Guest TerryH Posted April 11, 2006 Report Share Posted April 11, 2006 What is the process for putting out some sunflowers for a dove field? What time of year do you plant, and what is the maintenance on the field, and I have been in fields before that had strips mowed in them. At what point do you mow thw strips through? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
danthehunter Posted April 11, 2006 Report Share Posted April 11, 2006 Re: Sunflowers We plant sunflowers every year for dove shoots. We plant them the same time u would plant any seed such as corn or soybeans, usually in mid may. There isnt much maintenence for sunflowers, i dont think they make seed that is round-up ready. In Illinois dove season starts September 1st, we will usually mow the fields about 2-3 weeks before the season, u have to wait until the seeds harden before you mow them. If we plant 6 acres of sunflowers we will probably mow down about half of them and leave strips all throught. Goodluck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted April 11, 2006 Report Share Posted April 11, 2006 Re: Sunflowers I plant oilers in mid June. If you plant them earlier the goldfinches clean them out before the season starts. If you plant the big gray stripers, you can plant them in May because they have like a 90+ day maturity. I agree with mowing them off about 2 weeks before the season starts. It takes awhile for the birds to find them. In my area, the doves seem to like large, clean, flat landing areas. If they have to land in "pungee" sticks, they don't like that. Check with your game laws too. Doves are federally regulated migratory birds, and there's laws about baiting vs. "normal agricultural practices." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan_Til_I_Die Posted April 11, 2006 Report Share Posted April 11, 2006 Re: Sunflowers [ QUOTE ] ...Check with your game laws too. Doves are federally regulated migratory birds, and there's laws about baiting vs. "normal agricultural practices." [/ QUOTE ] Always good advice. They (the Feds) did simplify things a lot several years ago. Now, it's generally accepted that as long as whatever seeds are present actually grew in that field, it's ok to hunt over it. If you're planting strictly for bird hunting, try mixing in some Egyptian Millett and maybe even some sesame seeds. The doves love those tiny seeds. BTW - If you put them in with a grain drill, don't get 'em too deep! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dogdoc Posted April 11, 2006 Report Share Posted April 11, 2006 Re: Sunflowers try to plant them where they will mature about a month before season. this will give the birds plenty of time to find the seeds. if you plant them too early everything else will be eating them and you won't have many seeds left over for the birds. good luck todd Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BoDice Posted April 12, 2006 Report Share Posted April 12, 2006 Re: Sunflowers [ QUOTE ] What is the process for putting out some sunflowers for a dove field? What time of year do you plant, and what is the maintenance on the field, and I have been in fields before that had strips mowed in them. At what point do you mow the strips through? [/ QUOTE ] In order to hunt our fields legally for dove they must be tilled or tended at least two weeks before the hunt. If they are not; they are considered baited fields. Call your wildlife agent to be sure. Be good! "Bo" ... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Texan_Til_I_Die Posted April 12, 2006 Report Share Posted April 12, 2006 Re: Sunflowers [ QUOTE ] In order to hunt our fields legally for dove they must be tilled or tended at least two weeks before the hunt. If they are not; they are considered baited fields. Call your wildlife agent to be sure. Be good! "Bo" ... [/ QUOTE ] Really? That must be some state regulation. The USFWS rules aren't nearly that strict. Here they are in condensed form: General Rules NOTE: Hunters are responsible for knowing whether an area is baited or not. Baiting (the following baiting rules have been established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service): A hunter MAY hunt any migratory game bird: over standing crops, standing flooded crops, and flooded harvested crops at any time over natural vegetation that has been manipulated where seeds or grains have been scattered as a result of normal agricultural planting, harvesting, or post-harvest manipulation over crops or natural vegetation where grain has been inadvertently scattered as a result of entering or leaving the field, placing decoys, or retrieving downed birds using natural vegetation or crops to conceal a blind, provided that if crops are used, no grain or other feed is exposed, deposited, distributed, or scattered in the process except water fowl and cranes where grain or other feed has been distributed or scattered as the result of the manipulation of a crop or livestock feeding A hunter MAY NOT: hunt migratory birds with the aid of bait, or on or over any baited area hunt over any baited area until 10 days after all baiting materials have been removed hunt waterfowl or cranes over manipulated planted millet, unless the millet was planted more than one year prior to hunting hunt waterfowl or cranes over crops that have been manipulated, unless the manipulation is a normal agricultural planting, harvesting, or post-harvest manipulation Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tominator Posted April 12, 2006 Report Share Posted April 12, 2006 Re: Sunflowers Ditto with Tex. Ohio goes by those rules. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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