Sunflower field

[Gold Mallard]

I have access to the sunflower field where i dove hunted this year. They have not plowed the ground yet and there is still sunflower stubble. Would this hold birds? There is really no cover to speak of around the field.

Thanks

 

[Prairie Drifter]

The amount of herbicides and pesticides used to ensure a good sunflower crop generally leads to a lack of cover and insects in the plot. Unless there is adequate cover nearby for the birds to use, there will generally be few birds there. They will use the edges if there is cover adjacent. In lack of that, pretty tough to call it bird habitat.

 

[Lazlo]

The amount of herbicides and pesticides used to ensure a good sunflower crop generally leads to a lack of cover and insects in the plot. Unless there is adequate cover nearby for the birds to use, there will generally be few birds there. They will use the edges if there is cover adjacent. In lack of that, pretty tough to call it bird habitat.

That's what I found too. I ran into a couple fields that had alot of tumble weeds blown into one side and they held birds but otherwise no.

 

[siouxcitysmitty]

Can't say that I've ever cleaned a bird with sunflower seeds in his crop.

Has this been common for others?

 

[Gold Mallard]

That's a good point, Smitty but I've never hunted pheasants near sunflowers before so I don't have any idea if they eat sunflowers or not.

 

[carptom1]

I have cleaned many a bird plum full of sunflower seeds, especially in south dakota.

 

[keith207]

I have cleaned many a bird plum full of sunflower seeds, especially in south dakota.

Same here, but in North Dakota.

 

[oldandnew]

Add Nebraska and Kansas to the list. I have flushed quail coveys too. Yes the fields are thin cover wise, but the birds hang out in the edge in my case a somewhat wooly creek bottom and ran out to feed and quickly back to the edge. Sunflowers kept them in the area.

 

[mnmthunting]

Hard to beat a fresh cut sunflower field for hunting gamebirds. All seed eating birds love sunflowers. All types grain crops use herbicides and in some cases pesticides. Spring early Summer, won't have much effect on whats happening in the fields now.
Give the field a try, good for doves. The quail, if their are some around will be using it.

 

[only a pointer]

I have cleaned many a bird plum full of sunflower seeds, especially in south dakota.

ditto they lovem but not there fav

 

[BritChaser]

I have access to the sunflower field where i dove hunted this year. They have not plowed the ground yet and there is still sunflower stubble. Would this hold birds? There is really no cover to speak of around the field.

Thanks

Pheasants love sunflower seeds, but unless the filed is weedy there is no place for the birds to hide.

 

[The_Edouard]

They love sunflowers they are high in fat and thats what the birds need before winter. Let it be known that a sunflower stock will go through a tractor tire so it can mess a dog up pretty bad. Hunt the grass edges and the fields near by, you will find plenty of birds without having to go into the flowers themselves.

 

[mnmthunting]

Pheasants love sunflower seeds, but unless the filed is weedy there is no place for the birds to hide.

Yup for sure, Sunflower fields can be mostly considered a feeding area. Still a good place to hunt upland.

 

[Rusty Trigger]

You talking about the cultivated sunflower or the wild varity. I hunt them pretty good in the wild type.

 

[Gold Mallard]

Well I tried the sunflower field after work and nothing. I felt foolish walking through it, I might as well hunted the wal mart parking lot. I got one pheasant so far this year and I think that was just luck it was there. Central Illinois is really lousy these last years for pheasants. Bring back the mid 1960s. I use to see the birds walking down our street as I was getting ready for school and we lived on the edge of town.