Wild Turkey Populations. PA and Country

[dcheckman]

For those interested in wild turkey management in US and in PA, you need to get a current Outdoor Life, May 2013 issue, page 21, 22. Back to School... Rethinking the Hatch... articles.

There are problems identified these past 4-5 years with wild turkey populations across the United States that are now being published. The trends have been reviewed, the problems exist. For those interested in finding out what is happening to the country's wild turkey populations the State Agencies and NWTF are starting to work together on getting more up to date research data and identify problems facing wild turkeys in the 21st century and the solutions that will put more wild turkeys in more habitat across the Country. including PA.

The time to act on this was 5-10 years ago but I am glad many State Agencies and NWTF are acting on this problem now. NWTF has a program you will be hearing more about; "Save the Habitat, Save the Hunt"; and hopefully it will be a difference maker to improve and increase wild turkey populations across the Country.

The PGC Hen Harvest Rate and Telemetry Study in the WMU's designated at the start of this research project won't change.

What needs to happen is two more Hen Harvest Rate and Telemetry Studies need to be done across central and eastern PA, either one group at a time, or both groups in the same 4 year project. Problem is money to do that wide a Hen Harvest Rate and Telemetry Study. But that is another issue without a Turkey Hunting License in this state!!!

The time to act on PA wild turkey state-wide research was 12-15 years ago but we all know what those problems were back in the 1990’s early 2000’s, if you were involved in the discussions. I’m tickled pink PGC & Mary Jo Casalena, DCNR, and PANWTF and Don Heckman were able to get the TMA 7B Wild Turkey Task Force up and running and a hen harvest study completed in 1999-2001. I am glad PGC has acted on two research data gathering projects these past 8-10 years on the completed Gobbler Leg Band Research Project and the current Hen Harvest Rate and Telemetry Study. These 2 research projects will be applying their findings facing wild turkey populations and seasons and bag limits issues across many WMU's of Pennsylvania.

I absolutely agree research needs to be done, new radio telemetry advances now make it easier to get valuable research field data than was available 20 - 25 - 30 years ago. PGC needs to be working more on wild turkey population issues by region, and we're working on it in this decade. However bottom line... like the gobbler leg band study and the hen harvest rate study it will take 5-10 years to get new research data gathering studies initiated, then put a study proposal together, fund the proposal, and finalize the project, then start the project...

My point being Pennsylvania’s land, habitat, human population dynamics, and seasons and bag limits are different between western, central, and eastern regions of PA. All 3 regions need to have a harvest rate study completed and changes made.

After the next Management Plan For Wild Turkeys In Pennsylvania is revised, updated, and signed maybe just maybe then a new wild turkey hen harvest rate and telemetry research study will come forth.

Remember the article in Outdoor Life, May 2013 issue and NWTF’s “Save the Habitat, Save the Hunt”. There are reasons why, and there are decisions to be made, and there are solutions to be applied. Positive actions are on the table.
Don...

[dcheckman]

Article is all about more research being needed, and more money to do more wild turkey research using new technology unavailable 15-25-35 years ago. And better, improved wild turkey habitat is needed, has been, still is, and will be needed in the future. Which I 100% agree and have been saying so for these past 35+ years just ask Jerry Wunz and Arnie Hayden and Bill Drake and Mary Jo Casalena and Bob Eriksen. And there has been successful habitat improvement, and the Commonwealth and other states continue to lose valuable land/habitat at alarming rates also and will continue to do so. Thus more habitat problems 10-25-50-100 years from now. We collectively are building that future today and next decade! Let's do it right for the Resource First.
Don...


From the Outdoor Life article...

Rethink the Hatch... "Originally the seasons wee set according to peak incubation. the4 idea is to open seasons when at least 50 percent of hens are nesting, which ensures that most breeding has taken place and gobblers can be considered surplus."

"NWTF is funding research that looks at whether early seasons disrupt nesting hens and leave unhatched eggs vulnerable to predators."

"We always want to increase opportunity, but we have to do it sustainably."


Back to School...
"Now were moving to bigger picture projects, looking at how populations work over wider landscapes."

And Timber Management...
"But new research is suggesting that not every woodland is the same to a wild turkey. Instead, as forest management has transitioned to larger but fewer timber-cutting projects, many public forests have matured. leaving little nesting cover and edge habitat for wild turkeys."

"This research reminds us that the heyday of turkey restoration coincided with active timber management. We are interested in seeing if smaller, more focused managed burns and cuts can re-create those emergent forest conditions that turkeys thrive in."


And Don continues... ever hear early sustainable forest growth, or commonly called young forest, wild turkeys in forested country thrive on it and live in it... And it's all about the habitat... more wild turkey habitat more wild turkeys. And edges, more edges more wild turkeys and better turkey hunting. As far as Wild Turkey Habitat, not enough is being focused and spent on creating, improving, and future wild turkey habitat. Nesting habitat, brood habitat, year around feeding habitat, winter survival habitat, and edge and field habitat. More edges and more fields and more young forests sustaining wildlife populations equals, in this specific topic, more wild turkeys...

[dcheckman]

PA Chapter NWTF is working together with our Local Chapters and with NWTF this summer to put this program on the ground. Details behind these facts will be released and updated as the program gets started across Pennsylvania.
Don...


Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt.

We are at a critical juncture in the future of wildlife habitat conservation and the preservation of our hunting heritage.
Wild turkey numbers are diminishing in many areas, mostly because of a loss of essential habitat. This can only be reversed through proper management of our fields and forests.

We're losing 6,000 acres of critical wildlife habitat every single day to development. That's 2.2 million acres a year, an area the size of Yellowstone National Park. We must make every remaining acre count. And finally, hunters and our hunting rights are under attack.

Hunters pay for wildlife and habitat conservation. If we don't stand our ground today, there is no hope for the future of conservation and hunting.

Our mission is no less urgent today than when we started in 1973. What we do in the next 10 years will be instrumental in not only enhancing wild turkey populations, but in the continuation of hunting and quality wildlife habitat for countless species.

The NWTF's ready for the challenge and will be a leader for the next 40 years, standing as one team with one mission. Your continued support is essential.
Thank you,
George C. Thornton, CEO

Jim Hinkle, Chairman, Board of Directors
The Coming Challenges


When the NWTF was founded, there were approximately 1.5 million wild turkeys in North America. After 40 years of dedicated work, that number hit a historic high of almost 7 million turkeys.
However, in recent years national turkey populations have been declining and the hunting community is facing other critical challenges:
• Turkey populations are declining, having decreased 15 percent from a historic high.
• For example, New York is facing a 20-year low and Mississippi’s turkey populations declined by more than 40 percent from 2004 to 2009.
• This is the same situation Bobwhite quail were in 50 years ago.
• 6,000 acres of wildlife habitat disappear every day - area the size of Yellowstone each year.
• A long-term slide in hunter numbers has finally stopped, but it is still not keeping pace with population growth, which limits sportsmen’s ability to stand up for their rights.
• Many hunters struggle to find a place to hunt - a top reason why people quit hunting.

40 Years of Conservation and Hunting Heritage
Since its foundation in 1973, the NWTF has achieved some amazing accomplishments. With the help of its dedicated member based volunteers and partners, the NWTF has been able to facilitate the investment of $412 million dollars in conservation and the preservation of our hunting heritage. These investments have helped improve more than 17 million acres of wildlife habitat and expose 100,000 people to the outdoor each year.

The NWTF is dedicated to having the same significant impact over the next 40 years as it did over its first 40. That is why the NWTF has created the Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative.

Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt.
The NWTF and its committed volunteers believe in doing what’s necessary to create more wild turkeys. We believe it is our duty to create vibrant and healthy upland habitat. We believe our hunting heritage is worth fighting for.

The Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. initiative will help tackle these difficult challenges the sporting community is facing.

Save the Habitat.
We will increase wild turkey populations by conserving and enhancing 4 million acres of critical upland wildlife habitat. These habitat improvements will not only help support wild turkey populations but they will also benefit quail, deer and many other wildlife species that share the habitat.

The NWTF will:
• Focus our efforts based on the priorities established by science
• Work in areas where it is possible to have a meaningful impact on habitat and wildlife populations
• Begin the process at the local level, which will then build to support the regional and national goals
• Focus on four key habitat types
o Forests
o Streamside corridors
o Fields and meadows
o Scrubland and grasslands

Save the Hunt.
We will save the hunt by creating 1.5 million new hunters who will embrace the outdoors and protect our conservation legacy. It will include focused outreach opportunities for people of all ages, and increased hunter access. This includes creating half a million additional acres of hunting access across the nation.

The NWTF will:
• Evolve its outreach efforts from introduction to include hands-on hunting experiences and mentoring to create long-term hunting license holders
• There is no one-size-fits-all solution and each state will drive its approach
• Develop partnerships with a wide range of organizations, like state wildlife management agencies, hunters education instructors, mentored hunting and other organizations, that share the common interest of promoting our hunting heritage
• Make it easier for people to hunt by lowering barriers to introducing new hunters to the sport and increasing the number of publicly available acres
Get Involved

Your support is critical to making these lofty goals a reality. Join the NWTF today and contact your local regional staff to see how you can get involved and help make a real difference.

Share the Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. Initiative
This initiative will only succeed with the dedicated support of hunters, sportsmen, and NWTF members and volunteers. The NWTF has created various educational materials to arm our supporters with the tools they need to spread the word. Please feel free to use the information to educate your family, friends, fellow hunters and conservationists.


www.nwtf.org/Save-the-Habitat-Save-the-Hunt/

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[richg]

Yep forests in the east have matured.For the sake of the turkey,grouse,deer and many other critters more timbering is needed.This is the third article I read recently that shows concern for our mature eastern forests.The timbering rotations aren't keeping up with the maturity of the forest.At least not for the sake of many critters mentioned above.