L_S_2015_04_

148 Louisiana Sportsman^ | April 2015

It is generally a good idea to go out and scout for turkeys prior

to the season opening. The excellent mast crop this year no

doubt kept the birds in the creek and river drainages where the

hardwoods are.

I noticed the group of hens frequenting our property totally

disappeared from October through December, but they began

showing up in January, visiting the clover strips and pine trees

that had produced an abundance of pine seeds.

This excellent mast crop will help hens and toms be in good

physical condition, and perhaps we will have a good nesting

season — should weather conditions be conducive during the

nesting and brood-rearing periods.

Droppings, tracks and scratching of leaves is evidence turkeys

are in an area. Most hunters also will go out in the early mornings

and listen for gobbling from roosts.

The seasoned hunter will advise not to do any calling when

scouting. No need to educate the toms before the actual hunting

begins; it is challenging enough as it is to call up an adult gobbler.

Once some toms are located, the hunter generally arrives in the

area before dawn and moves in as turkeys begin to gobble, sets

up and tries to lure a tom to him.

This is contrary to normal turkey biology because the hen usu-

ally comes to the gobbler.

If the setup does not work, the hunter moves to where other

toms were gobbling and tries again.

On large tracts of land with good turkey populations, running

and gunning is probably the normal method of hunting. The

hunter might also opt to go to areas where turkeys have been

seen — generally, areas where hens were feeding because

where the hens go the toms will also go.

On national forest land, hunters will often travel forest roads,

stopping and listening for turkeys, and then moving in once a

tom is located.

If the toms have the lockjaw and are not sounding off, a locator call

such as a crow call, owl hooter or woodpecker call might get them

to gobble. Gobblers will gobble at a variety of man-made sounds.

Once you know where a tom is roosted or where on the ground

it is gobbling, there is no need to keep crowing or hooting at

him just to make him gobble.

My turkey hunting is generally restricted to small tracts of land,

and the luxury of being able to run and gun is not possible.

In his two turkey books, the late Kenny Morgan talks about the

importance of observation and patience.

Observing turkeys during the deer season is a great way to locate

birds and identify their travel patterns.

I have tried to make our property as

attractive to turkeys as possible so birds

will visit on a regular basis. Turkeys can

travel long distances during the day

(which is why it is almost impossible to eat

a wild turkey drumstick).

So maintaining excellent nesting and

brood-rearing habitat, along with planting

turkey forages for all the seasons, will help

attract turkeys to your land.

Clover is an excellent food crop for tur-

keys in the spring, and it is best to incorpo-

rate this into your fall and winter plantings.

Chufa is a crop that will attract the turkeys,

but it will also bring in the pigs.

Bens Creek was a good turkey area pri-

marily because of all the chufa plantings

that LDWF did on the area.

— David Moreland

Turkey-hunting

tactics

310 New Roads St. • New Roads, LA

1-800-738-6537

e-mail: [email protected]

http://www.maggiobuickgmc.com

We are Professional Grade!

New 2015 Sierra 1500 Crew all TerraiN

2013 Camaro Zl1

2014 BuiCk VeraNo

2014/15 Sierra Sle, SlT, & DeNali’S

2015 DeNali YukoN/Xl’S

2015 Sierra 1500 Crew Z71

• Auto • Full Power • Quiet


• Economical Stk. #B14054
  
  
  • Quiet
  
  
  • Luxurious
  
  
  • Power Folding
    Rear Seat
  
  
  • Adaptive Cruise
  
  
  • Collision Avoidance
    Braking
  
  
  • Lane Change Alert
  
  
  
  


• 3 1/2” Lift


• Ceramic Window
  Tint
  
  
  • LT305/55R20 MT
    Baja ATV All Terrain
    Tires
  
  
  
  


• SLE Value Package


• Towing Package


• & Much More

Stk. # T15213

*With approved credit.

24 month special lease thru Ally W.A.C., Regal MSRP $27,590, Verano, $24,730, usage tax and fee extra. See dealer for details.

MAGGIO

2015 BuiCk eNClaVe leaTher

• 742 Horsepower!!
  
  
  • s upercHarged
    
    
    • s unroof
    
    
    
    
  
  
  
  


• Many upgrades


• o nly 6,000 Miles

Msrp........... .$54,201

MBg discount.... .- $6,000

custoMer casH... .- $1,500

gM Bonus casH..... .- $500

i. c. casH.......... .- $500

---------------------------------------

final sale price... $45,451

Msrp........... .$46,165

MBg discount.... .- $4,500

custoMer casH... .- $1,500

Bonus casH........ .- $500

i. c. casH.......... .- $500

----------------------------------------

final sale price... $39,165

Msrp.......... .$26,385

Bonus casH..... .- $4,222

----------------------------------

final sale p rice .$22,163*

76

availaBle

Maggio•BuicK•gMc

• gooD SeleCTioN!!


• TremeNDouS DiSCouNTS!!


• greaT SerViCe!!

on

B

ea

utif

ul^ False

(^) ri
ve
r
2015 2500hD/3500hD
good selection
in stocK now
cHoose froM
gas or diesel

• Luxury


• Styling


• Comfort


• Leather
  
  
  • Quiet
  
  
  • Luxurious
  
  
  • Navigation
    Stk #B15012
  
  
  
  

Msrp........... .$46,360

MBg discount.... .- $4,000

custoMer casH... .- $1,000

Bonus casH........ .- $500

----------------------------------------

final sale price... $40,860

175 New BuiCkS & gmCS aVailaBle

LEFT: Jimmy Stafford and sons David and

Brandon are turkey-hunting machines David

killed this Missouri gobbler. ABOVE: Crow

calls, owl hooters and woodpecker calls can

be used to provoke a tom into gobbling.