There is no way I could ever forget my introduction to hunting wild turkeys. I had
actually tagged along years ago behind Blue Parkman, a veteran turkey hunter from Ruston who had several years of chasing gobblers under his belt. Back then, turkeys were scarce only being found in isolated areas such as the Jackson Bienville wildlife management area where I followed Parkman. The hunt ended without success although I got to hear a turkey gobble for the first time.

It was years later, 1994, that my addiction to turkey hunting began when I accepted the invitation to hunt turkeys in Alabama. I was reluctant at first because I had never turkey hunted and the date of the invitation coincided with bream bedding season here at home. I rather reluctantly accepted the invitation, shot my very first gobbler and I was instantly hooked. Some 20 years later before age and infirmities halted my ability to chase gobblers, I was able to bring down 41 gobblers from around the country, collecting my coveted Grand Slam in the process.

I would love to still be able to hurry across the woods to be sitting within 100 yards of a roosted gobbler before it flew down. Since I can’t, I enjoy talking about them, writing about them and supporting them by my membership in our local chapter of the National Wild Turkey Federation.

Now that turkey season is kicking off – opening day in Area A this year is April 6 – I
visited with the state’s top wild turkey expert, Cody Cedatol, to get his thoughts on what the turkey situation looks like this year in Louisiana. For the past several years, things have not been quite so rosy as they have been in earlier times.

“Based on all we have been able to tell,” Cedatol began, “things are looking better than they have over the last decade or so. We have had a good hatch two years in a row and we have determined that the gobbler harvest was up again last year so we’re excited about that.”

My next question had to do with the reason or reasons that things are looking better for our state’s turkey population.

“There are at least a couple of reasons,” said Cedatol. “A few years ago, we delayed the opening of turkey season to give gobblers and hens a bit longer to get together and breed and this has resulted in better hatches of young turkeys. Another reason is an environmental one. For the past couple of years, we have had better weather during the nesting and brooding season. Turkeys need a relatively dry period from April to June and that’s what we’ve had and turkeys
have responded.”

Cedatol noted that there were reports of a good population of juvenile males (jakes) last year which means those that carried over will be adult gobblers this season.
I wondered what plans if any were on the drawing board going forward from this year as regards management of wild turkeys.

“We have a proposal before the Wildlife and Fisheries Commission that would prohibit the harvest of jakes except by youth hunters. Lots of hunters have expressed a desire for us to do this and in fact, many private hunting clubs already prohibit the taking of jakes. It’s not a done deal as the proposal is out for public comments and Commission won’t be acting on it until their April meeting,” he said.

Public hearings will take place around the state prior to the meeting giving hunters the opportunity to express opinions as to whether or not the prohibition of taking jakes will become law. Have an opinion? Let the Commission know what you think.

FISHING REPORT

CANEY LAKE – Big chinquapins are starting to bed and taking worms and crickets.
Best bass catches are made fairly shallow on Wacky Worms, Sinko, Bandits and
spinners. Crappie are best in the back of the creeks and are hitting shiners or jigs. For information contact Caney Lake Landing at 259-6649, Hooks Marina at 249-2347, Terzia Tackle at 278-4498 or the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
BLACK BAYOU – Bass are fair to good fishing spinners and jigs around the trees.
Crappie fishing is improving on shiners or jigs. Bream are starting to bite crickets and worms. Contact Honey Hole Tackle Shop 323-8707 for latest information.
BUSSEY BRAKE – Bass fishing is good with some to 10 pounds caught flipping the trees with jigs, using spinners and soft plastics. Crappie are moving off the banks and hitting jigs and shiners. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole at 323-8707.
OUACHITA RIVER – Bass are improving fishing the cuts, crappie are best in the creeks and the bream are beginning to bed up. For latest information, contact the Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE D’ARBONNE – Crappie are good with best catches made in 10-12 foot water on shiners or jigs. Bass are on the banks and hitting soft plastics, jigs and spinners. Catfishing is improving fishing cold worms off the banks. The bream are starting to bed up and hitting crickets and night crawlers. For latest information, call Anderson Sport Center at 368-9669 or Honey Hole Tackle Shop at 323-8707.
LAKE CLAIBORNE –Crappie are starting to move out to 12 foot water and are hitting shiners and jigs. Bass are best fishing Carolina rigs, spinners and jerk baits around the docks. Stripers are beginning to school in open water. Bream are beginning to bed and worms and crickets are working on them. No report on catfish. For latest information, call Kel’s Cove at 927-2264 or Terzia Tackle at 278-4498.
LAKE POVERTY POINT – Crappie have moved off the banks and are fair. Catfishing is good. Bass are fair. For latest reports, call Poverty Point Marina at 318/878-0101.
LAKE YUCATAN – The water is on a rise with water temperatures too cold for fishing to be good just yet. Catfishing is good while others are slow. For information, call Surplus City Landing at 318/467-2259.