That's why you put a clip on the pod.
I dropped and lost pods for many years before I learned that trick.
Im including clips with each pod order that I send. Check out the thead "Pods for a Cause (milkweed)".
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Milkweed pods...
- Thread starter public_land
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I dropped and lost pods for many years before I learned that trick.
Im including clips with each pod order that I send. Check out the thead "Pods for a Cause (milkweed)".
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I never used cotton because I always had milkweed. That stuff was made by mother nature to float. That is its sole purpose...to float on the wind. What could be better than the real thing?
But man, get out there in the tree with milkweed and watch and learn.
Wind patterns and what causes patterns is fascinating and milkweed shows the most intricate air movements. Updrafts, downdrafts, reversals...amazing stuff.
Watching wind patterns is just a part of being an observant woodsman.
I don't like to rely on luck. Luck can come and go and luck can run out.
Knowing wind patterns ain't luck.
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I never used to see it. Seems to be pretty popular with the wildlife people. If you pay attention you will see “No mow” signs on the sides of some roads. Typically has a picture of a Monarch butterfly. I’ll try to grab a pic.
This clip.
Pods are pretty durable. Run a piece of dental floss thru it to tie to the clip or even a tiny zip tie.
A clip and zip is what Im including when I ship Pods for a Cause next month.
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IkemanTX
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I use a 35mm film canister with a small hole in the bottom. Open lid, pack full, pull milkweed through hole, let it fly....
To each his own. But a floater that was packed into a container will never drift as well as a pristine one that's right out of the pod.
Cramming floaters into a container damages and compacts the individual hairs.
I've used milkweed both ways and the pod works best.
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I would think if you pulled small pieces of cotton balls apart it would work similarly. I've never tried cotton specifically but if its light enough I would say go for it.
IkemanTX
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I have yet to consistently hold the pods together during drying. (of our specific species milkweed we have around here)
I had 18 pods wrapped with rubber bands this year, and about a dozen last year. Between both years, I have had a total of 1 pod not split cleanly on both sides anyways. My pods from this year separated completely.
So, my options are in a container, or nothing.
................................................................................All climbing methods, platforms, saddle designs, and/or use of materials possibly mentioned in the post above are not peer reviewed for safety, and should only be used as an example of my own method. Do your own research and testing before becoming confident in any DIY solution to support your life.
-IkemanTx
Hmmm, The only milkweed species that I've ever seen here in PA always has just one split and the split is always in the same position from pod to pod...it's always identical to every other pod. I can look at an immature pod 2 months before harvest time and tell exactly where the split will be located, and all pods split naturally. Containing the floaters within the pod during the drying phase is easy with our variety. I've seen posts where guys have said the slice open the split. There is no need to cut a pod with our species of milkweed around here. I just let pods naturally split open when the time is right. At that point it will be properly dry with primo floaters. Speed-drying an immature pod doesn't work well with our pods. For grade A floaters, you gotta let them fully mature on the plant before picking. Then lay them in a warm, dry place with rubber band around the pod to contain floaters.
I guess it's a mistake that gets made on a lot of forums...We assume that everyone else's situation is similar to our situation.
Whether it's food plotting, habitat work, rut timing, fawn drop, antler drop, etc, etc, we assume that guy down South deals with the same stuff as we do 1,000 miles away.
If you would like to try any of our variety, let me know. I'll be picking and shipping a few hundred next month. I can add you to my list.
I have no doubts that cotton will work, but not do the job as well as milkweed.
A prime milkweed floater is almost 2" wide when fully expanded and each little hair opens and separates on it's own when pulled from the pod.
That 2" floater can be often seen for several dozen yards. 80 yards in not uncommon in some lighting conditions. That distance milkweed is still visible is what makes milkweed really excel.
In order to form a pinch of cotton so it's as large (and visible at long distances), and as light and efficient as a milkweed floater will be a little tedious.
I'd still rather use cotton than powder, but I doubt cotton will show those super light, intricate air currents as well as milkweed especially at longer distances. I guess I need to to a side-by-side test...cotton vs milkweed. Let the best floater win.
rutjr
Well-Known Member
I don't think powder or cotton is anywhere close to being effective as milkweed fluff. Powder /cotton is too heavy and usually disappears in six feet or so, fluff on the other hand will float as far as you can see. Good stuff!
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Cotton vs milkweed.
I did a quick, non scientific comparison with floaters identical to this photo.
1st off...the milkweed comes out of the pod, instantly expands, and is ready to release.
The cotton has to be pulled from the container, and then pulled at and manipulated until its as fluffy as it can be. It takes a little fooling with it in order to make it as fluffy as possible.
Even then...the cotton floated almost immediately to the ground within a few yards. The milkweed was actually rising on an updraft while the cotton went to the ground. Current wind speed was less than 5mph.
You can't beat mother nature. She made milkweed to float. It does its job superbly.
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I did a quick, non scientific comparison with floaters identical to this photo.
1st off...the milkweed comes out of the pod, instantly expands, and is ready to release.
The cotton has to be pulled from the container, and then pulled at and manipulated until its as fluffy as it can be. It takes a little fooling with it in order to make it as fluffy as possible.
Even then...the cotton floated almost immediately to the ground within a few yards. The milkweed was actually rising on an updraft while the cotton went to the ground. Current wind speed was less than 5mph.
You can't beat mother nature. She made milkweed to float. It does its job superbly.
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There are certain products that are sold that have me scratching my head as to why on earth would someone buy that?
Wind indicator powder is a prime example. There are so many alternatives that perform much better and some of them is already in our bathroom closet. Who doesn't have cotton balls in the house?
Natural floaters...cattail, milkweed, or similar plant grows in most of our areas and it works best. Why send money to China to buy powder when the real stuff is all around us?
rutjr
Well-Known Member
I've got to admit, I bought the powder once and can remember when I used it, most of it fell to the ground right in front of me. An old timer told me about milkweed fluff years ago. When I worked at BassPro people would come in for the powder and I would turn them on to MWF!
As well as milkweed floats, it still most likely can't compare to how much our actual scent drifts on the air currents.
But milkweed is about as good an indicator as we got.
I really believe that most guys that say they " just hunt the wind" don't REALLY know what the wind is truly doing. Even with milkweed, our odor does things on the wind that no floater can ever show.
But until we find something better, I'm sticking with milkweed.
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VanHuntsInVTown
New Member
I love using these for wind direction! I keep mine in a ziplock bag.