Are turkeys eating quail? | #169
Wild Turkey Science
Is the cause of quail decline because turkeys are eating them? Join us as we sit down with Dr. Mark McConnell to bust this myth… Resources: Check out Dr. McConnell’s Gamebird Podcast ()! Dr. Mark McConnell () MSU Gamebird Extension () () () We got bug problems | Ep 73 () Our lab is primarily funded by donations. If you would like to help support our work, please donate here: We’ve launched our second online wild turkey course ! Enroll in to learn about the principal biology, mating, behavior, food selection, human dimensions, hunter interactions,...
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Debunking the Drowning Poults | #168
Wild Turkey Science
Sometimes, the best stories are embellished but grounded in a little bit of truth… Join as we peel back the myth that poults drown when they look up at rainfall. Resources: Our lab is primarily funded by donations. If you would like to help support our work, please donate here: We’ve launched our second online wild turkey course ! Enroll in to learn about the principal biology, mating, behavior, food selection, human dimensions, hunter interactions, and historical context of wild turkeys. This course is...
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How often you burn matters more than when | #167
Wild Turkey Science
We discuss how repeated fire disturbance influences plant structure, fuel loads, and wildlife use, and why focusing on timing alone often misses the point. Resources: Our lab is primarily funded by donations. If you would like to help support our work, please donate here: Coming Soon: Wild Turkey Manager: Biology, History, & Heritage! Our newest online wild turkey training is launching soon! Be the first to know when our new course launches by signing up ! Be sure to check out our comprehensive online wild turkey course featuring experts across multiple...
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Are fire ants causing the turkey decline? | #166
Wild Turkey Science
We explore the myths surrounding fire ants and their negative impacts on nests, hens, and poults. Resources: t Our lab is primarily funded by donations. If you would like to help support our work, please donate here: Coming Soon: Wild Turkey Manager: Biology, History, & Heritage! Our newest online wild turkey training is launching soon! Be the first to know when our new course launches by signing up ! Be sure to check out our comprehensive online wild turkey course featuring experts across multiple institutions...
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Does rain impact nest predation risk? | #165
Wild Turkey Science
Does water on a hen make it more susceptible to predation? In this episode, we comb through the literature on olfactory camouflage, dissecting studies assessing correlations between nest survival, weather, and environmental conditions, and divulging into the complicated web of ecology dynamics. Strap on your science boots for this one, it’s gonna be dense… Research papers referenced: Episodes referenced: Our lab is primarily funded by donations. If you would like to help support our work, please donate here: ...
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Wild Turkey Symposium Takeaways | #164
Wild Turkey Science
In this episode, we review papers that stood out to each of us from the 2025 Wild Turkey Symposium. Resources: Our lab is primarily funded by donations. If you would like to help support our work, please donate here: Coming Soon: Wild Turkey Manager: Biology, History, & Heritage! Our newest online wild turkey training is launching soon! Be the first to know when our new course launches by signing up ! Be sure to check out our comprehensive online wild turkey course featuring experts across multiple...
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Turkeys in Wisconsin : A success story | #163
Wild Turkey Science
Wisconsin gamebird ecologist Taylor Finger joins us to breakdown the status of turkeys in the state. Join as he shares details on how Wisconsin has achieved successful turkey populations unlike any other state in the country. Resources: Our lab is primarily funded by donations. If you would like to help support our work, please donate here: Coming Soon: Wild Turkey Manager: Biology, History, & Heritage! Our newest online wild turkey training is launching soon! Be the first to know when our new course launches by signing up !...
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Turkeys and Grouse | #162
Wild Turkey Science
Dr. Ben Jones, CEO of RGS & AWS, joins us to explore how active forest stewardship - from prescribed fire to targeted timber harvests and new wood markets - can restore age-class diversity and habitat for ruffed grouse and wild turkey across eastern forests. Resources: (NDA article) Dr. Ben Jones Our lab is primarily funded by donations. If you would like to help support our work, please donate here: Coming Soon: Wild Turkey Manager: Biology, History, & Heritage! Our newest online wild turkey training is launching soon! Be the first to know when our new...
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Why to Science | #161
Wild Turkey Science
Strap in for a philosophical episode as we sit with Dr. Dwayne Elmore and explore the complex nature of critically evaluating information in an age of information overload. Resources: Dr. Dwayne Elmore - , Our lab is primarily funded by donations. If you would like to help support our work, please donate here: We’ve launched our SECOND online training course focused on wild turkey biology, history, and heritage! Be the first to know when our new course launches by signing up ! Be sure to check out our comprehensive online wild turkey course featuring...
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NEW Online Wild Turkey Training | #160
Wild Turkey Science
We’ve launched our SECOND online training course focused on wild turkey biology, history, and heritage! Be the first to know when our new course launches by signing up ! Our lab is primarily funded by donations. If you would like to help support our work, please donate here: 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. Earn up to 20.5 CFE hours! Dr. Marcus Lashley , Dr. Will Gulsby , Turkeys for Tomorrow UF...
info_outlineIn this episode, we discuss what you should be thinking about and implementing on your property for turkeys right now.
WATCH this episode here!
Resources:
Guide to Wildlife Food Plots and Early Successional Plants, Dr. Craig Harper
00:00 Introduction and Banter
02:55 Habitat-Centric Discussions
05:55 Fishing Adventures and Insights
08:48 Turkey Management Strategies
11:45 Field Management for Turkeys
14:48 Importance of Early Successional Cover
17:36 Burning and Timber Harvest Planning
28:53 Expanding the Burn Window
30:15 Increasing Sunlight for Turkey Abundance
31:44 Optimizing Poults Habitat
34:01 Managing Old Fields for Turkeys
35:55 Evaluating Agronomic Crops for Wildlife
37:46 The Role of Joint Vetch in Habitat Management
39:59 Balancing Ideal vs. Optimal Management
42:23 Practical Approaches to Habitat Management
43:48 Mast Management and Acorn Production
44:50 Identifying and Managing Problematic Trees
46:45 Combatting Ryegrass in Food Plots
50:15 Evaluating Management Practices
Fundraising Banquet (To enter the online raffles, click on ‘Get Tickets’ and then scroll down to the ‘Add-ons’)
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!
Dr. Marcus Lashley @DrDisturbance, Publications
Dr. Will Gulsby @dr_will_gulsby, Publications
Turkeys for Tomorrow @turkeysfortomorrow
UF Game Lab @ufgamelab, YouTube
Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund
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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.
Music by Artlist.io
Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak