When In Texas Should I Plant Sunflowers For Doves?

In Texas, the optimal time to plant sunflowers for dove hunting is from mid-March to early April. This timing allows the seeds to establish before the intense summer heat arrives. Common species planted for doves include sunflowers, which are seed eaters. The bigger the field, the better the hunting experience.

To attract doves, it is recommended to plant sunflowers in May or June, with a larger field being ideal. Dove fields can be legally manipulated to drop seed and make the setup more attractive to birds. For example, in Texas, dove season starts at the end of September rather than the beginning of the month.

Planting sunflowers in April to May allows the seeds to mature and be available to doves a couple of weeks before season, conditioning them to visit the area. After planting, there’s not much to do until early-to-mid August. Some people spray a post-emergent chemical or use fertilizers to help the seeds.

Native sunflowers are best planted in December or January, and food plots for dove are a widely used practice. In Texas, sunflowers are usually planted in May so that the seed will be dry enough for dove access by September during Opening Weekend.

Sunflower growth and yield depend on many variables, including seed variety, site selection, planting dates, seed bed preparation, and planting methods. Key considerations for growing sunflowers for dove hunting include variety selection, planting date, fertilization, and weed control.

Do sunflowers do well in Texas?

Partridge pea, a sunflower variety, is best suited for the eastern half of Texas, as it thrives in full sun and requires little watering. It is a preferred snack for deer and some quail species and blooms through October. Zinnia varieties, a drought-tolerant substitute, are also suitable for Texas gardens. These cheerful flowers, favorite of butterflies and hummingbirds, prefer full sun but still need moist soil. Zinnias planted now will bloom in early fall.

However, cautions for extreme heat should be applied, including wearing a hat and sunscreen, working in the morning when it is less hot, and seeking shade as much as possible. Some Texas gardeners have even been known to garden at night with a headlamp.

Can you plant sunflowers for dove hunting in Texas?

Doves are seed eaters and should be fed by plants that produce large seeds or grains. Common species planted for doves include sunflower, millet, sorghum, and sesame. Planting in April to May allows seeds to mature and be available to doves a few weeks before season starts. Dove food plots can vary in size depending on the property and surrounding habitat. A good location for a food plot is between mature trees and a water source. Multiple species can be used to provide food throughout the season.

Mourning doves prefer to feed on the ground, so planting in rows with bare ground for them to feed on dropped seeds is recommended. Shred or disc rows in the standing crop can also help doves feed more easily and help hunters locate harvested birds.

Is it legal to pick sunflowers in Texas?

The Texas Department of Public Safety asserts that the act of picking flowers in a public right-of-way is not prohibited by law; however, the department does advise against the removal of plants from their designated areas.

What is the best seed to spread for doves?

Sunflowers are a popular choice for dove hunters, but they are expensive and time-consuming. To plant red spring wheat seed, a chemical burn down is needed to keep the field free of weeds, which can stunt or choke the sunflowers. Doves prefer clean fields, so a burn down is essential for good hunts in September. Rounding up sunflowers in August may also be necessary to dry them out for seeds to drop.

To plant spring wheat, spread the seed and fertilizer in March or April, cover it with dirt, and burn the field in August to ensure the seeds drop to the ground. The right tools for planting include 120 pounds of red spring wheat seed, 90 pounds of Triple-13 fertilizer, an ATV, a compact ATV Disc Flip-Over, a harrow, a wooden pallet, cinnamon blocks, and a tow-behind seed spreader.

What is the best month to plant sunflowers?

Sunflower seeds should be planted directly into the garden after spring frost has passed and soils have warmed to at least 50°F (10°C), which occurs between April and mid-June in the northern half of the U. S. and Canada. Sunflowers are heat-tolerant, resistant to pests, and attractive to pollinators. They can be harvested in late summer and fall for a healthy snack or feed to birds. Sunflowers are annual plants with a daisy-like flower face and come in various colors, but are commonly bright yellow with brown centers.

They make excellent cut flowers and attract bees, birds, and butterflies. Sunflowers are heliotropic, turning their flowers to follow the Sun’s movement across the sky and returning at night to face the east, ready for the morning sun.

What month do you plant sunflowers in Texas?

The sunflower plant requires optimal soil temperatures of 50 degrees Fahrenheit or above when planting, typically in mid-March or early April. Planting after July 1 may result in lower grain yields if climatic conditions are not ideal. Row direction has little effect on grain yield, but prevailing winds may lodge plants if rows are planted across the wind. The sunflower is phototropic, with heads facing east in morning and west in evening. Seed germinates at 42 degrees Fahrenheit, but a 50 degree temperature is more satisfactory for uniform stands.

Climatic conditions during seed development affect the fatty acid composition of the oil, which determines its food value. Tolerance to cold and high temperatures contributes to sunflower adaptation in different environments. A firm seedbed is essential for rapid and even emergence, and excessive land preparation should be avoided to prevent poor drainage and downy mildew in areas with prevalent diseases.

What is the best crop to attract doves?

Grains like sorghum are a great crop for attracting doves and providing a good cover for hunters. For states with a split dove season, plantings made in mid-June will be mature with seed shattering by the early season. This article discusses the importance of food plots for other game animals, particularly mourning doves. While food plots for deer and wild turkey may not increase the number of animals on land, they can enhance native habitat and make it easier to see animals. For mourning doves, properly planted food can increase the number of birds found on a tract of land, at least for as long as the food lasts.

What attracts doves the most?

Dove food plots are essential for attracting birds to your property. While sunflowers are traditionally the most popular planting, diversification can be beneficial. Mossy Oak BioLogic’s Grain Sorghum is an effective alternative that provides food for doves, quail, turkeys, waterfowl, and whitetails. It is also a natural cover plant for quail, deer, and rabbits, making it an affordable alternative to sunflowers.

Doves prefer disturbed areas like new construction, mowed fields, gravel roads, and harvested crop fields, so herbicide-based weed control is essential. Dove fields that are weed-free require bush hogging near the beginning of the hunting season to produce an ideal environment for feeding birds. If planting time is right, controlling weeds during the summer months, and offering ample open feeding areas will attract more doves.

Dove fields don’t require much space, and larger fields will attract more birds, but even small plots can bring in a few dozen or more daily. Splitting fields into two different locations allows for more shot opportunities and allows for multiple fields to be hunted simultaneously. Doves are prolific breeders and sensitive to hunting pressure, so offering multiple options is better than applying too much pressure.

Dove waterholes are another important factor to consider. Their diet and digestive system requires frequent drinking, especially during warm months. Standing water that is accessible to the birds is essential. Doves seek out areas with open access to water without much vegetation, such as cattails, and use these areas to sift for grit to help digest their food. Maintaining an area of open access with a gentle slope or stock tanks and ponds can improve hunting success. If no water is available on your property, doves may not be attracted as they have to travel longer distances to rehydrate.

What is the best seed to plant in a dove field?

Sunflower, wheat, and millet crops are commonly cultivated in this region. However, research indicates that sunflower fields are more conducive to successful dove hunting. The use of sunflower fields has been demonstrated to result in more productive hunting outcomes at Prairie Wildlife.

What is the best time for dove hunting in Texas?

In accordance with the regulations pertaining to the special white-winged dove days, the hours of sunrise and sunset are extended from noon to sunset.

What are the best sunflowers to attract birds?

The ‘Mammoth Grey Stripe’ is a well-known seed sunflower, known for its huge golden blooms and strong stems that can hold the weight of fully developed seed heads. These flowers are pure floral gold, creating a warm basin of golden pollen and sweet nectar to attract bees and butterflies. They also feed both wildlife and humans, and Native Americans cultivated them as the “fourth sister” along with corn, beans, and squash. Sunflowers are North American natives, with natural populations extending from southernmost Canada to Central Mexico.

They were first cultivated by Native Americans nearly 3000 years ago for food, dye, medicine, and ceremony. Today, the nearly one-billion-dollar sunflower industry farmed and manufactured sunflowers for oil, food, birdseed, cut flowers, and gardening. Cultivated sunflowers can be traced to two population centers in the central and eastern US, and hundreds of cultivated varieties have emerged with diverse heights, flower sizes, and colors.