Milkweed Substitute

[checkerfred]

I was interested in the Milk Weeds for seeing wind direction but I've never seen any around here where I live. I asked my father in law and he said it's a summer weed. So I tried to find an alternative. I found some white feathers and have been using them. Down type feathers, especially the back fuzzy parts, work really well. They are light enough that they float a long way.

Anything else you guys might use?

[dan]

If you search Mikes threads he was using a single strand from yarn or something like that with great results.

[Edcyclopedia]

Belly Button Lint

[hunter_mike]

Cattail fuzz

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[checkerfred]

Belly Button Lint

I just checked...I'm fresh out

[checkerfred]

Cattail fuzz

[ Post made via Android ]

That's a good idea! I have some right by my house in a ditch that I can get.

[hunter_mike]

Cattail fuzz

[ Post made via Android ]

That's a good idea! I have some right by my house in a ditch that I can get.

Ya its harder to see at a distance and it also always somehow ends up flying up into your nose.

[checkerfred]

Cattail fuzz

[ Post made via Android ]

That's a good idea! I have some right by my house in a ditch that I can get.

Ya its harder to see at a distance and it also always somehow ends up flying up into your nose.

That's why I had thought about maribou
http://www.ebay.com/itm/LIME-BLOOD-QUILL-TURKEY-MARABOU-FEATHERS-EX-QUALITY-/130489438080?_trksid=p2054897.l4276

You can get it in all kinds of colors like this...it's light weight and floats like the back end of the feathers that I mentioned above. The white feathers I used I could see for a good 30+ yards

[checkerfred]

or this
http://www.ebay.com/itm/15g-2-wide-2yards-long-Marabou-Feather-Boa-Boas-30-colors-and-patterns-to-pick-/300959346564?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item4612932f84

I know you can get this at craft stores and possibly walmart

[dan]

I tried cattail, and it seems much heavier than milk weed and drops faster.

[backstraps]

Belly Button Lint

That may double as a flying scent wick! Just don't think that would be a floating scent a deer would enjoy

[cbay]

Been scouting lately and found what i thought was a type of milkweed. Come to find out it is called "dogbane" also known as "indian hemp". http://www.primitiveways.com/hemp_dogbane.html The pod looks more like a dark shriveled up green bean; but when you open it up it has floaters just like milkweed only a little smaller. Tried them out and they float very well, maybe a little better than some of the milkweed i had since it is a little smaller. Don't know what time in the fall they become usable, but will be checking this fall. Evidently it is one of the most widely distributed plant species in the u.s. as well.

[dan]

Been scouting lately and found what i thought was a type of milkweed. Come to find out it is called "dogbane" also known as "indian hemp". http://www.primitiveways.com/hemp_dogbane.html The pod looks more like a dark shriveled up green bean; but when you open it up it has floaters just like milkweed only a little smaller. Tried them out and they float very well, maybe a little better than some of the milkweed i had since it is a little smaller. Don't know what time in the fall they become usable, but will be checking this fall. Evidently it is one of the most widely distributed plant species in the u.s. as well.

Very interesting... I have never seen it before.

[Spysar]

I had the same results as Dan on the cattail fuzz.

I've never seen that bean pod type. What state did you find it?

[cbay]

SW Mo. USDA has distribution map here http://plants.usda.gov/core/profile?symbol=apan2 If you click your state it will show by county.
Quite a few floaters in one tiny pod.