Imagine a lazy afternoon, the warm sun on your face, and the gentle cooing of doves filling the air. Wouldn’t it be amazing to attract more of these beautiful birds to your backyard or hunting land? Many people dream of this, but then they face a big question: what’s the best way to create a food plot that doves will love?
Choosing the right food for doves can be tricky. You might wonder what seeds they prefer, how much to plant, or even when is the best time to put it all down. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed by all the choices and not know where to start. But don’t worry, you’re not alone in this! Getting it right means more feathered friends visiting, and a more enjoyable experience for everyone.
In this post, we’re going to break it all down. We’ll explore the secrets to creating a successful dove food plot that will have them flocking to your spot. You’ll learn about the best plants to choose, simple tips for planting, and how to keep them coming back. Get ready to transform your space into a dove haven!
Our Top 5 Food Plot For Doves Recommendations at a Glance
Top 5 Food Plot For Doves Detailed Reviews
1. Domain Outdoor Dirty Bird Food Plot Seed Mix for Doves
Rating: 8.8/10
The Domain Outdoor Dirty Bird Food Plot Seed Mix is a game-changer for anyone looking to attract and support a variety of wildlife on their land. This 1/4-acre mix comes in a convenient 4.5 lb jug, perfect for creating a nutritious food and cover source for doves, pheasants, turkey, and deer. It’s packed with a premium blend of millet, sunflower, sorghum, and soybeans, offering essential food and habitat from summer through winter.
What We Like:
- Provides a highly nutritious food and cover source for multiple game species.
- Offers year-round benefits, with seed heads staying accessible even in snow.
- Fast-growing and adaptable to different planting times and soil types.
- Helps break up food plots and guide deer movement for better hunting.
- Comes in a reusable container for convenience.
What Could Be Improved:
- Instructions on how to raise soil pH if needed could be more detailed.
- Availability might be limited in certain regions.
This seed mix is an excellent investment for improving your land’s wildlife appeal and management. It’s designed for success, making it easier to create a thriving habitat for your favorite game animals.
2. Whitetail Hill Dove and Quail Food Plot Seed Mix for Dove
Rating: 9.4/10
Ready to create a wildlife haven right in your backyard? The Whitetail Hill Dove and Quail Food Plot Seed Mix is your answer. This special blend of seeds is designed to attract and feed a variety of game birds, including doves, quail, and turkeys. It’s also a great choice for deer, but they won’t eat it all up before the birds get a chance! You can choose between a 1/3 acre or a 1.5 acre size, so it fits your space. This mix grows into a food source and cover, giving your feathered friends a safe place to eat and hide.
What We Like:
- It brings in lots of doves, quail, and turkeys.
- The mix includes two types of millet and grain sorghum for a tasty meal.
- Deer don’t find it very tasty, so the birds get to eat.
- It makes a great spot for birds to hide and feel safe.
- This seed is tough and can handle dry weather.
- You can pick the right size for your yard.
What Could Be Improved:
- More detailed planting instructions could be helpful for beginners.
- Information on the best soil types for this mix would be useful.
This food plot seed mix is a smart way to boost your local wildlife population. It provides both food and cover, making your land more attractive to game birds.
3. Whitetail Hill Dove and Quail Food Plot Seed Mix for Dove
Rating: 9.4/10
Looking to create a fantastic spot for your feathered and hoofed friends? The Whitetail Hill Dove and Quail Food Plot Seed Mix is designed to do just that. This special blend packs in two kinds of millet and grain sorghum, making it a super tasty and useful food source for doves, quail, and even turkeys. It’s also built tough, resisting deer nibbling and handling dry spells like a champ. Plus, it offers great cover, giving wildlife a safe place to hang out.
What We Like:
- It’s a magnet for doves, quail, and turkeys with its yummy grains.
- The mix provides excellent cover, giving birds and other game a safe haven.
- Deer struggle to eat it, so your plot grows well.
- It can survive with less water, which is a big plus in dry areas.
- You get a generous amount of seed for a 1.5-acre plot.
What Could Be Improved:
- The seed mix might be a bit too specialized if you’re looking for a wider variety of plants for more types of wildlife.
- For a beginner, understanding the exact planting times and conditions might take a little research.
This Whitetail Hill seed mix is a smart choice for anyone wanting to boost their property’s appeal to game birds and provide a reliable food source. It’s a simple way to make your land more attractive to wildlife.
4. Tecomate Upland Game Bird Mix (20 Pounds) – Turkey & Game Bird Food Plot Seed. A Premium Attractant for Doves
Rating: 9.0/10
The Tecomate Upland Game Bird Mix is a special seed blend designed to attract and feed a variety of wild game birds. This 20-pound bag is packed with seeds that grow into plants birds love to eat and hide in. It’s made to help you create a food plot that will bring birds to your land and keep them there. Plus, it’s made with science to make sure it works well.
What We Like:
- High Yield: This mix grows lots of flowers quickly, making a thick area that birds will love.
- Attract and Hold: The plants keep growing, so birds like doves, quails, pheasants, and turkeys will not only visit but stay around for a long time.
- Backed By Science: It was tested in Argentina, a top place for bird hunting, and proved to be a winner.
- Grows Nationwide: Whether you’re in Maine or California, this seed mix with sunflower, white milo, and white millet will grow.
- No Till Needed: You can just spread the seeds on bare ground and lightly cover them. No heavy machines are needed.
What Could Be Improved:
- While it’s easy to spread, lightly covering the seed to help it grow might require some extra effort depending on your tools.
- For best results, it’s recommended to lightly cover the seed, which might be a minor inconvenience for some users.
This Tecomate Upland Game Bird Mix is a smart choice for anyone wanting to boost the bird population on their property. It makes creating a great habitat simple and effective.
5. Crooked Bend Branson’s Buffalo Blend
Rating: 8.9/10
Transform your hunting grounds with Crooked Bend Branson’s Buffalo Blend. This 50-pound bulk bag of whitetail food plot seed is designed to attract a variety of wildlife, including deer, turkey, pheasant, dove, elk, and duck. Simply plant these seeds to grow a rich forage that feeds and draws animals right to your hunting plots. It’s an easy way to create a natural buffet for the game you’re after.
What We Like:
- The seed mix is a powerhouse of nutrition, featuring daikon radish, crimson clover, cereal grain rye, winter wheat, and purple top turnip.
- It’s incredibly cold-tolerant, creating an organic attractant feed that deer, including bucks, does, and fawns, can’t resist.
- Drought-resistant clover seeds provide excellent ground cover and help prevent soil erosion, improving your land.
- Planting is a breeze with the no-till method. You don’t need any special plowing equipment. Just scatter the seeds by hand or with a spreader before it rains.
- The brassica crops in the blend are known to lure those trophy bucks right to your hunting stand in the fall.
What Could Be Improved:
- The 50-pound bulk size might be more than some smaller plots need, potentially leading to leftover seed.
- For those without easy access to a spreader, hand-broadcasting such a large quantity might require significant effort.
This Buffalo Blend offers a simple yet effective way to boost your hunting success. It’s a great investment for anyone looking to enhance their food plots and attract more wildlife.
Your Guide to the Best Food Plot Mix for Doves
Setting up a food plot for doves can bring exciting hunting opportunities right to your backyard. It’s a simple way to attract these popular game birds. This guide will help you choose the right food plot mix. We’ll cover what to look for, what makes a good plot, and how to get the most out of it.
Key Features to Look For
When picking a dove food plot mix, several things are important. You want a mix that offers what doves love to eat and what helps them thrive.
- Seed Variety: A good mix includes different types of seeds. Doves have varied diets. They like small grains and seeds. Look for mixes with milo, wheat, buckwheat, and sunflower seeds.
- Fast Growth: Doves need food quickly. A mix that grows fast means you’ll see birds sooner. Some plants sprout and mature in just a few weeks.
- Drought Tolerance: Not all areas get enough rain. A good mix should include plants that can survive with little water. This ensures your plot stays productive.
- Nutritional Value: Doves need good nutrition to stay healthy and reproduce. The seeds should offer protein and energy.
Important Materials
The “materials” in a food plot mix are the actual seeds and plants. The quality of these seeds is what matters most.
- High-Quality Seeds: Always choose seeds from reputable brands. Good seeds are clean, free of weed seeds, and have a high germination rate. This means more seeds will sprout and grow.
- Seed Coatings: Some seeds come coated. This coating can protect them from pests and diseases. It also helps them absorb water and nutrients better, leading to stronger growth.
Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
Several factors affect how well your dove food plot performs.
Factors That Improve Quality:
- Proper Soil Preparation: Doves need good soil to grow. Loosen the soil before planting. Remove weeds and rocks.
- Adequate Sunlight: Most plants need sun to grow. Choose a spot that gets at least six hours of sunlight each day.
- Timely Planting: Plant your seeds at the right time of year. This depends on your local climate. Follow the planting recommendations for your chosen mix.
- Watering: While some mixes are drought-tolerant, watering during dry spells helps plants grow better.
Factors That Reduce Quality:
- Poor Soil: Hard, compacted soil makes it hard for seeds to sprout.
- Too Much Shade: If your plot doesn’t get enough sun, plants will be weak or won’t grow at all.
- Weed Competition: Weeds steal water and nutrients from your food plot plants.
- Pests and Diseases: Birds, insects, and diseases can damage your plants.
User Experience and Use Cases
People use dove food plots for various reasons. Hunters set them up to attract birds for shooting. Wildlife enthusiasts create them to observe doves and other small animals. Families enjoy watching birds visit the plot.
A successful food plot means more birds. It provides a reliable food source. This helps doves survive harsh weather. It also supports their breeding efforts. A good plot is easy to manage. It provides enjoyment for everyone.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Q: What are the main Key Features to look for in a dove food plot mix?
A: The main key features are seed variety, fast growth, drought tolerance, and nutritional value.
Q: What are the important materials in a dove food plot mix?
A: The important materials are high-quality seeds and sometimes seed coatings.
Q: What factors improve the quality of a food plot?
A: Factors that improve quality include proper soil preparation, adequate sunlight, timely planting, and watering.
Q: What factors can reduce the quality of a food plot?
A: Factors that reduce quality are poor soil, too much shade, weed competition, and pests or diseases.
Q: What kinds of seeds do doves eat?
A: Doves eat small grains and seeds like milo, wheat, buckwheat, and sunflower seeds.
Q: How quickly do dove food plot mixes grow?
A: Some mixes can sprout and mature in just a few weeks, providing food for doves quickly.
Q: Do I need to water my dove food plot?
A: While some mixes are drought-tolerant, watering during dry spells helps plants grow better.
Q: Can I plant a dove food plot in a shady area?
A: Most dove food plot plants need at least six hours of sunlight daily. Shady areas are not ideal.
Q: What is the purpose of seed coatings?
A: Seed coatings protect seeds from pests and diseases. They also help seeds absorb water and nutrients.
Q: Who uses dove food plots?
A: Hunters, wildlife enthusiasts, and families use dove food plots for hunting, observation, and enjoyment.
In conclusion, every product has unique features and benefits. We hope this review helps you decide if it meets your needs. An informed choice ensures the best experience.
If you have any questions or feedback, please share them in the comments. Your input helps everyone. Thank you for reading.
Hi, I’m Robert Contreras, a passionate archery instructor based in the USA. With years of experience under my belt, I’ve dedicated my life to mastering the art of archery and sharing its intricacies with enthusiasts of all levels. Through my website, 10Bows.com, I invite you to explore a treasure trove of tips, techniques, and personal insights that reflect my journey in the world of archery. Whether you’re picking up a bow for the first time or refining your skills, I’m here to help guide you toward precision, focus, and a deeper appreciation for this timeless sport.