Second season of NY wild turkey studies beginning

The New York Department o f E n v i r o n m e n t a l Conservation is preparing for the second field season of two large-scale wild turkey research projects.

The first project is a turkey banding program, being done in cooperation with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, O h i o Department of Natural Resources, researchers from Pennsylvania State University and the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF).

The second project is a statewide winter flock survey. These studies will provide information that DEC biologists need to help guide future management efforts for this popular game bird.

Banding Program

The banding program will begin this month, when DEC staff and cooperators from NWTF will launch a statewide effort to capture wild turkeys and fit them with metal leg bands bearing a toll-free phone number for reporting. The objective of the banding study is to examine hunter harvest rates, turkey survival rates and harvest reporting rates across the state. Banding will be done on public and private lands in DEC regions 3 through 9, from January through March.

Flock Surveys

DEC also will continue collecting data on winter turkey flocks across the state to assess feasibility of a longterm population monitoring program. DEC hopes to identify several locations in every county of New York where turkeys can be counted each winter to monitor population changes.

Help Wanted

In preparation for both studies, DEC is asking landowners, hunters, bird watchers or others to report winter turkey flock locations anywhere in New York State. Observations of turkey flocks (even a few birds) through March can be reported to the project coordinator for a particular DEC region.

In addition, DEC is looking for landowners who will allow birds to be trapped, banded and released on their land. Turkeys will be trapped and banded and will immediately be released at the same location. No relocation of the birds will occur.