Quail/Dove Plot: Seed?

[Chuck R.]

I'm thinking of turning one of my plots (about 1.5 acres) into something for quail/doves.

I plan on tilling it up in a couple weeks (celebrating the arrival of my new 3PT tiller) and planting about 1.5 acres in an appropriate mix. This is what I'm thinking of planting, using my 3Pt broadcast spreader:

https://www.pfhabitatstore.com/store/10399/FP/Covey-Rise-25-bag

A week or two prior to the dove opener I'll mow a couple strips through it. I've got 1 big covey of resident quail that hangout around my deer feeder in the winter, we don't hunt them, but I'm sure they could use the help.

Has anybody done similar??

 

[Patocazador]

Most sorghums are tall and you are right to mow prior to the dove opener. You are lucky to have quail. I used to have a covey on my 60 acres but they all disappeared when raptors were protected.

I plant this and get good germination:
"Royal Wing Value Mix Wild Bird Food is a great blend for attracting birds like sparrows, doves, juncos, quail, and house finches. Milo, White Millet, Cracked Corn, Wheat, Black Oil Sunflower."

Get it at Tractor Supply or WalMart.

 

[Barbaroja]

I’ve heard sunflowers are a good crop to attract doves. Should make decent quail cover too

 

[troy fairweather]

I’ve heard sunflowers are a good crop to attract doves. Should make decent quail cover too

I can see that, in are black dirt region they plant sunflower often and I've seen a bunch flying round early morning. Unfortunately we can't shoot dove in New York.

 

[Armored farmer]

Lespedeza
Quail love Lespedeza.
Check out Real World
www.realworldwildlifeproducts.com

#1 son is a dealer in Real World plot seed. They have quality products . We plant Deadly Dozen for deer.

They have a dealer near you I bet.

 

[Chuck R.]

Lespedeza
Quail love Lespedeza.
Check out Real World
www.realworldwildlifeproducts.com

#1 son is a dealer in Real World plot seed. They have quality products . We plant Deadly Dozen for deer.

They have a dealer near you I bet.

Please tell me you're not talking about this:

https://www.jfcountyks.com/468/Seri...neata (Dumont,and wildlife habitats in Kansas.
Because I spend a bunch of money every year killing it. Here it's an invasive species that chokes out the native grasses and is a PITA ($$$) to get rid of once it takes hold.

 

[Armored farmer]

Welll......
I think it's Korean lespedesa...
But it didn't know it created a problem...so, forget that!

 

[Chuck R.]

Welll......
I think it's Korean lespedesa...
But it didn't know it created a problem...so, forget that!

I don't know if it's the same kind, but here it's one heck of a problem. They brought it in for all the right reasons to help with erosion, then found out the hard way that it's invasive.

IF the county finds it on your land they can actually ticket you if you're not actively working to get rid of it. Of course the chemicals that work well against it are the most expensive, and it has seeds that can lay dormant for years, so it's "the gift that keeps on giving".

 

[jmorris]

We always did best hunting the creek between the Sorghum fields my Great Uncle farmed. Nothing else has been close but I have never been to Argentina and I hear they are ridiculous there.

 

[Shanghai McCoy]

Sericea Lespedeza is different from the Korean according to that JF County attachment.

 

[Armored farmer]

I don't know if it's the same kind, but here it's one heck of a problem. They brought it in for all the right reasons to help with erosion, then found out the hard way that it's invasive.

IF the county finds it on your land they can actually ticket you if you're not actively working to get rid of it. Of course the chemicals that work well against it are the most expensive, and it has seeds that can lay dormant for years, so it's "the gift that keeps on giving".

Oh, man. I hadn't heard of that yet. My family has had four generations of quail hunters/ bird dog owners, but we farm for a living.
It sounds like our Autumn Olive problem. Introduced as food and cover for birds, but it spread like wildfire. It takes over a pasture in a matter of a few years.
Before that it was multifloral Rose....same deal.

 

[Atavar]

If you really want to attract dove and quail plant Rapeseed. They truly love those oily seeds.

 

[BigBlue 94]

Lespedeza is the same way over here in Jackson county. And we have a ton of it. Er, did. I killed a ton of it last year. We went to the county and got "pasture guard" and it worked quick and well. Just DONT call it "brush killer". It wont hurt the grass but kills locust and hedge trees and leafy plants.

And yes quail love lespedeza.

Quail need water, nesting habitat, and forage. A good amount of that forage is insects. They like certain types of mites and small bugs that like certain types of grass and lespedeza. They dont each as much grain as song birds. But they do love wheat and millet.

The nesting habitat is crucial. They nest in the tall grass that sprouts out like crab grass. Preferably with last years growth as a sort of foundation for the nest. Big and Little bluestem, indian grass, and side oat grama are good grasses to grow for them, for nesting and foraging.

The kansas forest service has some good info for quail habitat, specifically for eastern kansas. They mention sumac being good.

We have at least one covey of 10 birds. Saw a single male and female at the edge of the woods and my yard the other morning.