Wild Turkey Poult Survival in Southcentral Iowa

Abstract

Poult survival is key to understanding annual change in wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) populations. Survival of eastern wild turkey poults (M. g. silvestris) 0-4 weeks posthatch was studied in southcentral Iowa during 1994-97. Survival estimates of poults were calculated based on biweekly flush counts and daily locations acquired via radiotelemetry. Poult survival averaged 0.52 ± 0.14% (x ± SE) for telemetry counts and 0.40 ± 0.15 for flush counts No within-vear or across-vear differences were detected between estimation techniques More than 72% (n - 32) of documented poult mortality occurred ≤14 days posthatch and mainmalian predation accounted for 92.9% of documented mortality. If mortality agents are not of concern e suggest biologists conduct 4-week flush counts to obtain poult survival estimates for use in population models and development of harvest recommendations.