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View Full Version : Best Dove Field?

Rob7
04-30-2005, 08:47 PM
In your opinion what is the best crop to plant in preparation for Dove Season?
Thanks, Rob...
KentuckyTracker
04-30-2005, 09:51 PM
Soybeans by far, in my opinion. I have found dove to hunker down on a soybean field before a corn field any day.
Hammer
05-01-2005, 07:38 AM
sunflowers have been the best in my experience.
dipits
05-01-2005, 07:59 AM
Sunflower if you have a place that the deer won't wipe them out.
ril7572
05-01-2005, 09:14 AM
Soybeans by far, in my opinion. I have found dove to hunker down on a soybean field before a corn field any day.

I'm not a biologist, but I'm pretty sure that doves don't eat soybeans. They can't digest them for some reason. I've cleaned 100's over the years and have never seen one with a soybean in it's craw.
Multidigits
05-01-2005, 10:27 AM
That's probably true, but they do like to fly over the fields and land in them. Maybe to get the dirt and shade? But farmers don't like to let you hunt in beans and have the damage done to the crop by looking for downed birds.
skin_dog1
05-01-2005, 03:08 PM
That's probably true, but they do like to fly over the fields and land in them. Maybe to get the dirt and shade? But farmers don't like to let you hunt in beans and have the damage done to the crop by looking for downed birds.
I think they like the grit under the plants maybe. I've noticed them flying over beans alot, but it's sually on the way to another food source or water. I'd never plant beans for a dove crop when sunflowers, milo or millet, or wheat are so good.
KentuckyTracker
05-01-2005, 10:54 PM
:) Yeah, that's what I meant. I'm sorry I didn't clarify. If you want a good food source, I would go with wheat or sunflower. I just always run them out of soybeans on the farm I hunt.
Art
05-13-2005, 01:05 PM
The best field I ever hunted over was half millet and half sunflower with strips mowed down a few days before the hunt.
buckfever
05-13-2005, 03:51 PM
The best field I ever hunted over was half millet and half sunflower with strips mowed down a few days before the hunt.

We've had very good success with variations of what you propose, usually 1/3 strips of japanese millet with the rest in sunflowers. If that sounds like too much work, I'd definitely opt for sunflowers. Hard to beat.