Wild Turkey Ecology in Western Nebraska

Main goals of the project:

• Obtain reproductive estimates (e.g., nesting and brood-rearing success), harvest information, data on gobbling, and genetic samples to assist Nebraska Game and Parks Commission with evaluation of wild turkey seasons and overall management planning.
• Develop integrated movement (telemetry and genetic data) and habitat suitability models across regions of Nebraska to help identify and prioritize areas for conservation action.
• Provide accessible information to the public on wild turkeys in Nebraska through the expansion of an upland game bird website.

Why is this research needed?

Wild turkeys are an economically important game species in Nebraska. However, in recent years land managers and hunters across Nebraska have reported declines in the number of wild turkeys, similar to other states across the US. The exact reasons for these declines are unknown, but most populations across the US have reported declines in nest success and brood survival. Previous research suggests a variety of reasons for wild turkey population declines including increasingly fragmented land cover patches, infrastructure and energy development, and overharvesting of male turkeys. However, research is needed to help identify causes for population declines in Nebraska specifically, as most of the current research was conducted in other states across the US. We also want to understand how things like environmental variation and hunting pressure influence gobbling activity, which is important to many turkey hunters as they are out on the landscape. 

How will this research help?

Our research aims to help wildlife managers in Nebraska make informed decisions regarding the timing of spring hunting season and management of Nebraska's wild turkey populations as a whole.

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