Shows
Wild Turkey ScienceRecruitment is down, decoys are up | #136In this episode, we review trending data across hunter age, hunter recruitment, decoy use, and reaping as Dr. Zach Steele, Post-doctoral associate and interdisciplinary ecologist specializing in human dimensions, walks us through his newest publication. Resources: Harris, A. (2006). Turkey hunting in 2006: an analysis of hunter demographics, trends, and economic impacts. USFWS Report, 7. Maryland Spring Turkey Hunter Survey – Results Summary. August 2017 Steele, Z.T., & M.A. Lashley. (2025). Reviewing human dimensions of wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) hunting research and synthesizing future directions. Zenodo. U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fis...2025-06-1659 minWild Turkey ScienceIllumination in the Flatwoods (Lashley edition) | #134In this episode, Marcus shares insights from his personal experience being imprinted upon by a brood of turkey poults. Join as he shares details of the imprinting process, critical factors affecting the survival and growth of poults, rapid behavioral changes as they grow, what has surprised him the most so far, and more. Check out the footage in this episode's YouTube video: https://youtu.be/j9aO4WzAd1s We’ve launched a comprehensive online wild turkey course featuring experts across multiple institutions that specialize in habitat management and population management for wild turkeys. Enroll No...2025-06-021h 03Wild Turkey ScienceFire, predators, & nesting success…oh my! | #133In this episode, we walk through Will’s new publication researching the effects of prescribed fire on artificial wild turkey nest survival. Join as we dive into the complexities of nest predation, the impact of fire management on nesting success, the relationship between canopy cover and fire, limitations of study designs, and more. Resources: Burning during nesting | Ep 19 McInnis, M. G., et al. (2025). The Effects of Prescribed Fire on Artificial Wild Turkey Nest Survival in Closed‐Canopy Mixed Hardwood Forest. Ecology and Evolution, 15(5), e71410. Quehl, J. O., et al. (2024). Assessing wild turk...2025-05-261h 01Wild Turkey ScienceStatus of Rios, Merriam’s, & Easterns in OK | #132Today we’re talking turkeys in Oklahoma with Marcus Thibodeau and Eric Suttles, wild turkey biologists for the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation. Join as they disclose the status of subspecies across the state, harvest rates, seasons dates, habitat challenges across the state, successful and unsuccessful restocking efforts, on-going research, assistance for landowners, and more. Resources: Online Prescribed Fire Course We’ve launched a comprehensive online wild turkey course featuring experts across multiple institutions that specialize in habitat management and population management for wild turkeys. Enroll Now! Marcus Th...2025-05-191h 11Wild Turkey ScienceDecoy use in turkey hunting | #127In this episode, we dive into the controversies and complexities of decoy use while turkey hunting. Join as we discuss the biological implications of using decoys, trends in decoy adoption among hunters, the relationship between decoy usage and hunter success, preliminary results from Will’s study, and more. Resources: Butler, A. B., & Wang, G. (2022). Connecting hunt outcomes to the demographics, behaviors, and experiences of wild turkey hunters in Mississippi. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 46(2), e1268. Deer & Turkey Hunting Survey (Dr. Zachary Steele) Pre-enroll for our online wild turkey training course! Ep 65 | Sn...2025-04-141h 01Wild Turkey ScienceStatus of wild turkeys and research in NC | #126Over 700 birds studied, 400 nesting attempts monitored, 100 broods followed, and in collaboration with over 250 landowners…all on private lands?! In today’s episode, we are joined by Hannah Plumpton and Chris Kreh, Upland Game Bird Biologist and Assistant Chief for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. They disclose preliminary results from their massive statewide turkey research project across North Carolina, and share trends across harvest, population, nesting success, survival rates, and policy regulations. Resources: Game and Furbearer Program Highlights from the North Carolina Wild Turkey Ecology Research Project 2020–2024 How to measure turkey nesting...2025-04-071h 08Wild Turkey ScienceHow habitat helps turkeys: we did the math | #122Will walks us through a thought experiment, pulling from his Wild Turkey Management Academy presentation, to portray the magnitude effect that quality habitat has on gobbler populations. Join us for napkin math as we break down the numbers on how comprehensive habitat quality affects nesting success, brood survival, and wild turkey populations. Resources: Londe, David W., et al. "Review of range‐wide vital rates quantifies eastern wild Turkey population trajectory." Ecology and Evolution 13.2 (2023): e9830. Porter, W. F. (1992). Habitat analysis and assessment. The Wild Turkey: Biology and Management, 187. Speake, Daniel W...2025-03-1043 minWild Turkey ScienceTurkeys in Kentucky | #108We are joined by Zak Danks, Wild Turkey & Ruffed Grouse Program Coordinator for the state of Kentucky, to discuss the state’s wild turkey status. Join as he walks us through restoration effort history, harvest rate trends, ongoing research (including unpublished poult-per -hen data), impacts of cicada hatches, habitat challenges, season structures, and more. Resources: Filson, J. (2017). The Discovery, Settlement and Present State of Kentucky (1784) Zak Danks zak.danks@ky.gov Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources, YT, FB, IG Donate to wild turkey...2024-12-021h 11Wild Turkey ScienceIf you own land, cost shares are available to you | #107Today we are joined by Nick Thomas and Weston Thompson from Steward Link, a consultation company focused on helping landowners gain access to USDA conservation programs. Join as they breakdown the application process, eligibility requirements, available financial assistance, regional differences, common barriers to entry, complexities of government contracts, and much more. If you’re a landowner, this is an episode you won’t want to miss! Resources: NRCS Programs & Initiatives Steward Link Phone: 662-535-0233 FB, IG, X Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turk...2024-11-251h 07Wild Turkey ScienceThe American Chestnut: Restoring ecological function | #106In this episode, we delve into the ecological significance of the American chestnut tree with Sara Fitzsimmons, Chief Conservation Officer for The American Chestnut Foundation. Join as we explore its history, ecological importance, challenges faced due to habitat change and disease, on-going conservation efforts, and how you can get involved in its ecological restoration. Resources: Diamond, S. J., et al. (2000). Hard mast production before and after the chestnut blight. Southern Journal of Applied Forestry, 24(4), 196-201. The American Chestnut Foundation The American Chestnut Foundation: Growing Chestnuts Tree Snapp Ap...2024-11-181h 01Wild Turkey ScienceTurkeys in the Midwest | #104You asked and we listened. In this episode, we are joined by Luke Garver, Wild Turkey Project Manager for the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, to discuss the current state of the wild turkey in Illinois. We dive into long-term population trends, environmental factors impacting reproduction, predator-prey dynamics, habitat challenges posed by invasive species, on-going research initiatives, and more. Resources: IL DNR Wild Turkey Survey IDNR Turkey Survey App huntillinois.org/turkey Parker, C., et al. (2021). Pyrodiversity matters: wild turkey habitat selection in a fire managed landscape. Fo...2024-11-041h 13Wild Turkey ScienceBest acorns for wildlife | #103In this episode, we dive into the available literature on wildlife preferences for acorns. We review the dietary composition of turkeys, factors influencing acorn consumption, how various wildlife species select for specific acorns, and highlight the complex interconnectedness of these ecological processes. Resources: Barras, S. C., et al. (1996). Acorn selection by female wood ducks. The Journal of wildlife management, 592-602. Boggess, C. M., et al. (2022). Exposure to fire affects acorn removal by altering consumer preference. Forest Ecology and Management, 508, 120044. Oak Forest Ecosystems Pérez-Ramos, I. M., et al. (2007). Acorn re...2024-10-281h 20Wild Turkey ScienceHerbicides | #102Will leads us on a detailed dive into the intricacies of herbicide management. Join as we delve into the uses and applications of selective herbicides for habitat management and forest stand improvement, associated risks with herbicide use, specific chemicals for invasive species, proper application techniques, mitigating nutsedge, and more. Resources: Managing hardwoods for turkeys (Part 1/2) | #52 Managing hardwoods for turkeys (Part 2/2) | #53 Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund Do you have a topic you’d like us to cover? Leave us a...2024-10-2149 minWild Turkey ScienceOak masting research | #101Marcus walks us through his comprehensive oak study quantifying seasonal oak masting patterns and wildlife response. Join as he breaks down the methodology, findings, and implications of the research, and learn how oaks play a critical role in wildlife management. Resources: Demeny, K. M., et al. (2024). Intra-annual variation in oak masting affects wildlife feeding behavior. Current Zoology, zoae026. Tree plantings for turkeys | #95 Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund Do you have a topic you’d like us to cover? Leave us a...2024-10-1449 minWild Turkey Science100th Episode Special | #100For our 100th episode, we review (and react to) some memorable moments recorded throughout the last few years. Thank you for being a part of this journey. Here’s to 100 more! Watch this episode on YouTube here. Dr. Marcus Lashley @DrDisturbance, Publications Dr. Will Gulsby @dr_will_gulsby, Publications Turkeys for Tomorrow @turkeysfortomorrow UF DEER Lab @ufdeerlab, YouTube Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund Do you have a topic you’d like us to cover...2024-10-111h 03Wild Turkey ScienceOak Biology 101 | #99For the first episode in our Oaktober mini-series, we discuss the general biology of oaks. Listen as we breakdown the definition of mast seeding, the proximate and ultimate causes of masting, the direct and indirect effects it has on wildlife, local and regional scale masting effects, the differences in quality between oak species, the squirrel death games, and more. Resources: Bogdziewicz, M., et al. (2023). Maximizing the Moran effect: summer solstice orchestrates the subcontinental-scale synchrony of mast seeding. Bogdziewicz, et al. (2023). Mechanisms driving interspecific variation in regional synchrony of trees re...2024-10-071h 23Wild Turkey ScienceWe gotcha, YouTube | #98Our producer Charlotte drops by to read us some questions and comments from our YouTube audience. Be sure to leave us a comment on this episode’s YouTube video for a chance to win a turkey call! Signed by yours truly. Resources: 1st National Wild Turkey Symposium (1959) Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund Do you have a topic you’d like us to cover? Leave us a review or send us an email at wildturkeyscience@gmail.com! Dr. M...2024-09-301h 02Wild Turkey ScienceHow pig removal affects turkeys | #97Matt McDonough, PhD student at Auburn University, walks us through his master’s project assessing how wild pig densities impact turkeys and their poults. Join as he breaks down his study’s experimental design and results, and learn of Matt’s key takeaways for landowners curious about the efficacy of pig removal on turkey populations across their property. Resources: McDonough, M. T. (2023). Population response of eastern wild turkeys and white-tailed deer to removal of wild pigs (Master's thesis, Auburn University). Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donatio...2024-09-2343 minWild Turkey ScienceTree plantings for turkeys | #95Dudley Phelps, Mossy Oak Nativ Nurseries plant expert and co-host of the Gamekeeper Podcast, joins us to dish out details on tree plantings for turkeys. Learn of Dudley’s go-to species - both early and late successional - for attracting turkeys, what landowners should take into account when planning their plantings, ideal tree care and maintenance, the importance of diversifying tree species to attract turkeys, timing of acorn production across various oak species, and much more. Resources: Harper, C. A., et al. (2021). Plant community response and implications for wildlife following control of a nonnative perennial gras...2024-09-091h 10Wild Turkey ScienceFood plotting for turkey & deer | #94In this episode, Will takes us on a deep dive of best recipes and recommendations when food plotting for both deer and turkey. Landowners won’t want to miss the science-backed recommendations for plantings, region-specific species recommendations, best timings for plantings, what to search for when scouting plot areas, and more. Do you have a topic you’d like us to cover? Leave us a review or send us an email at wildturkeyscience@gmail.com! Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund Resour...2024-09-021h 15Wild Turkey ScienceHelp us help you | #93In this episode, we discuss upcoming episodes on the horizon, including how cattle grazing affects turkey management, food plotting for turkeys, how much coyotes influence turkeys, bringing back Dr. Craig Harper to update us on his fire season study assessing plant response and turkey use, the importance of oaks for turkeys, and more. Do you have a topic you’d like us to cover? Leave us a review or send us an email at wildturkeyscience@gmail.com! Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund Dr. Marcus...2024-08-2646 minWild Turkey ScienceOur thoughts and research to come | #92In this episode, we begin with a more philosophical discussion evaluating outcomes rather than techniques in turkey management. Then, we jump into details of our upcoming studies addressing current gaps in turkey research. Finally, we finish up with an exciting announcement that will enhance our understanding of turkey populations across the state of Florida in unprecedented ways. Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund Dr. Marcus Lashley @DrDisturbance, Publications Dr. Will Gulsby @dr_will_gulsby, Publications Turkeys for Tomorrow @turkeysfortomorrow U...2024-08-1957 minWild Turkey ScienceYour burning questions | #91In this episode, we respond to audience questions around fire management for turkeys. We discuss the importance of timing diversification, dive into general guidelines and parameters for fire regimes, dig into the details on why fire return interval is the primary filter influencing vegetation outcomes from your wild turkey management, and deliver fire training resources for landowners and practitioners. Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund Resources: 2 year vs. 4 year Fire Return Interval (video) Stoddard Plots: How Varying Fire Return Intervals Aff...2024-08-1259 minWild Turkey ScienceHow do I get bugs? | #90In this episode, we review a recent Wisconsin study focused on restoring native woodlands and introducing fire to promote higher insect abundance, species richness, and plant and bird biodiversity. We highlight key points of the study and infer how the same methods can be used to promote high insect abundance at the time that poults need it most. Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund Resources: Habitat management = predator management | Ep 66 Kilburg, E. L., et al. (2014). Wild turkey nest survival and nes...2024-08-051h 05Wild Turkey ScienceA turkey habitat blueprint | #89In this episode, we boil down the key areas of focus for improving turkey habitat and connectivity on your property. Which grasses to target, when, and with which herbicides; how to ensure connectivity across your property for brooding and nesting cover using road systems with daylighting; how much sunlight is needed; how frequent of a fire return interval to use; maximizing food plots for both deer and turkey, and more! Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund Resources: Brooding and nesting cover (Part 1/2) | #29...2024-07-2951 minWild Turkey ScienceManaging poult habitat & monitoring success | #88In this episode, we discuss the various ways in which landowners can estimate poults per hen, monitor trends in reproductive success, and improve turkey habitat on their property. From standardized data collection using trail cameras to back-dating incubation for specific management practices, this episode will give you a sneak peek into our everyday thought experiments on the wild turkey. Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund Resources: Burning during nesting | #19 NC research update: Largest private land turkey study | #10 Wild Tur...2024-07-221h 03Wild Turkey ScienceLittle House in the Flatwoods | #87Heather Keane Thomas joins us to shed light on her non-traditional upbringing with her father and renowned turkey researcher Dr. Lovett Williams. From childhood experiences imprinting poults on their family farm to attending national turkey conventions for family vacations, this is a story time you won’t want to miss. Resources: Lovett Williams (Website) Real Turkey Calls Dr. Marcus Lashley @DrDisturbance, Publications Dr. Will Gulsby @dr_will_gulsby, Publications Turkeys for Tomorrow @turkeysfortomorrow UF DEER Lab @ufdeerlab, YouTube Ple...2024-07-1548 minWild Turkey ScienceQ & A (Round 2) | #86We sit down for a second time to answer questions from our listeners and followers - ranging from topics on upcoming turkey research, mid-summer land management recommendations, how to increase gobbling on your property by 10-fold, and more! Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund Resources: Brooding and nesting cover (Part 1/2) | #29 Brooding and nesting cover (Part 2/2) | #30 How does fire affect nest predation? (Video) Year 1 Results: How does fire affect nest predation? (Video) Dr. Marcu...2024-07-0850 minWild Turkey ScienceFood plotting in nature’s image | #84In this episode, we take a step away from the scientific literature to ask a regen ag practitioner about their experiences and glean some interesting observations for future study. Jason Snavely, wildlife biologist and founder of Drop-Tine Wildlife Consulting, joins us to dive deep into the microbiology of soil health, trade-offs between conventional and regenerative practices, and how biomimicking nature could help us reach our objectives. Resources: O’donoghue, T., et al. (2022). Regenerative agriculture and its potential to improve farmscape function. Sustainability, 14(10), 5815. Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donat...2024-06-241h 46Wild Turkey ScienceManaging pine rotations for turkeys | #80Ted DeVos, co-founder of Bach and DeVos Forestry and Wildlife Services, walks us from ground zero through the various ways in which to manage pine plantations for turkeys. Whether your goal is to increase turkey or timber productivity, this episode is jam-packed with information you don’t want to miss. Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund Bach and DeVos Forestry and Wildlife Services Website, Facebook Dr. Marcus Lashley @DrDisturbance, Publications Dr. Will Gulsby @dr_will_gulsby, Publications Turkeys for To...2024-05-271h 35Wild Turkey ScienceConventional vs. Regenerative Ag | #79Dr. Bronson Strickland, co-director of the MSU Deer Lab and founder of the Deer University podcast, joins us to explain regenerative agriculture and break down their new experiment testing the differences in nutrient density and deer use between conventional and regenerative food plots. Deer University Podcast Food plot experiment (Jacob Dykes) Ryegrass is not good Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund Dr. Bronson Strickland Website, Publications, @MSUDeerLab, @MSUDeerLabTV Dr. Marcus Lashley @DrDisturbance, Publications Dr...2024-05-201h 17Wild Turkey ScienceSeason timing doesn’t affect reproduction | #77Dr. Craig Harper and Dr. Dave Buehler from the University of Tennessee join us to discuss results from their seven-year, robust before-after control-impact study assessing the role of experimental season date delays on turkey reproduction. Spoiler alert: Season delays had no effect on any of the 8 vital rates they measured. Quehl, J. O., et al. (2024). Assessing wild turkey productivity before and after a 14-day delay in the start date of the spring hunting season in Tennessee. Ecology and Evolution, 14, e11390. Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund ...2024-05-061h 30Wild Turkey ScienceHarvest rates and season dates | #76Adam Butler, Wild Turkey Program Coordinator for the Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks, joins us to discuss the turkey trends seen across Mississippi and the Southeast, what may or may not be influencing these cyclical patterns of productivity, and a general rule of thumb for how many gobblers to harvest on your property. Resources: How Many Gobblers Should I Take? (Article) Isabelle, J. L., et al. (2018). Considerations for timing of spring wild turkey hunting seasons in the southeastern United States. Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife A...2024-04-2957 minWild Turkey ScienceDo dominant gobblers dominate breeding? | #75Dr. Alan Krakauer joins us to dive into his research on turkey kin selection and breakdown the many strategies gobblers use to pass on genes. Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund Resources: Krakauer, A. H. (2005). Kin selection and cooperative courtship in wild turkeys. Nature, 434(7029), 69-72. Krakauer, A. H. (2008). Sexual selection and the genetic mating system of wild turkeys. The Condor, 110(1), 1-12. Watts, C. R., & Stokes, A. W. (1971). The social order of turkeys. Scientific American, 224(6), 112-119. D...2024-04-221h 14Wild Turkey ScienceDo turkeys lek and does it matter? | #74Dr. Dwayne Elmore, Director of the Game Bird Program at Tall Timbers Research Station, joins us to breakdown the reproductive ecology and behavior of wild turkeys, how and why they lek, and if this impacts spring hunting. Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund Resources: Honeycomb Custom Calls Red-capped manakin bird Dr. Dwayne Elmore Tall Timbers, Academic Profile Dr. Marcus Lashley @DrDisturbance, Academic Profile Dr. Will Gulsby @dr_will_gulsby, Academic Profile Turkeys fo...2024-04-151h 01Wild Turkey ScienceFire timing in upland hardwoods | #72Mark Turner, PhD candidate in Dr. Craig Harper’s lab at the University of Tennessee, joins us to disclose results from their recent study assessing the effects of canopy reduction and fire seasonality on turkey habitat quality and use in upland hardwoods. Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund Resources: Burning during nesting | #19 Nichols, R. A., et al. (2021). Alter fire timing to recouple forage nutrients with herbivore nutrient demands. Forest Ecology and Management, 500, 119646. Turner et al. (2024). Canopy reduction and fire s...2024-04-011h 16Wild Turkey ScienceTurkey disease ecology | #70Dr. Rick Gerhold, Associate Professor of Parasitology/Wildlife Diseases at the University of Tennessee, joins us to breakdown common diseases among turkeys and their symptoms, pathways of transmission, and infected biological effects. He also discusses histomonas and how you can get involved in cutting-edge egg research. Dr. Rick Gerhold (rgerhold@utk.edu) (Academic Profile) Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund Dr. Marcus Lashley (@DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile) Dr. Will Gulsby (@dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile) Turkeys for Tomor...2024-03-181h 19Wild Turkey ScienceUp close and personal with wild turkeys | #69Tes Randle Jolly, award-winning professional wildlife and turkey photographer extraordinaire, joins Marcus and Will to share her deep insight and perspective into wild turkey behavior from over 25 years of photographing our favorite bird. Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund Tes Jolly (@jovtes) Dr. Marcus Lashley (@DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile) Dr. Will Gulsby (@dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile) Turkeys for Tomorrow (@turkeysfortomorrow) UF DEER Lab (@ufdeerlab) (YouTube) Please help us by taking our (QUICK) liste...2024-03-111h 15Wild Turkey ScienceLonger the snood, bigger the brood | #68Dr. Richard Buccholz, Director of the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation Research at the University of Mississippi, joins Will and Marcus to shed light on the fascinating world of wild turkey behavior. Learn of the interplay between displayed traits and biological fitness, which traits influence sexual selection, and how this information can help us strategize research for better management moving forward. Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund Resources: Hill, G. E., et al. (2005). The effect of coccidial infection on iridescent plumage coloration in...2024-03-041h 37Wild Turkey ScienceGobbler survival across the south | #67Dr. Patrick Wightman, Research Scientist at UGA, joins Marcus and Will to reveal results from a recent region-wide collaborative project - across 4 states, 8 study sites, and with over 900 banded birds - assessing the effects of hunting pressure on male survival. Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund Resources: Wightman, P. H., et al. (2024). Survival and cause‐specific mortality of male wild turkeys across the southeastern United States. The Journal of Wildlife Management, 88(2), e22531. Dr. Patrick Wightman (@WildTurkeyNerd) (Academic Profile) (Wild Tu...2024-02-261h 12Wild Turkey ScienceSnoods, feathers, and the Turkey Brotherhood | #65Dr. Geoff Hill, professor of Biological Sciences at Auburn University, joins Marcus and Will to break down the unique evolutionary biology of our favorite bird. Learn which characteristics hens select for, what make decoys effective, if gene selection is impacted by hunter harvest, the intricacies of the turkey brotherhood, and much more. Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund Please help us by taking our (QUICK) listener survey - Thank you! https://ufl.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3VR10xcKOMTvZH0 Dr. Geoff Hill (Website) (Academic P...2024-02-121h 04Wild Turkey ScienceThe habitat vs. predator stalemate | #64Marcus and Will explain why our current data on turkeys supports both sides of this ongoing debate and what is needed to determine whether habitat or predation is to blame. They also discover another interesting link between supplemental feeding and predation, and discuss four studies that would answer most of our questions related to the current decline in wild turkey populations. Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund Please help us by taking our (QUICK) listener survey - Thank you! https://ufl.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3VR...2024-02-0555 minWild Turkey ScienceHabitat for the hatch | #62Mark Hatfield, National Director of Science and Planning for NWTF, joins Marcus and Will to discuss how their organization has helped wild turkeys through research involvement, areas of focus throughout the decades, and ongoing programs and events. Resources: Habitat for the Hatch Women in the Outdoors Wheelin’ Sportsman JAKES Program Save the Habitat. Save the Hunt. Cocktails and Conversation (FB Live) 2024 NWTF Convention www.nwtf.org Mark Hatfield X @TheBeardedBio IG @thebeardedbio 2024-01-221h 08Wild Turkey ScienceScience-based solutions for long-term sustainability | #61Jason Lupardus, Director of Business Operations and Partnerships for Turkeys for Tomorrow, joins Marcus and Will to reveal TFT’s vision, solution, and strategies for addressing some of the biggest challenges facing the wild turkey. Learn how you can get involved with Turkeys for Tomorrow's citizen-science land management today. TFT: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter Please help us by taking our (QUICK) listener survey - Thank you! https://ufl.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3VR10xcKOMTvZH0 Dr. Marcus Lashley (@DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile) Dr. Will Gulsby (@dr_wil...2024-01-1557 minWild Turkey SciencePrioritizing management efforts | #60Marcus calls Will from the road to reflect upon and breakdown their recent site visit to a landowner managing for deer and turkey, the primary factors weighed when juggling multiple objectives, and when to use which strategies. Please help us by taking our (QUICK) listener survey - Thank you! https://ufl.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3VR10xcKOMTvZH0 Dr. Marcus Lashley (@DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile) Dr. Will Gulsby (@dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile) Turkeys for Tomorrow (@turkeysfortomorrow) UF DEER Lab (@ufdeerlab) (YouTube) 2024-01-0846 minWild Turkey ScienceWhat we’ve learned and where we’re going | #59Marcus and Will wrap up our first year of production by reflecting upon the most memorable moments from recording, favorite segments from the season, unexpected feedback from listeners, and our plans for the show moving forward. Please help us by taking our (QUICK) listener survey below. Thank you in advance! https://ufl.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3VR10xcKOMTvZH0 Resources: I lease land…what about me? | #12 Has turkey habitat changed? | #21 Brooding and nesting cover (Part 1/2) | #29 Brooding and nesting cover (Part 2/2) | #30 ...2024-01-011h 17Wild Turkey ScienceManaging bottomland hardwoods for turkeys (Part 2/2) | #58Duck Locascio, Forestry Program Manager for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, joins Marcus and Will to demystify and provide actionable steps to managers interested in improving turkey habitat in bottomland hardwood forests. Resources: Desired Forest Conditions document Lower Mississippi Valley Joint Venture Dr. Marcus Lashley (@DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile) Dr. Will Gulsby (@dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile) Turkeys for Tomorrow (@turkeysfortomorrow) UF DEER Lab (@ufdeerlab) (YouTube) Watch these podcasts on YouTube: Wild Turkey Science YouTube ...2023-12-2544 minWild Turkey ScienceManaging bottomland hardwoods for turkeys (Part 1/2) | #57Duck Locascio, Forestry Program Manager for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, joins Marcus and Will to demystify and provide actionable steps to managers interested in improving turkey habitat in bottomland hardwood forests. Resources: Desired Forest Conditions document Lower Mississippi Valley Joint Venture Dr. Marcus Lashley (@DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile) Dr. Will Gulsby (@dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile) Turkeys for Tomorrow (@turkeysfortomorrow) UF DEER Lab (@ufdeerlab) (YouTube) Watch these podcasts on YouTube: Wild Turkey Science YouTube ...2023-12-1850 minWild Turkey ScienceNE Update: Year 1 results | #56Dr. Andy Little joins Marcus and Will to break down the study design and year 1 results from his research assessing wild turkey habitat needs across the state of Nebraska. Then, how landscape changes may be impacting population trends and which potential factors are bottlenecking brood survival. Turkey Newsletter 2023 Dr. Andy Little (Publications) (IG) (X) AWESM Lab (Website) (IG) (Facebook) (X) Dr. Marcus Lashley (@DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile) Dr. Will Gulsby (@dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile) Turkeys for Tomorrow (@turkeysfortomorrow) UF DEER...2023-12-111h 02Wild Turkey ScienceFindings from AL and upcoming research | #55Will provides us with updates on his ongoing, hunter-led AL project quantifying fertility indexes in wild turkeys and how it relates to behavior and disease. Then, an update from Marcus on the FL genetic study assessing habitat connectivity and gene flow made possible by hunter-donated feathers. And finally, a look into Will’s next project inspired by our listeners. Resources: AL Update: Is there a dominant gobbler? Status of turkeys in FL (Part 1/2) Status of turkeys in FL (Part 2/2) FL Wildlife Corridor NY Times: Wild Tur...2023-12-041h 17Wild Turkey ScienceThanksgiving Special | #54Marcus and Will kick off the holiday season by reviewing a newly published predator-prey diet selection study, discussing fall diets for turkeys during poor oak masting years, and touching upon the American tradition of fall turkey hunting. Resources Youngmann, et al. (2023). Assessing springtime vertebrate prey of sympatric mesopredators in the southeastern United States using metabarcoding analysis. Plos one, 18(10), e0293270. DrDisturbance IG Reel Dr. Marcus Lashley (@DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile) Dr. Will Gulsby (@dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile) Turkeys for Tomorrow (@turkeysfortomorrow) UF DEER...2023-11-2043 minWild Turkey ScienceLegends of turkey research | #50Marcus and Will travel back in time with legendary turkey researchers Dr. Larry Vangilder and Eric Kurzejeski. Join as they discuss the early days of restocking and lessons learned, how hunting regulations changed as populations grew, initial assumptions impacting today’s regulations, challenges they faced as biologists, and thoughts on why we’re seeing declines today. Dr. Larry Vangilder, Eric W. Kurzejeski Dr. Marcus Lashley (@DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile) Dr. Will Gulsby (@dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile) Turkeys for Tomorrow (@turkeysfortomorrow) UF DEER Lab (@ufdeerlab) (YouTube) ...2023-10-231h 36Wild Turkey ScienceFeeding…the positives? | #48Marcus and Will wrap up our feeding series by reviewing global drivers of supplemental feeding and breakdown a study reporting positive effects on wild turkey populations from supplemental feed. Resources: Cox, D. T., & Gaston, K. J. (2018). Human–nature interactions and the consequences and drivers of provisioning wildlife. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 373(1745), 20170092. Malpass, J. S., Rodewald, A. D., & Matthews, S. N. (2017). Species-dependent effects of bird feeders on nest predators and nest survival of urban American Robins and Northern Cardinals. The Condor: Ornithological Applications, 119(1), 1-16. Robb, G. N...2023-10-091h 10Wild Turkey ScienceLessons from the NE prairie | #47While in Nebraska, Marcus and Will discuss the shared challenges they see across states when trying to integrate multiple objectives into working landscapes. Dr. Marcus Lashley (@DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile) Dr. Will Gulsby (@dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile) Turkeys for Tomorrow (@turkeysfortomorrow) UF DEER Lab (@ufdeerlab) (YouTube) Watch these podcasts on YouTube: Wild Turkey Science YouTube Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Au2023-10-0243 minWild Turkey ScienceCorn Nation | #45Will and Marcus characterize the available data on wildlife feeding across the South and discuss the implications for wild turkeys. Resources: SC 2006 AK 2011 FWC 2019 Land Ethic Dr. Marcus Lashley (@DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile) Dr. Will Gulsby (@dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile) Turkeys for Tomorrow (@turkeysfortomorrow) UF DEER Lab (@ufdeerlab) (YouTube) Watch these podcasts on YouTube: 2023-09-1859 minWild Turkey ScienceCan conservation governance save turkeys? (Part 2/2) | #44Dr. Kelly Dunning, Associate Professor at Auburn University and Timberline Professor at the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, joins Will and Marcus to discuss the complexities associated with conservation policy-making and how we can better integrate wild turkey research and political science moving forward. Listen to Part 1 of this episode here: https://sites.libsyn.com/453219/can-conservation-governance-save-turkeys-part-12-43 Dr. Kelly Dunning (Email) (Website) (@DrKellyHDunning) (Academic Profile) Dr. Marcus Lashley (@DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile) Dr. Will Gulsby (@dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile) Turkeys for Tomorrow (@turkeysfortomorrow) UF DEER Lab...2023-09-1149 minWild Turkey ScienceCan conservation governance save turkeys? (Part 1/2) | #43Dr. Kelly Dunning, Associate Professor at Auburn University and Timberline Professor at the Haub School of Environment and Natural Resources, joins Will and Marcus to discuss the complexities associated with conservation policy-making and how we can better integrate wild turkey research and political science moving forward. Part 2 of this episode releases next Monday. Dr. Kelly Dunning (Email) (Website) (@DrKellyHDunning) (Academic Profile) Dr. Marcus Lashley (@DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile) Dr. Will Gulsby (@dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile) Turkeys for Tomorrow (@turkeysfortomorrow) UF DEER Lab (@ufdeerlab) (YouTube) ...2023-09-0437 minWild Turkey ScienceTX state update | #40Marcus and Will are joined by Jason Hardin, Wild Turkey Program Leader for the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. Listen to learn details on the status of our favorite bird in the Lonestar State. Jason Hardin Jason.hardin@tpwd.texas.gov Dr. Marcus Lashley (DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile) Dr. Will Gulsby (dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile) Turkeys for Tomorrow (turkeysfortomorrow) UF DEER Lab (ufdeerlab) Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund This podcast is made possible by T...2023-08-141h 09Wild Turkey ScienceWhat not to do | #39Will and Marcus discuss what not to do on your property when managing for wild turkey. Resources: Wild nesting cover ft. Dr. Craig Harper: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6xsKyis404&lc=Ugyq5o49_is0gQOzEQl4AaABAg Wild Turkey Habitat Improvements for Leased Land: https://huntinland.libsyn.com/wild-turkey-habitat-improvements-for-leased-land Dr. Marcus Lashley (DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile) Dr. Will Gulsby (dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile) Turkeys for Tomorrow (turkeysfortomorrow) UF DEER Lab (ufdeerlab) Donate to wild turkey research: UF Tu...2023-08-071h 10Wild Turkey ScienceShooting gobblers: which one, how many, and when? | #38Marcus and Will discuss the origins of hypotheses related to timing and intensity of spring harvest and how they may affect reproduction. They also discuss the challenges landowners face when establishing property level harvest decisions. Resources: Isabelle, Jason L., et al. "Considerations for timing of spring wild turkey hunting seasons in the southeastern United States." Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies 5 (2018): 106-113. The Wild Turkey: Biology & Management Kurzejeski, Eric W., and L. D. Vangilder. "Population management." The wild turkey: biology and management. Stackpole Books, Harrisburg, P...2023-07-311h 05Wild Turkey ScienceHow to science | #37How to science | #37 In this episode, Marcus and Will break down the research process. Join as they discuss the nuts and bolts of experimental design, identifying objectives, how to generate funding, which agencies are involved, financial expenses, isolating and controlling variables, and how you as a citizen can influence research in your state. Interested in helping the wild turkey? Donate to our research funds today: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund Resources: Wild nesting cover ft. Dr. Craig Harper: https://www.youtube.com/watc...2023-07-2458 minWild Turkey ScienceQ & A | #36We asked and you answered! Join Marcus and Will as they review questions from followers covering brooding cover, disease, decoys, effective trail cam use, timing of fire, and more. Resources: Wild nesting cover ft. Dr. Craig Harper: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6xsKyis404&lc=Ugyq5o49_is0gQOzEQl4AaABAg Dr. Marcus Lashley (DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile) Dr. Will Gulsby (dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile) Turkeys for Tomorrow (turkeysfortomorrow) UF DEER Lab (ufdeerlab) Interested in helping the wild turkey? Dona...2023-07-171h 14Wild Turkey ScienceLand & Legacy | #35Marcus and Will sit down with Adam Keith and Matt Dye, co-owners, consultants, and fellow podcasters of Land and Legacy. Listen as they share from years of habitat consulting experience on what they’re seeing across landowner landscapes and which factors are the most limiting for the wild turkey. Land & Legacy - https://landandlegacy.tv/ Dr. Marcus Lashley (DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile) Dr. Will Gulsby (dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile) Turkeys for Tomorrow (turkeysfortomorrow) UF DEER Lab (ufdeerlab) Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turke...2023-07-101h 16Wild Turkey ScienceTurkey Working Group recap | #34Marcus and Will wrap up their time at the Southeast Wild Turkey Working Group conference by discussing their key takeaways, study results from the experts, exciting plans across an array of states, and how you as a hunter can help out. Resources: Londe, David W., et al. "Review of range‐wide vital rates quantifies eastern wild Turkey population trajectory." Ecology and Evolution 13.2 (2023): e9830. Dr. Marcus Lashley (DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile) Dr. Will Gulsby (dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile) Turkeys for Tomorrow (turkeysfortomorrow) UF DEER Lab...2023-07-031h 10Wild Turkey ScienceMO update | #33Marcus and Will sit down at the Southeast Wild Turkey Working Group Meeting with Nick Oakley, Wild Turkey Biologist for Missouri. Join as Nick discloses the state’s turkey history and trends, current status and hunting guidelines, and a breakdown of the ongoing research to assess what’s driving production. Resources: MO Wild Turkey Brook Survey Dr. Marcus Lashley (DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile) Dr. Will Gulsby (dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile) Turkeys for Tomorrow (turkeysfortomorrow) UF DEER Lab (ufdeerlab) Donate to wild turkey r...2023-06-2655 minWild Turkey ScienceWhich plants? | #32Marcus and Will recap Dr. Harper’s dense episodes by discussing indicator plants to evaluate success in brood field management. Resources: iNaturalist Seek Forest Plants of the Southeast and Their Wildlife Uses Wildlife Food Plots and Early Successional Plants GeFellers, James Wade, et al. "Seeding is not always necessary to restore native early successional plant communities." Restoration Ecology 28.6 (2020): 1485-1494. Dr. Marcus Lashley (DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile) Dr. Will Gulsby (dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile) Turkeys for Tomorrow (turkeysfortomorrow) UF DE...2023-06-191h 11Wild Turkey ScienceWhat is TFT about? | #31Turkeys for Tomorrow Legal Council and board member Carter Weeks joins us to discuss how TFT got started, the vision of the organization, and how you can get involved to make a difference. To learn more about TFT, check out turkeysfortomorrow.org. Dr. Marcus Lashley (DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile) Dr. Will Gulsby (dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile) Turkeys for Tomorrow (turkeysfortomorrow) UF DEER Lab (ufdeerlab) Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a gra...2023-06-121h 07Wild Turkey ScienceBrooding and nesting cover (Part 2/2) | #30 Dr. Craig Harper joins to disclose step-by-step instructions on how to implement better brooding and nesting cover on your property. This is an episode you won’t want to miss. Dr. Craig Harper (Website) Dr. Marcus Lashley (DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile) Dr. Will Gulsby (dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile) Turkeys for Tomorrow (turkeysfortomorrow) UF DEER Lab (ufdeerlab) Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. T...2023-06-0539 minWild Turkey ScienceBrooding and nesting cover (Part 1/2) | #29Dr. Craig Harper joins to disclose step-by-step instructions on how to implement better brooding and nesting cover on your property. This is an episode you won’t want to miss. Dr. Craig Harper (Website) Dr. Marcus Lashley (DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile) Dr. Will Gulsby (dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile) Turkeys for Tomorrow (turkeysfortomorrow) UF DEER Lab (ufdeerlab) Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey...2023-05-2941 minWild Turkey ScienceStatus of turkeys in FL (Part 2/2) | #28FWC Wild Turkey Management Program Coordinator Buddy Welch discloses details on the previous and on-going research conducted on wild turkeys. Then, discussion of Florida landowner resources, cost-share programs, and habitat characteristics unique to the state that are vital for turkey population. This is Part 2 of this episode. Resources from the episode: FWC Wild Turkey Summer Survey (opens June 1) Florida Wildlife Corridor Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 2022 Annual Wild Turkey Hunting Status Report Wild Turkey Cost Share Program Dr. Marcus Lashley (DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile) Dr...2023-05-2236 minWild Turkey ScienceStatus of turkeys in FL (Part 1/2) | #27FWC Wild Turkey Management Program Coordinator Buddy Welch joins us to disclose details on the state’s season frameworks, restocking history, and harvest trends. Then, a look into the previous and on-going research studies conducted on wild turkeys across Florida. This is Part 1 of this episode. Resources from the episode: FWC Wild Turkey Summer Survey (opens June 1) Florida Wildlife Corridor Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission 2022 Annual Wild Turkey Hunting Status Report Wild Turkey Cost Share Program Dr. Marcus Lashley (DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile) Dr. Will Gu...2023-05-1538 minWild Turkey ScienceWild turkey populations in PA (Part 2/2) | #26PA Game Commission wild turkey biologist Mary Jo Caselena joins us to disclose details on their state’s mark recapture study, population trends, and private landowner incentive programs. Then, a look into the largest conducted, multi-state mid-Atlantic hen population study. This is Part 2 for this episode. Resources from the episode: PA Landowner Programs Casalena, M. J., et al. "Understanding the new normal: wild turkeys in a changing northeastern landscape." Proceedings of the National Wild Turkey Symposium. Vol. 11. 2015. 5 Environmental Factors that Affect Turkey Populations Board of Game Commissioners Meeting January 27, 2023...2023-05-0829 minWild Turkey ScienceWild turkey populations in PA (Part 1/2) | #25PA Game Commission wild turkey biologist Mary Jo Caselena joins us to disclose details on their state’s mark recapture study, population trends, and private landowner incentive programs. Then, a look into the largest conducted, multi-state mid-Atlantic hen population study. This is Part 1 of 2 for this episode. Resources from the episode: PA Landowner Programs Casalena, M. J., et al. "Understanding the new normal: wild turkeys in a changing northeastern landscape." Proceedings of the National Wild Turkey Symposium. Vol. 11. 2015. 5 Environmental Factors that Affect Turkey Populations Board of Game Commissioners Meeting Ja...2023-05-011h 13Wild Turkey ScienceWhat's changed in MS? (Part 2/2) | #24Wildlife Biologist John Gruchy gives us his fastball pitch on adjusting old fields, even food plots, into poult-rearing cover. This is Part 2 of Monday's episode. Dr. Marcus Lashley (DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile) Dr. Will Gulsby (dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile) Turkeys for Tomorrow (turkeysfortomorrow) UF DEER Lab (ufdeerlab) Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org. ...2023-04-2712 minWild Turkey ScienceWhat's changed in MS? (Part 1/2) | #23Wildlife Biologist John Gruchy joins the show to discuss the timeline of landscape changes across Mississippi, consequences of earlier management decisions, and what we’ve got to eradicate moving forward. Check back Thursday for Part 2 of this episode. Dr. Marcus Lashley (DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile) Dr. Will Gulsby (dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile) Turkeys for Tomorrow (turkeysfortomorrow) UF DEER Lab (ufdeerlab) Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the w...2023-04-241h 06Wild Turkey ScienceBonus episode | #22Marcus and WIll jump back on to correct literature data on exotic grasses from Monday’s episode, clarify a few points on CRP and burning during nesting, and swap turkey hunting stories. Referenced paper: Barnes, Thomas G., Stephen J. DeMaso, and Matt A. Bahm. "The impact of 3 exotic, invasive grasses in the southeastern United States on wildlife." Wildlife Society Bulletin 37.3 (2013): 497-502. Get your call: https://honeycombcustomcalls.com/collections/our-partners/products/chasing-tales Dr. Marcus Lashley (DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile) Dr. Will Gulsby (dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile) Turkeys for Tomorrow (turkeysfortomorrow) 2023-04-211h 09Wild Turkey ScienceHas turkey habitat changed? | #21In this episode, we discuss the large-scale habitat changes that may have contributed to wild turkey decline, key management strategies that shifted the landscapes, what changes contributed to habitat loss, and what we can do to save the poults moving forward. Papers: Barnes, Thomas G., Stephen J. DeMaso, and Matt A. Bahm. "The impact of 3 exotic, invasive grasses in the southeastern United States on wildlife." Wildlife Society Bulletin 37.3 (2013): 497-502. Carmichael Jr, D. Breck. "The Conservation Reserve Program and wildlife habitat in the southeastern United States." Wildlife Society Bulletin (1997): 773-775. Martinuzzi, Sebastián...2023-04-171h 25Wild Turkey ScienceOK update (Part 2/2): Reproductive ecology of Rios and Easterns | #20Dr. Colter Chitwood re-joins the podcast to give us an update of the on-going turkey research in the state of Oklahoma. Learn details of the hunter-led work estimating vital rates to increase poult per hen ratios, and learn how state-wide genetics can help us understand turkey movement across the landscape. Dr. Colter Chitwood (Academic Profile) Dr. Marcus Lashley (DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile) Dr. Will Gulsby (dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile) Turkeys for Tomorrow (turkeysfortomorrow) UF DEER Lab (ufdeerlab) Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Tu...2023-04-1340 minWild Turkey ScienceBurning during nesting | #19Dr. Chris Moorman rejoins the podcast to discuss the use of prescribed fire during nesting season. Also, gain inside details on the studies Dr. Moorman has led concerning burn timing as it relates to ground nesting birds. Papers: Kilburg, Eric L., et al. "Wild turkey nest survival and nest‐site selection in the presence of growing‐season prescribed fire." The Journal of Wildlife Management 78.6 (2014): 1033-1039. Kilburg, Eric L., et al. "Wild turkey prenesting-resource selection in a landscape managed with frequent prescribed fire." Southeastern Naturalist 14.1 (2015): 137-146. Kroeger, Anthony J., et al. "Northern bobwh...2023-04-1056 minWild Turkey ScienceOK update (Part 1/2): Reproductive ecology of Rios and Easterns | #18Dr. Colter Chitwood re-joins the podcast to give us an update of the on-going turkey research in the state of Oklahoma. Learn details of the hunter-led work estimating vital rates to increase poult per hen ratios, and learn how state-wide genetics can help us understand turkey movement across the landscape. Dr. Colter Chitwood (Academic Profile) Dr. Marcus Lashley (DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile) Dr. Will Gulsby (dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile) Turkeys for Tomorrow (turkeysfortomorrow) UF DEER Lab (ufdeerlab) Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Tu...2023-04-0643 minWild Turkey ScienceWhat we learned from density dependence | #17In this episode, we review our episodes on the density-dependence hypothesis, what we learned from conversations with experts, and implications this may have on management of the wild turkey moving forward. Papers: Bond, Bobby T., et al. "Thirty-year case study showing a negative relationship between population and reproductive indices of eastern wild turkeys in Georgia." Georgia Journal of Science 70.2 (2012): 5. Dr. Marcus Lashley (DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile) Dr. Will Gulsby (dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile) Turkeys for Tomorrow (turkeysfortomorrow) UF DEER Lab (ufdeerlab) Donate to wild turkey re...2023-04-031h 13Wild Turkey ScienceAL update: Is there a dominant gobbler? | #16In this episode, we give you an update on the ongoing projects in Alabama including preliminary results on which gobblers can breed, the most common predators of nests, effects of hunting on gobbling, and more. Paper: Proportion of tom’s had testes large enough that they could breed Dr. Marcus Lashley (DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile) Dr. Will Gulsby (dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile) Turkeys for Tomorrow (turkeysfortomorrow) UF DEER Lab (ufdeerlab) Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund This podcast is ma...2023-03-301h 18Wild Turkey ScienceA different perspective on density dependence | #15Is density dependence operating on wild turkeys? Dr. Bret Collier walks us through his point of view on density dependence and whether it is responsible for observed changes in turkey populations. We cover a lot of ground and discuss various aspects of wild turkey biology from many studies and regions. Papers Byrne, M. E., Chamberlain, M. J., & Collier, B. A. (2015). Potential density dependence in wild turkey productivity in the southeastern United States. In Proceedings of the National Wild Turkey Symposium (Vol. 11, pp. 329-351). Collier, B. A., Melton, K. B., Hardin, J. B., Silvy, N...2023-03-271h 15Wild Turkey ScienceDensity-dependence in upland game birds | #14What is density-dependence and could it be driving the patterns we're seeing in declining populations? Dr. Mark McConnell joins Marcus and Will to pull knowledge from research on density-dependence in upland game bird species and how these factors may affect wild turkey populations. Papers: Byrne, Michael E., et al. "Nest site fidelity and nesting success of female wild turkeys." Wildlife Society Bulletin 46.2 (2022): e1279. Guthrie, Joshua D., et al. "Evaluation of a global positioning system backpack transmitter for wild turkey research." The Journal of Wildlife Management 75.3 (2011): 539-547. Londe, David W., et al. "Review of...2023-03-201h 22Wild Turkey ScienceWhich vital rates are most important to turkey populations? | #13What does the available wild turkey research tell us and what gaps need to be filled moving forward? Dr. Chitwood walks us through 50+ years of published literature on eastern wild turkey vital rates. They literally incorporated all of the vital rates published on easterns into a model, to determine the status of population trajectories, and identify which factor was most important in driving those trajectories. This is the first release of the only known, all-inclusive meta-analysis on the wild turkey, so tune in, it is powerful. If you’re thinking nesting or brooding success…think again. Paper:...2023-03-131h 05Wild Turkey ScienceI lease land…what about me? | #12It’s obvious that we need to do something about poult-rearing cover. What are the opportunities for you to help on land you don’t own? Join Marcus and Will as they discuss what desirable brooding cover looks like, how to achieve it, and how and where our listeners have improved turkey habitat on the places they hunt. This is a bonus episode for the tremendous feedback and questions received related to this topic. Paper: Palmer, William E., et al. "Effect of field borders and nest‐predator reduction on abundance of northern bobwhites." Wildlife Society Bullet...2023-03-0958 minWild Turkey ScienceWhich turkey predators? | #11While at the Southeast Deer Study Group, Marcus and Will sit down to reflect on the recent predation episodes. They discuss key takeaways, lessons learned, and where mindsets began to shift. Paper: Palmer, William E., et al. "Effect of field borders and nest‐predator reduction on abundance of northern bobwhites." Wildlife Society Bulletin 33.4 (2005): 1398-1405. Dr. Marcus Lashley (DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile) Dr. Will Gulsby (dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile) Turkeys for Tomorrow (turkeysfortomorrow) UF DEER Lab (ufdeerlab) Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Aub...2023-03-0649 minWild Turkey ScienceNC research update: Largest private land turkey study | #10200 private landowners, 25,000+ acres of private land, years of data… on hundreds of birds!?! If you live or hunt in North Carolina this episode is a must-listen! Dr. Chris Moorman joins Marcus and Will to reveal details on a unique, multi-regional wild turkey research project taking place in the state of North Carolina. Stay tuned for a later NC research update for details on how the project is progressing. Dr. Chris Moorman (Academic Profile) Dr. Marcus Lashley (DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile) Dr. Will Gulsby (dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile) Turkeys for Tomorrow (turkeysfortomorrow) 2023-03-0237 minWild Turkey ScienceSo, you think you know nest predators? | # 09Dr. Bret Collier joins Marcus and Will to challenge the status quo of how we view wild turkey nest predation. Bringing a new perspective to how we define predators, Dr. Collier breaks down our conventional approach, while proposing a few new methods, to controlling wild turkey predation. Resources from the episode: Byrne, Michael E., and Michael J. Chamberlain. "Seasonal space use and habitat selection of adult raccoons (Procyon lotor) in a Louisiana bottomland hardwood forest." The American midland naturalist 166.2 (2011): 426-434. Dreibelbis, Justin Z., et al. "Predation of Rio Grande wild turkey nests on...2023-02-271h 29Wild Turkey ScienceEffectiveness of trapping across game bird species | #08With limited research on wild turkey predator trapping, Marcus and Will turn to Dr. Dwayne Elmore for his professional and personal experience with predator trapping across various game bird species. Join as they pull and apply concepts from the available body of literature to help us further understand predator control for wild turkeys. Resources from the episode: Ellis‐Felege, Susan N., et al. "Predator reduction results in compensatory shifts in losses of avian ground nests." Journal of Applied Ecology 49.3 (2012): 661-669. Messmer, Terry A., et al. "United States public attitudes regarding predators and their man...2023-02-201h 29Wild Turkey ScienceThe science on trapping | #07Marcus and Will delve deeper into the research on wild turkey predator trapping. Join as they break down key findings, interpret study designs, discuss strengths and limitations, and continue the conversation of controversy surrounding wild turkey predator trapping. Resources from the episode: Speake, Daniel W. "Predation on wild turkeys in Alabama." 4th National Wild Turkey Symposium. Little Rock, Arkansas (USA). 2-5 Mar 1980.. 1980. Williams Jr, L. E., D. H. Austin, and T. E. Peoples. "Turkey nesting success on a Florida study area." 4th National Wild Turkey Symposium. Little Rock, Arkansas (USA). 2-5 Mar 1980.. 1980. 2023-02-131h 34Wild Turkey ScienceTurkey predators | #06What eats turkeys? Has the predator context changed? We give you a look from the literature, historical writings, discuss underrepresented predators, and breakdown important concepts in predator prey dynamics. Resources from the episode: Chitwood et al. 2020. Raccoon Vigilance and Activity Patterns When Sympatric with Coyotes Gulsby et al. 2017 Landscape heterogeneity reduces coyote predation on white-tailed deer fawns Kelly et al. 2015. Seasonal and Spatial Variation in Diets of Coyotes in Central Georgia Nelson et al. 2022. Fine-scale resource selection and behavioral tradeoffs of eastern wild turkey broods Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn T...2023-02-061h 37Wild Turkey ScienceYou’ve got questions, here are our answers | #05Thank you for the overwhelmingly positive feedback. We felt compelled to address major themes in the questions y’all gave us from the first topic series. Here we address several major questions and also highlight things brought to our attention by the audience. Help us help turkeys by rating this podcast and sharing it with your friends and family. Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund Dr. Marcus Lashley (DrDisturbance) Dr. Will Gulsby (dr_will_gulsby) Turkeys for Tomorrow (turkeysfortomorrow) UF DEER Lab (ufdeerlab) This po...2023-02-021h 13Wild Turkey ScienceWhat did we learn about the role of season frameworks? | #04Is the science settled? Will and Marcus have a deep discussion about what we learned from the first few episodes, what data we have, what is missing, and where we should go from here. Paper: Considerations for Timing of Spring Wild Turkey Hunting Seasons in the Southeastern United States Help us help turkeys by rating this podcast and sharing it with your friends and family. Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund Dr. Marcus Lashley (DrDisturbance) Dr. Will Gulsby (dr_will_gulsby) Turkeys...2023-01-301h 11Wild Turkey ScienceHow could season frameworks affect wild turkey populations? ft. Dr. Mike Chamberlain | #03In this episode, Dr. Mike Chamberlain discusses various aspects of wild turkey biology and ecology, signs of problems across many states, how hunter harvest could be contributing to wild turkey decline, and potential solutions. Paper: Status and distribution of wild turkeys in theUnited States in 2019 Help us help turkeys by rating this podcast and sharing it with your friends and family. Click here to donate to wild turkey research. Dr. Marcus Lashley (DrDisturbance) Dr. Will Gulsby (dr_will_gulsby) UF DEER Lab (ufdeerlab) Turkeys for Tomorrow (turkeysfortomorrow) This podcast...2023-01-231h 55Wild Turkey ScienceWild turkey population dynamics and what the manipulative study of season dates in Mississippi tells us about the role of hunting, ft. Adam Butler | #02In this episode, Adam Butler gives us an historical context for wild turkey population dynamics and reveals results from the ongoing season date manipulation across several wild turkey populations in Mississippi. Paper: Considerations for Timing of Spring Wild Turkey Hunting Seasons in the Southeastern United States Help us help turkeys by rating this podcast and sharing it with your friends and family. Click here to donate to wild turkey research. Dr. Marcus Lashley (DrDisturbance) Dr. Will Gulsby (dr_will_gulsby) UF DEER Lab (ufdeerlab) Turkeys for Tomorrow (turkeysfortomorrow) T...2023-01-231h 38Wild Turkey ScienceWhat does the ongoing wild turkey research in Tennessee tell us about the impacts of season timing? ft. Dr. Craig Harper | #01In this episode, Dr. Craig Harper fills us in on their experimental manipulation of season dates across several counties in Tennessee and how it affected wild turkey productivity. We also cover several topics that are critical to understand about wild turkey populations. Papers: Nest-site Selection and Survival of Wild Turkeys in Tennessee Vegetation structure and food availability following disturbance in recently restored early successional plant communities Help us help turkeys by rating this podcast and sharing it with your friends and family. Click here to donate to wild turkey research. Dr...2023-01-231h 13Wild Turkey ScienceWhat is Wild Turkey Science about? | #00In our inaugural episode, Marcus and Will discuss what we are trying to accomplish with this podcast and how it was made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow. Help us help turkeys by subscribing and sharing with your friends and family. Click here to donate to wild turkey research. Dr. Marcus Lashley (DrDisturbance) Dr. Will Gulsby (dr_will_gulsby) UF DEER Lab (ufdeerlab) Turkeys for Tomorrow (turkeysfortomorrow) This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org. 2023-01-2220 minWild Turkey ScienceTrailer | Wild Turkey ScienceHere is a sneak peak of the upcoming episodes of Wild Turkey Science. Subscribe now because it’s going to get intense quick! Help us help turkeys by rating this podcast and sharing it with your friends and family. Click here to donate to wild turkey research. Dr. Marcus Lashley (DrDisturbance) Dr. Will Gulsby (dr_will_gulsby) Turkeys for Tomorrow (turkeysfortomorrow) UF DEER Lab (ufdeerlab) Produced by Charlotte Nowak2023-01-2002 min
Fire UniversityManagement activities in the July heat, ft. Dr. Will GulsbyThe species you hunt need habitat year round. Now is a key time to evaluate your habitat management outcomes and plan for upcoming applications. Join Marcus as he chats with old friend and colleague Dr. Will Gulsby, Associate professor at Auburn University, as they discuss what you can do during the July heat. Dr. Will Gulsby - @dr_will_gulsby - Auburn Deer Lab Dr. Marcus Lashley - @DrDisturbance - @ufdeerlab Enroll now in our free wildland fire course. Available to all! This podcast is supported by listener donations - thank you...2022-07-0553 min