I apologize if this is long,, I feel its.worrh the read and perhaps you can enhance your own land....
Many people throughout the Northeastern United States have in the last several decades come
to love the wild turkey. While many are happy just to see or hunt turkeys on other people's
land, others want to manage their land to benefit turkeys. Let's take a look at what someone
who owns 50-100 acres can expect to be able to do for the wild turkey.
One of the first things you need to consider is how much area a turkey can normally be
expected to cover, also known as its home range. A turkey can and does cover a lot of ground in
its daily travels. Wild turkeys can cover up to 2 miles per hour while feeding. Their home range
varies by season and can range from 400 to 2,000 acres or more. Therefore, unless you own a
large tract of land (at least several hundred acres), you do not need to provide for all of a
turkey's annual needs on your land. What you should do is look at your land and the
surrounding area and determine what habitat component is in the shortest supply, and then try
to provide that habitat type on your land. For instance, if your property is forested and
surrounded by active agriculture, creating a small field will probably not be an effective method
of attracting turkeys. Instead, maintaining it as a woodlot and managing for mature mast
producing trees would be a better choice.
When turkey management first began, biologists thought that turkeys required very large
stands of mature timber to survive. It is now recognized that turkeys do best in areas with a
wide variety of habitat types and plant species. One recent researcher has described the ideal
turkey habitat as one-half wooded, one quarter abandoned fields and one-quarter active
agriculture. In reality turkeys in the Northeast have three critical habitat needs that may be in
short supply: 1) good nesting habitat, 2) good brood rearing habitat and 3) a good winter food
source. If those three needs are met, interspersed with mature woodland, you have greatly
increased the probability of having wild turkeys in the area. The only other component you
might want to add is a late summer/fall food source. The primary benefit of this would be to
hold the birds for your enjoyment, as fall food is seldom lacking in the Northeast.
If you do manage your land for turkeys by providing improved habitat, just what can you really
hope to accomplish? Before deciding on a method of enhancing the value of your land for wild
turkeys, think about your objectives. Do you want to be able to observe the birds year round or
are there certain times of the year when you are more interested in having turkeys use your
land?
Wild turkeys respond well to habitat enhancement techniques such as food plots.
Therefore, it is possible to attract the birds to your land. But because of their mobility and
tendency to roam don't expect to see them every day! If you do decide to manage your land for
wild turkeys, you will have the enjoyment of knowing you have a few more turkeys on your
land. In many cases, they will be visible so you can enjoy watching them. Even if they are not
visible from your house, you will have the enjoyment of knowing that they are using your
property and you have improved their habitat. In terms of actual impacts on the turkey
population, unless you provide a large amount of a critical habitat component that is seriously
lacking, the impact on the population will be minimal. You can, however, improve nest success,
poult survival or over winter survival in your immediate area. Remember too that you will be
benefiting other wildlife species as well, such as deer, rabbits, and numerous songbirds, to name
a few.
You can have excellent turkey habitat because of the diversity in
Your landscape. Our woodlands, adjacent to agricultural or abandoned fields and hedgerows
provide ample nesting habitat. Herbaceous openings, such as log landings in wooded areas, hay
fields, orchards and pastures provide high quality brood habitat. Waste grain from silage, corn
and small grain production provides late summer and fall food. The abundance of oak, hickory
and beech nuts in our forestlands supply nutritious foods for the winter, as well as manure
spread on the fields during late winter months. This habitat mosaic is a key to our sizable wild
turkey population.
Brood Habitat
After the poults hatch, they require good brood habitat for survival and growth.
Brood habitat
generally consists of grasses and forbes, areas with abundant insect life, that the poults need as
a food supply for growth. The ground cover should be dense enough to encourage insects, but
not so dense as to inhibit the poults' movement. Brood habitat must be near or adjacent to
brushy and wooded areas for escape cover and trees for roosting. Orchards or groves of trees
spaced widely enough to allow sunlight penetration and allow room for mowing provide ideal
brood habitat when the grassy areas are mowed once or twice a year. The trees provide
overhead cover making the hens feel more secure. Additionally, the fruit trees will provide an
excellent fall, early winter food supply.
The following are some suggestions for managing specific
habitats for brood habitat. Remember these are suggestions
only, there are no hard and fast rules and you can decide what
methods you wish to employ on your land. Assistance with soil
testing or fertilizer aliming recommendations is available through
your local Cooperative Extension Office.
Log landings & roads: Lime and seed to grasses and clovers at the end of the logging operation. These
areas generally need annual mowing to control weedy invasion
and re-application of fertilizer and lime and over-seeding every
few years, depending on your soil type. These treatments are known as "top-dressing". Clover
mixes should not be mowed lower than six inches.
Power lines and other right-of-ways: Encourage regular maintenance by the power
company to maintain grasses and forbes. Mid to late summer mowing is best. Some companies
have vegetation management policies that allow establishment of low-growing shrubs and trees
on their right-of-ways. If not, encourage the company to do so for wildlife. Songbirds and other
wildlife benefit greatly from these habitats as well.
Hay fields: Delay mowing as long as possible (at least until mid-July). Use taller less dense
grasses like timothy, orchard grass, perennial rye and white clover or use warm season grasses
like switch grasses and/or blue stem that mature later and can be cut for hay in late July.
Alternatively, mow the perimeter of the field, or strips, throughout the growing season, to
provide short vegetation for young poults to travel and feed in, adjacent to taller vegetation for
escape cover.
Pastures & old fields: Leave some trees (apple, black locust, crab apple, black haw, wild raisin, ash, oaks, cherry, etc.) to create a savannah type habitat. In pastures, grazing will
maintain a short grass cover. In old fields encourage grasses and forbes by periodic mowing or
spot herbicide application to discourage woody brush. If dense grasses exist, annual mowing
may be necessary.
Perennial food plots and openings: Test soil, lime and fertilize as necessary prior to planting.
Plant to clovers, native grasses, and lower lespedeza varieties. When necessary, mow very late
fall or early spring. Reseed only as necessary every 5+ years. Alternatively, mow the perimeter
or strips, throughout the growing season. Occasional top-dressing with lime and fertilizer will
help to maintain grasses and legumes. If you notice invasion by weeds, test the soil and add the
amount of lime and fertilizer needed.
Annual food plots: Test soil, lime and fertilize as necessary.
Plant either pure or mixed stands of oats, buckwheat, sunflower,
sorghum, and/or corn. If deer are overabundant, buckwheat will
be very difficult to establish. You may have more success with
corn, sorghum, and sunflower.
Nesting Habitat
For optimal reproduction turkeys require good nesting habitat.
Wild turkey hens begin to nest before most of the new growth
begins in the spring. Therefore, at least for initial nests, hens
need some residual cover from the previous year to conceal their
nest from predators. Generally, nesting habitat consists of low,
horizontal cover such as low brush, standing raspberry canes
from last year or anything that obstructs visibility between
ground level and about 3 feet. Woodlands that have been
over-browsed by deer do not provide safe nesting cover. Mature
woodlands with a well-developed understory provides excellent
habitat. In wooded areas, turkeys often nest at the base of a
tree, fallen log, ea boulder, which provide additional concealment
from predators. Be sure there are numerous patches of low
cover in the vicinity. If there are only a few patches, predators
will learn to search those specific spots and your management
can do more harm than good. Patches of brushy cover will be
used no matter where they are located, but it is better if nesting
cover is close to brood habitat. Later in the spring when new growth begins, hens will readily
renest in areas that are not acceptable earlier.
The following are some suggestions for managing some specific
habitat types for nesting habitat. Remember these are
suggestions only, there are no hard and fast rules and you can
decide what methods you wish to employ on your land.
Logged areas: Leave some scattered tops, but clear some of
the tops and branches to allow natural regeneration, and create
brush piles with the cleared debris. Note, if overbrowsing by deer
is a problem, keep most of the tops and branches in place, which
will make it difficult for deer to browse the seedlings that grow
within the brush. If grassy openings are lacking in the vicinity, convert the log landing, and possibly some of the logging roads, into permanent openings by seeding to grasses and
legumes.
Woodlot edges: Thin (remove some of the trees to let sunlight reach the ground) up to 50 feet
adjacent to open areas to encourage shrubs and brushy growth. Keep native fruit and nut
producing shrubs such as dogwoods, viburnums, hawthornes, etc. Leave some scattered
treetops or branches for horizontal cover.
Utility Rights-of-ways: Such as power-line cuts, pipelines. These habitats provide
well-developed vegetation up to 3-5 feet above the ground. Work with the power company to
allow shrubs and brushy vegetative growth. Delay cutting or spraying in these areas until
nesting is completed (mid July). Contact the utility company as utility companies usually are
willing to work with landowners to manage these areas for wildlife.
Hay fields, pastures: Many renesting hens will use hayfields. Delay mowing as long as
possible (at least mid July). Hay and pasture seed mixes should contain taller less dense grasses
like timothy, orchard grass, perennial rye and white clover. Avoid cool season grass mixtures
that contain fescue as they can develop thick sod and stems, which young turkeys may have
difficulty traveling through. You can consider native warm season grasses like switch grasses
and/or blue stem that mature later and can be cut for hay in late July. Old fields: Maintain
shrubby patches within the old field, cut brush & trees and leave scattered piles of branches,
mow periodically to keep much of the field in grasses or other herbaceous cover. Encourage
clumps of raspberry, blackberry, goldenrod and aster, (any heavy stem herbaceous cover) by
brush-hogging every two to three years.
Late Summer and Fall Habitat
Late summer and fall habitat is generally the least limiting of a wild turkey's needs in the
Northeast. It is, however, a time that many wild turkey enthusiasts want to see wild turkeys
using their land. At this time of year a turkey needs wooded areas for concealment, roosting
trees and a good food supply to ensure they enter the winter months in good physical condition.
The following are suggestions for managing specific habitats for late summer and fall habitat.
Remember these are suggestions only, there are no hard and fast rules and you can decide
what methods you wish to employ on your land. Assistance with soil testing or fertilizer and
liming recommendations is available through your local Cooperative Extension Office.
Log landings & roads: Lime & seed to grasses, sedges (nut grasses) and clovers at the end of
the logging operation. Generally these areas need mowing to control weedy invasion and
re-application of fertilizer and lime and over-seeding every few years. Plant mast producing
shrubs such as crab apples, hazelnut, serviceberry, dogwoods, and viburnums in clumps on the
landings, or along the edges. Hardwood timber: Manage for a variety of different dependable mast producing species (such
as oak, beech, cherry, ash, black walnut, hickory). Have a timber management plan developed
in consultation with a professional forester to manage for your goals (e.g. an uninterrupted mast
production and regeneration of those species). In Pennsylvania, assistance to private
landowners is available through the Penn State University Forest Stewardship Program. Don't
forget the mid and understory mast producing species such as hop hornbeam, ironwood,
hazelnut, serviceberry, dogwoods, and viburnums. Stay away from planting exotic, invasive
bushes such as Russian and autumn olive and Japanese barberry.
Perennial food plots and shrubs: Test soil, lime and fertilize as necessary. Plant clovers,
grasses and lower lespedeza varieties. Alternatively, mow the perimeter or strips, throughout
the growing season. When necessary, mow in very late fall or early spring. Reseed only as
necessary (every 5+ years). Plant fruit producing trees and shrubs such as apple, crab apple,
hawthorn, dogwoods, viburnums, highbush cranberry (in moist areas), staghorn sumac, and/or
grapes. Discourage exotics like Russian olive, autumn olive and multiflora rose. Shrubs may be
planted in "hedgerow" type arrangements. Trees planted in perennial food plots may be
arranged on the edge of the plot that receives the most sun (preferably adjacent to the forest
edge.) Trees may also be planted orchard-style with 15 to 25 foot spacing. Plant in a manner so
you can easily mow around them.
Annual food plots: Annual food plots should be small ½ to 2½ acres. Test soil, lime and
fertilize as necessary. For corn, plant at normal time and leave standing to provide food into the
winter. Plant a mix of sorghum, millet, and sunflower in late spring and leave standing.
Buckwheat should be planted later than normal (mid June to early July) for fall food source.
Leave standing and over-seed with rye in September. If deer are overabundant in your area,
buckwheat will be very difficult to establish. Plant rye and wheat in September for a source of
fall and spring food. Pure stands of sunflower should be at least ½ acre in size to protect from
deer. Also, in southern to central Pennsylvania, c(Cyperus esculentus var. sativus), an African
variety of the native nutsedge, is an excelleannual food for turkeys. Native nutsedges can be a
problem weed in some areas. Chufa is not aggressive and will not create problems when other
crops are planted after it. The nut like tubers, which grow under the ground, are relished by wild
turkeys and other wildlife inthe fall and early winter, until the ground freezes.
Crop fields: Plant and harvest grain crops such as corn or oats in the normal manner leaving
some at the edges of the fields standing. Try to leave at least ten rows standing whenever
possible.
Winter Habitat
In Northern New England, Eastern Canada, northern New York, and to a lesser extent northern
Pennsylvania and high elevations of PA, such as the Laurel highlands, winter habitat is crucial
for the survival of wild turkeys during extreme winters. In some parts of North America, turkeys
exist north of their historic range. This is primarily because of habitat changes, such as farming
in the St. Lawrence and Champlain Valleys, and the conversion to northern hardwood forests
from pine and hemlock forests in northcentral Pennsylvania. During extreme winters, wild
turkeys need a dependable food source that is close to thermal roosting cover and protected
travel corridors. In south and central Pennsylvania and at lower elevations, there is less
difference between fall and winter habitat.
The following are suggestions for managing specific habitats for winter habitat. Remember these
are suggestions only, there are no hard and fast rules and you can decide what methods you
wish to employ on your land. Assistance with soil testing or fertilizer and liming
recommendations is available through your local cooperative extension.Spring Seeps: Spring seeps (spots where ground water comes
to the surface) are found in old pastures, fields and in the forest.
The warmer ground water keeps snow melted arothe seep. The
plant and animal life found in and near spring seeps are
important winter food sources for turkeys and other wildlife. All
seeps can be useful but seeps on south-facing slopes are most
valuable. Seeps may be managed or simply left alone.
In foresteseeps management can include stimulating the growth
of herbaceous plants within theseep by removing some of the
forest canopy. However leave about 70 percent canopy closure
to keep water temperature cool and not to create a thicket of
understory growth. Remove unproductive trees and leave
mast-producing trees near the seep. Seeps in open areas may be
improved by keeping them from being invaded by varieties of
woody stems that do not produce food items. Planting fruit
bearing shrubs near but not in the seeps cprovide accessible
winter food. If necessary, fence the seep to keep cattle out.
Annual food plots: If possible, place food plots for winter use on south facing slopes to take
advantage of the sun's radiant energy. Test the soil, lime and fertilize as necessary. For
corn, plant at the normal time and leave standing to provide food into the winter. In areas
of high deer numbers, plant larger plots of corn (2 - 5 acres). Plant a mix of sorghum, millet,
and sunflower in late spring and leave standing. Buckwheat should be planted later than normal
(mid June to early July) for fall food source. Leave standing and over-seed with rye in
September. If deer are overabundant in your area, buckwheat will be very difficult to establish.
Plant rye and wheat in September for a source of fall and spring food. Pure stands of sunflower
should be at least ½ acre in size to protect from deer.
Thermal cover: Conifer stands provide a windbreak, roost sites,
protection from extreme cold and limit snow depth under the
stand allowing turkeys to be mobile. Provide several acres of
conifer trees for every hundred acres of habitat. Eastern hemlock
and white pine are good but most species of native conifers will
help. Plant conifers in clumps or strips to provide the best
thermal protection. When planting conifers, plant in open areas
to allow them to quickly grow because they are intolerant of
shade during their early years.
Hardwood timber and tall shrubs: Manage for a variety of
different dependable mast producing species (such as oak,
beech, cherry, ash, black walnut, hickory). Develop a timber
management plan in consultation with a professional forester to
manage for your goals (e.g., uninterrupted mast production and
regeneration of those species). In Pennsylvania, assistance to
private landowners is available through the Penn State
University, Forest Stewardship Program. Don't forget the mid
story mast producing species such as hop hornbeam, ironwood,
hazelnut, serviceberry, dogwoods, and viburnums. Plant fruit
producing trees and shrubs such as apple, crab apple, hawthorn, dogwoods, viburnums,
highbush cranberry, staghorn sumac, and grapes. Discourage exotics like Russian olive, autumn
olive, and multiflora rose.
Travel Corridors: During deep snow conditions turkeys will use travel corridors created
bconifer cover. By providing narrow strips of conifer cover between other habitat types, turkeys
will be able to move more freely
Another good reference . https://www.mossyoak.com/our-obsession/blogs/turkey/10-tips-for-improving-wild-turkey-populations
