WILD TURKEY HARVEST MANAGEMENT: PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE
Abstract: Although great advances have been made in restoring wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) populations and understanding the dynamics of these populations, harvest regulations remain largely arbitrary. Few agencies have quantitative harvest goals and explicit management models; harvest strategi...
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| Main Authors: | , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Wiley
2000-01-01
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| Series: | Wildlife Society Bulletin |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1002/j.2328-5540.2000.tb00274.x |
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| Summary: | Abstract: Although great advances have been made in restoring wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) populations and understanding the dynamics of these populations, harvest regulations remain largely arbitrary. Few agencies have quantitative harvest goals and explicit management models; harvest strategies and underlying assumptions are seldom stated. Three strategies are used to harvest wild turkeys: harvest only males in the spring, harvest males in the spring and allow limited harvest of birds of either sex in the fall, and maximize the combined spring male and fall either‐sex harvests. Conceptual models used to implement these strategies differ from those used for many other game and fish species in that turkey hunting mortality is assumed to be additive to natural mortality, recruitment is assumed to be independent of population density, and populations are characterized by annual fluctuations that may approach ±50% of the long‐term mean. Harvesting males in the spring is the simplest and most biologically conservative strategy. Strategies that combine spring and fall harvest are inherently more complex. Hunting regulations are designed to ensure a conservative harvest rate, enhance hunter safety, or provide a quality hunting experience. Regulating hunter numbers provides the greatest control over harvest rate and the strongest protection against overharvest. Regulations that affect season length, timing, and bag limit generally provide limited control of harvest rate. Harvest management programs should clearly state their strategies and assumptions, set quantitative harvest goals, and employ decision models. Examples of practical harvest management models are available for spring and fall hunting. The use of these procedures will allow managers to make annual changes in harvest in response to population data, and to improve public understanding and support for harvest management programs. |
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| ISSN: | 2328-5540 |