Question
I have a hican tree, cross between hickory and pecan,and the nuts are as hard as big bud hickory nuts.  Any suggestions on getting out the meat?  Portland, Ore.  They're ready to harvest now.

Answer
According to Mother Earth News. First you'll need to remove the green outer hull. But don't throw away the hand-staining pods; they can be used as mulch for your garden.

Hickory nuts must be completely dried out before you crack them open. Give them several weeks in a dry, cool place.

When you're ready to start cracking, Mother Earth News suggests assembling a nutpick, a brick and a pan. (Don't try to use a lever-type nutcracker - it will simply crush the meats into fragments.)

Place the brick on a hard, level surface (such as concrete) and set the pan next to it. Then grasp a nut between your left thumb and forefinger, with its stem end pointing toward the right. Balance the hickory on top of the brick (narrow edge downward) and aim the hammer at a spot about one-third of the way down from the stem.

Whack that spot with a short, sharp blow. The nut will pop open, though the shells may not split into perfect halves every time.

"The single most important factor will be the weight and striking force of the hammer blow . . . which you'll have to learn by experience," says Mother Earth News.

Once you've cracked a fair number of hickories, use the pick to remove the meats. The shell fragments can be thrown into the bird feeder or added to the coals while grilling to impart a hickory smoked flavor

The key is letting them dry before cracking.