S.C. wild turkey reproduction down again this summer

By S.C. Dept. of Natural Resources

Published: November 3, 2009

After increasing slightly in 2008, reproduction by wild turkeys decreased once again in 2009 based on a S.C. Department of Natural Resources survey.
Since the early 1980s, the S.C. Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has annually conducted a Summer Turkey Brood Survey to estimate reproduction and recruitment of turkeys in South Carolina. The survey involves agency wildlife biologists, technicians and conservation officers, as well as many volunteers from other natural resource agencies and the general public.
Although wild turkeys nest primarily in April and May in South Carolina, the survey does not take place until late summer, according to Charles Ruth, DNR Deer and Turkey Project supervisor. Therefore, the survey statistics document poults (young turkeys) that actually survived and entered the population going into the fall. Although average brood size was good this year with hens averaging 3.7 poults, 54 percent of hens observed had no poults at all by late summer leading to a total recruitment ratio of 1.8. Recruitment ratio is a measure of young entering the population based on the number of hens in the population. Both of these statistics were lower than biologists would like to see and continue the recent trend in poor reproduction by turkeys in the state. Reproduction in turkeys has been poor to only fair across most of the state six out of the last seven years, and after a small increase in 2008, reproduction appears to have fallen again in 2009. 
“At the regional level it appears that reproduction improved somewhat in the piedmont and mountains, however, the figures were not as encouraging in the coastal plain and midlands,” Ruth said. “In the Southeast, Mother Nature often plays a big role in turkey populations with heavy rainfall coupled with cool temperatures during the spring nesting and brood rearing season leading to poor reproductive success.” Widespread thunderstorm activity produced significant rainfall across the lower half of the state, which may have caused problems in that region. It was much drier in the upstate and reproduction there tended to be a little better.
“Another thing to consider is the notion that we have reached a point in time where the relationship between the turkey population and habitat is simply not as good as it was when turkeys were expanding across the state,” said Ruth. “We have seen a decline in the deer population in most areas in the last six to eight years, and this is likely linked to the amount of habitat in pine plantations that are greater than 10 years old. This type of habitat simply does not have high productivity and it may be playing a role in turkey reproduction. “
What does poor reproduction in 2009 mean for the spring turkey hunter? Ruth said: “Harvest trends have followed the trend in poor reproduction in recent years, and we have seen about a 30 percent decline in harvest since 2002. This trend is expected to continue. The number of mature gobblers (2 years and older) available during the spring of 2010 should be about the same as in 2009 if not lower across most of the state. The number of jakes (immature gobblers) should also be somewhat lower than hunters like to see. This is significant because jakes can make up 25 percent of the spring harvest following years of good reproduction.”
On a positive note, the gobbler to hen ratio remains relatively good with a statewide average of 0.66 gobblers to each hen.  The exception was in the piedmont and midlands, where the gobbler to hen ratio was less than 0.4. Many experts believe that when gobbler to hen ratios get below 0.5, the quality of hunting can be impacted because hens are extremely available, which affects gobbling and responsiveness to calling by hunters.
“The bottom line,” Ruth said, “is that it will likely take a couple of years of better reproduction to overcome less than desirable reproduction the last six years.” That is the nice thing about turkeys though; given the right conditions they can naturally bounce back in a short period of time.
“Anyone interested in participating in the annual Summer Turkey Brood Survey is encouraged to sign up,” said Ruth. The survey period is July 1 through Aug. 29 annually, and folks who participate typically spend some reasonable amount of time outdoors during that time period. Cooperators obviously must be able to identify wild turkeys and must be comfortable in telling the difference between hens, poults, and gobblers. Cooperators are provided with survey forms prior to the survey and a reporting notice and postage paid envelope at the end of the survey period. If you would like to participate in the survey, send your name and address to Turkey Brood Survey, PO Box 167, Columbia, SC 29202. You will be added to the cooperator list and receive materials at the end of June annually.
For more information on the Summer Turkey Brood Survey, see the following link on the DNR Web site: http://www.dnr.sc.gov/wildlife/turkey/2009BroodSurvey.html.
South Carolina’s natural resources are essential for economic development and contribute nearly $30 billion and 230,000 jobs to the state’s economy. Find out why “Life’s Better Outdoors” at: http://www.dnr.sc.gov/green/index.html.