FALL ILLEGAL KILL OF FEMALE WILD TURKEYS IN VIRGINIA AND WEST VIRGINIA
Abstract: State wildlife agencies recognize illegal kill of eastern wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) occurs but the extent of losses are often unknown. As part of a 5‐year cooperative study of population dynamics of female wild turkeys in our region, we radio‐tagged 1,032 females from 3...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wiley
2005-01-01
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| Series: | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.2005.tb00294.x |
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| author | Gary W. Norman James C. Pack David E. Steffen Curtis I. Taylor |
| author_facet | Gary W. Norman James C. Pack David E. Steffen Curtis I. Taylor |
| author_sort | Gary W. Norman |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract: State wildlife agencies recognize illegal kill of eastern wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) occurs but the extent of losses are often unknown. As part of a 5‐year cooperative study of population dynamics of female wild turkeys in our region, we radio‐tagged 1,032 females from 3 separate areas to determine survival and sources of mortality including known illegal and potential illegal deaths. Fall turkey seasons and other big and small game seasons varied between our states and we sought to identify potential patterns of illegal kill related to different fall turkey hunting seasons. Annual and fall‐winter mortality rates from known illegal deaths were not significantly different among our study areas. Known illegal mortality rate in the fall‐winter period, averaged for the 3 study sites over 5 years, was 0.05. Patterns of illegal mortality during the fall hunting seasons were similar among our study sites. We used a model selection procedure to determine that mast abundance influenced illegal mortality rates during the fall hunting seasons. Law enforcement agencies may improve effectiveness in apprehension of turkey poachers by timing enforcement efforts to coincide with patterns of illegal kills, particularly during years of mast failures. We recommend several changes in outreach to hunters, which may reduce illegal killing of hens. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-545d1a7c4e484310b9b9f89143e472ba |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2328-5540 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2005-01-01 |
| publisher | Wiley |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
| spelling | doaj-art-545d1a7c4e484310b9b9f89143e472ba2025-08-20T02:24:22ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55402005-01-012005S1677310.1002/j.2328-5540.2005.tb00294.xFALL ILLEGAL KILL OF FEMALE WILD TURKEYS IN VIRGINIA AND WEST VIRGINIAGary W. Norman0James C. Pack1David E. Steffen2Curtis I. Taylor3Virginia Department of Game and Inland FisheriesP.O. Box 996VeronaVA24482USAWest Virginia Division of Natural ResourcesP.O. Box 67ElkinsWV26241USAVirginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries6701 Parkway DriveRoanokeVA24018USAWest Virginia Division of Natural ResourcesCapital Complex, Building 3CharlestonWV25305USAAbstract: State wildlife agencies recognize illegal kill of eastern wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) occurs but the extent of losses are often unknown. As part of a 5‐year cooperative study of population dynamics of female wild turkeys in our region, we radio‐tagged 1,032 females from 3 separate areas to determine survival and sources of mortality including known illegal and potential illegal deaths. Fall turkey seasons and other big and small game seasons varied between our states and we sought to identify potential patterns of illegal kill related to different fall turkey hunting seasons. Annual and fall‐winter mortality rates from known illegal deaths were not significantly different among our study areas. Known illegal mortality rate in the fall‐winter period, averaged for the 3 study sites over 5 years, was 0.05. Patterns of illegal mortality during the fall hunting seasons were similar among our study sites. We used a model selection procedure to determine that mast abundance influenced illegal mortality rates during the fall hunting seasons. Law enforcement agencies may improve effectiveness in apprehension of turkey poachers by timing enforcement efforts to coincide with patterns of illegal kills, particularly during years of mast failures. We recommend several changes in outreach to hunters, which may reduce illegal killing of hens.https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.2005.tb00294.xacornsfemale illegal mortalityfemale wild turkeylaw enforcementMeleagris gallopavo silvestrisVirginia |
| spellingShingle | Gary W. Norman James C. Pack David E. Steffen Curtis I. Taylor FALL ILLEGAL KILL OF FEMALE WILD TURKEYS IN VIRGINIA AND WEST VIRGINIA Wildlife Society Bulletin acorns female illegal mortality female wild turkey law enforcement Meleagris gallopavo silvestris Virginia |
| title | FALL ILLEGAL KILL OF FEMALE WILD TURKEYS IN VIRGINIA AND WEST VIRGINIA |
| title_full | FALL ILLEGAL KILL OF FEMALE WILD TURKEYS IN VIRGINIA AND WEST VIRGINIA |
| title_fullStr | FALL ILLEGAL KILL OF FEMALE WILD TURKEYS IN VIRGINIA AND WEST VIRGINIA |
| title_full_unstemmed | FALL ILLEGAL KILL OF FEMALE WILD TURKEYS IN VIRGINIA AND WEST VIRGINIA |
| title_short | FALL ILLEGAL KILL OF FEMALE WILD TURKEYS IN VIRGINIA AND WEST VIRGINIA |
| title_sort | fall illegal kill of female wild turkeys in virginia and west virginia |
| topic | acorns female illegal mortality female wild turkey law enforcement Meleagris gallopavo silvestris Virginia |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.2005.tb00294.x |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT garywnorman fallillegalkilloffemalewildturkeysinvirginiaandwestvirginia AT jamescpack fallillegalkilloffemalewildturkeysinvirginiaandwestvirginia AT davidesteffen fallillegalkilloffemalewildturkeysinvirginiaandwestvirginia AT curtisitaylor fallillegalkilloffemalewildturkeysinvirginiaandwestvirginia |