tullyhubbert Posted October 25, 2008 Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 I'm assuming the stuff I had to walk around today is Maize, there seems to be a lot of it in my area now when previously there was none. Currently about shoulder height, green, hollow stem, no corn on the cob, its Maize right? I'm thinking its not for corn on the cob they are growing it but for animal feed, so when is it harvested and how, combine? Seen a few pheasants dropping into it today, I doubt it but does it provide any feeding or interest to pigeons? -- Tullyhubbert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickeylove Posted October 25, 2008 Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 Sounds like maize but should have cobs on, will be harvested within the next month or so by self propelled forage harvester, spillages usually mean that there will be corn left on field to attract birds for a couple of weeks after. Farmers normally spread muck on the stubble which is good for ferals, crows and rooks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harnser Posted October 25, 2008 Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 If you should get lucky enough to shoot some maize stubble ,either from a farmed crop or from a cover crop you will be a very lucky man . This is proberbly one of the best crops you will ever shoot pigeons over . Harnser . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MM Posted October 25, 2008 Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 my wife looks like a head of corn...................... she has always got a cob on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tullyhubbert Posted October 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 Sounds like maize but should have cobs on Update, my bro now says here was indeed a cob in the centre of the stem wrapped in green leaves. I never seen any though it was dark first thing this morning and on the return journey it was chucking down with rain and my equipment bag weighed twice as much as on the outward journey! I'll call round and have a check tomorrow again. Thanks -- Tullyhubbert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tullyhubbert Posted October 25, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 If you should get lucky enough to shoot some maize stubble ,either from a farmed crop or from a cover crop you will be a very lucky man . This is proberbly one of the best crops you will ever shoot pigeons over. Excellent, I like the sound of that, there is probably 100+ acres of it beside barley/corn stubble. So a month or so to harvest, -- Tullyhubbert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harnser Posted October 25, 2008 Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 Excellent, I like the sound of that, there is probably 100+ acres of it beside barley/corn stubble. So a month or so to harvest, -- Tullyhubbert Hope and pray that your farmer dosent want to plough it in to quickly . Get into it at the first oppotunity . Harnser . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
V8landy Posted October 25, 2008 Report Share Posted October 25, 2008 Hope and pray that your farmer dosent want to plough it in to quickly . Get into it at the first oppotunity . Harnser . You mean like the farmed did over my back fence! Came home friday, it was cut, he is out there now (IN THE DARK!) ploughing it in! But think he is going to broad cast beans Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cushat Posted October 26, 2008 Report Share Posted October 26, 2008 Never had any luck with pigeons on maize stubbles this time of year - a few crows maybe, but that's it. Come Feb when they flail the maize cover strips... Now that's a different matter Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tullyhubbert Posted October 26, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 26, 2008 As I expected it's Maize. And it does indeed have a cob, you can tell Jake was impressed by the sight of his first cob, as was I Was chatting to the farmer on the ground next-door today, he reckons it will be harvested in about a months time. Apparently it's cut and everything (Stalks and cobs) is chopped into little pieces by a silage harvester and everything is fed to stock over the winter. There seemed to be 1-3 cobs per stem, I had a nibble at one of them and it was nice and sweet, certainly good enough for human consumption I'd say :look: Hopefully Cushat is wrong and the pigeons will flock to it when harvested Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
becassier Posted October 29, 2008 Report Share Posted October 29, 2008 I was down your way yesterday Tullyhubbert. I noticed quite a bit of maize being grown. Usually a fodder crop this side as we just don't grow enough of it for anything else. Becassier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tullyhubbert Posted October 29, 2008 Author Report Share Posted October 29, 2008 I was down your way yesterday Tullyhubbert. I noticed quite a bit of maize being grown. Usually a fodder crop this side as we just don't grow enough of it for anything else. Where a bouts are you Becassier? Have you ever seen pigeons feeding on Maize stubble? -- Tullyhubbert Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CharlieT Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 When maize is cut for fodder it is cut before the cobs are ripe. Because of this there is little chance of any maize grains dropping to the ground to attract pigeons and therefore maize stubble does not often provide good pigeon shooting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ballymac Posted October 30, 2008 Report Share Posted October 30, 2008 Lots more maize about n.ireland this year Tullyhubbert. Although we have a farmer who has planted it over the last 5 yrs or so and have found that it attracted crows for a few days but farmers tend to cut it so low and leave very little. Have never had any success on it with pigeons. Although will be keeping an eye on it in hte near future as there is 10 times more of it about. Good cover for the pheasants as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ballymac Posted October 31, 2008 Report Share Posted October 31, 2008 Was out today for a bit of a recce and noticed that a few fields of maize were cut. Must get a photo up, but the crows were taking an interest in it.But no pigeons. Found the pigeons on uncut spring barley, so hope to get a bit of shooting tomorrow and perhaps a chance at the pheasants. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
becassier Posted November 7, 2008 Report Share Posted November 7, 2008 Sorry for not replying sooner....been away for a few days on a shooting trip. I am in Co. Armagh, Tullyhubbert. We had some maize on our driven shoot, on one of the outlying farms. Held some birds later in the year but I never rated it much. It was harvested for fodder. Maybe I got it wrong but I reckon it's a messy crop and that particular piece of land, which was well drained, is now a muddy field. Could be the harvesting method or just the fact that our winters seem to be getting wetter in this part of the country. Was lying soaking in the bath last night and noticed webbing growing between my toes! Another sign of the wet weather here in Ireland I expect! Becassier Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mossy835 Posted November 7, 2008 Report Share Posted November 7, 2008 When maize is cut for fodder it is cut before the cobs are ripe. Because of this there is little chance of any maize grains dropping to the ground to attract pigeons and therefore maize stubble does not often provide good pigeon shooting. iv not had good shooting on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mickeylove Posted November 7, 2008 Report Share Posted November 7, 2008 We cut ours yesterday and today the stubble was covered with pigeons and rooks, unfortunately I was too busy to take advantage. There again, while on the stubble they're not hammering the rape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.