Ask Dr. Tom
Who's been eating my chufa?
Arkansas turkey numbers are way down from where they were a few years ago, so I've been planting chufa to help grow my local flock.
Do you have any suggestions on what to do about raccoons, squirrels and crows eating the chufa I plant each fall? The raccoons are the worst offenders.
Alan Vickery, e-mail
Thanks for helping rebuild your local flock. With more landowners like you, Arkansas will soon be brimming with turkeys. Evidently, chufa is incredibly attractive to more than just turkeys. The NWTF markets it for ducks in its Waterfowl Gold mix, but did not realize we are missing out on the raccoon, squirrel and crow hunting crowd.
As far as your chufa problem, you may be planting it too late. Chufa should be planted in the late spring to summer, which ensures that the chufa has a chance to mature and handle some scratching and digging by squirrels, raccoons and turkeys. Also, if a lot of animals are finding your chufa, you may be planting it too shallow. Instead of broadcasting and covering the seed, drill the chufa at least 2 to 3 inches deep using a peanut plate to sort the seeds for the seed drill.
If your chufa plot is less than an acre, consider planting a larger plot this summer. Groups of wildlife can wipe out small plots easier than one large patch.
Since wildlife appears to be abundant in your area, consider introducing youth and new hunters to the sport by encouraging them to hunt squirrels or crows. You also can invite trappers to remove your hungry raccoons. Reducing competition should leave more chufa for your turkeys.
P.S. — Have a question for Dr. Tom? E-mail Dr. Tom at turkeycountry@nwtf.net.
Have a question for Dr. Tom?
Send us your Dr. Tom question in 300 words or less. We may run it in an upcoming issue. Photos are welcome, as well. Only questions from NWTF members will be published. We also reserve the right to publish submissions on this Web site.