FACTORS LIMITING POPULATIONS OF WILD TURKEYS ON STATE WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREAS IN NORTH ALABAMA

A radio-telemetric investigation of factors limiting a wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) population in north Alabama was begun in 1976 and continued through 1978. Data on mortality, natality, and movements were collected from 76 resident and 13 wild turkeys restocked from south Alabama.;Fifty-six percent of the instrumented hens nested successfully and all 13 instrumented juvenile hens exhibited incubating behavior. Average clutch size of initial nests was 10.8 eggs. Poult loss rates obtained for 21 broods of radio-tagged hens were 80%, 73%, and 100% for the 3 reproductive seasons. All except 3 poult losses occurred within 14 days after hatching. Twenty-eight mortalities were noted and many of the causal agents identified. Winter mortality rates of instrumented birds were 12% in 1976-77 and 23% in 1977-78. The estimated population density increased from 1 per 142 ha to 1 per 58 ha during the study.;Movement data for the resident and restocked birds indicated that after exploratory movements of up to 9.2 km, restocked turkeys adjusted to new habitats within about 6 weeks. Resident turkeys released at their capture site used it as part of their annual range and when released as far away as 4.0 km returned to home ranges that included the capture site. Mean annual ranges of 1,544 ha for 33 resident and 1,559 ha for 9 restocked turkeys were measured. Seasonal ranges were also measured and are discussed.;Habitat preferences for nesting, brood rearing, spring ranges, summer ranges, and winter ranges were determined. High poult mortality associated with the type of brood range selected by the instrumented hen was the major factor controlling population density. Management recommendations are made to reduce seasonal movements and enhance brood rearing.;Illegal kill of instrumented turkeys was 7.8% during the study. During the 1978 spring turkey hunt, an estimated 35.7% of the gobblers were harvested and 7% were crippled and died. Movements of turkeys were monitored before, during and after squirrel, deer, and turkey hunts on the area and no permanent movements out of established ranges that could be attributed to hunting pressure were noted.