`AU Gobbler I` is a new and distinct Chinese chestnut cultivar that is precocious and produces a large crop annually of small nuts that mature early and start dropping about August 25. Nut drop continues for a 4 to 5 week period. The nuts mature and start dropping 3-4 weeks before most cultivars. The early nut drop and small nut size of `AU Gobbler I` makes it ideal for use as a food source for turkey and other wildlife species. `AU Gobbler I` is an excellent companion cultivar to `AU Gobbler II` as nut drop begins about 10 days earlier than nut drop of `AU Gobbler II` and extends the season of available food supply for turkey and other wildlife. The major nut drop period of `AU Gobbler I` occurs before the major nut drop period of `AU Gobbler II`.