Turkey Call: The Wild Turkey Docs

Mike Chamberlain and Bret Collier are two of the most accomplished biologists in the world when it comes to studying and understanding the wild turkey. They also happen to be the hosts of NWTF’s Cocktails and Conservation. We will follow them from their fields of study, capturing and releasing turkeys, to Florida for an early season hunt. We will dive into the work they are doing at their universities with their students, and how it will shape the future of the North American wild turkey.

[@jonathanbradberry2531]

To me it seems like we need to be putting more time, money, and emphasis into how to protect the vulnerable eggs and poults; not mature Toms. What can be done to get more buy in of private land owners to delay hay harvest, trap coons and opossums, and do control burns? I know these things would have a much greater affect on the wild turkey population as a whole due to most lands being private. I can see a great change on my private land in just 4 years of trapping 89 coons, control burning and asking the hay harvester to come after first week of June.

[@CumberlandOutdoorsman]

After hunting turkeys for about 30 years, I can definately see how the population fluctuations can be a matter of concern. I remember never seeing a turkey in the woods. Never hearing a wild turkey gobble in the spring woods is a distant memory. Then when I started hunting them, I remember the feeling of excitement and thrill I got when I heard the first wild turkey gobble. The populations have suffered here in Tennessee due to nest raiding, and young poult mortality, but I think the populations are starting to recover somewhat. I say this due to the fact that I have encountering more turkeys in the past couple of years as compared to 5-6 years ago. The one challenge that I think will be most difficult to overcome is the loss of habitat caused by urbanization. I know of hundreds of acres of mixed hardwood forest that once held several flocks of wild turkeys, as well as whitetail deer, wild songbirds, small game such as grey and fox squirrels, and a whole host of other wildlife, yet is now void of trees because developers have turned it into a sub-division. Take away the habitat, and all is lost.

[@official_NWTF]

So true! That's why we're investing so heavily in habitat conservation and improvement 🙌

[@burkejones8277]

I killed one with a gps on it this spring in Louisiana. He was at least 5 years old. He had one 3/4 inch spur. I don’t know how he made it that long in the area where I got him. The gps unit had been damaged previous to my shot by a shotgun pellet. So, he had seen a few things in his time. I am so fortunate to have been able to get him.

[@tfred2129]

I'm a pipe welder at the moment, waiting on my wife to get done with her school and my dream and aspiration is to be a wildlife biologist specifically with wild turkey

[@TimberRidgePro]

Tons of respect for both these men! Their knowledge and work for the wild turkey is unparalleled and I know this bird’s future is in good hands through their research and shared passion.

[@ethanmccurley2735]

A 10 year old Tom?!? Holy moly that’s insane