Crops to Plant

The most popular crops to plant for doves in the Southeast are browntop millet, dove prove millet, sunflowers, sorghum and corn (Table 4). These are all good for early and mid-season hunting. Corn and sorghum are often preferred for late-season hunting. Consider planting four to six rows of tall crops such as corn or sorghum as a border along the edge of short crops. This tall cover will help hide hunters.

**Table 4:** Table 4. Guide to favorite plantings for dove fields.
PLANT²	SOIL & pH³	PLANTING RATE	PLANT DATE	TIME TO MATURITY⁴	REMARKS
millet, browntop	well-drained 6.0	drill 8-10 lbs seed/acre; broadcast 15-20 lbs/acre	April 1-July 1	60-70 days	Can produce 1200 lbs. of seed/acre; plant 1/2-1 $\prime\prime$ deep; can be sown on top of ground
miller, proso	well-drained 6.0	drill 9-10 lbs/acre; broadcast 15-20 lbs/acre	April 1-July 1	75-80 days	Can produce 1500 lbs. of seed/acre; plant 1/2-1 $\prime\prime$ deep; can be sown on top of ground
corn	fertile, well-drained loam 6.0-6.8	space at 8-10 $\prime\prime$ in 36 $\prime\prime$ rows (ca. 7 lbs/acre)	March 15-June 1	80-100 days	Plant 1-2 $\prime\prime$ deep; can produce 5600 lbs. of seed/acre
sorghum, grain	all 5.8-6.2	drill 5-8 lbs/acre in 36-44 $\prime\prime$ rows, with 2-8 $\prime\prime$ between plants; broadcast 10-20 lbs/acre	March 15-June 1	95-130 days	Plant 1-2 $\prime\prime$ deep; deer may eat grain in ear can produce 2500 lbs. of seed/acre
sunflower	all, but best on fertile loam	broadcast 5 lbs/acre in 36 $\prime\prime$ rows; 12 $\prime\prime$ apart in row	June 1-June 30	90-100 days	Plant 1 $\prime\prime$ deep; small plants very vulnerable to deer damage; can produce 1200 lbs. of seed/acre; choose small-seeded types
wheat	well-drained, heavy 6.0	drill 2 bushels/acre	N Ga: Oct 15-Nov. 1; S Ga: Nov. 1	180 days Plant 1 $\prime\prime$ deep; can produce 1500 lbs. of seed/acre; provides grazing for deer during fall, winter and spring