We planted the dove field too late.. | Doves SAGGING the Power Line | Mowing Dove Fields

Join us as we mow the Sunflower and Millet Fields. Doves were sagging the power line when we showed up to the field! We might have planted the millet too late

[@Yellowlab247_NC_Outdoors]

The internet might have solved the issue: Sunflower Headclipping Weevile's ??? Yup, it's a real thing.. entomology.k-state.edu/extension/insect-information/crop-pests/sunflowers/sunflower-headclipping-weevil.html

[@DLXSKIFFMITCHELL]

Good info bud. I like to let my sunflowers dry out more. That way the seeds bust easier and if you watch the field a lot of times the doves will land on the head and lean over to eat. We also like to back down on our sunflowers instead of running over them. For us it helps break the heads up and not let the tractor smash them down before the blade hits them. I will start cutting a couple rows middle of next week. Try to keep fresh seed on the ground and not let a rain ruin what’s already cut. Good luck to you guys this year. It’s looking good!

[@hugeblue]

8/17/23 - Just started following & enjoyed the video along with all the info on type of food! Am a big Dove hunter also. Good luck. Chas.,SC

[@Yellowlab247_NC_Outdoors]

Thanks for the follow! Like to think it is worth the price of admission!

[@kennethmatthews6088]

Why do you burn the millett

[@Yellowlab247_NC_Outdoors]

Great question! It cleans up the ground and leaves nothing but the charred seed so the doves can easily find it and we can easily find shot birds.

[@billstone3634]

That darn Sasquatch

[@Yellowlab247_NC_Outdoors]

Ha! There are Big Foot's around these parts, according to Chadburn

[@cervus-venator]

Looks good and looking forward to what others say about the sunflower heads missing. I planted on May 20th due to the 75 to 80 day maturity of the dove proso millet. It is all ready now. Yesterday I mowed about a third of the field and the top of the mower looked like yours. Both brown top and proso seeds covered it. I'm still battling the crabgrass, but the strips I'd mowed previously I plowed due to the crab grass growing in them. Where I mowed yesterday I sprayed to hopefully kill the crabgrass that will try and grow up in that area. I also took the riding mower and blew a lot of the thatch over into the plowed areas spreading the seed for the dove. I saw a good bit of birds as I was out there working. I'll mow some more Saturday and next Wednesday too trying to keep areas open and the birds interested in the field. I'm also contending with a combined corn field just down the road.

[@adammullins4528]

The deer got you. They hammered me as well. They eat the heads 100%. When they get completely dry they’ll leave them alone but right when they flop over and the heads are semi soft my deer will hammer them right before they completely dry.

[@ethanraw1132]

I have had them eat them even when they are dry

[@Yellowlab247_NC_Outdoors]

like the entire dry head gone? @@ethanraw1132

[@adammullins4528]

@@Yellowlab247_NC_Outdoors yes. I wish I could send you pictures on here. I guess the seeds are like corn/grain to them. They bypassed most of the leaves and are the heads. Once they figure it out they’ll hammer the whole heads. It drops a lot of seed when they’re chewing that’s about the only positive.

[@Yellowlab247_NC_Outdoors]

I am realizing my seed was not "treated" this year. Last year it had the blue coating which I think helps with insects. Lesson learned@@adammullins4528

[@ethanraw1132]

@@Yellowlab247_NC_Outdoors yeah I have seen them do that I bet it was the young Buck you have seen , unless the seeds are super hard they will eat them , just like they eat the whole soybean pod and all

[@Kudubama]

Hard work paying off. Good luck. Not even going to hunt our sunflower opening day. Keeping it private. Paying members will hunt over grain field we are having bailed. It cuts it so clean.

[@Yellowlab247_NC_Outdoors]

Clean grain field is just as good ! Good luck

[@cmstreich]

someone clipped them and took them for decoration!

[@joeplott9592]

Looking good. I started mowing our sunflowers but honestly wish they were a little more dry. Felt like we needed some seed on the ground as while some did bust and get scattered there are plenty heads on the ground that didn't bust or scatter.

[@Yellowlab247_NC_Outdoors]

Might should have planted them a little sooner. Tough to know exactly when to plant due to weather.

[@heathdrye2212]

Deer ate em… same problem down my way. I think the pearl millet is a 95 day maturity.. so a lot longer than the brown top and foxtail. I planted some pearl this year. Learned the hard way that it takes longer to head out.

[@Yellowlab247_NC_Outdoors]

Did not know that about the Pearl! I should have looked it up. I assumed being in the same family it would be similar but that makes sense now. Thank you!

[@LAJ-99]

Deer will top em

[@Yellowlab247_NC_Outdoors]

I wondered, still a mystery! Could have been both. Got the field protected this year, electric fence video dropping soon

[@LAJ-99]

@@Yellowlab247_NC_Outdoors hey thanks for the reply!

[@Yellowlab247_NC_Outdoors]

@@LAJ-99 You bet, try to respond to them all

[@mrrobvincent]

Definitely deer…. Had same issue on my Farm this past year. Brown top millet is the way to go!!!

[@averypowelson2821]

If you have one of those small chippers you pull behind an atv, someone pull it throw the field or sunflowers or corn, have 2 people cutting heads or ears off and throw the heads or ears into the chipper it throws the seed everywhere, alot of the times with a bush hog it just lays them down on the ground with out busting them up.

[@Yellowlab247_NC_Outdoors]

Somebody else mentioned that, so I am cautiously optimistic about bush hogging

[@averypowelson2821]

@@Yellowlab247_NC_Outdoors Also bush hogging in reverse where the bush hog hits the plant first instead of the tractor. Also raise the bush hog all the way up on the hydraulics. That will help to allow the head to get busted up better.

[@Yellowlab247_NC_Outdoors]

This worked! Giving you credit in the next video, thank you!!@@averypowelson2821

[@tjs4220]

Deer got em

[@brendondubroc9285]

My clearfields did the same thing . I was wondering where the heads went. My brown top was more successful and much less expensive than the clearfield sunflowers. I thought it was deer at first , but I have pictures of all the flowers, then bam . Gone .

[@Yellowlab247_NC_Outdoors]

I've just never seen deer eat the entire head after it bloomed??

[@brendondubroc9285]

Me either . Why I do not think it is deer. Have you asked seed company ? Wish I could add a picture of before and after . It look just like yours. I did a couple at my house in the garden. Near my dogs , two made big heads , several same thing, heads , gone . Under a dusk to dawn light , near my fence , which hold five dogs .

[@Yellowlab247_NC_Outdoors]

entomology.k-state.edu/extension/insect-information/crop-pests/sunflowers/sunflower-headclipping-weevil.html@@brendondubroc9285

[@adammullins4528]

@@brendondubroc9285 you probably had head clipping weavils. They will make it look like a razor blade cut the head off. Deer will leave a messier cut where they chew on it. They will 100% eat the heads. They’ve cleaned up 1.5 acres of my field mostly just the heads and very few leaves. I chase them off the field at night whenever I get a chance and they come right back

[@brendondubroc9285]

@@Yellowlab247_NC_Outdoors learned something new . I also clicked on the management link in the article with some options for insecticide next year . Good stuff. Good luck on the season. Always look forward to your videos . Weekend burn baby ! Burn baby burn !

[@bobbywatts222]

I've heard that bears are known to do a lot of damage to sunflowers also

[@Yellowlab247_NC_Outdoors]

They are around here, not many but folks see them (mainly bee keepers)

[@erinfranklin5463]

Look like weevils are cutting the heads off. If you watch your previous videos some of the heads are already missing.

[@Yellowlab247_NC_Outdoors]

I too noticed than when looking back! Was busy filming and didnt even notice at the time. Lessons learned!

[@bhein57]

Squirrels

[@ronracz9145]

What is the purpose of burning??

[@Yellowlab247_NC_Outdoors]

Great question! It cleans up the ground and gets rid of all the stalks, leaves and debris we dont need that make it harder for doves to get the seed. Burning leaves clean bare ground with seed on it. check out last years video "Burnin it down" kzbin.info/www/bejne/sJa3lWaNdp5-bLs

[@Gabucks1]

3-4 deer could easily do that

[@Yellowlab247_NC_Outdoors]

I've just never seen them eat the entire head after it bloomed??

[@Dirtroadboy1]

Yep! Deer ate mine slam off identical to yours!

[@Yellowlab247_NC_Outdoors]

I am thinking it was "D" all the above. Thanks! @@Dirtroadboy1

[@rickfranks13]

Deer

[@robertfloyd9940]

No sunflower heads/buds. Deer.

[@Yellowlab247_NC_Outdoors]

I've just never seen deer eat the entire head after it bloomed??