Volunteers are being asked to participate in the Department of Natural Resources’ annual summer wild turkey survey in July and August.
The survey, which has been conducted since 1982, involves agency wildlife biologists, technicians, game wardens, and volunteers from other natural resource agencies and the general public. It is used to estimate reproduction and recruitment of wild turkeys.
The summer turkey survey is designed to monitor annual nesting success of hens and survival of their young, which has the greatest influence on wild turkey population dynamics. The information allows biologists to calculate many factors essential for sound turkey management, including average brood size, percentage of hens with and without young, gobbler-to-hen ratio, and overall numbers of turkeys seen.
Combined with harvest data, this information allows the DNR to make scientifically-based decisions and recommendations to the state General Assembly to manage the wild turkey population now and in the future.
Anyone who spends time outdoors, travels the roads of the state, can identify turkeys and differentiate between gobblers, hens and poults (young turkeys) is welcome to participate.
To learn more about participating in the survey and how to register, click here.