2nd Annual National Wild Turkey Symposium - 1970
Missouri Wild Turkey Population was 15,000 in 1970.
Was held in Columbia, Missouri.
The Symposium
was held at the Ramada Inn, Columbia, Missouri, on February 10-12, 1970
Proceedings have been published for all of the Symposia, and except for the second, they are cited as a series. The second Symposium was published by the University of Missouri Press in 1973 and titled "Wild Turkey Management, Current Problems and Programs."
Wild Turkey Management, Current Problems and Programs
Edited By: Glen C. Sanderson and Helen C. Schultz
Copies of all National Wild Turkey Symposia, including the second, can be obtained from the National Wild Turkey Federation, Edgefield, South Carolina
I recommend everyone start requesting copies.
Some information about Wild Turkey you only told parts about - You will really enjoy!!!!!!
Information from the 2nd National Wild Turkey Symposium in 1970 from these states South Dakota, Kansas, Iowa, Wisconsin, California, Indiana, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Colorado, Michigan, Texas, Pennsylvania, Missouri, Ohio, West Virginia, Alabama, and Arizona.
MISSOURI
RESTORATION OF THE EASTERN WILD TURKEY IN MISSOURI
Dan F. Dichneite
SUMMARY OF RESTORATION EFFORTS
Trapping has been extended to private, federal, and state lands outside the managed refuges since 1957.
By the spring of 1970, 1,421 turkeys were restocked in 73 areas in 58 Missouri counties (Figure 3).
Almost all releases have been successful in reestablishing huntable populations in areas uninhabited by the wild turkey immediately prior to restocking.
One of the best examples of what can be accomplished with suitable habitat and the favorable attitude of local citizens is the result of a release made in Sainte Genevieve County. This county had no wild turkeys immediately prior to the winter of 1955, when 7 adult gobblers and 15 hens were released.
A spring gobbler season was permitted in 1960, Missouri’s first open season after a 23-year closure. Sainte Genevieve County has been a part of the open territory since that date, and in the subsequent 11 seasons 692 legal gobblers have been shot there. In addition, Department of Conservation personnel have trapped 66 birds in the county for restocking elsewhere in the state. Thus, from an initial restocking of 22 birds 15 years ago, hunting and trapping have realized a total return of 758 turkeys, with a thriving population still in that county and birds dispersing into adjoining counties.
APRIL FOODS OF WILD TURKEYS IN MISSOURI
Leroy J. Korschgen
April foods of the wild turkey in Missouri were ascertained from analyses of crop and gizzard samples from 698 gobblers collected during late April hunting seasons of 1960, 1963-1965, inclusive.
Samples from 16 hens provided limited information for comparison.
Plant foods of 101 kinds and 35 animal foods were identified.
Consumed by gobblers.
Oak mast comprised 49.8 %,
Corn 12.4 %,
Green leaves and plant parts accounted for 7.9 %,
Green grass and sedge leaves, 3.9 %.
Other important foods and volume percentages were:
Fragrant sumac, 3.3 %,
Oats 3.2 %,
Sedges, 3.0 %,
Buttercups, 2.0 %,
Galls, 1.6 %,
Flowering dogwood 1.1 %,
Black gum 1.0 %,
Wild cherry 1.0 %,
Scarab beetles 1.3%.
Foods of gobblers and hens did not differ materially, except that hens consumed a larger proportion of snails.
Sources of April turkey foods by plant type and volume percentages were:
Trees, 53.6 %,
Farm crops, 16.6 %,
Native forbs, 13.4 %,
native grasses, 3.9 %,
shrubs, 3.7 %,
sedges, 3.1 %,
vines, 0.8 %,
Animal foods accounted for less than 3 percent of average diets.
Management for food production should be directed toward establishing and maintaining diversified habitat types within the annual range of turkeys. Succulent green forage is important and heavily utilized by turkeys in spring.
Foods of more widespread usage during spring (March through May) included acorns, corn, sedges, and wheat.
Animal foods were consumed in slightly larger amounts by hens than by gobblers and accounted for 3.2 percent of total foods. The kinds eaten were the same as those that comprised 2.8 percent of gobbler diets. Calcium-rich snails were taken more often and in greater amount by hens for first rank among animal foods.
Scarab or June beetles were eaten less frequently and in smaller amounts by hens than by gobblers.
Other animal foods comprised relatively minor portions of average diets.
Wild Turkey Gobblers - April Foods Consumed
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Wild Turkey Hens - April Food Consumed
Outside this research note:
While doing presribed fires on my own property in Southeast Missouri - I would see alot of snails and the crows would be in those areas actually peaking on the snail shells.
Then I got this is a great series of game camera photos that really show how the turkeys start using the area with the hen going right into those woods, looking for snail shells, remember don't worry about the Gobbler he will follow, but hens required calcium during nesting season for egg production. Click here to see photos.
HABITAT MANAGEMENT FOR TURKEYS IN THE OAK-HICKORY FORESTS OF MISSOURI
George P. Dellinger
OBJECTIVES OF DIRECT HABITAT IMPROVEMENT
Water. -The objective is to provide at least one source of water per square mile. One source per 160 acres near each existing field or group of fields of at least 2 acres is desirable for maximum turkey production and is of benefit to smaller wildlife.
Openings. -The objective is to preserve all existing fields occupying a minimum of 5 percent of the management unit and to maintain these fields in a productive condition by sharecropping, grazing, or periodic controlled burning, mowing, or tilling.
Where such fields have been planted to pine, they should be reclaimed at the earliest opportunity by commercial clear-cutting and then maintained as fields.
Power line and other rights-of-way should be maintained in productive condition by selective clearing and maintenance. When possible, the utility company should perform this task under the terms of the easement agreement.
Forested glades and other noncommercial forest stands. -The forest cover on these sites should be managed as all-age hardwoods that will provide a maximum of mast and forage. Glades in a savannah condition may be kept productive by regulated grazing, periodic controlled burning, or selective applications of herbicides. The more heavily forested glades may be improved, or maintained in desirable condition, by periodic controlled burning, by selective thinning to release desirable trees, shrubs, and forage, and by the harvest of merchantable trees that are surplus to habitat needs.
The 2nd Annual National Wild Turkey Symposium - February 1970 - February 10-12 - 364 Pages
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