Since June 2020, Turkeys For Tomorrow has grown from the humble idea of 14 individuals into a nationally recognized organization participating in and funding turkey research throughout the country. The driving force behind TFT is solely the conservation and preservation of the wild turkey. From the onset of TFT, its founders vowed that the wild turkey was the centerpiece of the organization's purpose and mission. Answering the hard questions that would identify the root causes of the issues facing the wild turkey was at the top of the list for TFT and would provide the framework for the right research, education and potential regulation changes that would both sustain and increase turkey populations. In addition to the wild turkey being the sole focus of our organization, TFT will maintain transparency and accountability to our supporters and sponsors.
With the help of the Alabama Wildlife Federation and individuals that were known throughout the "turkey community," TFT set out to identify and contribute to research projects that could help to uncover the causes of wild turkey population's decline. Within the first seven months of the inception of TFT, three research projects were funded under the leadership of Dr. Will Gulsby of Auburn University.
One of those studies involves capturing and fitting hens with GPS transmitters to determine timing of nesting and incubation, nest survival, poult survival, and habitat selection. This would provide vital information on what factors contribute to successful recruitment of poults into the population.
TFT's preliminary results of this study are as follows:
- A total of 20 hens were monitored during spring/summer 2022.
- 18/20 hens survived (90%).
- 15 hens (75%) attempted to nest. All hens in the study were adults at time of capture.
- 2 hens (10%) successfully hatched at least one poult. All other nests failed.
- Brood survival was 0% (none of the hatched poults lived).
Although turkey reproduction varies annually, these results clearly indicate there are serious issues with both nest and brood survival. Additional data will be collected in coming years that should provide a more accurate representation of poult production over time, as well as factors that contribute to successful and unsuccessful nests and broods.
A second study was conducted to determine if disease and/or fertility issues in male turkeys are contributing to the decline in populations. To date, 401 carcasses have been collected from turkey hunters for sampling and analysis. All samples were collected in Alabama and represented 48 of the 67 counties (71%) across the state. Preliminary results of this study are as follows:
- A small number of these birds were clearly diseased. Results are pending lab confirmation.
- There are clear differences in testicle size among adult males. The implications of that are still unclear as further microscopic examination is necessary to assess fertility rates.
Testing will be conducted for the following pathogens:
- Lymphoproliferative disease virus (LPDV)
- Reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV)
- Select hemoparasites (Haemoproteus spp., Leucocytozoon spp.)
Prior to the conclusion of these studies in Alabama, TFT has expanded its research funding efforts to additional states. TFT has partnered with DNRs, Professors, and private individuals to fund research projects that will be vital to determining the issues facing the wild turkey population decline. The goal of TFT's research efforts are multi-faceted: 1) provide research professionals the answers they need to establish change, and 2) provide the private landowner, hunter, and conservationist those answers as well in order for them to better manage their individual properties. By supporting TFT, these goals can be accomplished by the collaborative efforts of researchers and hunters in order to increase populations of wild turkeys throughout the landscape.
As lab analysis begins to come back from the first subset of samples TFT will keep everyone updated to findings, thank you. If you haven't yet please consider joining TFT.
https://turkeysfortomorrow.org/membership-account/membership-levels/ (https://turkeysfortomorrow.org/membership-account/membership-levels/)
do they plan to test for the mold that comes from corn in their toxicology study? isn't AL a "ok to bait on private land" state?
I know it's a small sampling, but first reaction is WOW!
Alabama is a no bait state for turkeys, but legal for deer. And that no bait clause is worth about as much as the paper it's printed on.
Quote from: guesswho on July 28, 2022, 03:00:23 PM
I know it's a small sampling, but first reaction is WOW!
Alabama is a no bait state for turkeys, but legal for deer. And that no bait clause is worth about as much as the paper it's printed on.
baiting in MS only legal for deer and hogs. not turkeys but during deer season the turkeys of course, eat the corn
yes, WOW is right. very shocking that no poults survived.
Quote from: wchadw on July 28, 2022, 02:29:49 PM
do they plan to test for the mold that comes from corn in their toxicology study? isn't AL a "ok to bait on private land" state?
In much of Texas turkeys eat corn from feeders year round. Certainly south Texas and the big deer hunting areas of N. Texxas. And the Rio population hasn't suffered from it one bit in the past 20 years from all accounts. Drought can put a hurting on them from year to year but so far they have rebounded well when rain returned. I doubt the aflatoxin from deer corn turns out to be the problem, but it's certainly worth the effort to prove or disprove.
Quote from: Tail Feathers on July 28, 2022, 03:24:35 PM
Quote from: wchadw on July 28, 2022, 02:29:49 PM
do they plan to test for the mold that comes from corn in their toxicology study? isn't AL a "ok to bait on private land" state?
In much of Texas turkeys eat corn from feeders year round. Certainly south Texas and the big deer hunting areas of N. Texxas. And the Rio population hasn't suffered from it one bit in the past 20 years from all accounts. Drought can put a hurting on them from year to year but so far they have rebounded well when rain returned. I doubt the aflatoxin from deer corn turns out to be the problem, but it's certainly worth the effort to prove or disprove.
its alot drier in s texas than in central MS where the humidity is always really high. i have seen corn on the ground here with mold like black hair growing out of it. the deer hunters where i hunt will dump it out
spring in MS usually means lots and lots of rain. it may not be the problem but i was curious.
i do my best to get rid of as many nest predators in as i can where i hunt and i have noticed a difference in the years that i don't in the number of poults
Wow 75% nest initiation amd only 10% successfully hatched an egg! Well that flies in the face of the dominant gobbler being killed to early theory and shows that its all about predators.
Quote from: Stoeger_bird on July 28, 2022, 04:54:41 PM
Wow 75% nest initiation amd only 10% successfully hatched an egg! Well that flies in the face of the dominant gobbler being killed to early theory and shows that its all about predators.
Unless the eggs weren't fertilized
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Quote from: wchadw on July 28, 2022, 05:35:43 PM
Quote from: Stoeger_bird on July 28, 2022, 04:54:41 PM
Wow 75% nest initiation amd only 10% successfully hatched an egg! Well that flies in the face of the dominant gobbler being killed to early theory and shows that its all about predators.
Unless the eggs weren't fertilized
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He must have missed the clear differences in testicle sizes in adult males part. It will my interesting to see where all this research leads.
Quote from: Paulmyr on July 28, 2022, 05:44:39 PM
Quote from: wchadw on July 28, 2022, 05:35:43 PM
Quote from: Stoeger_bird on July 28, 2022, 04:54:41 PM
Wow 75% nest initiation amd only 10% successfully hatched an egg! Well that flies in the face of the dominant gobbler being killed to early theory and shows that its all about predators.
Unless the eggs weren't fertilized
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
He must have missed the clear differences in testicle sizes in adult males part. It will my interesting to see where all this research leads.
Wait are u saying u actually would think the nuts of all male turkeys would be the same size? Do u also think the nuts of all male humans are the same size?
Probably more poults here where I'm at than I can ever remember seeing.
Quote from: wchadw on July 28, 2022, 05:35:43 PM
Quote from: Stoeger_bird on July 28, 2022, 04:54:41 PM
Wow 75% nest initiation amd only 10% successfully hatched an egg! Well that flies in the face of the dominant gobbler being killed to early theory and shows that its all about predators.
Unless the eggs weren't fertilized
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Not any current (or past) evidence suggesting that eggs aren't being fertilized. If some of the current research finds this, it will definitely be ground breaking.
Quote from: Paulmyr on July 28, 2022, 05:44:39 PM
Quote from: wchadw on July 28, 2022, 05:35:43 PM
Quote from: Stoeger_bird on July 28, 2022, 04:54:41 PM
Wow 75% nest initiation amd only 10% successfully hatched an egg! Well that flies in the face of the dominant gobbler being killed to early theory and shows that its all about predators.
Unless the eggs weren't fertilized
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
He must have missed the clear differences in testicle sizes in adult males part. It will my interesting to see where all this research leads.
We've known adult gobbler nuts vary in size for well over 50 years. Based on past literature, it'll be surprising if multiple adult gobblers didn't have viable sperm. I'm more interested in what percentage of jakes had viable sperm, but last I read they had a very small sample size of jakes.
(https://i.imgur.com/bVvCMuw.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/1c6zxtY.png)
I'm also fairly certain i've read literature where they found gobbler nut size can increase as the breeding season progresses. I.E. March size vs early May size. Makes sense, likely just the testosterone getting ramped up.
How many of the 20 hens had viable eggs to be fertilized?
3rd study.
Pretty bad report for sure on survival rates- the Oklahoma research thread that was put out just a week or so ago had basically the same results - now on the an answer - we have state and federal paid hog trappers - it's gonna take something like that to get a handle on predators in my opinion— our turkeys definitely need help
Quote from: Stoeger_bird on July 28, 2022, 06:41:16 PM
Quote from: Paulmyr on July 28, 2022, 05:44:39 PM
Quote from: wchadw on July 28, 2022, 05:35:43 PM
Quote from: Stoeger_bird on July 28, 2022, 04:54:41 PM
Wow 75% nest initiation amd only 10% successfully hatched an egg! Well that flies in the face of the dominant gobbler being killed to early theory and shows that its all about predators.
Unless the eggs weren't fertilized
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
He must have missed the clear differences in testicle sizes in adult males part. It will my interesting to see where all this research leads.
Wait are u saying u actually would think the nuts of all male turkeys would be the same size? Do u also think the nuts of all male humans are the same size?
Sorry I don't look at other guys nuts.
You do realize the dominant gobbler theory plays into increased predation?
Quote from: deerhunt1988 on July 28, 2022, 08:03:31 PM
Quote from: Paulmyr on July 28, 2022, 05:44:39 PM
Quote from: wchadw on July 28, 2022, 05:35:43 PM
Quote from: Stoeger_bird on July 28, 2022, 04:54:41 PM
Wow 75% nest initiation amd only 10% successfully hatched an egg! Well that flies in the face of the dominant gobbler being killed to early theory and shows that its all about predators.
Unless the eggs weren't fertilized
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
He must have missed the clear differences in testicle sizes in adult males part. It will my interesting to see where all this research leads.
We've known adult gobbler nuts vary in size for well over 50 years. Based on past literature, it'll be surprising if multiple adult gobblers didn't have viable sperm. I'm more interested in what percentage of jakes had viable sperm, but last I read they had a very small sample size of jakes.
(https://i.imgur.com/bVvCMuw.png)
(https://i.imgur.com/1c6zxtY.png)
I'm also fairly certain i've read literature where they found gobbler nut size can increase as the breeding season progresses. I.E. March size vs early May size. Makes sense, likely just the testosterone getting ramped up.
I've read/heard that dominant gobblers produce more testosterone than subordinates. Not sure where I came across this info. I'm guessing these new studies are leaning towards finding out.
If it was ONE thing, but it's not.... Nest predation, habitat loss, overall predation (us included). Corn in general maybe not bad but the problem is people hunting turkeys over said corn... now, a "hunter" who doesn't know a Yelp from a cluck can sit in a blind and shoot a limit over corn. Illegal? Sure- but if you think it ain't happening in Mississippi you are not thinking it thru....
Lost eggs ,poults being killed is main reason for decline. Disease but mostly predators is the cause enough money spent on research need to change laws concerning predators they have increased 10 x more than in the past. Coyotes are bad on grown turkey's and terrible on poults. Avian pox been found in flocks also
Quote from: Prospector on July 29, 2022, 08:43:06 AM
If it was ONE thing, but it's not.... Nest predation, habitat loss, overall predation (us included). Corn in general maybe not bad but the problem is people hunting turkeys over said corn... now, a "hunter" who doesn't know a Yelp from a cluck can sit in a blind and shoot a limit over corn. Illegal? Sure- but if you think it ain't happening in Mississippi you are not thinking it thru....
Corn is hell on turkeys for a whole lot of reasons. Aflatoxins are always a potential given the leniency on grain marketed for wildlife, but the bigger issue, MUCH BIGGER, is the way in which corn supplements the forage of other wildlife, particularly omnivorous scavengers like coons and possums which we all know are hell on nests. Supplemented corn always increases the carrying capacity of land. If you had a piece of land that could naturally hold a dozen coons, what do you think that number goes to once you start dumping fifty pound bags of corn? We talk about a lot of impacts baiting has on turkey populations but that's the one key we continuously leave out.
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Seen pox in two different states I hunted this spring
We should try and eliminate one thing at a time. Or at least find the value of each culprit. I believe each culprit is important in this factor.
The corn pull is way down the list of studies that money will be spent on. If you want baiting outlawed in your state, lobby for it. CWD is your friend in this fight, go get it done.
Quote from: Tail Feathers on July 28, 2022, 03:24:35 PM
Quote from: wchadw on July 28, 2022, 02:29:49 PM
do they plan to test for the mold that comes from corn in their toxicology study? isn't AL a "ok to bait on private land" state?
In much of Texas turkeys eat corn from feeders year round. Certainly south Texas and the big deer hunting areas of N. Texxas. And the Rio population hasn't suffered from it one bit in the past 20 years from all accounts. Drought can put a hurting on them from year to year but so far they have rebounded well when rain returned. I doubt the aflatoxin from deer corn turns out to be the problem, but it's certainly worth the effort to prove or disprove.
Do you doubt that moisture could potentially contribute to mold or other poisonous effects on grains in wetter climates and may not present itself the same opportunity in the drier Texas climates?
Like you stated, anything is a possibility. It's likely going to take some outside the box thinking and more than one individual course of action to be enough change to have positive impacts.
Quote from: ChesterCopperpot on July 31, 2022, 06:24:48 PM
Quote from: Prospector on July 29, 2022, 08:43:06 AM
If it was ONE thing, but it's not.... Nest predation, habitat loss, overall predation (us included). Corn in general maybe not bad but the problem is people hunting turkeys over said corn... now, a "hunter" who doesn't know a Yelp from a cluck can sit in a blind and shoot a limit over corn. Illegal? Sure- but if you think it ain't happening in Mississippi you are not thinking it thru....
Corn is hell on turkeys for a whole lot of reasons. Aflatoxins are always a potential given the leniency on grain marketed for wildlife, but the bigger issue, MUCH BIGGER, is the way in which corn supplements the forage of other wildlife, particularly omnivorous scavengers like coons and possums which we all know are hell on nests. Supplemented corn always increases the carrying capacity of land. If you had a piece of land that could naturally hold a dozen coons, what do you think that number goes to once you start dumping fifty pound bags of corn? We talk about a lot of impacts baiting has on turkey populations but that's the one key we continuously leave out.
I agree 100% with this. Have thought of this before and it is a fact. Sorry that my orig post didn't get into that. The main point I'm trying to make is the Decline is a culmination of many reasons. Some we cannot do much about/ others we can. As a Turkey hunter you should be:1) if you plant food plots be sure to add something for the turkeys too.2) declare a shoot on site for predators ( of course, only according to laws in your area????).3) Trap, period.No excuses.4) Do not tolerate your "friends" blatant poaching( you need new friends).... If you own and/or can influence property do so if u can. I know these may not help; but doing nothing is certainly not working. I would enjoy any other thoughts and suggestions as well to possibly implement....
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