Question Food Plots

Coyote Chaser · 02-12-2008, 12:55 PM

I was thinking about planting some food plots for pheasants and quail this spring. What does everybody use for seed, time of year, and ground prep any info would be appreciated!

Michael

south of 41 · 02-12-2008, 03:34 PM

If you currently farm the ground just leave a few rows come harvest time...

cougarw · 02-12-2008, 06:58 PM

The best I have found for quail is millet and milo. for pheasants, corn.

OldBaldGuy · 02-14-2008, 01:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cougarw

The best I have found for quail is millet and milo. for pheasants, corn.

Coug, your response makes me wonder: surely someone has run a "taste test" on wild pheasants as to which they prefer? Back when I used to hunt pheasants regularly in S.E. Nebraska, we might get some birds up out of cornfield, or we might not, but the rare cut milo fields almost always produced some birds. I always assumed it was because the pheasants preferred milo, but maybe it had more to do with the amount of grain left on the ground after harvest...

Dad O. · 02-14-2008, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cougarw

The best I have found for quail is millet and milo. for pheasants, corn.

Out here the quail prefer Milo to millet. When I was buying wild bird feed the millet was the last thing to be eaten. They seem to like the dark colored seeds over the white ones.

south of 41 · 02-14-2008, 03:46 PM

OBG the reason you were more successful in milo is it has more stock density then corn stalks. Easier to get closer to the birds and they are more apt to hold a little tighter for a hunter.

Cant say for sure if it is a preferred food or not...

cougarw · 02-14-2008, 05:04 PM

Can't tell you on the cut milo fields. My plots don't get cut till spring when we disk them up to replant.

south of 41 · 02-14-2008, 05:49 PM

cougarw Do you knock over some stocks in the fall so the grain is more accessible to the birds or do the deer do that for you?

On the ground i hunt that has food plots i alway knock some down for the birds...

cougarw · 02-14-2008, 09:04 PM

Between stalks naturally falling over, us walking through and the deer, there is plenty at ground level for the birds. I have actually watched quail fly up and sit on the stalk to eat the seed. Also when it snows they can easily get at it.

02-12-2008, 12:55 PM	#1 (permalink)
Coyote Chaser Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Lincoln Posts: 65 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Food Plots I was thinking about planting some food plots for pheasants and quail this spring. What does everybody use for seed, time of year, and ground prep any info would be appreciated! Michael

02-12-2008, 03:34 PM	#2 (permalink)
south of 41 Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: sea monster Posts: 2,237 Thanks: 0 Thanked 15 Times in 8 Posts	If you currently farm the ground just leave a few rows come harvest time... __________________ The advantage of a classical education is that it enables you to despise the wealth that it prevents you from achieving. Eighty percent of success is showing up. RECOVERING NICOTINE ADDICT SINCE April 6th 2008

02-14-2008, 03:46 PM	#6 (permalink)
south of 41 Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: sea monster Posts: 2,237 Thanks: 0 Thanked 15 Times in 8 Posts	OBG the reason you were more successful in milo is it has more stock density then corn stalks. Easier to get closer to the birds and they are more apt to hold a little tighter for a hunter. Cant say for sure if it is a preferred food or not... __________________ The advantage of a classical education is that it enables you to despise the wealth that it prevents you from achieving. Eighty percent of success is showing up. RECOVERING NICOTINE ADDICT SINCE April 6th 2008

02-14-2008, 05:49 PM	#8 (permalink)
south of 41 Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: sea monster Posts: 2,237 Thanks: 0 Thanked 15 Times in 8 Posts	cougarw Do you knock over some stocks in the fall so the grain is more accessible to the birds or do the deer do that for you? On the ground i hunt that has food plots i alway knock some down for the birds... __________________ The advantage of a classical education is that it enables you to despise the wealth that it prevents you from achieving. Eighty percent of success is showing up. RECOVERING NICOTINE ADDICT SINCE April 6th 2008

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02-12-2008, 06:58 PM	#3 (permalink)
cougarw 2007 NEFGA Outdoorsman Of The Year Finalist Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: In the wild Posts: 1,478 Thanks: 7 Thanked 14 Times in 10 Posts	The best I have found for quail is millet and milo. for pheasants, corn.

02-14-2008, 05:04 PM	#7 (permalink)
cougarw 2007 NEFGA Outdoorsman Of The Year Finalist Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: In the wild Posts: 1,478 Thanks: 7 Thanked 14 Times in 10 Posts	Can't tell you on the cut milo fields. My plots don't get cut till spring when we disk them up to replant.

02-14-2008, 09:04 PM	#9 (permalink)
cougarw 2007 NEFGA Outdoorsman Of The Year Finalist Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: In the wild Posts: 1,478 Thanks: 7 Thanked 14 Times in 10 Posts	Between stalks naturally falling over, us walking through and the deer, there is plenty at ground level for the birds. I have actually watched quail fly up and sit on the stalk to eat the seed. Also when it snows they can easily get at it.