Curtis R. Hopkins

We studied habitat used for nesting by eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) on intensively managed pine forest land in eastern Texas in 1980 and 1981. Most (89%) nests were within 100 m of a road or timber stand boundary. Nest sites had <60% canopy closure, low density of rnidstory trees (16 stems/0.04 ha), low basal area (9 m2/ha), and abundant herbaceous ground and shrub cover. Retaining forest openings resulting from logging activity likely will enhance nesting habitat for turkeys in eastern Texas.

Mortality and reproduction of 65 stocked eastern turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) were studied using radio telemetry on 2 different areas in east Texas from February 1979 through July 1981. The known survival rate was 62% after 1 year and 48% at the end of the study period. The known mortality rate was 11 % after 1 year and 21% at the end of the study period. Predation on hens during the nesting and early brood-rearing season was the greatest loss of adult turkeys. A high rate of nesting and renesting indicated a high reproductive potential for these turkey populations. Average...

Dispersal of 54 restocked eastern wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) was studied using radio telemetry on 2 different areas in east Texas from February 1979 through July 1981. Twenty-five turkeys dispersed farther than 5 km from the release site. The maximum distance recorded from the release site for the first year following release varied from 1.3 km to 11.9 km and averaged 4.6 km. Dispersal increased through the spring and summer following release, then did not further increase until the next spring. The mean annual dispersal area was 1,688 ha. For the entire study period,...