dove field

[gates]

I have a small, 2+ acre, field that I am renovating on my farm. I have prepared the field for round-up when it starts to green. My plan is to kill everything and plant for doves. Then this fall after dove hunting spray with broad leaf killer and plant winter wheat for deer. Then the next fall spray and disk and plant with some sort of perinial like imperial clover. I am tring to get rid of the fescue in the field now. The field is completly isolated. The field is accualy an old home place on top of a small hill over looking some bottoms. Deer and turkey use the field when traveling around the large bottoms. I want to make a plot for my boys to hunt from a blind. What is the best thing to plant for doves? Deer will definatly be a problem so I was told not to plant sunflowers. I just want to get a few bird to shoot at. What have you all had luck with on small fields?
Thanks
James

[Darton73]

Sunflowers definitely wouldn't make it in that small of a field if you have lots of deer. You may want to try some Proso Millet. I can't remember off the top of my head how long it takes to mature. Best case scenario is to have it mature shortly before dove season, cut a portion of it with a disc mower, let it set on the ground for a few days, and then bale it. This leaves a good deal of seed on the ground. Be careful not to overseed initially. I have had a problem in the past with it growing too thick, and then matting over after a hard wind. Then the seed that has dropped rots under the matte and the millet gets extrememly difficult to cut effectively. Anyway, if you have any more questions, I'll help you as best as I can.


Brian Grossman
Darton73@alltel.net
www.KentuckyHunting.com

[KYhunter]

Plant winter wheat then cut strips starting 2-3 weeks before doves season, cutting every few days and day before each hunt. (Could also plant oats and do the same thing.) Then mid Sept, disc up and sow more winter wheat.

[gates]

Thanks for the input. I talked to a guy last night and he also recomended proso millet. He told me to plant it in late May. He said I could disc around the field and mow a couple of strips a week before season then burn the field when the season starts. He said it would be great hunting for about a week after that. Will burning not destroy the seeds? He said the burning will open up the ground and the seeds will fall on bare ground, I know doves like that best. I will plant winter wheat this fall and plan on hunting doves over it next year. Can you burn the wheat also?? I don't have a rake, just a bush hog and disk.

Thanks,
James