Dove Delight™

Dove Delight is all about attracting tons of gamebirds to your farm.  This premium blend features a diversity of millets, sorghums, and sunflower.  Dove Delight provides all the attraction from the top plant species that dove love while also providing excellent cover.  When soil conditions get dry, this blend keeps going until the next rain.  

Plant by mid-May for best results.  You’ll want the crop to mature prior to the season opener. Planting Dove Delight will make you feel confident you have all the grains birds prefer.  This blend will help hold birds longer on your farm. Mowing strips in August after maturity will scatter seeds on the ground making it easier for birds to feed on.  Avoid areas with extreme weed pressure where other plant species may have more herbicide options. *Always check your state’s wildlife manual for legal restrictions on mowing.

Plant one bag per acre.  Add 300 pounds of 19-19-19 at planting for best results. An additional application of nitrogen can be added before the plants reach 24 inches tall to boost grain production. Narrow drill rows or broadcasting is recommended for quick canopy closure to help with weed control.  Start clean and weed free, because with many blends there are no herbicide options once the plants are up. Plant seed into moist soil 3/4 to 1 1/2 inches deep.    

Management and Recommendations

  • Test soil pH and follow lime and fertilizer recommendations each season. If you do this each year, you may end up saving money on fertilizer.
  • Your soil pH should be between 6.3 to 7.5 (your soil needs to be at this pH level to allow plants to uptake nutrients). If you don’t have a soil test and know your pH is low, you will probably need to add a couple of tons of lime per acre. You will also need about 100 lbs Nitrogen and 50 lbs each of P and K per acre. Apply Nitrogen on dry soil prior to planting. Nitrogen can volatilize, so make sure it is rained in or covered within 2 days of application.
  • If no-tilling, use a non-residual herbicide such as Roundup (follow label directions) a week or two in advance of planting to desiccate/kill weeds
  • Planting should occur after your last spring frost when the soil temperatures are above 55 degrees at a one inch depth. To make dove season, plantings should occur before June 1st in most areas (check with your state game commission for more details). These plants don’t perform well in water-logged soil, so plant in well-drained soils.
  • It is best to prepare a smooth, firm seed bed without deep pockets and clods. Plant one full bag per acre. You can either broadcast or drill (1/2-1 inch depth) onto a smooth surface. If broadcasting, cover lightly with up to 1/2-1 inch of soil and firm up with a drag or roller. Avoid planting in hot, dry conditions. Don’t work your plot when it is wet, or muddy, this can cause compaction. You can plant in wide rows.
  • Plant in moist soil to obtain fast seed emergence. Fast emergence and canopy closure is your best defense against weeds.
  • In order to feed your animals well, you need to feed the plants well with proper fertility.
  • Always store seed in a cool, dry place prior to planting.

**Data courtesy of U of A (www.uaex.edu) and Texas A & M.