Duck Hunting Food Plot Japanese Millet

Here is a series of videos from our Japanese millet planting at 2 Missouri properties our group duck hunts. It was a lot of fun watching the progress of the millet and we learned many things we would like to share for all you waterfowlers. If you have anything to add please do so in the comments and if you have any questions please ask and we will do our best to answer them. If we can all learn from each other maybe it will make our hunts better! My equipment and I are for hire if you are in western/central Missouri or eastern Kansas so feel free to message anytime. Please like the video and subscribe if you would, and most importantly, take a kid waterfowl hunting!! Thanks

[@riverratpat259]

I planted a duck food plot before I watched this video. Lots of hard work on your behalf. What a ball buster for the slow season. I’m in GA. Wish me luck.

[@bryancook3564]

Well hopefully you get em! It is a lot of work, good luck!!

[@guitarman123456789]

We are also in WCMO. Just some timber holes on the family farm, surrounded by clubs. My family has been duck hunting the holes for generations, but I’ve started trying a little millet and rice to draw a few more from the neighboring flooded corn. Seems to help, but being sloughs in timber, daylight is our main challenge to getting it to grow really well. Like you, we have to wait for dry weather and a natural draw drown, which is definitely a challenge. Anyway, I really enjoyed the video. Looks like you have an awesome place! Great to see the kiddo out there with you.

[@bryancook3564]

Thanks man! I hope you guys have a great season this fall

[@guitarman123456789]

@@bryancook3564 you too! I watched another video where you guys had a flooding problem. I think we might hunt somewhat close to each other. We’re in the South Grand bottoms; thought one of the guys was talking about the Grand in the video. Anyway, small world. Best of luck this season.

[@steveguyton3552]

Rent a No till drill save a lot of time and fuel also saves moisture. Best for soil health

[@wbsurfer123]

The invertebrate numbers will be off the charts in there! That’s why ducks love Japanese millet holes, there invertebrates that love to eat decaying millet. How did the hunting do?

[@bryancook3564]

That’s awesome to know, yes I bet you’re right! Thanks

[@jasonwaldon4351]

It's about that time again, I'm doing 120lb of jap millet and I've got 50lb of rice I'm gonna try this year. This past season was unbelievable how many ducks were using my place. Really starting to pay off I don't know if you remember texting with me or not... but anyway are you planning to do anything this year?

[@bryancook3564]

Man that’s good to hear! I haven’t been down into our place because it’s flooded a number of times this year. If I can this summer I’ll put down some more millet

[@CarolinaLimits]

Can you plant this in muddy type areas. I don't really have any way to get rid of the water out of my swap area. It usually dries up doing the summer time but it's going to be muddy most of the time

[@bryancook3564]

Yes, this is exactly how the property of ours is in the video where I hand spread it. Get out there with some good knee boots and get after it! If it just lays on the mud it will take and grow. Don't overseed it, it's not necessary. Good luck!!

[@jasonwaldon7438]

Did you do any planting on your duck hole this last season??

[@bryancook3564]

Unfortunately no, we had record flooding all summer and there was no way to get the water out

[@kapperoutdoors]

Good video and follow-up. I appreciate it. I've been working on a duck pond in our Illinois hilly country for like 4 years now. It's getting better every year, LOL. Good luck keeping this one going with nice food in there.

[@bryancook3564]

Kapper Outdoors thanks man! I appreciate that

[@jeremyfriddle1350]

Bryan can you do a couple diy on your duck hunting blinds thanks

[@bryancook3564]

Jeremy Friddle yes for sure, we have a bunch of clips of our big blind build but none are strung together or edited at this point. They are so long I’m a little worried. I’ll figure something out

[@collincarpenter1211]

How many ducks did y’all harvest on these planted spots?

[@bryancook3564]

It was actually the slowest year we've ever had. Both areas of Missouri really struggled with numerous clubs/private areas saying the same thing. We also really struggled with water in our area with neighbors wetlands completely dry for the season. "Numbers" don't mean a lot when everyone hunts different numbers of guns/guys in blinds and different numbers of actual hunt days during a season.

[@sequa1_adventures506]

I thought you couldn’t mow or manipulate it after growth.

[@bryancook3564]

If you listen I had mentioned I didn’t plant it in front of the blinds. So when I mowed the decoy hole it was just native weeds/burs

[@skeets6060]

So you drain the pond let it grow and then flood the pond and kill it off?

[@bryancook3564]

Well you have to flood the pond to get the ducks in there. They won't feed in there if it's dry. The millet actually lasted all thru spring as the ducks were feeding in there like crazy this past February/March

[@marklumley619]

Would have been nice to include some footage of ducks out on your pond other than that it was a nice informative video.

[@thesmallgameslayers]

Awesome video. Just uploaded part 1 of my custom duck pond. Please stop by and watch

[@bryancook3564]

Hey thanks! Will do. I waited too long this year and we got a big flood about 3 weeks ago. No Millet this season, full pool currently

[@brandonnapier2117]

I'd give my right arm to have property like this! It looks amazing! Thanks for the video. At the age of 45, I am just getting into waterfowl hunting. I do have access to a nice piece of ground but, it needs some work. I'll be at least getting a duck blind built and some Japanese millet planted this year. Your plot looks great and I hope you had some bangers out of there!

[@bryancook3564]

Thanks man! Yep it was a pretty fun season. Had to fight water levels the whole time just stupid dry this last fall. Good luck this next year !

[@Yellowlab247_NC_Outdoors]

Going to do a series on planting Japanese millet in both farm ponds and beaver swamps. Y’all check it out! Planting Japanese Millet for Ducks in a Farm Pond: kzbin.info/www/bejne/enO4aXSldtqKfNU

[@slappinsteve3852]

looks like yall did a great job. im not a fan of the use of roundup though. that crap kills and affects every bit of wildlife in the area from the insects to the deer.

[@bryangay8031]

GREAT VIDEO! I’m sure this took a ton of time to film & edit so thanks for spending your time putting together all the clips to make this! Best of luck on next duck season.

[@bryancook3564]

Thanks Bryan! I'm lucky my son is good with editing software, it was fun doing it together. We have our dream blind process filmed too, but it's not done yet so maybe someday we'll post that

[@Yellowlab247_NC_Outdoors]

Finished the Japanese Millet planting in a swamp video, check it out! Planting Japanese Millet for Ducks in a Beaver Swamp: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fabFaGl-pJZgsKM

[@bryancook3564]

Find a way to dump that seed with that drone and we’re in business! Hahaha

[@Yellowlab247_NC_Outdoors]

@@bryancook3564 For real! Dont think I haven't price one.. $11k and only 6 min of flight time... ouch

[@derekkueter7679]

We use a roto tiller on our impoundments. I’ve learn this is important with Japanese Millet bc seed to soil contact is super important. Rototill your ground and watch your yield increase by 20 to 30%. Great job by the way. Enjoyed every minute of the video

[@bryancook3564]

Thanks Derek, will have to try that sometime!

[@benwiggins1397]

Hey man it’s a few years later, but I appreciate this video. I know I’m way late but I just bought property and it had a 1 acre pond on it which help a lot of woodies last year. I’m in south Alabama so it will be awhile before we get a frost but I just planted Japanese millet early September. Maybe I will get a few heads before the first frost. It’s growing like crazy tho. Also congrats on that record field goal… that was awesome… take care.

[@bryancook3564]

Thanks ! I would think with the longer growing season down there you should get some nice seed heads. Good luck this season!!

[@warddanger]

bryan, thanks for making the video, around the 9 min mark, i have a similar pond thats currently very dry, all cracked and nasty, the spring rains will change that. So did you just walk arcoss it with a hand spreader, didn't distruib soil or anything? did you pack it afterwords? really interested how you did that plot, thank you

[@bryancook3564]

Yes so mine at that point in time was mud flats. I just hand spread that. But yes with the cracked soil that seed will fall down in those cracks perfect. It will only take one rain for it to seat itself. No need to roll it or compact it. Don’t plant to early in spring. June or later depending on where you’re at. Good luck!!

[@Tk.utelab]

Sorry buddy can’t hear you. Maybe next time.

[@primrozie]

I planted Echinochloa esculenta (A. Braun) Japanese foxtail millet for my chickens and as an "emergency garden" grain for shtf. Old timers used millet as a cereal, meat extender and I'm sure other uses. You should harvest some seed and never have to buy it again. Your region might grow as a perennial. Not sure yet what mine will do. There are 4 types of millet.

[@bryancook3564]

Very interesting!! Thanks

[@carlthomas19]

Thanks for the video.. this helped!

[@jasonwaldon7438]

Ive got my millet growing its about 10 dsys old and growing good. Something is eating it in a couple spots... Looks like it was mowed with a mower. Any clue what that might be???

[@bryancook3564]

Jason Waldon, same thing happened to me in one of those video segments I shared, I really have no idea, almost like some type of insects, not deer so much. It really didn't effect to outcome anyways because will still have thousands of seed heads everywhere

[@alecreinders7128]

this video is awesome! please make more. i wish there was more waterfowl impoundment type videos. love it

[@bryancook3564]

Thanks Alec! I questioned my sanity a few times spreading those mud flats by hand, ha ha

[@jamesjudy6040]

Thanks for the video I'm starting my first duck this year and your video helped me with alot of questions I had. Good job!

[@bryancook3564]

Thanks James!! Good luck buddy

[@aaronkeistler8217]

What was the brand of seed and supplier you used?

[@bryancook3564]

It was just basic Japanese Millet, from Miller Seed Company in Clinton, Missouri. Give em a call, I’m sure they’d ship you some

[@aaronkeistler8217]

@@bryancook3564 thanks for the reply! I'm in St. Louis so that wouldn't be too bad on shipping then

[@rick_toor]

I was thinking of doing something different for a long time.. I liked it very much... Yes, it is true that I will not hunt but it would be a better step to conservation them ❤ thanks for sharing big b 🍻 🦆

[@Allen-xy6hi]

Great video! Keep them coming. Really enjoyed it.

[@bryancook3564]

Thanks Allen!!

[@jacob-tw9oz]

Does it necessarily have to be by other ducky areas, I'm sure it does help, or will they find it? Also how did you do this year?

[@bryancook3564]

It will always help to be in a flyway, compared to not. Anytime you can provide extra food and can increase your odds in my opinion. We had record flooding all summer 2019 and did not have any millet this season. We’ve still had a some nice hunts though. Been a good year with the help of weather, rains, etc

[@bryancook3564]

JG WENTWORTH that is a very good question and I would think most hunters will agree with me. But A flyway would be an ancient migration route that waterfowl have always used. Mostly like major river systems and large natural lakes or reservoirs. There are no official maps because watersheds dry up or flood different every year. So it changes a lot, but DU, Fish and Game, Delta Waterfowl, etc. have tried to show these routes the best they can. Maybe research them. Can your shoot ducks outside of a flyway in your man made lake sure! But you might not see as many nice big migrating “flight” groups. I wish you well and good luck!

[@4by4squared88]

I have owned 11 duck club over the years. I have tried every thing. Corn, jap millet, golden millet, rice, Sourgum, weeds and buckwheat. I’m in mid MO and also Elsberry MO. Corn is always King. Always. I have planted rice with corn next to it and never saw a duck in the rice. Millet is good like this vid is can fall over and if you have a bird problem like we do they will eat you out faster then the ducks. This year I went about all corn. Then a few areas are a corn, millet and buckwheat mix. Ducks are absolutely crazy about buckwheat and birds can’t eat it but it will be gone before the season starts if you have water on it. It’s it’s like candy to them. I don’t harvest any of my corn at all. Not before the season or after the season. I keep the water on it until about March 15th. Then I drain it down. My east property line is a state duck refuge and the ducks use my field hard on the way back north. I want them to Imprint on my field. We will see if it’s works this year.

[@bryancook3564]

Man awesome reply ! Really appreciate the info. Good luck this year!

[@reynoldsc100]

Great video! How many years have you planted like this? I'm interested in the following years and if it attracted more ducks. I'm not in a major flyway, but I do have a beaver pond on the property I hunt. This summer I drained it down and planted Hancock's Duck Foot Plot Mix and it's coming up really well. I'm not expecting to experience a huge jump this season in duck numbers (especially since everything is 99% local wood ducks). But I'm interested in the next few years of planting to see if there is a serious impact on attracting ducks. My main goal is to improve the swamp to attract more wood ducks for my two young boys to shoot at. Thanks!

[@bryancook3564]

reynoldsc100 hey I think you and I ha e gone back and forth on one of the forums before or Facebook Group pages. Last year was just our first time going all in on those 2 properties. So I still need to see the results over say a 5-10 year period to give you a good number. I think your efforts have been great and I hope you get into some ducks this year!!

[@jasonwaldon4351]

Man just keep at it the 1st year I planted my place did not make that much of a noticeable difference, but last fall and winter was like holy crap. By January I had around 1000 birds using my place on a regular basis. After season closed during February there were at least 2 or 3 thousand ducks using my place, to feed and roost and just loaf around during the day. So ya the 1st year I was a little bummed out because it is a ton of work, but I continued anyway and this last season was a major payoff. So just keep at it man year after year and you WILL see results

[@sjfd15]

Really nice work! hope the birds showed up for you this year.

[@bryancook3564]

Thanks! We really appreciate it Ryan

[@benlynch4759]

Do y’all flood out your field or just let the rain come in?

[@bryancook3564]

It depends if the river naturally floods the bottoms and fills the lake in a timely fashion. If it hasn’t by say early October, we get to work and have to pump the river

[@benlynch4759]

Bryan Cook thank you

[@tylersGBO]

I’m in West Tennessee think I could get by mid August just before September?

[@bryancook3564]

You’re pretty much the same climate as us I believe. I would say yes, just time it before a rain event and you’ll better your odds. Good luck!

[@tylersGBO]

Bryan Cook thank you for the response!

[@tylersGBO]

Frank Maggard it doesn’t take much for us to get wet. Shouldn’t be a problem. I’m hoping to plant in the in the next couple of weeks.

[@tylersGBO]

Frank Maggard thanks! Good luck to y’all as well. Happy hunting! And Growing

[@tylersGBO]

Got some dirt work and my millet in this weekend. Planted just over an acre.

[@jakealexander8093]

Thanks for making this video! I learned a lot

[@bryancook3564]

Jake Alexander you’re welcome buddy! Good luck this season

[@mattstuart9696]

Awesome video. Very helpful information y’all presented. I just planted some brown top millet on the edges of my duck hole in Southwest GA. Hoping to see similar growth results like y’all did! Would love to see more videos!

[@bryancook3564]

Matt Stuart thanks man! We actually have some good blind build video to post. Hopefully sometime. Good luck this next season!

[@riverratpat259]

@matt How did your millet turn out? I’m 34 miles east of Atlanta.

[@mattstuart9696]

RiverRatPat after i broadcasted the millet, I got a fairly good stand from almost all of the seed. Unfortunately, the seedlings didn’t get the rainfall they needed to keep growing and I lost them all. Looking to try again this summer and pray for more timely rains.

[@riverratpat259]

Matt Stuart I planted the Japanese millet this year. So far so good. I may have planted it a little thick.

[@jasonwaldon7438]

@@riverratpat259 lol same here i didnt relize it would come in like that. I planted mine on mudflats and its growing like crazy. Its really thick. Im excited as hell this is my 1st year of managing my duck huntin lease

[@texascountry23]

Great job

[@bryancook3564]

Thanks! Good luck this upcoming season

[@Jakepeairs14]

Thank you!

[@hblawrence11]

How many pounds of millet did you all plant?

[@bryancook3564]

15-20 pounds per acre is what they call for. I put too much on the mud flat property in places and it did not grow as tall. It grew much better in places where spreaded thin. Don't overseed it. Good luck!

[@hblawrence11]

@@bryancook3564 thank you, we've planted small areas before but now we have more land to plant and just trying to get an estimate of how much we will need. How many acres total did you plant and how much did you use?

[@bryancook3564]

hblawrence11 just stick to that recommended rate per acre and you’ll be fine. It doesn’t have to be exact at all, just close. Sorry I don’t know our exact amount down as we did not have the right spreader for the ground work done. Hand spreading throws it way off

[@hblawrence11]

@@bryancook3564 appreciate it

[@ztpoutdoors662]

Ton of work in this video. Great jobs guys!

[@bryancook3564]

Ztp Outdoors thanks!!

[@jacksonseale7191]

Did the millet continue to grow once there was standing water in the field?

[@bryancook3564]

It did a little, but it was mostly mature when the water was put on it. They do say it will be fine as long as the leaves are above the water line

[@nature5199]

Dont hunt ducks

[@danieljoseph3647]

my bad if this is an obvious answer, but when making an impoundment, do you pump water to fill it or rely on rain and snow water? thanks helpful video. thanks

[@bryancook3564]

Control of the water is key! If trying to plant corn or beans for example, you better have it real dry by May/June. Millet is easier because you can have the water gone and still mud flats and it will grow just thrown on top as late as August here in Missouri

[@bryancook3564]

I mean also if I don’t get a natural flood to fill the lake by say October, then yes I have the resources to pump at that point

[@ryneemerick6702]

Thanks for posting! Would love to have a duck pond like this some day!

[@bryancook3564]

Thanks Ryne, it was a cool process for sure. You'll get one someday just keep working hard at it!

[@verdellmatter4372]

@@bryancook3564 !!!!.

[@jasonwaldontoolsandmachini8370]

I have a question... I lease a pretty large pond, probbly 20 acres of surface water that sits in the middle of a mile section between several ag feilds planted with corn most of the time. Its just north of Joplin Mo here in sw missouri. During the summer the farmer/landowner pumps alot of the water out for irrigation on his crops so I was thinking about going in and just spreading by hand millet on the banks while the water is down. My question is this: How do you think that would turn out? And when do you think i should do it? Again its just going to be broadcast on the mud by hand there no way to get any type of equipment in there even if i had any. Thanks for any feedback

[@bryancook3564]

Sounds like a real nice property! I would say you are good from about beginning of July to the end of August, maybe even a week or so into September to throw it out. Now I'm telling you it is miserable work so have some good tight knee boots, Lol. Catch it when it's still muddy and you'll be in real good shape. Remember if that lake refills during growth it has to be above water some to survive. Good luck!

[@jasonwaldontoolsandmachini8370]

@@bryancook3564 awesome... Thanks for the reply!!!

[@bryancook3564]

@@jasonwaldontoolsandmachini8370 Hey I forgot to mention that the areas that were spread on the mud flats at the one property that were a little lighter grew taller with better seed heads. It's hard to limit it flinging it by hand, but the areas that were thick kind off choked themselves out a bit. Still produced seed heads, but not as large in size. So in other words don't layer it on thick, not needed. Good luck

[@jasonwaldontoolsandmachini8370]

@@bryancook3564 thanks ill definitely keep that in mind. Do you have an email? Id like to send you a couple videos of this place... I just got it at the end of this season we havent even hunted it yet. I got it for next year and years ongoing. We didnt hunt it, just been watching it to see how the birds use it. Ive seen alot of ducks there but im hoping to make it even better with the millet.

[@bryancook3564]

@@jasonwaldontoolsandmachini8370 Sure it's [e-mail]. My friends property in the video where the tractor work was done is near Nevada, so not too far from you.

[@jasonwaldon7438]

How did your buddys other place in this video turn out? Curious if the june planting worked out

[@bryancook3564]

It turned out real well. His success went way up compared to normal. He also thought there was a small percentage of re-germination from fallen seeds that helped the next season also. I found that surprising

[@jasonwaldon7438]

@@bryancook3564 my millet is now 3 weeks old and looking good. I would like to have waited but i had to jump on this dry spell as i dont have much control over water levels and if i wait theres a good chance rain will fill my place back up and wouldnt get another chance. I planted mine about the same time as your buddy in this vid (june 12) so did your buddys place still have the seeds pretty well during actual season??

[@bryancook3564]

@@jasonwaldon7438 oh yes millions of seeds. Man I think you're going to be in good shape. The stuff really is amazing and grows like crazy

[@jasonwaldon7438]

@@bryancook3564 are you doing anything this year with your place??

[@jasonwaldon7438]

@@bryancook3564 are you planting anything this year? Prime time right now with the drier weather

[@friendlystranger167]

Have you thought about the health of the pond when you intercept a bunch of its water?

[@bryancook3564]

I'm confused here, when you say "intercept" do you mean stop it from filling naturally? So you know beforehand this is a flood plane natural oxbow, that has been banked up all around it to retain water during the hunting months. It naturally dries out on its own 90% of the time during July and August every summer.

[@friendlystranger167]

Are you saying the pond is seasonal? If so, I say use it however seems fit. If permanent it may be a benefit to keep an eye on where the water is ending up and from what watersheds.