Turkey Biology and Hunting Bruce High School Agri

Turkey Biology and Hunting Bruce High School Agri. Science Department Wildlife Management Written by Jim Melby Adapted by Sam Behrends

What about the turkey? n The Eastern Wild Turkey is a member of the bird order name as Galliformes. n Also includes grouse, pheasants, quail and partridges Largest game bird in North America n Adult Males in Wisconsin average about 21 lbs n n n Record maximum in WI was over 30 lbs! Adult females average about 12 pounds

Gender Differences n Adult male, also known as a Tom or a Gobbler n Adult female, also known as a hen

A young male …. n n Is a Jake…. a yearling male They have short spurs that are less than ½ inch Central tail feathers are longer than other tail feathers Develops a beard in the second spring

Gender Characteristics Characteristi Female cs Breast Buff colored tip Feathers Beard Rarely Head colors Head Adornments Gray/brown/blue, feathers high up neck Occasionally a slight snood Male Black colored tip regularly Blue to red, rarely whitegrey Wattles, snood, caruncles

Gender Characteristics Characteristi Female cs Spurs rare Feces Track Size Gobble Male Yes Small, coiled Larger, Jshaped 4. 5 inch spread or Greater than less 4. 5 inch spread Never Frequently, especially spring

Gender Characteristics Characteristi Female cs Field Buff, dull Appearance necks shorter Track ID No line Middle Toe Usually less than 2. 5 inches long Male Black and glistening longer Put a line across the pad from toe to toe Usually more than 2. 5 inches long

Track size

Aging Turkeys-Jakes Beard Length Under 4 1/2 " Color of Beard Tip Amber Approximate Age of Gobbler 1 Year or Less 4 1/2" to 8 1/2“ Amber 1 1/2 Years (fall) 2 years (spring) 8 1/2" to 10 1/2 “ Amber Over 10 1/2“ Black 3 Years or Older

Try to estimate the length of beards

Weird Beard? !

Calling All Turkeys! Turkeys can make 28 different sounds. n They do not always respond to any one of these sounds being made. n When calling as a hunter it is important to refrain from calling too loudly or too often until you are a seasoned veteran. n

Call Categories 1. 2. 3. Mouth Operated Calls Friction Calls Locator Calls

Mouth Call-Diaphragm Calls The most difficult n Made up of an aluminum horse shoe and 2 -4 latex sheets n Put it in backwards, Huff air from the bottom n Allows hunter to have two free hands n Can make all turkey sounds if you are very good! n

Mouth Call-Tube Call n n n Made with a film canister or medicine bottle Other supplies include a sheet of latex and a pair of scissors, maybe a rubber band Simple, Cheap, Effective

Mouth Call-Wing Bone n n Made from a wing bone parts of a turkey or from plastic Hen bones work better because they are typically smaller A creative skill! Does anybody have one?

Friction Call-Push Button Call n n n The easiest of all turkey calls!!! Just push the button Can also come as double push button calls so you can create the sounds of fighting turkeys

Friction Call-Box Call n n n Wood or plastic box with an attached paddle on a pivot Simply slide the paddle over the box with a consistent pattern Can be a collectors item

Friction Call-Slate Call Has two pieces…a striker and a surface n Hold the striker like a pencil and on a slight angle n Hold the surface so some wind flow can travel below the surface to transmit sound n Various surface types exist and they can produced a variety of sounds n

Friction Call-Slate Call Three Main Surface Types Slate Some are versatile -----> Glass Aluminum

Friction Call-Scratch Boxes n Styles vary but the main idea is that a piece of wood is slid through another piece of wood

Locator Calls-Many Available n n n Barred Owl, Crow, Coyote, Peacock, Gobbler Attempting to make the Tom ‘shock gobble’ Make your call quickly because if the Tom is going to respond he will do it quickly

Spring Hunting n It is legal to harvest toms and jakes. n Identification is essential! Typically the earlier the season…the better… n However, you may still have to deal with the cold and snowy WI spring weather. n

Spring Hunting Usually you can trick the turkey early in the season because it doesn’t know that it is being hunted. n If snowy it will be MUCH easier to see the birds! n

Spring Hunting May have great success “putting the turkey to bed” n Means…staying out to see where they will be roosting for the evening. n

Spring Hunting In Wisconsin we have 7 spring seasons n One youth hunt in the beginning n 6 seasons 5 days in length from the middle of April to late May n

Spring Turkey Hunting You can use your locator call at two different times of the day…. n Early in the morning to see where they roosted the night before…. n Before you leave in the evening to hear where they are roosting… n

Fall Turkey Hunting Typically hunting only the females n More stalking than waiting n One long season as opposed to the spring set-up n

Badger State History We started our flock by trading Ruffed Grouse with Missouri. n Our flock is in excellent shape!! n

Turkey Hunting Safety Be aware of the dangers of stalking n Hunting safety for gun deer applies in many ways n Wear orange on the way out of the woods. n

Resources n Web Pages n n n http: //www. jesseshunting. com/index. php http: //www. mahaturkey. com/eastern_turkey_hunting. h tm http: //www. nwtf. org/ http: //www. fauntleroysupply. com/images/l 8721. jpg http: //www. midwestturkeycall. com/Box. Call. Tips. asp Other n The Outdoor News