I find that every nut from the shagbark has a little hole and a worm inside.
Linda C

We used to have them all over the place when I was on the farm growing up. We never used them though because it was WAY too much work to shell them (the meats are tiny and the shells are thick and hard) Maybe that's why you never see them for sale in grocery stores? Good luck and let me know how it goes.

Yes they are tiny, a whole lot of work, the shells being thick and hard, but they are oh soooo good. Ever had hickory nut ice cream? Hickory nuts are the best nuts there is in my opinion. I wish some factory would come up with a way to market them.

My mother, who had the patience of Job, used to sit for hours picking the meats out of the hickory nuts. She made pies, using them, just like you would a pecan pie. They were wonderful and I'm not really a "sweets" lover.

Jude