[KemperCamper]

Any ideas on what to plant in late winter or early spring that would be attracting/holding turkeys in an area come spring turkey season ?
Anyone ever had any luck with frost seeding ?

 

[luckless]

Was wondering the same myself. Anything I can plant now that would be beneficial this spring?

 

[thompson]

Winter wheat would have been good about September or October. Right now,I don't know what to tell ya.

 

[KemperCamper]

I already planted over half the food plot with winter wheat, oats, clover and brassica in October and it's doing great, but was
thinking of planting something that would give them some new growth into the late spring and early summer.
Any ideas ? I was thinking that winter wheat & clover would probably grow especially as mild of winter as we have had so far.

 

[sioux]

You can plant any of the previously mentioned cool season grains in the early spring. If i was going to plant clover, I would do it without the grains in order to limit competition for light. Cool season annuals tend to get ahead of clover and shade it out. If your pH and fertility are good, you can also look at alfalfa. There are some adapted varieties for Arkansas that do really well and they can be planted in late winter/early spring. Something else you may want to consider is just keeping a spot disked up. Turkeys like fresh worked ground to scratch in, at least that has been my experience.

 

[SwampCat]

I tried some frost seeding last year - with no luck. The clover I planted last fall is up - about 1/2 inch high - not tall enough to do anything yet. Wheat will grow - at least a little - as long as it is above 32 degrees. Lots of farmers plant wheat in spring for grazing.

 

[REM870]

chouffa

 

[thompson]

If you dont have hogs. Coons are bad to dig this up as well.

 

[sleepy]

Last year I saw more Jake's and hens in plots that had been disk than I did in the plots we frost planted. They seemed to hang out just pecking in the disk areas.

 

[KemperCamper]

Last year I saw more Jake's and hens in plots that had been disk than I did in the plots we frost planted. They seemed to hang out just pecking in the disk areas.

When did you guys disc the food plots ? How long before the opening of season ?

 

[SwampCat]

Topsown wheat at 200 lbs to the acre about a week before season - if there are turkeys in your area, they will be in your foodplots - so will GW.:biggrin:

 

[silentassassin]

Topsown wheat at 200 lbs to the acre about a week before season - if there are turkeys in your area, they will be in your foodplots - so will GW.:biggrin:

It doesn't matter if the GW shows up or not because that would be considered a normal agricultural practice and the exact scenario has already been beaten in court.

 

[SwampCat]

It doesn't matter if the GW shows up or not because that would be considered a normal agricultural practice and the exact scenario has already been beaten in court.

As long as the wheat is planted between Aug 15 and April 1st - this is true. Planted after Apr 1, it is not considered a normal farming practice as defined by AR Extension, and would therefor be illegal and considered baiting.

 

[silentassassin]

As long as the wheat is planted between Aug 15 and April 1st - this is true. Planted after Apr 1, it is not considered a normal farming practice as defined by AR Extension, and would therefor be illegal and considered baiting.

I'm sure you're probably correct, it's been a while since I looked at the regs but as I stated there is nothing illegal about the practice itself and it has been beaten in court. However, you should verify the specific planting rates and dates before planting. The warden can write a ticket anytime he wants, that doesn't mean it's going to stand up. They are still going to have to go back and prove when the wheat was sewn which is going be extremely difficult and given the existing precedent, you will most likely beat it in court.

 

[Houdini]

Just plow up the dirt and don't throw any seed down or turn it under.....and you won't have to worry about GW or going to court to "beat" a baiting ticket.....




My neighbor tried to help me "keep the turkeys around" one year.....by top sowing corn over on my plot...

He had a BUNCH of corn sittin' on his plot opening morning....and the GW came for a visit too.....

He didn't think I'd go try to roost a turkey the evening before.....found the corn and got to work with the front end loader......

I heard him yelling up on the hill.....I snickered a little.....

 

[silentassassin]

Houdini,

If your completely legal, as you would be in the aforementioned scenario, you shouldn't have to worry about beating a baiting ticket in the first place. Wardens writing tickets because they can makes them a bigger outlaw than a baiter IMO. For the record, I've never done this during turkey season but I have hunted over several dove fields that were LEGALLY planted in this manner.

 

[SwampCat]

Ho I've never done this during turkey season but I have hunted over several dove fields that were LEGALLY planted in this manner.

Exactly - 240 lbs per acre top sown on August 15th - and you are legally in business.

 

[sleepy]

Any ideas on what to plant in late winter or early spring that would be attracting/holding turkeys in an area come spring turkey season ?
Anyone ever had any luck with frost seeding ?

This plot was frost seeded.

 

[sleepy]

That's what it looks like after the hogs find your hard work.

 

[sleepy]

These Turkey ate the tops off of turnips in November.