2017-03-10
More harvests
Skyline WMA
Two more gobblers were harvested, bringing our total of harvested banded birds to three at Skyline WMA so far this season. Thank you again to our active hunters for reporting your banded gobblers. To report banded birds by phone, call 800@626-2703.
2017-03-07
Gobbles and first harvest
Oakmulgee WMA
Gobble counts began on March 7th at Oakmulgee. Gobbling activity has remained fairly high throughout the first 5 weeks of surveys. Gobbling activity appears to be better than the previous two years.
On March 28th, a hunter harvested one of our banded gobblers. It was a nice two-year-old that was banded as a jake in October 2016. We were all amazed at the bird's growth rate in only 5 months since banding!
We continue to hear gobbling activity across the WMA on our morning gobble count routes.
2017-03-01
Waiting 'til the last possible day
Barbour WMA
After a lot of waiting, we successfully captured 2 hens and 2 gobblers on the last possible day of trapping for the spring.
2017-03-01
Trapping
Skyline WMA
Early March, we successfully trapped at Round Cove on Skyline WMA, yielding one adult male with a VHF transmitter and four hens with GPS transmitters. Our first GPS download for the four hens was a success.
2017-02-15
On the lookout
Oakmulgee WMA
On February 15th, cameras were redeployed after removing for deer season in an effort to locate trappable turkeys before the start of turkey season.
On February 16th, we successfully downloaded one of our GPS hens.
2017-02-01
Recon
Skyline WMA
First reconnaissance on birds began after deer season. Turkeys traditionally shift from hard mass to bait this time of year, giving us an opportunity for captures prior to turkey season beginning.
2017-01-11
Back in the field
All study areas
The graduate students return to field sites to assist lead technicians with fieldwork. Graduate students presented research posters at USGS cooperators meeting.
2016-07-20
Camera Survey ends
Oakmulgee WMA
Completed camera surveys at 45 sites for poult production.
2016-07-10
Roosting marked hens
Oakmulgee WMA
Located a banded hen twice on the roost. No poults were observed either time.
2016-06-14
Gobble Counts
Barbour WMA
2016 gobble counts concluded today. In total, 310 gobbles were heard over the course of the sixteen week survey.
2016-06-03
Nest Confirmed From Movement Data
Oakmulgee WMA
Movement data downloaded today from one adult hen fitted with a GPS data logger confirmed a nesting effort from April 5th through May 5th.
2016-05-31
Poults!
Skyline WMA
First observation of poults were reported on Jacob's Mountain.
2016-05-25
Mortality
Barbour WMA
An adult male capture in March was confirmed dead via radio-telemetry.
2016-05-21
Poults!
Barbour WMA
First poults of the year observed on camera survey. Six poults and one hen. Poults were very young and still flightless.
2016-05-21
Signs of Late Breeding Activity
Barbour WMA
Despite a decline in gobbling activity, male turkeys are still being observed strutting and across the management area.
2016-05-07
Poults!
Oakmulgee WMA
First poults of the season were spotted on the ground today!
2016-04-30
Harvest Reporting
Barbour WMA
There has been no reported harvest of banded birds this turkey season.
2016-04-26
Vocal Birds!
Oakmulgee WMA
A gobbler sounded of forty-six times within a ten minute interval during this morning's gobble count surveys.
2016-04-21
Nesting Confirmed!
Skyline WMA
Nest of an unbanded hen was observed north of Tate's Cove.
2016-04-06
Noisy Turkey!
Barbour WMA
Fifty-six gobbles heard within a ten minute interval during this morning's gobble count surveys.
2016-04-06
Harvest Success
Oakmulgee WMA
First hunter harvest of banded turkey reported by phone. A nice male that had been banded as a jake back in August 2015.
2016-04-05
Lone Gobbler Captured
Skyline WMA
One male gobbler was captured via cannon net and was outfitted with a leg band and VHF radio transmitter.
2016-04-04
...and another two!
Skyline WMA
Another pair (one male, one female) of birds were netted and banded today on Cumberland Mountain.
2016-04-01
Signs of Nesting!
Oakmulgee WMA
Seeing marked hens exhibiting nesting behavior.
2016-03-29
Two More Banded
Skyline WMA
Another adult male and female were banded and received transmitters. On a roll here at Skyline!
2016-03-24
Radio Telemetry
Barbour WMA
Mortality signal for two hens confirmed.
2016-03-22
Lone Tom Captured!
Skyline WMA
One male gobbler was captured via cannon net and outfitted with a VHF radio transmitter.
2016-03-15
We got Toms!
Barbour WMA
Two adult males captured and banded today!
2016-03-15
Big Tom Captured!
Oakmulgee WMA
One mature gobbler weighing in at 10.75 kg was captured via a cannon net and outfitted with a backpack VHF radio transmitter and band.
2016-03-09
More Hens!
Barbour WMA
Four more adult hens were captured today with two receiving backpack GPS loggers and two VHF radio transmitters.
2016-03-09
Another Capture!
Skyline WMA
Back at it again today! Two males were successfully captured and banded.
2016-03-08
Gobbling has begun!
Barbour WMA
First gobble heard by field crew today.
2016-03-08
Mix Flock Captured
Skyline WMA
A small flock of five adults (two females, three males) were netted and banded. Hens received backpack GPS data loggers and males VHF radio transmitters.
2016-03-05
Gobblers are beginning to get vocal!
Skyline WMA
First gobbles heard on gobble count surveys.
2016-03-02
Boys are Back in Town!
Barbour WMA
Four juvenile males captured via cannon net today, each receiving a leg band and backpack VHF radio transmitter.
2016-03-01
Gobble Count Survey
Barbour WMA
Annual gobble count surveys begin on Barbour. Gobble count surveys will be performed weekly from March 1st - June 15th 2016.
2016-03-01
Gobble Gobble!
Oakmulgee WMA
2016 weekly gobble count surveys have begun!
2016-03-01
Gobble Count Surveys
Skyline WMA
Annual gobble count surveys began and will be conducted weekly through June 15th.
2016-02-27
Tracking Winter Movement
Skyline WMA
Crews begin two weeks of intensive turkey tracking using radio-telemetry. Technicians will radio track marked birds from the time they leave the roost in the morning until when they fly back up in the evenings to better understand winter movements of the birds.
2016-02-26
First Capture of 2016
Skyline WMA
One adult hen was captured, banded, and outfitted with a back GPS data logger.
2016-02-23
Hens Captured!
Barbour WMA
Four adult hens successfully captured and banded.
2016-02-23
Density Surveys
Skyline WMA
Winter camera surveys were initiated to collect data to inform analysis to determine pre-harvest densities of birds.
2016-02-15
Tracking Winter Movement
Oakmulgee WMA
We began two weeks of intensive turkey tracking using radio-telemetry. Technicians will radio track marked birds from the time they leave the roost in the morning until when they fly back up in the evenings to better understand winter movements of the birds.
2016-02-01
Mortality
Oakmulgee WMA
A mortality signal for an adult male banding in September 2015 was confirmed via radio-telemetry.
2016-01-25
Tracking Winter Movement
Barbour WMA
Crews begin two weeks of intensive turkey tracking using radio-telemetry. Technicians will radio track marked birds from the time they leave the roost in the morning until when they fly back up in the evenings to better understand winter movements of the birds.
2016-01-15
Tracking Survival
Oakmulgee WMA
Movement data was for all four hens fitted with GPS loggers was successfully downloaded. All four GPS marked hens confirmed as alive.
2016-01-06
Mortality
Barbour WMA
An adult hen banded in early November was confirmed dead via radio telemetry today.
2015-12-15
More Mortality
Oakmulgee WMA
Mortality signals for two adult hens were confirmed via radio-telemetry. One hen was captured in early October and the other was one of the first hens captured on the WMA in early February 2015.
2015-12-14
Shenanigans!
Barbour WMA
Graduate student gets field truck stuck TWICE! Thank you goes out to ADNCR personnel for the rescue!
2015-12-01
Missing Hen Resurfaces!
Oakmulgee WMA
With permission to access a local fire tower, a signal of "alive" was received via radio-telemetry for a hen that had not been located in several months. The hen had migrated several miles from her previously known locations.
2015-11-30
Two Mortalities
Barbour WMA
Mortality signals for two poults banded in early October and November were confirmed via radio-telemetry.
2015-11-24
Another Capture Success!
Barbour WMA
Two hens and four poults successfully captured and banded.
2015-11-16
More Captures!
Barbour WMA
Two hens and one juvenile male caught via cannon net. Each bird received a leg band, one hen was outfitted with a backpack GPS logger, and remaining birds received VHF radio-transmitters.
2015-11-15
GPS Tracking of Birds
Oakmulgee WMA
Movement data was successfully downloaded for all four hens previously captured and fitted with GPS loggers.
2015-11-11
Capture Success!
Barbour WMA
One hen and three poults (two female, one male) were captured with cannon nets this morning. The adult hen and one female poult were outfitted with backpack GPS loggers and remaining poults received VHF radio transmitters.
2015-11-06
Telemetry
Skyline WMA
Mortality signal was confirmed for the one adult hen capture back in August.
2015-11-03
Two Mortalities
Oakmulgee WMA
Mortality signals for two poults (one male, one female) banded in early September were confirmed via radio-telemetry.
2015-11-01
That's a Large Flock!
Skyline WMA
Flock of over forty turkey was sighted in agricultural field adjacent to southeast WMA property boundary (region of Henshaw Cove).
2015-10-25
High Mortality Event
Barbour WMA
Mortality signals for all five banded poults confirmed via radio-telemetry.
2015-10-20
Mast Crop
Oakmulgee WMA
Hardwood mast crop has started dropping and birds have begun transitioning from actively using wildlife openings to feeding on mast in the forests.
2015-10-16
Mortality
Skyline WMA
Two poults captured in early August were confirmed dead via radio-telemetry today.
2015-10-15
Expanding Trapping Area to Adjacent Lands
Skyline WMA
Turkey Project entered into a cooperative agreement with ACES - Graham Farm and Nature Center in Jackson County to net and band turkey on their lands, increasing the opportunity to band and monitor more turkey in Jackson County.
2015-10-13
Hens, Hens, and More Hens!
Oakmulgee WMA
Four adult hens were captured using cannon nets and banded and fitted with radio transmitters.
2015-10-08
First Capture on Barbour!
Barbour WMA
One hen and five poults were captured with cannon nets. Each bird received a leg band, the hen was outfitted with a backpack GPS logger, and poults received VHF radio-transmitters.
2015-10-02
Mortalities
Skyline WMA
Mortality signals were confirmed for three poults via radio telemetry.
2015-09-23
Another Day, Another Capture!
Skyline WMA
Back-to-back captures in Henshaw Cove. Two adult hens and five poults (three males, two females) were netted and banded today.
2015-09-22
Capture Success!
Skyline WMA
One hen and six poults (one male, five female) were successfully captured via cannon nets. Each bird received a leg band, the hen was outfitted with a backpack GPS logger, and poults received VHF radio-transmitters.
2015-09-17
New Study Area
Barbour WMA
Research begins on Barbour County WMA, shifting out efforts away from Scotch WMA. Barbour WMA is over 28,000 acres of public land spanning both Barbour and Bullock Counties in east central Alabama. Barbour was selected by the ADCNR Turkey Committee as an alternate study area to Scotch WMA because nearly 50% of WMA is composed primarily of industrial pine plantations (predominately loblolly pine), representing one of the dominate land cover types within the state.
2015-09-15
Another Trapping Success!
Oakmulgee WMA
A group of two hens and four poults was successfully captured, receiving leg bands and radio transmitters. The hens were fitted with a backpack GPS logger to track their daily movement.
2015-09-01
Double Catch!
Oakmulgee WMA
Three adult gobblers captured with cannon nets in the morning. Nets were reset at the same site and one hen with six poults was captured and marked that same afternoon. The hen was fitted with a backpack GPS logger to track her daily movement patterns, and for the first time this season all captured poults were large enough to be fitted with a VHF radio transmitter.
2015-09-01
Gobblers marked
Oakmulgee WMA
Another successful cannon netting effort. After a successful capture last night, the crew captured banded and radio-tagged 3 gobblers early this morning.
2015-08-31
Brood flock capture
Oakmulgee WMA
Efforts with cannon nets are paying off. The crew captured and marked 1 hen and 4 poults today. The hen received a GPS logger to track her movements during the nesting and brood rearing periods (March through September).
2015-08-14
Another trapping success!
Skyline WMA
A single hen was captured in a walk-in trap and marked.today.
2015-08-12
Roadside surveys
Scotch WMA
One brood flock (8 poults with 2 hens) seen this week so far.
2015-08-12
Trapping sucess!
Skyline WMA
Sixteen birds were marked with bands and radio transmitters: 3 hens and 13 poults of varying sizes. Each hen received a GPS-logger-transmitter. The poults received transmitters with an experimental harness designed to expand as they grow.
2015-08-12
Telemetry monitoring
Oakmulgee WMA
Found all of the birds this week including the jake that went missing again.
2015-08-12
Trapping
Oakmulgee WMA
Walk in traps are showing promise again. Birds are entering partially-erected traps on several sites.
2015-08-08
Trapping
Skyline WMA
Many birds using baited trap sites. Several large (>10) brood flocks.
2015-08-08
Trapping
Oakmulgee WMA
Traps on 22 sites. Broods using 4 of the sites.
2015-08-05
Trapping
Scotch WMA
Monitoring 8 sites with brood flocks using them.
2015-08-05
Roadside surveys
Scotch WMA
Only 4 hens seen on surveys this week. It has been slow.
2015-07-29
Trapping
Scotch WMA
Fifteen walk-in traps deployed. Poults were seen during the last week at 4-6 of them.
2015-07-29
Trapping
Skyline WMA
Monitoring 6 sites with poults. Many of them too young to band.
2015-07-29
GPS logger transmitters
All study areas
Due to the success with 4 GPS-logger-transmitters at Scotch, each study area now has 10 loggers to deploy.
2015-07-29
Roadside surveys
Oakmulgee WMA
A total of 25 hen and 10 poult observations on 3 surveys conducted this week.
2015-07-29
Roadside surveys
Scotch WMA
Only 2 birds seen this week.
2015-07-14
Trapping
Oakmulgee WMA
No success this week, but poults and feral pigs have been seen at several sites.
2015-07-14
Telemetry monitoring
Skyline WMA
All birds are alive and well.
2015-07-14
Roadside surveys
Skyline WMA
No turkeys seen on standardized routes.
2015-07-14
Camera surveys
Scotch WMA
We completed the production survey (45 sites) this week.
2015-07-14
No radio=marked hens surviving
Scotch WMA
No mortalities reported this week.
2015-07-14
Camera surveys
Skyline WMA
Of 45 sites surveyed, about half were used by turkeys and only 5 were used consistently.
2015-07-14
Roadside surveys
Scotch WMA
A total of 13 poults and 10 hens were seen on morning surveys and 10 hens were seen on afternoon surveys this week.
2015-07-14
Nest depredation study complete
Scotch WMA
Five of 16 fake nests survived the entire study period.
2015-07-14
Finishing nest depredation survey
Skyline WMA
The last of the cameras on fake nests will be retrieved today.
2015-07-14
Camera surveys
Oakmulgee WMA
Completed at 43 sites. Turkeys seen at 33 locations.
2015-07-14
Roadside surveys
Oakmulgee WMA
No turkeys seen.
2015-07-08
Camera surveys
Skyline WMA
Surveys have been completed at over 20 sites. Many have been used by turkeys.
2015-07-08
Camera surveys
Oakmulgee WMA
Turkeys were observed at 25 of 30 sites surveyed during the last 2 weeks.
2015-07-08
Poult trapping
Oakmulgee WMA
Poults are regularly using 2 of the walk-in traps, but they are too small to capture.
2015-07-08
Camera surveys
Scotch WMA
Turkeys have been seen at 26 of 30 survey locations. Poults were seen at a number of sites. At least 4 sites have flocks of more than 5 adult turkeys using them.
2015-07-08
Telemetry monitoring
Oakmulgee WMA
The missing jake was located alive and on the south end of the study area. The other 2 jakes and all of the hens are still alive.
2015-07-08
Roadside surveys
All study areas
Roadside surveys starting this week. These surveys will be conducted every week until mid-August. The results will be used to estimate the number of gobblers, jakes, hens, and poults on each study area as an alternative to game camera surveys.
2015-06-29
Training camp
All study areas
We held a training session for the new project technicians 6/29-7/2 at the Solon Dixon Forestry Education Center near Andalusia. There we completed a number of modules including cpr and first aid, cannon net safety, techniques for trapping, camera surveys, and roadside surveys.
2015-06-24
Missing jake
Oakmulgee WMA
One of the radio-marked jakes has gone missing, and this is not the first time. The terrain presents some problems with telemetry monitoring.
Walk-in traps are in place at 4 locations.
2015-06-24
Production Survey
Skyline WMA
Started last week. Cameras are out on 15 sites. Fifteen more sites have been prepared for round 2.
2015-06-24
Telemetry monitoring
Skyline WMA
No mortalities last week.
2015-06-24
Nest depredation study
Only 1 of 16 fake nests is left. Predators destroyed the others.
2015-06-24
Telemetry monitoring
Scotch WMA
No mortalities reported.
2015-06-21
Production Survey
Oakmulgee WMA
Game camera survey for estimating poult-per-hen ratio started. We will survey 45 sites.
2015-06-20
Gobble surveys compiled
All study areas
The results of the gobble counts have been compiled for all of the study areas. Check back soon to see them.
2015-06-18
Summer turkey survey beginning
All study areas
A systematic survey of each of the study areas begins this week. The objectives of this survey are to estimate productivity of hens and locate concentrations of turkeys for capture and marking.
2015-06-17
Feral pig problems
Scotch WMA
Feral pigs are using many of the sites baited for trapping.
2015-06-10
Second marked hen nests
Scotch WMA
Data downloaded this week indicated a second hen was nesting. She was observed later that day at another location. The nest was found, but had been destroyed by predators.
2015-06-10
All artificial nests destroyed
Skyline WMA
Predators found and destroyed all of the artificial nests in the depredation study.
2015-06-03
Turkey hen depredated
Scotch WMA
On Monday June 1, 2015, we received our first mortality signal from a hen with a VHF transmitter. Triangulation, and further monitoring occurred through the morning of June 3rd to confirm the hen was likely dead. On the afternoon of the 3rd, the depredation site was located. The transmitter and band were recovered in a large pile of feathers, but the carcass could not be located to determine exact cause of death, but a mammalian predator is suspected.
2015-05-30
More success with cannon net
Oakmulgee WMA
Four jakes were captured and tagged over the weekend using a cannon net.
2015-05-29
Brood captured on camera
Oakmulgee WMA
One hen with five poults was photographed near a trap site.
2015-05-29
Artificial nest predation
Scotch WMA
One of the artificial nests was destroyed. The camera place near the nest shows that a bobcate was the culprit. The site was subsequently visited by a rat and a gray fox.
2015-05-26
First brood at Oakmulgee
Oakmulgee WMA
A single poult was observed crossing the highway. The rest of the brood and the hen were not observed.
2015-05-23
Marked hen missing.
Oakmulgee WMA
The fate of this bird is unknown and crews are still searching for her. There was no indication of transmitter failure and we suspect she was harvested illegally.
2015-05-23
Gobbler in full strut
Scotch WMA
Five hens and one gobbler were spotted at one of the trapping sites. The gobbler was in the center of the opening in full strut.
2015-05-21
Nest of marked hen destroyed
Scotch WMA
GPS downloads this week indicated that the hen was no longer incubating. The nest was located using the GPS data. All signs indicate a predation event--many of the eggs had been shattered and a few were removed from the nest.
2015-05-20
Nest depredation study
All study areas
This marks the beginning of a small project to study effects of supplemental feeding on nest depredation. On each study area, one dozen artificial nests were placed at varying distances from deer feeders at multiple locations. The nests will be monitored daily until early July.
2015-05-11
First young of the year spotted
Scotch WMA
While conducting our weekly gobble count survey, the first brood of the spring was spotted. There were 10 poults, and 1 hen. The poults were estimated to be less than 7 days old.
2015-05-09
Second peak of gobbling
Oakmulgee WMA
Weekly gobbler surveys indicate that gobbling activity is reaching a second peak.
2015-05-08
Another hen mortality
Oakmulgee WMA
The transmitter was discovered during regular monitoring. The harness had been cut with a sharp object. This hen may also have been harvested illegally.
2015-05-04
Confirmed: Hen on nest
Scotch WMA
GPS data download this week confirms it. The hen suspected of nesting on 4/20 is at the same location. Activity codes and location fixes indicate she has been incubating for up to two weeks.
2015-04-20
First marked hen on nest?
Scotch WMA
Data downloaded from four hens marked with transmitters containin g GPS loggers indicates that one may be nesting.
2015-04-19
Marked hen depredated
Oakmulgee WMA
The transmitter was discovered with turkey remains and scattered feathers. Evidence suggests the mortality was caused by a large bird of prey.
2015-04-07
First capture in walk-in trap!
Skyline WMA
The first walk-in trap capture was a hen. She was marked and released on the WMA.
2015-04-03
Peak of gobbling activity
Oakmulgee WMA
2015-03-25
Gobbling starts!
Skyline WMA
First gobbles heard during survey period.
2015-03-20
First gobbles heard!
Scotch WMA
This morning at 7:25am we heard our first gobbler while conducting weekly gobble count surveys. It was partially cloudy, with a slight breeze, and he gobbled twice in a four minute listening period.
2015-03-14
Mortality of marked hen
Oakmulgee WMA
One of the hens marked on 2/26 found dead, apparently from trapping-related stress.
2015-03-09
Gobbler Surveys Begin
All study areas
Weekly gobbler surveys intended to estimate the distribution and density of gobblers and provide an index to gobbling activity started this week on each study area.
2015-03-09
Modifying walk-in traps
Oakmulgee WMA
Begin experimenting with different walk-in trap designs and methods.
2015-03-07
First gobblers caught!
Captured three gobblers in cannon net.
2015-03-01
Problem with canon net.
Oakmulgee WMA
One hen is captured and tagged out of a flock of eleven due to a cannon malfunction.
2015-03-01
Successful weekend of cannon netting!
Scotch WMA
Two cannon nets were launched this weekend, capturing a total of 10 hens. 6 hens were outfitted with VHF radio transmitters and 4 with GPS transmitters.
2015-02-26
Seven hens captured and tagged
Oakmulgee WMA
First successful cannon netting event.
2015-02-08
Trapping effort starts
Oakmulgee WMA
Eleven walk-in traps erected and monitoring begins.
2015-02-05
Trapping and Marking
All study areas
Beginning of winter trapping season
2015-02-02
Surveying for turkeys begins
All study areas
Crews scout for turkey sign and place cameras to estimate pre-season population size and structure.
