I did golden millet this year but ran into the same problem as you with water levels. I've been looking into wild rice myself and I think that's the move!
We mix buckwheat in with our millet for our early season birds. They prefer it over the millet so there will be some left for a second push of birds. We flood our corn for the end of season when calories count.
Mother Nature doesn’t grow in monocultures. So, instead of singling millet or rice, try a mix of different species and subspecies. Also, a slow draw down of water in early spring will stimulate the native plants already growing and/or the seeds that are there. If they don’t grow well or you get some invasives/undesirables, just kill them off and go with the planting option.
Thanks for the advice Kobe! I'll definitely put some thought into planting a mixture of species and plan on trying to do a slow draw down as well if I can
Managing habitat = Conservationist The world needs all it can find. Congratulations to the winners. An old man once told me you spend all year building the perfect place for birds in beautiful weather to spend a month in the cold and rain shooting at them. Doesn't matter which bird you hunt, you learn to enjoy the conservation more than the hunting. When in West Texas I can't tell you how many blue quail we relocated on those few good years. I'd talk to your county agent about planting rice. It may not thrive in your area for one reason or another.
Haha I've never though about it like that but I'd say that old man hit the nail on the head! This project has given me something to look forward to in the "offseason" and I most definitely enjoy this kind of work just as much as the actual hunting. Thanks for the advice about the county agent, I'll be looking into contacting one before I get started on any planting
We planned Millet on a pond early season it didn’t have enough water in it for the birds to care but late season we got some water and we had wood ducks and mallards ever they seem to love it
You may not have had the birds on the pond when you wanted BUT, you did establish a feeding spot for them. Returning birds will remember that and be back next year. They will bring more birds with them and the numbers will be even higher. I do think that ducks recognize the color of rice from a higher altitude than millet. That may pull some other species in. I hope you get the permission to do it again. You may end up planting more than the acre. Thanks for the great videos this season and look forward to next season!
Thanks Gil! I definitely think I can squeeze another 1/2 acre at least out of this pond for planting next season. Already looking forward to getting to work on next seasons projects
I have the ability to take water off and can close and open my water control without too much difficulty but I just don't have the ability to pump water
That's difficult to actually determine the full extend of the planting effort... the high water seems to gave raised havoc on the effort, that is for sure.
Thomas sounds like you have a plan in the works . Never hunted over any of that just natural food source . Today was my last day of Duck hunting . In Florida if your Military or a Veteran you get two more day to hunt and I`m a Veteran . Thanks a lot on the videos enjoyed them all hope you keep putting something else together . My lake is loaded with Woodies but they do get scarce later in the season .
Great video Thomas, been wondering how the pond did. We didn’t plant this year maybe next....high water was our main issue, scattered what birds we got and we didn’t get the weather until the last weekend of the season. You take care keep in touch...hopefully headed your way next season......
Thanks Matt! High water led to our birds being scattered big time as well up here. Hopefully next season we can get back to having some real winter here on the east coast. Would love to have you come up this way
Are you in school for wildlife biology or habitat management? It seems like you have a passion for it and I was wondering if you have any tips for anyone interested in the field
I'm an environmental science major since that's the closest thing my school had to wildlife management. I would like to get a wildlife biology masters degree though. My biggest tip would be to look for schools where you think you'll have the ability to get hands on field experience
@@HokeOutdoors so would you recommend a degree in wildlife management or wildlife biology? I want to work heavily with upland game as my primary source of work but I wouldn’t mind working with waterfowl either. I would like to design management plans and put them into place. Do you have any advice?
BTW sorry I didn’t get a chance to wish you a safe trip back home I wish everything went smooth for you. Come back next season to Texas its big and there is a lot of greatness to discover!!
In terms of what we are doing you and I have exactly the same situation going. This second year I’m gonna do some wood duck boxes and either rice or corn with millet mixed
Thanks for the follow up Thomas. Great idea on the wood duck boxes...should imprint nesting pair and hatchling on pond. Since others in your area have had good success with rice that maybe the way to go. As you mentioned being able to regulate the water level is Key. "If you plant it they will come."
Thanks Sly! They definitely did come but just at the wrong time this year. Next hopefully I will have better control over the water and can get the timing right
Did anyone else do any planting for waterfowl this season? If so what did you plant and how did it go?
Golden millet, it prodeces way more than Japanese, and a month quicker.
And does a bit better in water
I did golden millet this year but ran into the same problem as you with water levels. I've been looking into wild rice myself and I think that's the move!
Planted Japanese millet myself. And got killed by the rise in the rivers during the hurricane season... hoping the rice will work for ya.
If I was to plant millet again I'd try golden for sure
keep this content coming!
Got my buddy Drew filming his habitat management on a similar pond this summer!
Will the millet regrow next season ? I’m planning to grow millet in a few hunting spots this year
We had some reseed this year so I'd say so
We mix buckwheat in with our millet for our early season birds. They prefer it over the millet so there will be some left for a second push of birds. We flood our corn for the end of season when calories count.
That sounds interesting might have to give that a try out here or at a different spot next season
Also what kind of trail camera did you end up using?
www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07Y9BP6R4/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o01_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Who loves feet down mallards
If you don't think there's something wrong with you..
Do cows eat this millet?
I’ve never planted it where they could get it but I assume they would
Planet corn and millet, at different dates. 2 weeks intervals all through the summer it will last
I don’t think I could get corn in here since I don’t have any means of bringing in equipment
How many bullets are fired? Beretta a400 ?
What drone do you use
This was filmed with a DJI mavic pro
Dope I have the mini 2. I take a lot of waterfowl video. The smaller drone seems to help not spook them for a more natural look.
Mother Nature doesn’t grow in monocultures. So, instead of singling millet or rice, try a mix of different species and subspecies.
Also, a slow draw down of water in early spring will stimulate the native plants already growing and/or the seeds that are there. If they don’t grow well or you get some invasives/undesirables, just kill them off and go with the planting option.
Thanks for the advice Kobe! I'll definitely put some thought into planting a mixture of species and plan on trying to do a slow draw down as well if I can
Managing habitat = Conservationist The world needs all it can find. Congratulations to the winners. An old man once told me you spend all year building the perfect place for birds in beautiful weather to spend a month in the cold and rain shooting at them. Doesn't matter which bird you hunt, you learn to enjoy the conservation more than the hunting. When in West Texas I can't tell you how many blue quail we relocated on those few good years. I'd talk to your county agent about planting rice. It may not thrive in your area for one reason or another.
Haha I've never though about it like that but I'd say that old man hit the nail on the head! This project has given me something to look forward to in the "offseason" and I most definitely enjoy this kind of work just as much as the actual hunting. Thanks for the advice about the county agent, I'll be looking into contacting one before I get started on any planting
We planned Millet on a pond early season it didn’t have enough water in it for the birds to care but late season we got some water and we had wood ducks and mallards ever they seem to love it
Glad to hear it worked out for y'all! Will you plant millet again next season you think?
When should I broadcast rice in VA?
I'm not sure, I haven't done much research yet into growing rice in this area
Try wgf sorghum
I don’t think I can get the equipment in there to drill or disk sorghum in. Have you had success just broadcasting it?
You may not have had the birds on the pond when you wanted BUT, you did establish a feeding spot for them. Returning birds will remember that and be back next year. They will bring more birds with them and the numbers will be even higher. I do think that ducks recognize the color of rice from a higher altitude than millet. That may pull some other species in. I hope you get the permission to do it again. You may end up planting more than the acre. Thanks for the great videos this season and look forward to next season!
Thanks Gil! I definitely think I can squeeze another 1/2 acre at least out of this pond for planting next season. Already looking forward to getting to work on next seasons projects
Another great video keep up the good work!!!
Thanks Andrew!
I have never had ducks mess with nutsedge. You're better off killing the nutsedge and planting more millet.
Interesting, they actually seemed to like it in this swamp. The geese got in there late and were rooting up the nutsedge tubers like crazy!
Good update.
Thanks
Definitely rice is a good option but if you have no control of the water it will never work
I have the ability to take water off and can close and open my water control without too much difficulty but I just don't have the ability to pump water
Yay
That's difficult to actually determine the full extend of the planting effort... the high water seems to gave raised havoc on the effort, that is for sure.
That was definitely the case. Not much you can do when two hurricanes decide to dump on the state in a matter of a couple weeks
Thomas sounds like you have a plan in the works . Never hunted over any of that just natural food source . Today was my last day of Duck hunting . In Florida if your Military or a Veteran you get two more day to hunt and I`m a Veteran . Thanks a lot on the videos enjoyed them all hope you keep putting something else together . My lake is loaded with Woodies but they do get scarce later in the season .
Thank you for your service Chuck, I hope the vet hunts went well for you! Hopefully next seasons plan will come together well
Beautiful little pond. Looks like it has a lot of potential.
Thanks Fritz! It definitely does, just need to figure out how to get the most out of it
Rice should work good you should do a combo of mullet and rice they pick the rice off reeaalllyy quick
I might try planting some rice in places and letting other areas of the point come up in volunteer millet and moist soil
Awesome that you're planning on putting some wood duck boxes up man!
I'm really looking forward to it! I've built some in the past but never kept an eye on them throughout the spring to see if they were successful
Keep it up your a really good duck hunter love ur footage !
Thank man!
@@HokeOutdoors anytime brother
Great video Thomas, been wondering how the pond did. We didn’t plant this year maybe next....high water was our main issue, scattered what birds we got and we didn’t get the weather until the last weekend of the season. You take care keep in touch...hopefully headed your way next season......
Thanks Matt! High water led to our birds being scattered big time as well up here. Hopefully next season we can get back to having some real winter here on the east coast. Would love to have you come up this way
Are you in school for wildlife biology or habitat management? It seems like you have a passion for it and I was wondering if you have any tips for anyone interested in the field
I'm an environmental science major since that's the closest thing my school had to wildlife management. I would like to get a wildlife biology masters degree though. My biggest tip would be to look for schools where you think you'll have the ability to get hands on field experience
@@HokeOutdoors so would you recommend a degree in wildlife management or wildlife biology? I want to work heavily with upland game as my primary source of work but I wouldn’t mind working with waterfowl either. I would like to design management plans and put them into place. Do you have any advice?
Try some wild rice this year. It’s going to be my first year planting this year. Going to try millet and wild rice
That's the way I'm leaning right now. Would like to hear how a mix of rice and millet works out for you!
Great video I like that wood duck footage
Hilarious
BTW sorry I didn’t get a chance to wish you a safe trip back home I wish everything went smooth for you.
Come back next season to Texas its big and there is a lot of greatness to discover!!
Thanks Moustafa! I hope we can get together next season if I'm out there, definitely a lot more of the state that I'd like to see
Awesome update man! Keep it up! Can’t wait to see the rice planting!
Thanks Chris! Would love to see you try some planting in timber spots if you could
@@HokeOutdoors I just may talk to the game warden and see if I could!
Maybe put trail cams up and u can see what all showed up
I did have a couple cameras up in September but when the water came up super quick they got drowned. I'll get another couple when I get a chance
In terms of what we are doing you and I have exactly the same situation going. This second year I’m gonna do some wood duck boxes and either rice or corn with millet mixed
I’d be very interested to hear how rice or corn does for you at your spot
Great video keep up the good work
Thank you!
Think ur doing a good job
Thank you!
Congrats to the winners...You are doing a great job..I hope I can hunt with you one day...all the best Nasser
Thanks Nasser! Hopefully I'll have more free time next season and we can get together
👍
Thanks for the follow up Thomas. Great idea on the wood duck boxes...should imprint nesting pair and hatchling on pond. Since others in your area have had good success with rice that maybe the way to go. As you mentioned being able to regulate the water level is Key.
"If you plant it they will come."
Thanks Sly! They definitely did come but just at the wrong time this year. Next hopefully I will have better control over the water and can get the timing right
Mallards bro
Yessiirrrr the mullet pond
When you do some more call give away let me know I'll donate some calls
I appreciate it Shawn! I'll definitely take you up on that for the one
First