scolopax Posted April 19, 2017 Report Share Posted April 19, 2017 As 'hunter conservationists' should we give up on maize as a cover crop for game? On the grounds that is a sterile monoculture which only provides cover for game and feed for vermin. Should all shooters who have any appreciation for wildlife strive to replace their maize strips with cereal and brassica game mixes to support all forms of wild life, including the little tweety birds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ShootingEgg Posted April 19, 2017 Report Share Posted April 19, 2017 We dont use maize, have used sunflowers with great results, aswell as kale/mustard mixes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Konnie Posted April 19, 2017 Report Share Posted April 19, 2017 For a patch i have i have gone for chicory & canary grass all i have are wild birds so trying to maxamise habitat. this also benefits me as lower cost on tractor work, hope to see benefits in a couple of years, Only shoot cock birds on our walk rounds too, love the conservation side as much if not more than the shooting think that comes with age. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Salop Matt Posted April 21, 2017 Report Share Posted April 21, 2017 We dont have maize as a sole crop for cover, all ours are mix`s for all sorts of wildlife, only one this year has any Maize. Mustard, millet, kale, sunflower and lots of other bits in our mix`s ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scully Posted April 23, 2017 Report Share Posted April 23, 2017 (edited) We used a Highland Game (?) mix last year, just to see what it was like. It was fine for the first couple of shoots but big leaves holding copious amounts of rain water to then drop on birds didn't seem to work well. Whatever we trial, we always use Labrador and Setter as they have abundant varieties of seed heads for all manner of birds and wildlife. As an actual game cover, the best I have ever seen is fodder beet. Birds love it. We may have had similar results with our Highland Game if we hadn't just broadcast it. Edited April 23, 2017 by Scully Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dougy Posted April 23, 2017 Report Share Posted April 23, 2017 The badgers love the maize too, they soon flatten it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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