Pond Boss Forums INTRO Questions & Observations DOVE HUNTING

You guys got Birds? I have 5 slots open for anyone wanting a place close to DFW metro. Located in hill county 45 minutes to fort Worth, 50 minutes to Dallas. The nice farmer next door planted 400 acres of milo surrounding my pond this year. Should be good hunting. Last year was incredable but I had a 4.5 acre hole of pure clean dirt from constructing a new pond. It had only a mud hole for the birds to water,But dove love open dirt more than sunflowers I guess. A friend brought out some dove decoys, we all made fun of him until we saw all the birds turning circles and landing on them. He got the last laugh and first limit.

I just went 0-for-5 on a live pigeon shoot outside my machinery barn, so I think I'll pass.

0 for 5,man thats some shootin...just kidding

Maybe Theo is a lover, not a fighter...

I might be interested with my brother if you end up still having space. We are experienced hunters from the area and he is a active member of Dallas Woods and Waters. We live in Richardson. I planted sunflower around my pond and they grew but the flooding killed them. I should have put them up on the dam or in a different field so as of now we just have the watering hole to hunt but no grain. I've been wondering where we might go.

Theo you don't have to be a good shot to enjoy a good hunt, I can't hit any thing but I kill alot of beer. There's no limit on them.

I used to love dove hunting. Now, I can't hit them. Thanks, but no sense embarrasing myself.

Hey, wait a minute. If Sunil brings the beer....

Rockytopper-

Where is it located? Might be interested...

Theo,

My dad told us to put salt on their tails when they are roosting. When they turn around to lick it off -- that's the time to get them!

Ken

I am hoping to get my licks in on them before they get down to you guys - migrators that is! I have planted 3-4 acres the past 3 years next to my pond. If you go to the trouble to keep the sunflowers clean (and it is some work!), the dove use is unbelievable. I mow down the sunflowers down about a week before Sept 1. Here is a picture of the field this past 4th of July. " target="_blank">http://

Nick, gotta agree about the 30 acre paradise.

Beautiful, Nick. Looks like a painting. I bet you'll get a good chance to waste lots of ammo this fall. What is the variety of sunflower?

The sunflowers I have had the best luck keeping "clean" are Dekalb clearfield DKF 38-80 CL. This variety lets you spray Beyond herbicide over the top. It is the sunflower equivalent to round up tolerant soybeans. The beyond herbicide is very expensive but goes a long ways at 4 oz per acre. I hope this helps.

Theo, if your pigeons are roosting in your machinary barn overnight, go in with a flashlight, a tennis ball, and a large fish net. Pigeons are pretty easy to catch after dark, use the tennis ball to knock them off of the rafters when you can't reach them with the net. If you know someone who trains hunting dogs they would gladly take your barn pigeons off your hands.

Nick leave a few for us poor TEXACANS. The birds in these parts don't have much meat on the bone except for the ones that live in the metro areas and feast on bird feeders. The Fat purple breasted Kansas birds are a site to see when the cold fronts start blowing down.

Fisherdan it is located in northen hill county between Grandview and Itasca. About 5 miles from I-35. It is an hour and 15 minute drive to plano my son lives there. Who knows Fisherdan you might find that bigger badder pond your seeking It's for sale by the way.

Wow, Nick. I'm impressed by the sunflowers...I'll have to try to find some of that seed somewhere around here next spring.

I've mixed sunflowers (black oil) with sorghum seed and had some luck in past years. However, since the first year I tried it, I seem to get SO much grass in there, the crop is squat. Need feed for them pheasants...

Now...if Iowa would just allow us to hunt doves, we'd have something, all right.

RT-

My pond is back up to 12 acres with all the rain, so I don't think I'll be allowed to buy another one any time soon (per the boss)

Fishman Dan forgive my ignorance. I remember your first post now some one posted the ad here and we were all drooling over the 12 acre pond for that price. You lucky dog those don't come by every day. It's no wander you thought the 8 ponds were pricy you've been spoiled. Youre proof that mankind will never be satisfried. You & Nick have given me small pond symdrone again.

...go ahead...just try to convince me that it came in stuck to the feet of a heron

I hope all of you save some birds for me way down south of San Antonio! Pepper a few tails so they'll come my way even faster.

Our 40 acre sunflower field did well this year, so hopefully the birds will cooperate. Those mojo decoys (dove and duck) work very well.

I want to see pics of the dove hunts come Sep 1!

I cannot imagine what hunting over a 40 acre sunflower field is like! We get alot of birds usig 3 -4 acres. Is the 40 acres harvested or do you mow it for the doves?

Nick the sunflowers in these parts grow wild more akin to a weed than the beatuiful varity you have planeted. In some case the fields are several hundred acres. What farmers usally do to promote good hunting for their hunters is mow rows and criss cross thru the sunflowers the birds really seem to like the clearing with cover near by.

"I don't care who you are, that's funny right there."

Lordiappologizeforthat...

Guys keep an eye out. The blue footed blooper has taken over the southwest and is reported to be slowly migrating to the east and north. Once these get loose in your pond there hard to get rid of. And believe me they can eat more fish in one outting than an entire flock of heron.