4th Annual National Wild Turkey Symposium - 1980
Missouri Wild Turkey Population was 200,000 in 1979.
The Symposium
was held at the Little Rock, Arkansas on March 2-5, 1980
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."
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 4th National Wild Turkey Symposium in 1980 from these states Iowa, Florida, North Carolina, Minnesota, West Virginia, New York, Mississippi, Texas, Pennsylvania, Missouri, and Alabama.
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MISSOURI
Spring hunting in Missouri increased from 4 days in 1965 to 2 weeks in 1972.
The bag limit was increased from 1 to 2 birds in 1973, returned to 1 bird in 1974 and 1975, due to poor poult production and has been 2 since then. Historical Note: 500-Year flood in 1973
FIFTEEN YEARS OF WILD TURKEY TRAPPING, BANDING, AND RECOVERY DATA IN MISSOURI
Trapping and - The oldest known-age bird recovered was 6 years old.
The percentage of the total observed population removed annually by spring hunting ranged from 4.0% in 1966 to 22% in 1973 and averaged 10.6%
KENTUCKY
AN EVALUATION OF ARTIFICIAL WILD TURKEY NESTS
MONITORED BY AUTOMATIC CAMERAS
AN EVALUATION OF ARTIFICIAL WILD TURKEY NESTS MONITORED BY AUTOMATIC CAMERAS
Numbers of nests predatorized and percentages for identified nest predators at Land Between the Lakes.
Raccoons, opossums, and skunks were the primary nest predators at the Land Between the Lakes nest predators. TOTAL 107 Nest - 100.0% Destroyed
Raccoon - 52 Nest Destroyed 48.6%
Opossum - 21 Nest Destroyed 19.6%
Striped Skunk - 17 Nest Destroyed 15.9%
Grey Fox - 6 Nest Destroyed 5.6%
Birds - 5 Nest Destroyed 4.6%
Ground Hog - 4 Nest Destroyed 3.7%
Small Rodents - 2 Nest Destroyed 2.0%
TURKEY NESTING SUCCESS OM A FLORIDA STUDY AREA
TURKEY NESTING SUCCESS OM A FLORIDA STUDY AREA
Nesting success of wild turkeys was measured for 108 nests of radio-tracked hens on a Florida study area during an 8-year period
The turkey had a 59% success rate when predator control was not practiced.
The turkey had a 72% success rate where predator control was being carried out during the nesting season.
ARMADILLO
An armadillo was suspected of eating eggs in 1 case, and we know that 2 nests were abandoned when armadillos rambled through and rolled out some of the eggs without breaking them.
PREDATION ON WILD TURKEYS IN ALABAMA
Nest Losses – 44.5% - The nest predation rate for all areas combined (119 nests) was 44.5%.
40 cases
Raccoon – NO. 1 Predator
Dogs – No. 2
Opossums
Crows
Snakes
Skunks
Gray Foxes
Adult Losses Gobblers were incidents involved, 1 in only rarely sub-adults.
December by a golden eagle, and 1 by a gray fox in March. Two additional unsuccessful golden eagle attacks on gobblers were witnessed at Choctaw Bluff.
RESULTS –
Hen Losses – 31 – 12 of those are the following
Bobcat – 6
Gray Fox – 3
Dog – 2
Golden Eagle – 1
Poult Losses - 74.5% - Summary
One hen and 7 poults were killed by a bobcat 3 days after hatching
On predator control areas a total of 55.1% of the hens (1971-75) was accompanied by poults compared to only 24.4% on non-predator control areas.
Total poult production was much higher on predator control areas than non-predator control areas for the 5 years.
176 hens and 609 poults seen on predator control areas. 5 year average of poult:hen ratio of 3.5 on predator control areas.
156 hens and 169 poults seen non predator control areas. 5 year average of poult:hen ratio 1.1
Raccoon – NO. 1 Predator
Dogs – No. 2
Opossums
Crows
Snakes
Skunks
Gray Foxes
On predator control areas a total of 55.1% of the hens (1971-75) was accompanied by poults compared to only 24.4% on non-predator control areas.
Total poult production was much higher on predator control areas than non-predator control areas for the 5 years.
176 hens and 609 poults seen on predator control areas. 5 year average of poult:hen ratio of 3.5 on predator control areas.
156 hens and 169 poults seen non predator control areas. 5 year average of poult:hen ratio 1.1
PREDATION ON WILD TURKEYS IN ALABAMA
Poult losses were high with an average of 74.5 %
Gobblers were seldom killed by predators.
Mortality of hens due to predation varied among locations and seasons.
Nesting season losses of hens could be high enough to seriously limit population increase.
Poult losses were high with an average of 74.5 % being lost by 1 September. Most poult loss occurred during the first 2 weeks after hatching but the proportion of this loss caused by predation was difficult to determine.
Some evidence suggests that predators play a major role in poult loss. The predator species was identified in many instances of predation on both birds and eggs.
Older research conducted a study of the fates of 107 dummy nests in southern Alabama and found that 85% were molested by predators.
Estimates of adult turkey losses were derived from a sample of 294 radio-instrumented birds from 3 of the study areas.
Nest Losses - 119 nests sample size
Nest predation rates from 4 study areas were based on a sample of 119 nests most of which were those of incubating instrumented hens that were under observation until their eggs hatched, were preyed upon, or deserted. Probable nest predators were determined from careful evaluation of field sign.
Poult Losses - 41 hen sample size
Overall poult losses were estimated from periodic counts of poult groups of 41 instrumented hens. In each case the number of eggs hatching was determined, and periodic counts of the poult groups were made until 1 September or until they joined other poult groups. Weekly counts of poult groups after the first week or 10 days of hatching were attempted.
In 1979, at Thomas, 18 small poults of 6 instrumented hens were fitted with miniature transmitters. Data on causes of losses were obtained directly by close radio monitoring and observation during the 2-3 week life of the miniature transmitters.
Adult Losses Gobblers were incidents involved, 1 in only rarely sub-adults.
December by a golden eagle, and 1 by a gray fox in March. Two additional unsuccessful golden eagle attacks on gobblers were witnessed at Choctaw Bluff.
RESULTS –
Hen Losses – 31 – 12 of those are the following
Bobcat – 6
Gray Fox – 3
Dog – 2
Golden Eagle – 1
Nest Losses – 44.5%
Poult Losses - 74.5%
Killed by predators, all such - Three were killed in September by bobcats
Hens were subject to a low monthly predation rate for most of the year except during the nesting and early brooding season (April, May and June) when the rate was considerably higher.
Identification of hen predators was not possible in 19 cases but in 12 cases the following agents were judged to be responsible: bobcat 6, gray fox 3, dog 2, and golden eagle 1. In addition, 1 uninstrumented hen at Choctaw Bluff was severely injured and later died from a golden eagle attack at a bait site, At Scotch Management Area 1 uninstrumented hen was killed on the nest by a dog. At Thomas dog packs were observed attacking hens and their young broods twice but in 1 case the dogs detected the observer and left and in the other case the hen successfully decoyed the dogs away from the poults and escaped.
Hens were most vulnerable while incubating and during the first 10-14 days of the poults' lives.
Three sub-adult hens were killed in October 1978 at Scotch Management Area, but these were all small, recently instrumented birds of the year and some or all may have been affected by the transmitter package. It is also possible that at that time of the year young turkeys suffer a higher predation rate because 3 sub-adult gobblers were killed by predators in September 1976 at Thomas.
Nest Losses – 44.5% - The nest predation rate for all areas combined (119 nests) was 44.5%.
40 cases
Raccoon – NO. 1 Predator
Dogs – No. 2
Opossums
Crows
Snakes
Skunks
Gray Foxes
Bobcats caused destruction of the nests by killing the hens in 3 cases but they did not eat the eggs.
The nest predation rate for all areas combined (119 nests) was 44.5%.
Almost all of these nests were discovered after incubation had begun so this is not a complete picture of the impact of predators on turkey nests. No attempt was made to locate the nests until hens exhibited incubating behavior and numerous nests could have been, and probably were, destroyed during the period of egg laying.
Nest predators were identified in 40 cases of nest destruction and in 13 cases evidence was insufficient to identify the predator. The raccoon was the number 1 nest predator and the second most important was free ranging dogs. Opossums, crows, and, snakes, skunks, and gray foxes were also implicated as nest predators.
Bobcats caused destruction of the nests by killing the hens in 3 cases but they did not eat the eggs.
Poult Losses - 74.5% - Summary
One hen and 7 poults were killed by a bobcat 3 days after hatching
On predator control areas a total of 55.1% of the hens (1971-75) was accompanied by poults compared to only 24.4% on non-predator control areas.
Total poult production was much higher on predator control areas than non-predator control areas for the 5 years.
176 hens and 609 poults seen on predator control areas. 5 year average of poult:hen ratio of 3.5 on predator control areas.
156 hens and 169 poults seen non predator control areas. 5 year average of poult:hen ratio 1.1
Poult Losses
The overall loss rate for 41 poult groups of instrumented hens at the last count of the summer averaged 74.5%. It is important to note that most of this loss, 71.3%, had occurred within 14 days after hatching The overall loss in this study is similar to the "nearly 80 percent" poult loss reported by Glidden and Austin (1975) in New York.
It was possible to determine loss rates or causes of poult loss in only a few cases during the first week or 10 days of hatching. The poults were difficult to count and no determined effort was made to obtain counts during this period because of the danger of killing or injuring the poults.
However, counts of the 41 brood groups were obtained by the end of 2 weeks except for 3 of the 4 broods at Scotch. One hen and 7 poults were killed by a bobcat 3 days after hatching. One hen had 9 poults left by 1 September and all poults were gone from 2 groups at first opportunity to count, 25- and 36-days post hatching.
Constant surveillance of the 18 instrumented poults with instrumented hens revealed that 7 of these died within 2 weeks after instrumentation.
One of the poults died from a birth defect and 6 were killed by predators. This suggests that predation may be a major factor causing early poult loss on the Thomas study area.
Data from systematic observations of hens and poults on the Alabama treatment and check area routes from June through August showed a higher poult:hen ratio each year on the treatment area than on the check area
There was a significant difference (P<0.05) between treatment and check area poult:hen ratios for the 5 years. Results of this experiment agree with those of Beasom (1974) who found higher wild turkey reproductive success, as measured by poult:hen counts and estimates of total poult production, on areas where predators were controlled than on check areas in Texas. A similar study in New Mexico (MacDonald 1966 cited by Beasom 1974) failed to show an increase in turkey populations in the predator removal area.
On treatment areas a total of 55.1% of the hens (1971-75) was accompanied by poults compared to only 24.4% on the check areas. This difference suggests that predator control had a beneficial effect on hatching success.
The method of estimating total reproductive success, which was to count hens and poult groups after the poults were large enough to be seen from a vehicle, precluded any measurement of poult losses during the early brooding stage when poults are most vulnerable. Comparison of average size of poult groups with single hens from the 5-year period on treatment and check areas shows little difference in poult group size between treatment areas (6.0 poults/hen) and check areas (5.7 poults/hen).
This data suggests also that most of the beneficial effect was through increased hatching success although the method used would not take into account possible cases where the hen and entire brood were killed at hatching or in the early brooding state. Total poult production was much higher on treatment areas than nontreated areas for the 5 years. This conclusion is based on sightings of 176 hens and 609 poults seen on 4,692 km of treatment area routes compared to 156 hens and 169 poults on 2,854 km of check area routes. A rough estimate of the benefit produced by the predator control effort can be figured from the 5-year average poult:hen ratio of treatment (3.5 poults/ hen) compared to check areas (1.1 poults/hen).
Assuming equal numbers of hens per ha on treatment and check areas the number of poults produced and raised past the time of heaviest poult loss would be about 3 times higher on treatment areas.
Trapping costs were not considered a necessary expense since the services of trappers can usually be obtained by giving them access to an area that has a high furbearer population.
The 4th Annual National Wild Turkey Symposium - March 2-5, 1980 - 299 Pages
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