yoderjac
5 year old buck +
Cold damp spring weather creates conditions where viruses kill a large number of poults during the first few weeks. According to our state wildlife biologist, Gary Norman (recently retired), it has more impact on population than anything else here. It does not cause nesting failure, but eliminates poults from successful nests. Predator numbers are fairly constant around here (except for increasing coyotes) yet populations bounce up and down based largely on spring weather.
Our turkey population locally at the farm has risen in conjunction with the increased coyote use of the farm in recent years. We have had good weather for poults the past few springs. I'm guessing the coyotes have helped as well killing many more nest predators than turkey.
Having good vertical cover adjacent to brooding ground is another important habitat improvement we have made. I'm sure location plays a role. We have barred owls and hawks as our major avian predators here.
Our turkey population locally at the farm has risen in conjunction with the increased coyote use of the farm in recent years. We have had good weather for poults the past few springs. I'm guessing the coyotes have helped as well killing many more nest predators than turkey.
Having good vertical cover adjacent to brooding ground is another important habitat improvement we have made. I'm sure location plays a role. We have barred owls and hawks as our major avian predators here.
