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All About Wild Turkeys

  • All About Wild Turkeys
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A Tale of Multiple Spurs
Gobblers with multiple spurs generally develop two spurs on each leg, with a secondary spur located below the main spur.
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How to Participate in Poult Surveys (and Why They Matter)
Seeing a brood of turkeys during summer might be exciting, but it can also be important. Biologists use information from informal surveys to plot the management of America’s No. 1 game bird.
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Recovering America's Wildlife Act
Recovering America’s Wildlife Act of 2021 passed out of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee and will be released to the full Senate for consideration. What does this landmark bill mean for wild turkeys, and why turkey hunters should track it?
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Help the Yelp
While there are many challenges ahead, it’s not all bad news; this is where NWTF’s Help The Yelp Project comes in.
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Ask Dr. Tom: How Soon Do Wild Turkeys Need Water?
When do turkey poults usually drink their first sip of water? Dr. Tom weighs in.
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Ms. Bearded Wonder
Paul Rouse of Bryan’s Road, Maryland, harvested a bearded hen (pictured, right) with a 7 1⁄2-inch beard and asked how rare they are. Dr. Tom gives us the statistics behind bearded hens and a few notes on their ability to reproduce
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Chain Reaction
Wild turkeys develop their own chain of command each fall that can greatly influence their spring activity.
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Bound by Science
The science behind wild turkey harvest data, harvest rates, population estimates and conservation management.
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Can hens move their eggs?
Experts weigh in on the possibility of a nesting hen relocating her eggs.
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River Bottom Toms
Riparian, or streamside, habitat is vital to healthy turkey populations in arid regions like eastern New Mexico and the Texas Panhandle.
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Summer science: Thoughts on nest loss
Associate professor of wildlife ecology at Louisiana State University, Dr. Bret Collier, dives into understanding wild turkey nest success.
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Ask Dr. Tom: Can you accurately age a gobbler?
Is there an accurate method to determine the age of a gobbler? Dr. Tom weighs in.
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An American Conservation Icon
In celebration of July 4th, here are some fun parallels between the greatest country and the greatest bird.
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For Summertime Turkey Poults, Encourage Native Berries, Forbs and Grasses
Dr. Bret Collier, an associate professor of wildlife ecology at Louisiana State University, weighs in on how to create better habitat for hens and their young.
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What is Early Successional Habitat and Why Do Wild Turkeys Need it
Whether you’ve scoured the internet for the best way to get turkeys on your property or if you’re an ardent follower of the NWTF’s conservation mission, you have more than likely come across the phrase “early successional habitat.”
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Turkeys and Terrain: The Lay of the Land Matters
Understanding how turkeys maneuver the landscape is half of the hunting equation.
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Do We Truly Understand How Well Turkeys Can See
Without a doubt, wild turkeys have incredible vision and are able to detect motion many, many yards away. But how well do we truly understand how well they can see?
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Ask Dr. Tom: Can Turkeys Swim?
Have you ever witnessed a wild turkey swimming? Dr. Tom weighs in.
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Spring transitions
The science of spring turkey movements can be a study in unpredictability.
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Gould's Turkeys in the Land of the Jaguar
How a lifelong hunter, and wildlife journalist journeyed on a five-year-long quest to raise awareness to wild turkey conservation using photojournalism.
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Wild Turkey Anatomy
A breakdown of some of the wild turkey’s distinct anatomical features and their function, from snood to spur, if you will.
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Ask Dr. Tom: Do hens leave their nests of eggs to roost at night?
Do hens leave their nest to roost at night? Dr. Tom weighs in.
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A storm of habitat challenges
Hurricanes that batter landscapes cause short- and long-term problems for wild turkey populations.
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Ask Dr. Tom: "Henned Up" in the late season
Alabama hunter, Clinton Eubanks, ask Dr. Tom if hens tend to leave gobblers later in the season.
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Winter movements and roosting ecology
Wild turkeys push through winter, with an eye on spring.
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Ask Dr. Tom: Do rocks aid in digestion?
A friend of Arkansas hunter, Rick Harrell, discovered rocks in the crop of a turkey he had harvested. Dr. Tom weighs in.
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Flock stability and habitat shifts of fall
Understanding flock dynamics and habitat requirements of turkeys during fall can help us better manage the land they use.
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Ask Dr. Tom: Swollen Nares
Tennessee hunter, Andy Austin, submitted a photo of a wild turkey he harvested that had swollen nostrils. Dr. Tom weighs in on the possible cause.
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What Causes Color-Phase Turkeys
Have you ever seen a wild turkey with irregular-colored plumage?
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Behaviors of Broods
Research is revealing important links between how broods move and their survival.
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Taking Advantage of a Jake's or Jenny's Stay with the Flock Mentality
NWTF Wildlife Biologist, Mark Hatfield, weighs in on the flock mentality of young poults.
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Ask Dr. Tom: Feather Coloration
Texas hunter Johnny Johnson submitted photos of wings from two adult Rio Grande gobblers harvested within a mile from each other in west Texas. Johnny noticed the barring on the wings were quite different and wondered what might have caused the difference on these Rios? Dr. Tom weighs in.
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What is an exploded lek?
Knowing the answer can make you a better turkey hunter.
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Developing a Resistance
Studies in Pennsylvania reveal a percentage of young turkeys are born with West Nile virus antibodies.
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Daily Rituals of the Wild Turkey
The photographer’s lens reveals a closer look at turkey grooming behaviors, many of which hunters rarely see.
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The Gobbler Is in Charge – Thoughts of an Avid Turkey Hunter
You have everything — gun, shells, camo, facemask, gloves, your calls and a good spot.You are set to kill a gobbler, if he allows you to do so.
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Pecking Orders
Why social hierarchies are important in structuring turkey populations.
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Dr. Tom: Harvest Management
If turkey populations are declining, why don’t states eliminate the killing of hens in the fall?
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Dr. Tom: Double Snood
Ohio hunter James Mays submitted this photo via social media of a gobbler sporting a double snood. How rare are double snoods on wild turkeys? Dr. Tom weighs in.
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Is it okay to shoot hens
Many hunters ask, “Is it even okay to shoot hens?” The answer, simply, is yes, where it is legal, of course.
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Life Expectancy of a Turkey
In general, the average life expectancy for hens is three years and four years for toms.
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Leucistic Eastern wild turkey
Hunter Waltman of Kiln, Mississippi, purchased a hunting property late last year. While speaking with his new neighbors, he heard talk of a white wild turkey gobbler seen in the area.
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Same issues, different season
Many of the same wild turkey population issues we face today are consistent with conversations from years ago. Sometimes, we need to look back in order to move forward.
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Report examines timing of spring seasons
Wild turkey work group recommends Southeastern states consider delaying spring turkey season opener.
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Re-nesting hens
My question is, if either rain or predators destroy a hen’s nest, will she try again or not?  
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Dr. Tom on supernumerary appendages
An extra appendage is referred to as a supernumerary appendage (more appendages than normal). Neither of us is likely to ever see another example of this type of abnormality in a wild turkey as it is extremely rare.
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Wild Turkey Research at the NWTF Convention and Sport Show's Conservation Conference
Friday at the 43rd annual NWTF Convention and Sport Show’s Conservation Conference, various state wildlife agencies and universities presented details of conservation projects with the NWTF. The presentations were part of the conference’s Wild Turkey Research seminar.
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Wild Turkey Body Language
Turkeys constantly communicate their mood and intent through body language. Learn to recognize these six signals.
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What's causing bare breasted birds?
I have been hunting spring gobblers for 40-plus years, and just about every gobbler I’ve ever shot, including lots of jakes, has had his breast void of feathers, exposing white skin over the bone and cartilage of the front of their breast. 
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The ABCs of hunting wild turkeys
We're taking it back to the basics with the ABC's of turkey hunting.
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Turkey Killers
Which predators take the greatest toll on our birds? You might be surprised
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Winter Skulking for Gobblers
“They can withstand some pretty cold temperatures, but if they can’t get to food, they can’t eat,” Runia says.
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House Hunting
“So be aware of your surroundings when walking the edges of a field or when mowing a field, you never know where a hen might be brooding,” Buckland said.
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Nonverbal Clues: When Silence Shouts
This Kansas longbeard never gobbled during his approach, but drumming from behind the hunter gave him away. Paying attention to nonverbal clues can spell the difference between a successful day and a blown opportunity.
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Dr. Tom - Weight Watchers
How a bird tips the scales is just one factor in scoring your wild turkey, but weight is an important part of the formula to rank birds fairly.
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Wild Turkey For Thanksgiving
A wild turkey is the healthiest option to fill the carving board on your Thanksgiving dinner table.
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Five Senses of the Wild Turkey
Turkeys rely more strongly on three of the five. Find out which ones here.
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Why the Strut?
Learn where, why and when turkeys strut and then find out why it's important for hunters to know.
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The Science of Gobbling
Gobbling today, gone tomorrow. Why do long-beards let loose one day and go mute the next?
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Do Fall Turkey Seasons Make Sense?
Fall seasons make just as much, if not more sense than spring seasons. Learn why you should be in the woods when the leaves turn red.
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Life of a Summertime Gobbler
What big birds do on their summer vacation.
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Life and Times of a Turkey Nest
Life is hard for hens and their nests. Discover the daily struggles for these tough moms and their young.
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Learn about the Wild Turkey Subspecies
We've complied some sweet facts about each of the wild turkey subspecies, check it out.
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4 Great Wild Turkey Habitats
Turkeys love these habitats, find out why they matter and how we can ensure they last.
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Do Turkeys Learn?
Are you patterning them? Or are they patterning you?
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The Evolution of Turkey Hunting
A timeline of tradition.
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What's Ailing Wild Turkeys?
Silent turkey killers. And no, we're not talking about you.
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3 Threats to Turkey Populations
Predators take a back seat when it comes to the conservation of wild turkeys. Find out what impacts their populations.
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4 Facts about Declining Turkey Populations
Learn why wild turkey populations are fluctuating.
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Suburban Birds
Urban birds act differently than rural birds. Know how to pursue them.
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Latest Articles
New Funding Boosts Conservation on Imperiled Habitat
May 19, 2022
‘Show Me’ Hunting Heritage: Youth Across Missouri Tag Birds
May 19, 2022
Coming Full Circle
May 17, 2022
The Gobbling Chronicles
May 17, 2022
A Tale of Multiple Spurs
May 13, 2022
Cuz and the Grandboys
May 11, 2022
How to Participate in Poult Surveys (and Why They Matter)
May 10, 2022
BBQ Bacon Turkey Burger 
May 09, 2022
A Mother’s Intuition
May 07, 2022
The Continuing Evolution of Turkey Knowledge
May 03, 2022
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