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Display Until 4/30/2016
FLOURISH
MARCH-APRIL
Good The Character Of The South
Grit
78 | Enrich goodgritmag.com | 79
For Alabamians, spring represents a change in cli-
mate, bringing about warmer temperatures and
fresh vegetation. With the onset of the spring
months, Alabama outdoorsmen (and women) are excited
for the dawn of turkey season. Of course, like any form of the
sport, turkey hunting is no easy game.
Preparation, knowledge, and patience
are all necessary when devising a suc-
cessful hunt. The wild turkey is a vig-
ilant, capricious bird. With the coming
spring season, new opportunities await
both experienced and inexperienced
hunters looking to bag a prized turkey.
In mid-March of each year, spring tur-
key season officially begins. Alabama has
been deemed by many a “turkey hunter’s
paradise,” having the second largest turkey population in the
country. Additionally, Alabamians benefit from one of the
longest turkey hunting seasons in North America. The state
currently boasts more wild turkeys than any other state in
the southeast, as Alabama’s climate makes it an ideal home
for them. However, the state’s widespread turkey population
was not always so strong. In the early 1900s, Alabama’s tur-
key population was estimated to be as low as 10,000. Subse-
quently, the state launched a conservation movement, which
ultimately assisted in the revival of the bird’s population. Al-
abama’s initiatives were a cornerstone of wild turkey renewal
efforts across North America. Restoration, species protection,
and extensive environmental research have allowed for the ex-
emplary hunting conditions of today.
Alabama is home to several hunting resorts that offer qual-
ity turkey hunting trips and lodging. One in particular that
TURKEY HUNTINGprioritizes creating a truly memorable experience, however,
is Hawkins Ridge Lodge. Nestled in the black belt region of
the south in Eufaula, Alabama, this 6,000-acre plot of land
caters to dedicated hunters in search of a full hunting adven-
ture. Hawkins Ridge offers hunts for Eastern Wild Turkey, as
well as Whitetail Deer, Mallard Ducks,
and Wild Hogs in their respective sea-
sons. This land is meticulously managed
for the production of quality trophy
game, and the dedicated staff at Haw-
kins Ridge is primarily focused on the
success of their visitors’ hunts.
Hawkins Ridge takes only a limited
number of hunters on turkey hunts per
day. As a result, each hunter is allotted
thousands of acres solely to themselves.
Moreover, they have maintained a very large population of
long-bearded gobblers, and hunters are permitted to take two
turkeys per hunt. Hawkins Ridge is proud of their turkey hunt
success ratio over the past several years, which is sitting at a
promising 90%. One could certainly plan to find success on a
Hawkins Ridge turkey hunt this spring.
All Hawkins Ridge hunting packages include field trans-
portation, lodging and accommodations, 3 hot meals per day,
daily maid service, a professional guide to assist in the hunt,
and game cleaning and taxidermy preparation. Whether you
are an expert hunter, or a novice looking for a challenging first
hunt, Alabama is a prime arena in which to plan your next
spring hunt. The state is proud of its efforts to keep the turkey
population sustained, and with the rich history of wild tur-
keys in Alabama, there’s no better place to contribute to the
sport of turkey hunting.
A L A B A M A ’ S F I N E S T S E A S O N
WORDS BY PEYTON CHANDLER
PHOTOS COURTESY OF BILLY POPE, TES RANDLE
JOLLY & ALABAMA BLACK BELT ADVENTURES
"Alabama’s initiatives were a cornerstone of wild tur-key renewal efforts across North America. Resto-ration, species protection, and extensive environmen-tal research have allowed for the exemplary hunting conditions of today."
80 | Enrich goodgritmag.com | 81
"For additional information on hunting the Black Belt region of Alabama visit www.alabamablackbeltadventures.org"