The wood of shagbark hickory nut trees is very hard, and it is used to make ax handles, baseball bats, and other products that demand tough lumber. The wood also makes for excellent firewood.When burned, it gives off a fragrant smoke, which is the reason for the popularity of hickory in the meat-curing process. More importantly, for homeowners, shagbark hickory nut trees attract wildlife and not just the pests mentioned above. Some of the larger wild birds eat shagbark hickory nuts, including turkeys.