G. A. Hurst

We monitored reproductive effort and success of a wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) population on a public wildlife management area in Mississippi for 9 years using telemetry and other indices. Adult hens (N = 143) had a nesting rate of 72.7% (range 54-100) and was greater (P = 0.0001) than the nesting rate (26.7%) of juvenile hens (N = 15). Annual nest success of 104 nests of adult hens averaged 30.8% (range 0-62) and poult survival to >50 days was 22.7% for 27 broods (N = 203 poults). Clutch size averaged 9.1 (SE = 0.54) and 6.7 (SE = 1.1), and hatchability was 93% and 100%, for first...

Wildlife managers on public hunting areas are accountable for hunter success rates, annual harvest, and wildlife population size. Understanding the effect of changes in numbers of wild turkey gobblers (Meleagris gallopavo) on harvest characteristics is needed. Population size and harvest characteristics were studied for 9 years on a 14,140-ha public hunting area in central Mississippi. Male wild turkey population size averaged 82, hunter effort averaged 455 hunter-days per season, and an average of 35 male turkeys was harvested per season. Hunter success rates averaged 7.7%, 2.1%, and 5.6...

Seasonal habitat use was monitored for 130 radio-equipped wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) gobblers on Tallahala Wildlife Management Area, Mississippi, 1986-90. Juvenile and adult gobblers used a variety of habitats within each season and usually exhibited similar trends in habitat use. In summer (Jun-Sep) both age classes used bottomland hardwoods less than expected during most years. However, use of bottomland hardwoods was greater than availability during spring. Use of mature pine (Pinus spp.) stands was usually less than availability in spring and greater than availability during...

Wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) hens were monitored by telemetry from January 1987 through August 1988 in Kemper County, Mississippi. Thirty-nine of 52 hens reached incubation. Nesting success was 46% in 1987 and 36% in 1988. In 1987, all 12 located nests were in loblolly pine (Pinus taeda) plantations. Eleven hens nested in 17- to 19-year-old plantations; I hen nested in a 9-year-old plantation. In 1988,21 located nests were in plantations and I hen was in a mature pine-hardwood forest. Most hens (81 %) nested in plantations age 13-20 years old. Plantations used for nesting had been...

We monitored 122 radio-equipped wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) gobblers on Tallahala Wildlife Management Area (TWMA), Mississippi, during all seasons, 1986-89. Gobblers that had ≥50% of telemetry locations off the area were considered off TWMA. Percent off of the area was greater (P <0.1) in spring than summer 1986. An average of 34% of gobblers was off TWMA during the spring hunting period, 1986-89. We detected no difference in harvest rates between gobblers on and off TWMA. Managers should consider harvest on adjacent private lands when planning for public hunting areas.

The quality of spring hunting for eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) gobblers may decline with increased road access. A questionnaire mailed to turkey hunters assessed response to road closures for walk-in hunting on a Mississippi wildlife management area during spring 1986. Because hunters felt road closures improved hunting quality and reduced interference from other hunters, they strongly supported (92%) walk-in turkey hunting. Hunters who disapproved of road closures were significantly older than those who approved. Hunter involvement in the road closure decision...

Fifty-two eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) gobblers were monitored by telemetry on Tallahala Wildlife Management Area, Bienville National Forest, Mississippi, from January 1986 to September 1987. Annual home range (HR) for 6 adults and 3 juveniles averaged 1,680 ha. Annual HR's averaged 1,409 ha when the very large HR (3,850 ha) of I juvenile was not included. Based on 79 seasonal HR's, average HR in spring 1986 was 812 ha, summer 688 ha, fall 447 ha, and winter 506 ha; and average HR for spring 1987 was 1,441 ha and for summer, 775 ha. Pre-hunting season HR's were not...

Invertebrate density and biomass, northern bobwhite (Colinus virginianus) chick invertebrate selection, and vegetation stem density and biomass were studied in old field (OF), fertilized old field (FOF), and fertilized kobe lespedeza (FKL) (Lespedeza striata var. kobei) plots, in the summers of 1985 and 1986. Total invertebrate density and biomass were not different (P > 0.05) among treatments. Coleoptera (beetles) density and biomass were greatest (P < 0.05) in FKL plots in 1986. Coleoptera, Lepidoptera larvae, and Hemiptera were most preferred (P < 0.05) by 3-, 7-, 14-,21-, and...

Brood habitat use and preference by eastern wild turkey hens (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) were studied by radio telemetry in central Mississippi in 1984 and 1985. Habitat use and preference were determined for 11 broods in the 1-14 days age group and 8 broods in the 1-84 days age group. Mature bottomland hardwood forests with a continuous canopy, sparse shrub and understory, and moderate herbaceous (grasses, forbs, vines, sedges) ground cover were highly perferred (P ≤ 0.05) brood habitat for both age periods. Mature pine (Pinus spp.) stands and pine or hardwood regeneration areas...

Time-area counts in east-central Mississippi revealed squirrel (5ciurus spp.) fall densities of 3.06/ha in pine-hardwood forests (PH), 3.14/ha in pine-hardwood forests next to streamside management zones (PH-SMZ), and 6.55/ha in streamside management zones (SMZ) in 1974. In 1975 squirrel densities were 1.48/ha (PH) and 2.55/ha (SMZ). Densities were also higher in SMZ (3.38/ha) than in PH (2.32/ha) and in PH-SMZ (1.95/ha) in 1978. PH had a slightly higher squirrel density (3.41/ha) than SMZ (3.36/ha) in 1979. Average detection distance was 31.4 m and average time for detection was 13...