Novel Approaches to Estimating Wild Turkey Population Parameters
Turkeys for Tomorrow (TFT), has partnered with Mississippi State University and the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks to fund cutting edge wild turkey research in the Magnolia State. This project will use non-invasive techniques to gather DNA from materials turkeys leave behind in the field. These samples will allow unique individuals to be identified, ultimately yielding precise estimates of the number of turkeys on the landscape. The study will be conducted on eight sites throughout the state, creating an incredible opportunity to uncover why some properties produce more turkeys than others. Some of the study sites will include wildlife management areas already in an ongoing experiment investigating the influence of a delayed and reduced spring season framework in Mississippi. The National Wild Turkey Federation is also a notable funding partner for the project.
Principal Investigators:
Dr. Dana Morin
Assistant Professor Mississippi State University
Dr. Mark McConnell
Assistant Professor Mississippi State University
Adam Butler
Wild Turkey Program Coordinator, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks
Project Overview:
Estimating the number of wild turkeys on the landscape has proven exceedingly difficult. The lack of accurate estimates is regarded as one of the primary impediments to a deeper understanding of many aspects of wild turkey population biology and their response to management. Recent advances in genetic analysis now allow researchers to uniquely identify individual animals from the easily collected genetic material left behind in the field. Application of this suite of DNA-based lab techniques to traditional forms of mark-recapture sampling can provide statistically valid estimates of survival, recruitment, and the total number of individuals in local populations, without the expensive and time-consuming constraints associated with animal capture and marking.
These estimates may then be compared against environmental variables or management actions believed to influence population abundance, at a fraction of the cost of other field techniques.
The Mississippi project seeks to be the first to apply genetic analysis to investigate factors determining the density of turkeys on the landscape. Project goals seek to collect noninvasive genetic material (e.g., fecal droppings and feathers) from 8 different sites throughout Mississippi (4 private and 4 public). A subset of these sites will include Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) currently involved in an experimental trial investigating whether a shorter, later spring season increases the sustainability of turkey populations (these experimental WMA seasons are April 1 – May 1 vs. Mississippi's current statewide March 15 – May 1 structure). Fecal samples will also allow for additional investigations into wild turkey health and the relationship certain parasites, diseases, and aflatoxins play in dictating the number of turkeys on the landscape. Given the cost and time savings provided by this innovative methodology, we will be able to study turkeys on a larger number of sites ( 8 ) than typically covered in more traditional, telemetry-based demographic studies. Consequently, the project will provide estimates of turkey density and demographics over sites with a range of conditions, allowing for deeper inference into the mechanisms driving differences in local turkey abundance.
Specific project objectives include:
1. Estimation of male and female turkey density, breeding season survival, and recruitment at study sites with different spring season frameworks, habitats, and management intensities.
2. Calibration of camera surveys to estimate abundance based on the precisely determined turkey densities obtained from the non-invasive genetic sampling.
3. Evaluate relationships between Poults-Per-Hen (PPH) indices and estimated population density the following year.
4. Use densities and demographics determined from the non-invasive genetic sampling to inform the ongoing development of population models evaluating the impacts of spring harvest frameworks on fecundity, survival, and population growth.
5. Utilize non-invasive techniques to quantify parasite, disease, and aflatoxin prevalence in wild turkeys across different study sites and relate these back to changes in density through time.
"We are excited to collaborate with TFT on this new approach to understanding turkey populations. We hope this project will shine some light on the question that is on everyone's mind: why are there a lot of turkeys in some places but not others." – Adam Butler, Wild Turkey Program Coordinator, Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks
Expected Benefits:
Results of this research will provide statistically defensible estimates of turkey density, survival, and recruitment across a range of sites in Mississippi. These values will be directly incorporated into currently funded research which will guide policy decisions surrounding Mississippi's spring season framework. This study will allow for an independent assessment of the brood survey methodology employed by most southeastern state wildlife agencies and may help refine user-friendly camera survey techniques which can be employed by hunters and managers. Finally, this project will open the door to exciting new investigations into the roll certain pathogens, diseases, and parasites may play in wild turkey population trends.
One of the best TFT funded projects yet, IMO. I'm especially interested in the part regarding disease, parasites, and aflatoxins. I believe these play a greater role in population declines than many people realize.
Mississippi has had numerous WMAs with a delayed opener for several years. Any extra data that can be gathered from these WMAs could really help answer the question if delayed openers help or not.
Quote from: deerhunt1988 on June 13, 2022, 05:20:09 PM
One of the best TFT funded projects yet, IMO. I'm especially interested in the part regarding disease, parasites, and aflatoxins. I believe these play a greater role in population declines than many people realize.
Mississippi has had numerous WMAs with a delayed opener for several years. Any extra data that can be gathered from these WMAs could really help answer the question if delayed openers help or not.
Totally agree. Throw impacts of agricultural chemicals, herbicides, and pesticides in there, as well. :icon_thumright:
Going to be an interesting couple years with all the projects coming up! Great to see agencies being pro active.
Will give all of us turkey hunters plenty to argue about for a while...lol
That's some great news for my home state! Just glad THP wasn't involved in this study!
Yes / yes / yes !!
Quote from: deerhunt1988 on June 13, 2022, 05:20:09 PM
One of the best TFT funded projects yet, IMO. I'm especially interested in the part regarding disease, parasites, and aflatoxins. I believe these play a greater role in population declines than many people realize.
Mississippi has had numerous WMAs with a delayed opener for several years. Any extra data that can be gathered from these WMAs could really help answer the question if delayed openers help or not.
Glad to see you're just as fired up about this research as we are. There is sure to be some great information gained from this new technique. We will be sure to keep everyone informed as the project begins next spring!
I'm excited as well. I think we have an exceptional state turkey program leader in Adam B. I like that he's more measured in his approach to things. I guess someone will be walking roads and picking up poop now!!! I've got a 9 and 7 year old that doesn't miss a feather or a turd. Maybe I could get them a job!!!
Sure looks like a great project with specifically stated goals. Results should be interesting. This certainly looks like an organization worth supporting
I'm in central Mississippi
Simpson/rankin co line private land
If I can help in any way I will be happy to do what I can
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
wchadw,
I'm going to be the incoming property sampler for the MDWFP. I will send you a form to fill out soon, but in short, I will need access to your property from 3/1-5/1 of 2023. You won't have to do a thing. You can fish and brush up on your golf game and I'll suffer through this experiment. Jt
Glad to see Mississippi taking steps in the right direction! I've been hearing rumors of a possible season date change. We shall see I'm guessing
Quote from: GobbleNut on June 13, 2022, 06:10:59 PM
Quote from: deerhunt1988 on June 13, 2022, 05:20:09 PM
One of the best TFT funded projects yet, IMO. I'm especially interested in the part regarding disease, parasites, and aflatoxins. I believe these play a greater role in population declines than many people realize.
Mississippi has had numerous WMAs with a delayed opener for several years. Any extra data that can be gathered from these WMAs could really help answer the question if delayed openers help or not.
Totally agree. Throw impacts of agricultural chemicals, herbicides, and pesticides in there, as well.
:icon_thumright:
Especially this!!!!! I've noticed in the increase of chicken houses and the spraying timber instead of prescribed burning a change in turkey home habitat and numbers
Excellent news!! One I am eager to see results from. Kudos to TFT and their partners
The parasites/disease study should be interesting... Habitat, hunting pressure, and predators are obviously all factors but I've often wondered how we've had such broad scale national declines, in such a relatively short period of time, if there isn't something else effecting them.
Here's to hoping we get some quality information, asap
Back in the day what almost wiped out the Tukey population? Over harvest! I have heard some tales!!
I'm in central MS and I'm nearly certain that predators are more of a concern for population decline. Yes, we have hunters that go over the limit, but the predator population has exploded. I do all I can, I trap and hunt coyotes, shoot every bobcat I see. Not enough hunters getting involved in my opinion. Mississippi is notorious for being reactive instead of proactive. Go back and look at the wild hog regulations. For years, hunting them was very regulated because they were scared somebody would shoot a deer out of season. Now the hogs are out of control. Now they are here for good.
Quote from: Cottonmouth on June 26, 2022, 12:16:45 AM
I'm in central MS and I'm nearly certain that predators are more of a concern for population decline. Yes, we have hunters that go over the limit, but the predator population has exploded. I do all I can, I trap and hunt coyotes, shoot every bobcat I see. Not enough hunters getting involved in my opinion. Mississippi is notorious for being reactive instead of proactive. Go back and look at the wild hog regulations. For years, hunting them was very regulated because they were scared somebody would shoot a deer out of season. Now the hogs are out of control. Now they are here for good.
Predators are more of the cause than anything but the government likes to spend money on research while the turkey population is in decline, hunters are going to pay with new regulations while the predators keep eating.
Quote from: Hoot 000 on July 23, 2022, 09:14:43 PM
Quote from: Cottonmouth on June 26, 2022, 12:16:45 AM
I'm in central MS and I'm nearly certain that predators are more of a concern for population decline. Yes, we have hunters that go over the limit, but the predator population has exploded. I do all I can, I trap and hunt coyotes, shoot every bobcat I see. Not enough hunters getting involved in my opinion. Mississippi is notorious for being reactive instead of proactive. Go back and look at the wild hog regulations. For years, hunting them was very regulated because they were scared somebody would shoot a deer out of season. Now the hogs are out of control. Now they are here for good.
Predators are more of the cause than anything but the government likes to spend money on research while the turkey population is in decline, hunters are going to pay with new regulations while the predators keep eating.
These comments once again bring up a point I have been trying to emphasize. That point is that, not only should groups like TFT and NWTF be telling us about the studies and research they are spending our contributions on, they should be telling us exactly what their plans are to address the findings of those studies/research.
The presumption is that predation in all its forms,...nest predation, poult predation, and adult predation,...may be significant factors (and perhaps THE MOST significant comprehensive factor) in our wild turkey declines. Assuming that presumption is, in fact, true, tell us what the plan is to address that? It does little good to spend money for research/study without having an anticipated solution/remedy based on the results.
How many times do the "it's predators" comments have to be made by turkey hunters before the researchers put two and two together and say to themselves,..."I suppose we ought to tell people what we plan to do about it if we do indeed discover that the problem is predators"? Of course, the same applies to all the other possible culprits causing these declines.
Quote from: GobbleNut on July 24, 2022, 08:58:20 AM
Quote from: Hoot 000 on July 23, 2022, 09:14:43 PM
Quote from: Cottonmouth on June 26, 2022, 12:16:45 AM
I'm in central MS and I'm nearly certain that predators are more of a concern for population decline. Yes, we have hunters that go over the limit, but the predator population has exploded. I do all I can, I trap and hunt coyotes, shoot every bobcat I see. Not enough hunters getting involved in my opinion. Mississippi is notorious for being reactive instead of proactive. Go back and look at the wild hog regulations. For years, hunting them was very regulated because they were scared somebody would shoot a deer out of season. Now the hogs are out of control. Now they are here for good.
Predators are more of the cause than anything but the government likes to spend money on research while the turkey population is in decline, hunters are going to pay with new regulations while the predators keep eating.
These comments once again bring up a point I have been trying to emphasize. That point is that, not only should groups like TFT and NWTF be telling us about the studies and research they are spending our contributions on, they should be telling us exactly what their plans are to address the findings of those studies/research.
The presumption is that predation in all its forms,...nest predation, poult predation, and adult predation,...may be significant factors (and perhaps THE MOST significant comprehensive factor) in our wild turkey declines. Assuming that presumption is, in fact, true, tell us what the plan is to address that? It does little good to spend money for research/study without having an anticipated solution/remedy based on the results.
How many times do the "it's predators" comments have to be made by turkey hunters before the researchers put two and two together and say to themselves,..."I suppose we ought to tell people what we plan to do about it if we do indeed discover that the problem is predators"? Of course, the same applies to all the other possible culprits causing these declines.
We just shared some year 1 preliminary results from the 3 projects we are conducting in Alabama in a new thread. We are currently working on strategies and action plans to help educate land managers and hunters on how to improve nesting and brood rearing habitat on their property.
Quote from: TurkeysForTomorrow on July 28, 2022, 02:14:12 PM
Quote from: GobbleNut on July 24, 2022, 08:58:20 AM
These comments once again bring up a point I have been trying to emphasize. That point is that, not only should groups like TFT and NWTF be telling us about the studies and research they are spending our contributions on, they should be telling us exactly what their plans are to address the findings of those studies/research.
We just shared some year 1 preliminary results from the 3 projects we are conducting in Alabama in a new thread. We are currently working on strategies and action plans to help educate land managers and hunters on how to improve nesting and brood rearing habitat on their property.
:icon_thumright: Great to see solutions to the various issues impacting turkey populations are being contemplated and that we are looking for solutions to problems rather than just identifying what those problems are. Simply stated, we need to be discussing VIABLE solutions to those identified issues as we go.
Working with willing private landowners is one element, but I would personally be interested in knowing what sort of interactions are, or will be, going on with public land management agencies regarding their willingness to implement recovery strategies (predator control, timber management, fire management, etc.) that are favorable to wild turkeys but are not necessarily part of the "bigger picture", landscape-wide, land management policies.
For instance, it is one thing to state that predator control needs to be implemented, but quite another to get public land managers to even consider that when the general public would most likely implode over the mere suggestion. The point being, solutions to the problem have to include that element of being acceptable to the far-greater majority of the public, as well as that probably-much-larger percentage of private landowners who manage their private holdings for something other than what is in the best interest of wild turkeys.
At the risk of further wearing out this oft used cliche, we really do need to be "thinking out of the box" when discussing wild turkey recovery efforts.