Effect of Habitat and Movement on Wild Turkey Poult Survival
Poult survival is an important factor in the dynamics of eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) populations. We captured wild turkeys in western Virginia and monitored radio-tagged hens (N=26) to determine the effect of brood habitat, brood movements and brood range size on poult survival. Poult survival to 21 days post-hatch averaged 0.203 (SE=0.05) during 1992 and 0.418 (SE=0.11) during 1993 (T= 1.37, P>0.10). No correlations were detected (P≥0.10) between macrohabitat and forest cover type variables and poult survival. Poult survival was correlated with the percentage...
