Turkeys For Tomorrow is helping restore turkey populations in Tennessee by contributing funding to an ongoing research project in Spring 2023.
Dr. Craig Harper and Dr. David Buehler, both with the University of Tennessee, have led a comprehensive study of wild turkey ecology and management in five counties of south-middle Tennessee for the past six years. Their preliminary findings are both striking and encouraging. In brief, findings indicate low nest success and poult survival as a result of predation is limiting the population, and a two-week delay applied to the hunting season's opening has not impacted any aspect of reproductive success. By helping fund an additional year of study, Turkeys For Tomorrow will help Harper, Buehler, and their team collect another year of data that will include reproductive success, survival, habitat use, and a predator index, all of which will help provide managers and agencies with information needed to make key decisions related to the impact of predators and season-date decisions on public and private lands.
Because the Tennessee Fish and Wildlife Commission has set the entire state's spring turkey season later by two weeks for 2023, researchers have the unique opportunity to record and analyze gobbling activity and correlate it to hunter success and satisfaction through the end of May. The opening of turkey season has been delayed by two weeks in five Tennessee counties for the past several years, but that delay did not extend the season — it just subtracted two weeks from the total available hunting time. Beginning in 2023, the season will be moved back two weeks statewide. This move leaves hunters in Tennessee with the same number of days to hunt by extending the season through the end of May. Researchers on the Harper and Buehler project are uniquely positioned to measure gobbling activity through that time and correlate it with hunter success and satisfaction.
"Support from Turkeys For Tomorrow will be critical in allowing us to conduct an additional year of our work to the level at which it should be conducted," Harper said.
"We believe it's important to understand what needs to be done, then actively do it," said Ron Jolly, co-chairman of Turkeys For Tomorrow. "This study confirms what we've long believed: predators are limiting turkey reproduction and recruitment into the fall population. Predator numbers likely are at an all-time high, and they are eating turkey eggs and turkey poults at an alarming rate. The Tennessee study is documenting just how much pressure predators are putting on turkey survival. We're honored to be part of the work Harper and Buehler are conducting."
Wow ground breaking work, only took 5 years and a ton of money to determine there is a predator problem?
Take all that money and hire some trappers!
It only took about 6 years to come to this conclusion about predators and needing another year to gather more information, very interesting. Not sure funding another year or moving the season back 2 weeks is the answer.
Unless twra starts an all out war on predators our turkeys are doomed. They did allow year round coon and possum trapping but only on private land. Our public land turkeys are left to suffer. Me and several other hunters have been advocating legalizing night time predator hunting. A new sport would recruit new hunters and hopefully result in lowering predator population. Twra says we can't do it, because their afraid we will be shooting deer at night and shooting into peoples houses :angry9:
It took me 1 year and 10 dog proof traps to come to the conclusion that coons are a major predator of turkey eggs and by putting these out, my turkey population increased. Could someone please send me the same funding? Universities....what a waste of money!
"By helping fund an additional year of study, Turkeys For Tomorrow will help Harper, Buehler, and their team collect another year of data that will include reproductive success, survival, habitat use, and a predator index, all of which will help provide managers and agencies with information needed to make key decisions related to the impact of predators and season-date decisions on public and private lands."
Unless I am misinterpreting the TFT synopsis, it seems a major factor for the turkey decline has been identified already, at least in the area in question. As others have stated above, why add another year to this study? ...Or at least present some viable, proposed actions as part of the synopsis?
I am not against spending money on research/studies when I understand a clear vision being presented as to what the proposed actions might be to solve the problem. I see none being presented here other than some generalities. After this many years of research that has come to the conclusions indicated, it seems to me that there should be some pretty specific recommendations already being proposed as solutions.
For me personally, I would like to know what the proposed "end game" is,...other than to "provide managers and agencies with information to make key decisions". The fact is that those key decisions should have been in the formulative stages well before now. Sharing some thoughts on those would be helpful to the skeptics in the crowd... :icon_thumright:
What was the total investment in those 5 years?
Probably could have paid 10 commercial trappers to crush the egg eaters and got actual results!
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Been saying this for years, and I'm a dumb redneck. should never have took 6 years to figure this out, guess it will take 6 years to decide what to do about it, by then the turkeys will be gone, and the problem will solve its self.
My father told me there is one thing worse than an elected official, it's an appointed one. Predation is key with hunting/taking predators implemented right away. Research can catch up. It's win win move
My opinion is that habitat trumps all, followed closely by nest predator control which is extremely difficult on a large scale.
Central Illinois had a distemper break out back in the 90s some time and it flat wiped the coons out, couldn't even find a track, and the turkeys blew up! Fast forward to last year and some friends caught a couple hundred coons just around their lodge.
Central Illinois turkeys are down drastically, add the influx of bush honey suckle too the predator boom and you have serious problems!
coons not only effect turkey numbers but quail,ducks rabbits any nesting critter. i had a mallard hen hatch 13 little ones this past spring. made a point to remove snapping turtles before they hatched. nest was on a nesting platform in middle of pond. at two weeks i started losing a baby duck each night. i knew i had a coon but was having trouble catching it. lost 8 baby ducks before i got the coon. never lost another one after that. now i didn't see the coon Catch a duck so you can form your option. Where i live in tn they are completely out of control. For that matter so are snappers. i catch everyone i can.we all need to be doing what we can to help. You can have all the studies you want but they don't help one bit just waste money that could been better spent.TWRA needs to listen to the hunters MORE
So let me get this straight. Most of you who have replied are against the continued funding for 1 year of a study that has already proven Tenn moving the season back 2 weeks has no apparent impact on reproductive success and has the possibility of proving hunter satisfaction and success is greater during the 2 weeks taken away from the season compared to satisfaction and success rates to the 2 weeks at the end of the season and provide the data needed to wave at the twra and say see the only thing your season changes did was make hunting harder and less pleasurable for us. Give us the 2 weeks at the beginning back, because you think it's about predators?
NWTF, TFT, AND STATE CONSERVATION need to put up or shut up! Won't be long if they don't show actions they will be defunded!!!! Enough with wasted money on studies!
Quote from: Hook hanger on January 03, 2023, 07:12:01 PM
NWTF, TFT, AND STATE CONSERVATION need to put up or shut up! Won't be long if they don't show actions they will be defunded!!!! Enough with wasted money on studies!
So TFT has been around for maybe a year and already they need to put up or shut up? Curious, what would be considered putting up?
Studies have already found predators to be the issue. So what are these organizations doing to address the problem? NWTF and state conservation departments are not willing to address the issue. We shall see if TFT will or not.
Field research is critical in environmental issues.. if you don't know what the problem is ...how can you fix it ?
Quote from: Hook hanger on January 03, 2023, 11:04:06 PM
Studies have already found predators to be the issue. So what are these organizations doing to address the problem? NWTF and state conservation departments are not willing to address the issue. We shall see if TFT will or not.
Let's dive into the weeds a bit more on the predator issue. First of all, I think we all agree (laymen and professionals alike) that predators are a significant issue with suppressed turkey populations. The question then becomes..."what can be done about it?"
Private landowners can take whatever action (within legal parameters) they want to control predators on their properties. It would be interesting to know what percentage of private landowners will take steps to limit predators with the goal of enhancing turkey numbers. Conversely, it would also be interesting to know how many private landowners have other priorities on their properties, quite possible to include protecting the very same predators that impact wild turkeys. Bottom line is that just because us turkey hunters want to do things to protect turkey numbers on private land doesn't mean that private landowners share the same goals. Obviously, that is a problem,...and one that might not be able to be overcome.
Public lands are another matter altogether,...and public perception is a major obstacle nowadays for wildlife managers. There are a number of states (mine included) that have outlawed trapping on public lands. As our society becomes more urbanized, that trend is likely to increase. It doesn't matter how many wildlife research projects show turkey populations are being suppressed by predators, unless the general public gets on board with killing various species of predators to enhance a game animal sought out by a small minority of the populace, significant predator management on public lands just ain't gonna happen, folks,...unless there is a reversal of public attitudes about that kind of thing.
Wildlife managers (and researchers) are faced with that dilemma,...and I am not aware that any significant debate is taking place on how to overcome it.
Habitat issues (mentioned previously) also come into play. Maybe more discussion on that is in order...
The way I read it is they're acknowledging predators of nests and poults are the number one issue. The extra year looks to dive in deeper into which predators specifically, what nesting habitats are more successful and which ones are least, weather impacts, etc. I think this information is what's needed for state agencies to take action. Fingers crossed anyway.
Quote from: Hook hanger on January 03, 2023, 11:04:06 PM
Studies have already found predators to be the issue. So what are these organizations doing to address the problem? NWTF and state conservation departments are not willing to address the issue. We shall see if TFT will or not.
Since it's already been decided predators are the number one issue affecting the wild turkey population, I guess nobody would interested to hear a 2017-20 Maine study showed 59% of the wild turkeys sampled tested Positive for LPDV and a New York study showed a 60% LPDV rate.
The study in Maine also showed a 75% infection rate from a disease called Mycoplasma gallisepticum that can limit reproduction and egg hatchabilty. Not sure how much is known about these pathogens. Are populations in the Northeast about to show declines in what appears to be stable numbers? Are they showing signs already? If so will predators get the blame? Nebraska seems to be interested as they are initiating a serious look into LPDV and other pathogens as well.
But seeing as we already know its predators there should be no need to fund any other studies involving wild turkeys.
Quote from: Paulmyr on January 04, 2023, 07:16:45 PM
I guess nobody would interested to hear a 2017-20 Maine study showed 59% of the wild turkeys sampled tested Positive for LPDV and a New York study showed a 60% LPDV rate.
The study in Maine also showed a 75% infection rate from a disease called Mycoplasma gallisepticum that can limit reproduction and egg hatchabilty. Not sure how much is known about these pathogens. Are populations in the Northeast about to show declines in what appears to be stable numbers? Are they showing signs already? If so will predators get the blame? Nebraska seems to be interested as they are initiating a serious look into LPDV and other pathogens as well.
Just like the research that is indicating that predators are an issue in some places, it does not surprise me that the same can be said for disease/parasites in others. The question remains the same regardless of the cause: What are the proposed actions/remedies to solve the problems, whatever they might be?
Mississippi is riding what looks to be the best hatch we've had in many years. Nothing changed in the predator world, the habitat world, season dates, limits, etc.......
What happened???
Quote from: Shiloh on January 05, 2023, 08:45:54 AM
Mississippi is riding what looks to be the best hatch we've had in many years. Nothing changed in the predator world, the habitat world, season dates, limits, etc.......
What happened???
It will be interesting to see what the opinions are on this. I am just a casual observer from another part of the country, but it seems to me that the reports of spring flooding that we had been hearing about over the last several years was not as big an issue. Maybe an association there?...
The spring flooding in our area would have to be confused with summer flooding. Our springs have been fairly mild while we have had some really wet summers. Especially this past August. At least in central MS where I am.
I guess what I am coming up with is this. Do all that you can where you are, but ma nature has a lot to do with it and it's very difficult to incite noticeable change in her attitude.
Quote from: GobbleNut on January 04, 2023, 11:36:09 PM
Quote from: Paulmyr on January 04, 2023, 07:16:45 PM
I guess nobody would interested to hear a 2017-20 Maine study showed 59% of the wild turkeys sampled tested Positive for LPDV and a New York study showed a 60% LPDV rate.
The study in Maine also showed a 75% infection rate from a disease called Mycoplasma gallisepticum that can limit reproduction and egg hatchabilty. Not sure how much is known about these pathogens. Are populations in the Northeast about to show declines in what appears to be stable numbers? Are they showing signs already? If so will predators get the blame? Nebraska seems to be interested as they are initiating a serious look into LPDV and other pathogens as well.
Just like the research that is indicating that predators are an issue in some places, it does not surprise me that the same can be said for disease/parasites in others. The question remains the same regardless of the cause: What are the proposed actions/remedies to solve the problems, whatever they might be?
I get it that everybody wants answers. It's my opinion that more research needs to be done, if not to identify problems affecting but also ways to possibly solve the problems in question.
Turkeys rebounded so dramatically after reintroduction in many areas not much emphasis was put on state agencies to learn much about them as such not much is know. I think implementing solutions without fully understanding issues could be quite the problem.
CWD deer management comes to mind. How would you guys feel if your state implemented regs similar to cdw management for turkeys that had lpdv or some other pathogens. Seems the govt solution to managing any pathogens in wild or domestic stock is the irradication of the whole herd/flock and not just the infected ones. I could see it happening. Not sure how the mass implementation of over harvesting in an attempt to devastate turkey numbers in order control a pathogen would be accepted.
Are we ready for management solutions such as this? If I had my drothers, I'd prefer more research in the hopes of finding a solution other than the mass execution of populations in a CDW like containment effort.
What I'm pretty sure the answer isn't, is the way some members here were more than willing to drag a fledgling organization through the mud about wasting money on research they feel is not needed.
Good discussion. I don't disagree at all with what you are saying, Paul. Identifying problems through research and investigation is absolutely necessary. ...But, as I have stated before, there needs to be an "end game" in mind,...and I do not fault those who question research asking for an explanation "up front" as to what the speculated solutions might be.
At one time, I chaired a committee that funded wild-turkey-related research and associated projects. Part of that funding involved vetting the researchers as to what practical value was envisioned in their proposal? Specifically, I wanted them to offer not only what their research was meant to identify, but also what the solutions might be if their research resulted in identifiable problems. In short, I don't think is it unrealistic for folks to ask the question,..."If your research ends up showing that "A" is a problem, what do you foresee as being the course(s) of action to resolve that problem?"
Now, granted, there is always the possibility that research will end up identifying problems which realistically have no viable solutions. Regardless of that possibility, in my opinion, any worthwhile research project should at least initially begin with postulated solutions to the problems that the research might identify.
University of Tennessee research students, led by Dr. Craig Harper are close to reaching a target of 120 hens radio-tagged prior to Tennessee's statewide turkey opener this spring. Listed below is a real-time update for those who support TFT and helped us fund this ongoing project:
- 99 hens radio-tagged at present
- Successfully trapped and radio-tagged the needed sample size at 5 of 10 study sites
-Students just recaptured a hen in Lawrence county that has been previously trapped as an adult in 2017; so she is at least 8 years old, and the team placed a third transmitter on her; from this single hen we have nesting and brooding data from 5 of the 6 years of our study so far (2017-2021)
- The team just radio-tagged our second smoky-gray phase hen at one site in Bedford county (one in 2021 and one in 2023)
- University of Tennessee has now trapped >1,000 birds (males and females) throughout the project!
Great work guys !!! Keep it up!!!