2022 POULT PRODUCTION - MISSOURI WILD TURKEY
​THE UGLY TRUTH

MISSOURI WILD TURKEY
Friday, Dec. 2, 2022
Presentation/Action Item: 2023 Missouri Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations Recommendations and Turkey Research Update — Presentation by Nicholas Oakley, Scientist
Conservation Department Headquarters, 2901 W. Truman Blvd. in Jefferson City
FYI -
Mr. Oakley is the 3rd Wild Turkey Biologist for Missouri in past 5 years and was promoted from is past position as a Resource Technician working with waterfowl for the MDC in July 2022.

1st year research below was not publish for the general public to read.

Link to the 2021 Missouri Wild Turkey Research Result in Putnam County, Missouri
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​​2022 Poult Survey is publish in October this was presented to commission in December - 2 months behind for the general public to see.

Poult Production is up only in Bootheel of Missouri and the NEW MDC says it's because of improved habitat
-HMMM - 
Counties in white, not included in fall turkey season!
Big Ag area that has not changed in decades of farming and if anything more fence rows have been removed to increase ag production where pesticides and herbicides in large quantities along with coated seeds.

VS is interview.

October 13, 2022

https://soundcloud.com/george-sholtz/missouri-dept-of-conservation-turkey-biologist-explains-the-turkey-decline?utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Welcome the NEW MDC Wild Turkey Biologist - Nicolas Oakley explains why the Turkeys are declining in Missouri did a radio interview..
MDC Wild Turkey Biologist Highlights - No one argues that the population has declined.
MDC Wild Turkey Biologist Highlights - Population is around 350,000
MDC Wild Turkey Biologist Highlights - 1.5 poults per hen each year to keep population stable.
VS
Something doesn't add up - Across the country from other biologist and past Missouri Biologist has put this out - "To maintain a balance approximately 2.5 poults per hen must be produce. When this ratio drops below 2.5 a population is decline indicated and when it goes above 2.5 an increase occurs."
MDC Wild Turkey Biologist Highlights - Top Three things for decline in Missouri.
1. MDC Wild Turkey Biologist Highlights - Missouri Wild Turkeys overpopulated it's carrying capacity of the habitat in Missouri.
2. Wild Turkey lost of Habitat - Lose of CRP and Timber Management
3. Insect Decline
MDC Wild Turkey Biologist Highlights - Only 1% of hens are killed has nothing to do with production.
MDC Wild Turkey Biologist Highlights - Research in Putnam County on Wild Turkeys took place 2013 to 2019.
VS
Don't believe that is correct - A five-year study that wrapped up in 2019 concluded that poult survival was far less than normal rates. Missouri Wild Turkey Management video presentation by the Missouri Department of Conservation - Missouri - Putnam, Schuyler, Monroe, and Marion Counties
The current Putnam County Wild Turkey Research - Missouri Wild Turkey Research - The official field work is expected to begin in January 2021 on mostly private lands in Putnam County 150 turkey hens with GPS transmitters over the next four years. Research to spread over the course of 5 1/2 years. Missouri Wild Turkey Research Result coming in 2026
November 25, 2021
New Information - Breaking News FY 2021
Wild Turkey Study in Missouri on the Iowa Border
Only 21% of nests successfully hatched!
Only 23% of poults surviving! - The 80s, that was closer to 46%.”
Which lower than the previous 5 year study in Northern Missouri.
Why did this happen in Missouri and information from past MDC Turkey Biologist
"About 75% of nests failed due to predation of the actual nest, and 8% failed due to predation of the hen that was incubating the clutch"
MDC Wild Turkey Biologist Highlights - Kill a fall turkey send in your feathers.

​Do you know that with all the research on wild Turkey for the past 75 years, not 1 in any state, has ever look at loss rate from archery or crossbow.
You can find it for deer but not willd turkey.
If I am wrong - Please post your game and fish department research on lost rate
So game and fish department are setting season limits in spring and fall with ZERO knowledge of lost rates in fall.
Send this to YOUR state Wild Turkey Biologist and Commission and ask why.

Only the Goverment can create and expert!
​ College to Waterfowl Techincian to Expert Missouri Wild Turkey Scientist in a year

MISSOURI WILD TURKEY
Friday, Dec. 2, 2022
Presentation/Action Item: 2023 Missouri Spring Turkey Hunting Regulations Recommendations and Turkey Research Update — Presentation by Nicholas Oakley, Scientist
Conservation Department Headquarters, 2901 W. Truman Blvd. in Jefferson City

Mr. Oakley is the 3rd Wild Turkey Biologist for Missouri in past 5 years and was promoted from is past position as a Resource Technician working with waterfowl for the MDC in July 2022.

Watch entire meeting if you need to - ​https://livestream.com/accounts/23393299/events/10686787/player?width=640&height=360&enableInfoAndActivity=true&defaultDrawer=&autoPlay=true&mute=false

Part 1 of 4 of videos of Missouri Wild Turkey Only

Part 2 of 4 Video of Missouri Wild Turkey Only

​Is this the major objective of the Missouri Department of Conservation for Missouri’s Turkey Season it has been to provide maximum hunting opportunity commensurate with the population’s ABILITY to sustain harvest?

Question the Missouri Department of Conservation won't answer and the Missouri Department of Conservation Game and Regulations Unit Supervisor believe subject matter is funny.

Follow Links

Missouri Wild Turkey Hens Killed

Question the MDC need to answer

200,000 to 300,000 Raccoons should be trapped in Missouri.

74 years of research shows Raccoons are the top nest predator.

Landowners and Wild Turkeys hunters you will have to decide what is a priority.
To maintain a balance approximately 2.5 poults per hen must be produce.

When this ratio drops below 2.5 a population is decline indicated and when it goes above 2.5 an increase occurs.

Today Missouri has had a production of 1 or less poult per hen for past 5 years.
Meanwhile Raccoons are having 4 per year.

You can't control the weather or game and fish department regulations.

Because turkey abundance is driven by production. The hen controls production.
If you done the following to increase turkey numbers in your area is by providing the habitat turkeys need to nest successfully and raise young.

Planting native warm-season grasses and wildflowers, prescribed burning edge feathering, timber stand improvement, creating forest openings, and woodland restoration are some of the best ways to improve nesting and brood-rearing habitat.
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But still hasn't made a difference.
Your decision!!!

To maintain a balance approximately 2.5 poults per hen must be produce. When this ratio drops below 2.5 a population is decline indicated and when it goes above 2.5 an increase occurs.

Missouri Wild Turkey Hens Killed and poult survey: 173,889 hens have been killed past 25 years in Missouri.
2022 - Wild Turkey Hens killed: 2,790 and counting till Jan 15th – Poult Survey Unknown!
2021 – Wild Turkey Hens killed: 3,082 - poult to hen 1 to 1
2020 – Wild Turkey Hens killed: 3,549 – poult to hen 1 to 1
2019 – Wild Turkey Hens killed: 3,008 – poult to hen 0.9 to 1
2018 – Wild Turkey Hens killed: 3,133 – poult to hen 0.9 to 1
2017 – Wild Turkey Hens killed: 3,725 – poult to hen 0.8 to 1
2016 – Wild Turkey Hens killed: 3,995 – poult to hen 0.8 to 1
July of 2022 - The NO. 1 Wild Turkey Biologist  "Mike Chamberlain" in country says there is no Biological reason to kill the hens in Missouri for past 5 years in Missouri during a decline of population.
2015 – Wild Turkey Hens killed: 6,061– poult to hen 1.5 to 1
2014 – Wild Turkey Hens killed: 5,878 – poult to hen 1.7 to 1
2013 – Wild Turkey Hens killed: 5,926 – poult to hen 1.3 to 1
2012 – Wild Turkey Hens killed: 7,486– poult to hen 1.7 to 1
2011 – Wild Turkey Hens killed: 7,422– poult to hen 1.7 to 1
2010 – Wild Turkey Hens killed: 5,770– poult to hen 1.1 to 1
2009 – Wild Turkey Hens killed: 7,948– poult to hen 1.2 to 1
2008 – Wild Turkey Hens killed: 7,012 – poult to hen 1.1 to 1
2007 – Wild Turkey Hens killed: 8,974– poult to hen 1 to 1
2006 – Wild Turkey Hens killed: 10,302– poult to hen 1.6 to 1
2005 – Wild Turkey Hens killed: 10,369– poult to hen 1.2 to 1
2004 – Wild Turkey Hens killed: 7,304– poult to hen 1.6 to 1
2003 – Wild Turkey Hens killed: 8,907– poult to hen 1.6 to 1
2002 – Wild Turkey Hens killed: 11,228– poult to hen 1.7 to 1
2001 – Wild Turkey Hens killed: 10,155– poult to hen 2.1 to 1
2000 – Wild Turkey Hens killed: 9,704– poult to hen 2.3 to 1
1999 – Wild Turkey Hens killed: 10,130– poult to hen 2.3 to 1
1998 – Wild Turkey Hens killed: 10,466– poult to hen 2.6 to 1
Fall Firearm started 1978
1977 – Poult to hen 3.8 to 1
Archery turkey started 1975

Part 3 of 4 Video of Missouri Wild Turkey Only

NO CHANGES TO THE 2023 / 2024 SPRING or FALL SEASON IN MISSOURI

Part 4 of 4 Video - Missouri Wild Turkey only

MDC and NWTF act like habitat information is new it's been around for 30 years.
​Follow Link
Missouri Wild Turkey Habitat Initiative

​Using HABITAT - HABITAT – HABITAT as an excuse.  - Habitat as reason for turkey decline in Missouri!

Why do the so-called experts and Biologist never mention the below list of items when they say it is landowner fault for habitat loss?

Because turkey abundance is driven by production, the best way to increase turkey numbers in your area is by providing the habitat turkeys need to nest successfully and raise their young. There have been broad-scale changes in the landscape that have les to losses in quality nesting and brood-rearing habitat. Planting native warm-season grasses and wildflowers, prescribed burning edge feathering, timber stand improvement, creating forest openings, and woodland restoration are some of the best ways to improve nesting and brood-rearing habitat.

Millions of federal dollars for habitat for years and years. All these federal government programs for landowners. Is this a success or failure? How many people today practice habitat management for wildlife compared to 20 years ago? I knew no one, today a majority of landowner I know that hunt practice habitat management.  

The Missouri Department of Conservation in May 2021 Commission Meeting stated they sell 10 to 12 million board feet of lumber from conservation lands yearly. Is this success or is this not habitat improvement, just for profit?  

Is the Missouri Department of Conservation Private Land Conservation for the last 15 to 20 years a failure or it is a success?  

MDC gave the NWTF $340,000 dollars, The NWTF Missouri motto Save the Habitat - Save the Hunt and collect millions of Missouri Citizens dollars. They even have food plot seed they sell to landowners. Even had volunteers at one time providing Habitat information to landowners and Missouri had two of the top 5 in the nation. Missouri has its own multiple NWTF Biologist.  

Prescribed Fires are pushed by every Conservation Group and MDC provides classes for landowners.  Is this a success or failure?  

Quail Conservation groups which push the same Habitat in Missouri and quail is at a 50 year low  
A record year of restoration for Mark Twain National Forest and the Eastern Region - MTNF completed the eighth year. Is this a success or failure?  

FUN FACT – Not one of these places in Missouri is a Wild Turkey Mecca and has wild turkey decline also.

DID YOU KNOW... that Missouri has over 2 million acres of public land?  Here's the breakdown:
Mark Twain National Forest: 1.5 million acres dispersed across 29 counties. 

Missouri Department of Conservation: The MDC owns or manages 975,000 acres on over 1,000 tracts of land.  Size ranges from less than 100 acres to well over 10,000 acres. 

Ozark National Scenic Riverways:  The ONSR is comprised of 80,000 acres in southern Missouri. This includes property along the Current River and Jacks Fork River.