142 Louisiana Sportsman^ | April 2015
The
season opened on March 28
in all of the three regions of
the state. There is a reason for
this: Our turkey population
in Louisiana is somewhat
limited, so the Louisiana
Department of Wildlife and Fisheries does not want hunters
jumping around the state going from one area to another, like
deer hunters do during that season.
Turkey hunters have to decide where they are going to hunt
on opening day, without the luxury of going from one area to
another if the seasons opened on different weekends as they
have in the past.
Some hunters in the state like the season to open as early as
possible; many like the Mississippi turkey season that always
opens on March 15.
Of course, the turkey population in Mississippi is much greater
than the one in Louisiana, so the state can afford to open early.Louisiana’s wildlife biologists open our season so a majority of
hens would be bred before gobblers are harvested.
But many hunters are not concerned with biology — if the
toms are gobbling the season should be open.
I have always liked a season that runs as late as possible. The
reason is simple: Once hens are nesting, they stop going to the
toms and that means gobblers have a tendency to come to you
because they still have a strong affection for the ladies.
As long as a live hen is with them they aren’t too concerned
about a hen in the bushes that they cannot see.
Gobbling activity in North Louisiana seems to occur a little
later than, say, in the Florida Parishes, so hunters up there tend
to like a later season, also.
Some hunters would also like to see a split season: open the
season when the gobbling begins, close it for a week or so after
two weeks of hunting, and then open it back up. This season
structure does have merit and might be worth experimenting
with in Louisiana.
>Tagging out
These two gobblers were probably
2-year-old toms born in 2013.