There are no shortcuts for landowners wishing to attract turkeys to their land, but planting chufa is an excellent step in the right direction.

Turkey Gold Chufa, sold by the National Wild Turkey Federation, is an agricultural variety of the native nutsedge that matures in 90 to 110 days. Chufa produces underground tubers that turkeys relish.

"Turkeys begin scratching for chufa during the fall, after the foliage above ground has turned brown," said Bryan Burhans, NWTF Director of Land Management Programs. "The larger birds will continue to feed on chufa until it's gone, which is usually late spring."

When to plant
Chufa does best in areas with long growing seasons. In the South, chufa is planted from April through July; in colder climates, it is planted in April and May. It grows in a variety of soil types, but does best in moderately to well-drained sandy or loam soils.

How to plant
To plant chufa on your property, please follow the guidelines below:

• Prior to planting, test the soil and add the recommended amounts of lime and fertilizer for best growth.
  
• Lime and fertilizer should be worked into the soil with a disc or drag.
  
• Broadcast chufa at a rate of 40 to 50 pounds per acre on a prepared seedbed.
  
• Then, cover the seeds 1 to 1.5 inches with a harrow or drag.

How to order
Turkey Gold Chufa is available through the National Wild Turkey Federation's Project HELP (Habitat Enhancement Land Program). To place an order or receive a free catalog, call 800-THE-NWTF. The NWTF's Wildlife Bulletin No. 7 also features more in-depth information on chufa. Pricing information is now available on the Federation's Turkey Shoppe by clicking here.