Turkeys in Wisconsin

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Turkeys in Wisconsin
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Description

• Wisconsins largest game bird
• Ave. length Males are 48 females 36
• Weight males 18-25 lbs.. Females 8-10lbs.
• Body feathers are bronze, green, blue, red,
  purple
• Body feathers are black tipped
• Wing and tail feathers are barred with dark bands

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MALE FEATURES

• Fleshy growth called wattles
• Caruncles on the side and back of neck
• Snood or dew bill is fleshy growth across bill
• Head is red, white or blue

• When mating, wattle turns bright red
• Mature males have a beard

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NESTING

• Leaf or grass litter.
• Lightly spotted brown and black eggs.
• She lays eggs for a period of 15-20 days.
• Total of 10-15 eggs .
• Hens stays on her nest for about 28days.
• Hatching takes about 24-30 hours.
• (Poults) remain in the nest 10-12 hours.

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POULTS

• When hatched they can be 4-5 inches high.
• Theyre covered in down.
• They can feed on insects.
• Fly at seven days of age.
• Hens stay with her young through winter.
• They are sexually mature at one year of age.

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FOOD MANAGEMENT

• Turkey s eat on whatever food is available.
• They feed on insects,berries, green leaves and
  grass seed.
• Adult gobblers feed very little during breeding
  season.

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SENSES AND DEFENSES

• Run first and analyze later.
• Incredible senses of sight and hearing.
• Ability to spot even the slightest movement.
• Sight to protect them from danger as well as to
  locate hens.
• A turkey uses its ears to locating potential
  mates by sound.

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• Turkeys use their voices and their ears in order
  to communicate and keep in touch with the
  remainder of the flock.
• Turkeys with their long muscular legs are well
  equipped and very capable runners.
• Like a rocket, they lift off in a short, yet very
  powerful, burst of speed.

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CURRENT STATUS IN WISCONSIN

• Wisconsin wild turkeys population currently
  numbers about 320,000
• The DNR hopes to further expand the states wild
  turkey pop.
• In spring 1999 Wisconsin hunters received a
  record of 111,792 permits and killed a record of
  33,168 birds.
• Spring of 1999 harvest ranked no.2 behind only
  Missouri.

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• Wisconsin turkey hunting also receives high marks
  it produces some of the countrys heaviest
  birds ..
• They also provide an uncrowded quality hunting
  experience.
• It is not uncommon for WI gobblers to get as big
  as 25 lbs.

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NE and WC Wisconsin

• Northeastern Wisconsin holds very few turkeys.
• have a limited habitat

• West Central.
• Missouri Strain turkeys were first reintroduced
  in Western Wisconsin

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CENTRAL And SE

• Central
• Landowners provide 90 turkey hunting land in the
  state
• High success rate

• Southeast
• Mild winter, plenty of food has increased the
  population.

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WI FIELD REPORTS, SW

• Wisconsin can expect another excellent year
• There was an increase in permits .
• Some of the best turkey range in the state.
• Landowners are willing to allow hunting.
• Wisconsin hunters are finding success during the
  afternoon.

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NW WI

• Low population ,but is increasing each year
• TURKEYS have been planted.

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THE BIG END

• IF BEN FRANKLIN had his way the turkey would have
  been our national bird.
• Today turkeys are an important source of food.
• The turkey is the main meal for many family
  traditions
• Turkey hunting keeps getting better