in Florida the best time for us to prune is immediately after the fruit are done being picked. Due to the long growing season the bushes can make a new flush and it has enough time to mature fruit buds. I'm not sure if that is the case for you in NC or not. But no matter what if you prune in the winter you will be removing fruit buds anyway. Perhaps just prune them lightly? It will just make the remaining fruit bigger anyway. Were you going to remove small scrubby wood or were you going for cane renewal removing large canes at the plants base?

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here is a pic of the bushes, they were given to me by my grandfather and i have no idea what type they are. They are at the very back of my lot and for years didn't get much sun, i have cut out quite a few trees to get the sun to them and they produced very well last year, but the birds ate almost all of the berries. You can see the bushes are full of buds, do you think it would be best to wait until after fruiting this year before i attempt pruning?

Scott,

Thanks for the picture, they are rabbiteye's. I would wait until they are done fruiting then prune them. You should cut those wispy limbs that are bending over and they will become stronger and create more upright shoots from below where you prune.

Take a look at the bushes now and mark (ribbon) those canes that are not producing as many buds and take them out at the base when you prune.

Looks like they need a hair cut. Healty looking plants but they need some thinning out for sure. Looks like alot of canes there so I would cut out most of the older ones which will open up the bush for air movement and sun. Then remove canes that are rubbing each other. From there I would remove some of the lower scruby branches and thin out some of the thin fruiting wood on top. Now you need some bird netting and you will be in buisness! Good Luck!

Thanks for the replies, the tips on pruning are great advice. I'll wait on the pruning.

I have an old stand of the southern highbush (rabbit eye) like what you have. You can prune down to ground any of the older lanky canes. They will send back up multiple sprouts from that one cane. Also top or tip any whips (canes that have not branched) at waist high or lower. this will cause that cane to make multiple branches. More branches more fruit.
To save this years fruit you should wait like bamboo rabbit mentions till after after harvest to do any pruning.
Netting will keep dem birds from eating your fruit.

Enjoy Mike