SURVIVAL OF EASTERN WILD TURKEY MALES IN THE EASTERN MISSOURI OZARKS

Abstract: From 1988 to 2000, we monitored 487 radiomarked male wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) on 2 study areas (South Study Area [SSA] and Peck Ranch Conservation Area [PRCA]) in the eastern Missouri Ozarks. We estimated annual survival and cause‐specific mortality rates, including sp...

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Main Authors: Michael W. Hubbard, Larry D. Vangilder
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2005-01-01
Series:Wildlife Society Bulletin
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.2005.tb00331.x
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author Michael W. Hubbard
Larry D. Vangilder
author_facet Michael W. Hubbard
Larry D. Vangilder
author_sort Michael W. Hubbard
collection DOAJ
description Abstract: From 1988 to 2000, we monitored 487 radiomarked male wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) on 2 study areas (South Study Area [SSA] and Peck Ranch Conservation Area [PRCA]) in the eastern Missouri Ozarks. We estimated annual survival and cause‐specific mortality rates, including spring harvest for juvenile and adult males. On the SSA (primarily United States Forest Service Property) access was unlimited while on PRCA (primarily Missouri Department of Conservation lands) public access was controlled. Annual survival was higher for juvenile males than for adults. Annual survival for juvenile and adult males was not different between study areas and was 0.595 and 0.368, respectively, on SSA and 0.569 and 0.372, respectively, on PRCA. Human‐caused mortality (legal and suspected illegal kill) was 14.1% and 40.8% for juvenile and adult males on SSA and 19.0% and 27.2% for juvenile and adult males on PRCA. For adult males on both study areas, human‐caused mortality increased beginning in 1998, which corresponded with an increase in the spring hunting season from 2 to 3 weeks. However, increased mortality appeared to occur during the first 2 weeks of the season and not during the third. Population modeling suggests that spring turkey harvest on public land in the eastern Missouri Ozarks is approaching a level that may result in a decline in spring turkey hunting quality (high proportion of adult males in the population and harvest).
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spelling doaj-art-075ebd3b2df241d394ec0adca5f053c22025-08-20T03:19:28ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55402005-01-012005S136136610.1002/j.2328-5540.2005.tb00331.xSURVIVAL OF EASTERN WILD TURKEY MALES IN THE EASTERN MISSOURI OZARKSMichael W. Hubbard0Larry D. Vangilder1Missouri Department of ConservationP.O. Box 180Jefferson CityMO65102USAMissouri Department of ConservationResource Science Center1110 South College AvenueColumbiaMO65201USAAbstract: From 1988 to 2000, we monitored 487 radiomarked male wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) on 2 study areas (South Study Area [SSA] and Peck Ranch Conservation Area [PRCA]) in the eastern Missouri Ozarks. We estimated annual survival and cause‐specific mortality rates, including spring harvest for juvenile and adult males. On the SSA (primarily United States Forest Service Property) access was unlimited while on PRCA (primarily Missouri Department of Conservation lands) public access was controlled. Annual survival was higher for juvenile males than for adults. Annual survival for juvenile and adult males was not different between study areas and was 0.595 and 0.368, respectively, on SSA and 0.569 and 0.372, respectively, on PRCA. Human‐caused mortality (legal and suspected illegal kill) was 14.1% and 40.8% for juvenile and adult males on SSA and 19.0% and 27.2% for juvenile and adult males on PRCA. For adult males on both study areas, human‐caused mortality increased beginning in 1998, which corresponded with an increase in the spring hunting season from 2 to 3 weeks. However, increased mortality appeared to occur during the first 2 weeks of the season and not during the third. Population modeling suggests that spring turkey harvest on public land in the eastern Missouri Ozarks is approaching a level that may result in a decline in spring turkey hunting quality (high proportion of adult males in the population and harvest).https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.2005.tb00331.xeastern wild turkeyharvestmaleMeleagris gallopavo silvestrisMissourimortality
spellingShingle Michael W. Hubbard
Larry D. Vangilder
SURVIVAL OF EASTERN WILD TURKEY MALES IN THE EASTERN MISSOURI OZARKS
Wildlife Society Bulletin
eastern wild turkey
harvest
male
Meleagris gallopavo silvestris
Missouri
mortality
title SURVIVAL OF EASTERN WILD TURKEY MALES IN THE EASTERN MISSOURI OZARKS
title_full SURVIVAL OF EASTERN WILD TURKEY MALES IN THE EASTERN MISSOURI OZARKS
title_fullStr SURVIVAL OF EASTERN WILD TURKEY MALES IN THE EASTERN MISSOURI OZARKS
title_full_unstemmed SURVIVAL OF EASTERN WILD TURKEY MALES IN THE EASTERN MISSOURI OZARKS
title_short SURVIVAL OF EASTERN WILD TURKEY MALES IN THE EASTERN MISSOURI OZARKS
title_sort survival of eastern wild turkey males in the eastern missouri ozarks
topic eastern wild turkey
harvest
male
Meleagris gallopavo silvestris
Missouri
mortality
url https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.2005.tb00331.x
work_keys_str_mv AT michaelwhubbard survivalofeasternwildturkeymalesintheeasternmissouriozarks
AT larrydvangilder survivalofeasternwildturkeymalesintheeasternmissouriozarks