 | | From: | Mike | | Subject: | Planting Sunflowers | | Date: | Tue, 18 Jan 2005 12:01:12 -0600 |
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 | You guys that have planted sunflowers for dove hunting - where did you
buy the seeds and how much do they cost? Did it work as well as I have
heard?
Thanks
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| | From: | Eric Maiwald | | Subject: | Re: Planting Sunflowers | | Date: | Thu, 20 Jan 2005 14:30:08 -0600 |
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| On Tue, 18 Jan 2005, Mike wrote:
> You guys that have planted sunflowers for dove hunting - where did you
> buy the seeds and how much do they cost? Did it work as well as I have
> heard?
I use Black Oil Sunflower bird seed that I can get from Southern States.
Over the years, when we put out bird seed, we noticed that the sunflowers
would sprout in the Spring so we thought we would give it a try. I think
they run about $8 or so per bag (50#?).
I disk up the field and then spread the seed with a broadcast spreader.
You might also want to ask your local Co-operative extension agent what
fertilizer you should use on the field before you spread the seed. Do not
expect 100% germination but you will get a good amount. You can also get
seed that is intended for planting but it tends to be much more expensive.
As Chris said, a week or so before the season, cut strips in the fields
right down to the dirt. The doves will not eat the seed on the heads but
they will go to the ground for the seed and the dirt for dust baths. As
the season progresses, I come back and cut more of the field.
In years that I have good sunflowers, I do get more birds.
Eric
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Eric Maiwald So Many Hobbies,
emaiwald@fred.net So little time
"A compromise which results in a half-step toward evil is all wrong."
--Theodore Roosevelt
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| | From: | Michael | | Subject: | Re: Planting Sunflowers | | Date: | Wed, 19 Jan 2005 14:03:47 -0500 |
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| "Mike" wrote in message
news:1105657868.831501.224340@c13g2000cwb.googlegroups.com...
> You guys that have planted sunflowers for dove hunting - where did you
> buy the seeds and how much do they cost?
Lowe's. $7/50#
Did it work as well as I have
> heard?
Don't know what you have heard but they germinate well, grow tall (granted
about a gzillion different species), and bring in the birds.
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| | From: | Mike | | Subject: | Re: Planting Sunflowers | | Date: | Thu, 20 Jan 2005 14:30:08 -0600 |
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| How did you prepare the soil? Plow, Disk, till, drag?
How much fertilizer?
Mike
> Don't know what you have heard but they germinate well, grow tall
(granted
> about a gzillion different species), and bring in the birds.
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| | From: | Chris Barnes | | Subject: | Re: Planting Sunflowers | | Date: | Tue, 18 Jan 2005 13:29:37 -0600 |
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| Mike wrote:
> You guys that have planted sunflowers for dove hunting - where did you
> buy the seeds and how much do they cost? Did it work as well as I have
> heard?
1) Try your local farmer's cooperative. I don't know about sunflowers,
but I bought a 50# bag of crimson clover (enough for 2-3 acres) for our
deer for about $30. I can't imagine that sunflowers would be much more
expensive.
2) The best way I've seen sunflowers used is about 2 weeks before you
plan on hunting, cut 6' strips through the sunflower field. This knocks
down a bunch of the seeds to where the birds can actually get to them.
If there are trees for them to roost in and water (with clear banks),
you should have all the birds you want.
3) When the sunflowers are up and next dove season comes around, invite
your local friendly rec.hunting moderator to help shoot them. ;-)
(I live about 3 hours from S.A. and my best friend lives there)
--
+ + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
Chris Barnes AOL IM: CNBarnes
chris@txbarnes.com Yahoo IM: chrisnbarnes
"Usenet really is all about standing around and hitting the ground
with clubs, on a spot where many years earlier a dead horse lay."
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