EDGEFIELD, S.C. — In a collaborative effort to combat declining wild turkey populations in Missouri, the National Wild Turkey Federation, the Missouri Department of Conservation and the University of Missouri have released the Wild Turkey Habitat Evaluation Guide — a comprehensive new resource aimed at empowering landowners to improve and restore essential wild turkey habitat.
The guide is a key product of the Turkey Habitat Initiative, a statewide effort to address the alarming drop in turkey numbers linked to poor poult production. By enhancing nesting and brooding habitats, THI seeks to improve nest success and poult survival — vital steps toward bolstering eastern wild turkey populations across Missouri.
“One of the issues that I think is contributing to the decline is the general lack of knowledge of private landowners and, in some cases even resource professionals, on what exactly good turkey habitat looks like and how to restore and maintain it,” said John Burk, NWTF district biologist for Missouri, Iowa and Illinois. “Couple this with the general belief that turkeys hatch, grow and die on the same 100 acres, and you can see how this disconnect between what is actually there and what is actually needed can happen. These habitat appraisal guides will help land managers identify where the holes are, so that they can tailor a plan to address filling them.”
The Wild Turkey Habitat Evaluation Guide outlines all important aspects for managing turkeys but emphasizes the two most critical components: nesting cover and brood-rearing cover. It includes straightforward explanations and practical tips for improving each habitat type, along with habitat evaluation worksheets. These worksheets help landowners assess their property and pinpoint which habitat components may be lacking.
In addition to the guide, the NWTF and Missouri Department of Conservation collaborated earlier this year on a series of educational videos, showcasing the key habitat features necessary for wild turkey conservation and practical methods for restoring and maintaining these habitats.?Together, these tools are part of a broader push to give landowners across the state the knowledge and confidence to take action.
“A picture is worth a thousand words and the video series helps provide the imagery necessary so that landowners and land managers know what they’re shooting for,” Burk said. “If you don’t know what the problem is or believe that you likely have one, you aren’t likely to address it. The videos provide the visual on what good brood rearing and nesting habitat looks like, and the appraisal guide helps quantify where an individual property or turkey home range landscape ranks.”
Explore the full Wild Turkey Habitat Evaluation Guide and take the first step toward becoming a more effective habitat steward.
About the National Wild Turkey Federation
Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 23 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The NWTF has also invested over $10 million into wild turkey research to guide the management of the wild turkey population and to ensure sustainable populations into perpetuity. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale through its Four Shared Values: clean and abundant water, healthy forests and wildlife habitat, resilient communities, and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF continues its work to provide Healthy Habitats. and Healthy Harvests. for future generations.
Read the full article here
