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Where do turkeys roost? | #123

Wild Turkey Science

Release Date: 03/17/2025

The dominant poult | #138 show art The dominant poult | #138

Wild Turkey Science

Today’s conversation offers a unique window into the intricate world of poults. We are joined by Eva Noroski, Field Coordinator for the UF Game Lab, as she shares insights into poult development, growth rates, behavior, vocalization, social dynamics, social bonding, and more.  WATCH this episode ! 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.     Eva Noroski , Dr. Marcus Lashley , Dr. Will Gulsby , Turkeys for Tomorrow   UF...

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Managing nesting & brooding cover | #137 show art Managing nesting & brooding cover | #137

Wild Turkey Science

We’re bringing back Dr. Craig Harper’s step-by-step guide on how to create quality brooding and nesting cover on your property.  Resources:   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.     Dr. Craig Harper () Dr. Marcus Lashley , Dr. Will Gulsby , Turkeys for Tomorrow   UF Game Lab ,   Want to help wild turkey conservation? to take part in our research! Donate to wild turkey research: ,   Do you have...

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Recruitment is down, decoys are up | #136 show art Recruitment is down, decoys are up | #136

Wild Turkey Science

In 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:   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.     Dr. Zach Steele Dr. Marcus Lashley , Dr. Will Gulsby , Turkeys for Tomorrow   UF Game Lab ,   Want to...

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It’s not just turkeys | #135 show art It’s not just turkeys | #135

Wild Turkey Science

In this episode, we explore the findings of a recent state of the bird report, highlighting the interconnectedness and decline of species across ecosystems. Resources:   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.     Dr. Marcus Lashley , Dr. Will Gulsby , Turkeys for Tomorrow   UF Game Lab ,   Want to help wild turkey conservation?  to take part in our research! Donate to wild turkey research: ,   Do you have...

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Illumination in the Flatwoods (Lashley edition) | #134 show art Illumination in the Flatwoods (Lashley edition) | #134

Wild Turkey Science

In 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: 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.     Dr. Marcus Lashley...

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Fire, predators, & nesting success…oh my! | #133 show art Fire, predators, & nesting success…oh my! | #133

Wild Turkey Science

In 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:   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.     Dr. Marcus Lashley , Dr. Will Gulsby , ...

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Status of Rios, Merriam’s, & Easterns in OK | #132 show art Status of Rios, Merriam’s, & Easterns in OK | #132

Wild Turkey Science

Today 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:   We’ve launched a comprehensive online wild turkey course featuring experts across multiple institutions that specialize in habitat management and population management for wild...

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A poult’s life | #131 show art A poult’s life | #131

Wild Turkey Science

Dr. Kelly O’Neil breaks down details of our latest research project focused on poult behavior and development. Join as she walks us step-by-step through a poult’s life - from egg collection to incubation, hatching, imprinting, and development until flight. 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.     Dr. Marcus Lashley , Dr. Will Gulsby , Turkeys for Tomorrow   UF Game Lab ,   Want to help support the podcast? Our friends...

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Online Wild Turkey Training | #130 show art Online Wild Turkey Training | #130

Wild Turkey Science

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. This course is intended to be comprehensive, leading you through advanced concepts in habitat management, predator management, disease, and overall population management. We made the course online so you can take it on your own time, at your own pace, wherever you are!  Enroll Now: https://tinyurl.com/WildTurkeyManager   Dr. Marcus Lashley , Dr. Will Gulsby , Turkeys for Tomorrow   UF Game...

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FL Wild Turkey Cost-Share program | #129 show art FL Wild Turkey Cost-Share program | #129

Wild Turkey Science

Today, we are covering the Florida Wild Turkey Cost-Share program. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, Forest Service, and National Wild Turkey Federation have teamed up to put millions into improving turkey habitat on over one million acres of public hunting ground in the state. Resources:   New, comprehensive online wild turkey course launching -   Juliana Ofalt ()  Ricky Lackey () Dr. Marcus Lashley , Dr. Will Gulsby , Turkeys for Tomorrow   UF Game Lab ,   Want to help support the podcast? Our friends at have an option to donate directly to Wild Turkey...

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More Episodes

Will leads us on another deep dive, this time focused on roosting behavior. Join as we journey through the available literature on roost site habitat preferences, roosting behavior, factors influencing roost site selection, roosting patterns, roost site fidelity, and the impact of habitat quality on their movements. 

Resources:

Adey, E. A., et al. (2023). Seasonal roost selection of wild turkeys at their northern range edge. Wildlife Biology, 2024(1), e01133.

Byrne, M. E., et al. (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). 

Chamberlain, M.J., B.D. Leopold, and L.W. Burger. 2000. Characteristics of roost sites of adult wild turkey females. Journal of Wildlife Management 64:1025-1032.

Exum, J. H., et al. (1987). Ecology of the wild turkey in an intensively managed pine forest in southern Alabama. Tall Timbers Res. Sta. Bull, (23).  

Fleming, W.H., and E.G. Webb. 1974. Home range, dispersal and habitat utilization of eastem wild turkey gobblers during the breeding season. Proceedings of the Annual Conference of the Southeastem Association of Game and Fish Commissioners 28:623-632.

Gross, J. T., et al. (2015). Movements of wild turkey hunters during spring in Louisiana. Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, 2(127), 130.

Kilpatrick, H. J., Husband, T. P., & Pringle, C. A. (1988). Winter roost site characteristics of eastern wild turkeys. The Journal of Wildlife Management, 461-463.

Kimmel, F. G., & Zwank, P. J. (1985). Habitat selection and nesting responses to spring flooding by eastern wild turkey hens in Louisiana. In Proceedings of the National Wild Turkey Symposium (Vol. 5, pp. 155-171).

Mosby, H. S., & Handley, C. O. (1943). The wild turkey in Virginia: its status, life history and management.

Sasmal, I., et al. (2018). Eastern wild turkey roost-site selection in a fire-maintained longleaf pine ecosystem. Southeastern Naturalist, 17(3), 371-380.

Smith, W.P., and R.D. Teitelbaum (1986). Habitat use by eastern wild turkey hens in south‐eastern Louisiana. In Proc Annu Conf Southeast Assoc Fish Wildl Agencies (Vol. 40, pp. 405-415).

Smith, D.R., G.A. Hurst, J.D.Burk, B.D. Leopold, and M.A. Melchiors. 1990. Use of loblolly pine plantations by wild turkey hens in east central Mississippi. Proceedings of the National Wild Turkey Symposium 6:61-66.

Wakefield, C. T., et al. (2020). Hunting and nesting phenology influence gobbling of wild turkeys. The Journal of Wildlife Management, 84(3), 448-457.

@DrDisturbance IG Post

How to measure turkey nesting cover (Video)

Inside the Turkey Poult Facility (Video)

 

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 [email protected]!

 

Dr. Marcus Lashley @DrDisturbance, Publications

Dr. Will Gulsby @dr_will_gulsby, Publications

Turkeys for Tomorrow @turkeysfortomorrow 

UF Game Lab @ufgamelab, YouTube

 

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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

 

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Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak