MOVEMENTS OF TURKEYS IN A HIGH DENSITY POPULATION IN THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA

Abstract Movements and reproduction of an eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) population in Bolivar and Washington counties, Mississippi were studied from 1968‐1972. During the study, 85 adult hens, 83 subadult hens, and 65 subadult gobblers were captured and wing‐marked. The fall t...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Curtis R. Hopkins, Dale H. Arner, James E. Kennamer, Robert D. Clanton
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 1980-01-01
Series:Wildlife Society Bulletin
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.1980.tb00141.x
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849696655356461056
author Curtis R. Hopkins
Dale H. Arner
James E. Kennamer
Robert D. Clanton
author_facet Curtis R. Hopkins
Dale H. Arner
James E. Kennamer
Robert D. Clanton
author_sort Curtis R. Hopkins
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Movements and reproduction of an eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) population in Bolivar and Washington counties, Mississippi were studied from 1968‐1972. During the study, 85 adult hens, 83 subadult hens, and 65 subadult gobblers were captured and wing‐marked. The fall turkey population following high reproductive seasons approximated 1 turkey per 6 ha. During the first year of observation, total turkey loss (egress and/or natural mortality) was 70% or less with no difference between sex and age classes. Subadults were more mobile than hens captured as adults. Further dispersal occurred after the subadult hens became adults, but subadult gobblers did not substantially increase movement from capture site as adults. The mean maximum dispersal for turkeys captured as subadult hens was 4.2 km, subadult gobblers2 3.7 km, and adult hens 2.2 km. The gobbler harvest peaked at 2.5/km during the 1971‐1972 hunting season. The loss rate (egress and/or natural mortality) was similar for gobblers and hens which indicated that the hen segment of the population was under harvested.
format Article
id doaj-art-50ee9136295c4eb0afd2e4a1f1e349b0
institution DOAJ
issn 2328-5540
language English
publishDate 1980-01-01
publisher Wiley
record_format Article
series Wildlife Society Bulletin
spelling doaj-art-50ee9136295c4eb0afd2e4a1f1e349b02025-08-20T03:19:24ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55401980-01-011980S127227910.1002/j.2328-5540.1980.tb00141.xMOVEMENTS OF TURKEYS IN A HIGH DENSITY POPULATION IN THE MISSISSIPPI DELTACurtis R. Hopkins0Dale H. Arner1James E. Kennamer2Robert D. Clanton3Department of Wildlife and FisheriesMississippi State UniversityMississippi State39762Department of Wildlife and FisheriesMississippi State UniversityMississippi State38762Department of Wildlife and FisheriesMississippi State UniversityMississippi State39762Department of Wildlife and FisheriesMississippi State UniversityMississippi State39762Abstract Movements and reproduction of an eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) population in Bolivar and Washington counties, Mississippi were studied from 1968‐1972. During the study, 85 adult hens, 83 subadult hens, and 65 subadult gobblers were captured and wing‐marked. The fall turkey population following high reproductive seasons approximated 1 turkey per 6 ha. During the first year of observation, total turkey loss (egress and/or natural mortality) was 70% or less with no difference between sex and age classes. Subadults were more mobile than hens captured as adults. Further dispersal occurred after the subadult hens became adults, but subadult gobblers did not substantially increase movement from capture site as adults. The mean maximum dispersal for turkeys captured as subadult hens was 4.2 km, subadult gobblers2 3.7 km, and adult hens 2.2 km. The gobbler harvest peaked at 2.5/km during the 1971‐1972 hunting season. The loss rate (egress and/or natural mortality) was similar for gobblers and hens which indicated that the hen segment of the population was under harvested.https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.1980.tb00141.x
spellingShingle Curtis R. Hopkins
Dale H. Arner
James E. Kennamer
Robert D. Clanton
MOVEMENTS OF TURKEYS IN A HIGH DENSITY POPULATION IN THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA
Wildlife Society Bulletin
title MOVEMENTS OF TURKEYS IN A HIGH DENSITY POPULATION IN THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA
title_full MOVEMENTS OF TURKEYS IN A HIGH DENSITY POPULATION IN THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA
title_fullStr MOVEMENTS OF TURKEYS IN A HIGH DENSITY POPULATION IN THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA
title_full_unstemmed MOVEMENTS OF TURKEYS IN A HIGH DENSITY POPULATION IN THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA
title_short MOVEMENTS OF TURKEYS IN A HIGH DENSITY POPULATION IN THE MISSISSIPPI DELTA
title_sort movements of turkeys in a high density population in the mississippi delta
url https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.1980.tb00141.x
work_keys_str_mv AT curtisrhopkins movementsofturkeysinahighdensitypopulationinthemississippidelta
AT daleharner movementsofturkeysinahighdensitypopulationinthemississippidelta
AT jamesekennamer movementsofturkeysinahighdensitypopulationinthemississippidelta
AT robertdclanton movementsofturkeysinahighdensitypopulationinthemississippidelta