What to plant?

[ScottBrown]

I am at a loss and figured a few folks on hear may have run into this before.

We planted millet in august and it was looking great. It was about to start heading out and we thought we were set. Well this weekend we found out that the farmer came through and when he disked his field he disked our millet.

I know nothing we plant now will have time to head out but we think we should plant something. What if we plant wheat or rye grass and flood it? Has anyone done anything like this?

What do yall think we should do, any advice is appreciated.

[JaMak84]

Better check with green jeans before you waste any more money. You planted a crop and it's been manipulated. Better be damn sure it never headed out before you hunt it.

[ScottBrown]

It had not headed out.

Does anyone have any advice on what to plant? My thought was if we planted something/anything it would atleast promote the growth of invertebrates and other insects even if the ducks do not eat the vegetation?

[jtdumallard]

we are kinda in the same boat. Interested to hear what the party says.

[DanP]

As dry as it is with very little rain in sight, whatever you plant will probably take 2-3 weeks to get out of the ground and another 2-3 weeks to get 6 inches of growth if your lucky.

Personally I wouldn't waste the time and money but if I were to plant it would be wheat.

[hntrpat1]

winter wheat

[JaMak84]

I'm with Dan. Under these conditions I don't think you'll gain any benefits from planting anything other than satisfying the desire to "do something". If we don't get a rain soon the farmers aren't gonna leave a blade of grass standing anywhere that'll take a disk.

[ScottBrown]

It is already broken up, and winter wheat is pretty cheap per sack. The way I look at it there is nothing to loose and may even learn something that could be usefull in the future.

[Wingman]

I've always wanted to try wheat. I think widgeon, gadwall, and geese would love it. Just make dang sure you are flooding plants, not seed.

[ScottBrown]

Thanks Wingman, I was wanting to hear what you thought about it.

[jtdumallard]

Our farmer was wanting to plant Jap Millet and turn the pumps on it to get water to it for a day. Not put standing water on it but to fill in the cracks in the soil.

[Wingman]

You are gonna be outside of the MCES recommended planting window for Jap.

The key here is to plant something the ducks will use, without getting yourself in trouble for hunting over it.

[hntrpat1]

you boys have never hunted sheet water in a winter wheat field? Your missing out. ALL GEESE love it. Put a couple of inches on 4 inch tall winter wheat and you would have to borrow trips sculling paddle to beat the ducks off of it.

[sab316]

Our farmer in Arkansas mistakenly planted wheat on our field instead of leaving our beans standing like usual. He said he was rushed and just had a brain fart. The wheat got up about 6-8", and then we flooded the field to where we needed to hunt. I don't know if it was the wheat and the warm temperatures we had for about a week or what, but the field STANK. The water was super thick, slimy, and gross and a deep hunter green. Ducks wanted no part in it. The years before it was a late season pintail hot spot and they were having none of it.

[Double R 2]

(1) Flood and roll with it. (2) lightly disc and impound with water for a couple weeks, the draw down for a couple weeks. Repeat, Twice if possible. Invertebrate bloom.