dove field

[birdhunter39]

i want to make a dove field for sept 1st there are 3 ponds off to the side. behind the field there are pine trees, and a few dead trees in another corner. The only thing left is a food plot . i have permission to plant sunflowers , but heres the problem the last time sunflowers were planted the Finch's ate all the seeds in a 20 acre sunflower field , he said literally thousands of Finch's . How can i try to keep them out or at least some of them out legally .

[Tominator]

I think it's impossible to keep the finches out. They hit me hard too.

I've found 2 remedies that work OK.

#1--plant the sunflowers later in the season. Oilers mature in a couple months, so try to time them so that they mature in September versus maturing in July. I plant mine towards the end of June. The only problem with that is that sometimes they don't get enough water, it's a gamble.

#2--plant millet or sorghum instead of sunflower, or at least mix in some of that when you plant your sunflower, then about 2 weeks before season, mow it off as close to the ground as you can. Mash it up good. Doves around us seem to like a real flat clean field. Mow it off in strips at first until they pick the field clean, then mow off a few more strips.