Wild Turkey Science

A wildlife biologist and forester discusses the challenges of managing and conserving the wild turkey population, emphasizing the need for public awareness and habitat preservation. The podcast also highlights TFT's mission-focused approach, engaging younger individuals, and the importance of habitat management and population dynamics. The hosts express gratitude for listener participation and support from Turkeys for Tomorrow.

Dr. Marcus Lashley and Dr. Will Gulsby discuss effective land management practices for wild turkeys, including daylighting roads, clear cuts, and spot spraying. They emphasize the importance of timing and setting back understory vegetation through methods like fire. They also talk about prioritizing burning decisions, creating management units, and the need for brooding cover and connectivity. The hosts highlight the significance of timing in burning for bird cover management and discuss staying connected with conservation efforts. They preview upcoming topics, encourage audience feedback, and reflect on their experiences in the field while expressing gratitude to their supporters.

The hosts reflect on the impact of their podcast, diversity of feedback received, and the surprising amount of positive influence they have had. They discuss past episodes, the importance of feedback, and their plans for future episodes. They express gratitude for their producer and announce an upcoming interview. They highlight the achievements of an organization and address concerns about its direction. They discuss future plans for the podcast, including incorporating graduate students and audience-driven episodes. They emphasize transparency and objectivity in scientific research and discuss bottomland hardwood management and diverse perspectives on turkeys. They reflect on listening to podcasts while hunting and the benefits of connecting with nature.

Managing bottomland hardwoods for turkeys guest starring Duck Locascio, Forestry Program Manager for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. They discuss topics like managing invasive species, techniques for creating turkey habitat, dedicating specific areas for various purposes, and learning through trial and error in bottomland hardwood management.

Duck Locascio, Forestry Program Manager for the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, joins Marcus and Will to demystify and provide actionable steps to managers interested in improving turkey habitat in bottomland hardwood forests. Resources: Desired Forest Conditions document Lower Mississippi Valley Joint Venture Dr. Marcus Lashley (@DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile) Dr. Will Gulsby (@dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile) Turkeys for Tomorrow (@turkeysfortomorrow) UF DEER Lab (@ufdeerlab) (YouTube) Watch these podcasts on YouTube: Wild Turkey Science YouTube Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org. Help us help turkeys by rating this podcast and sharing it with your friends and family. Music by Artlist.io Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak

Dr. Andy Little joins Marcus and Will to break down the study design and year 1 results from his research assessing wild turkey habitat needs across the state of Nebraska. Then, how landscape changes may be impacting population trends and which potential factors are bottlenecking brood survival. Turkey Newsletter 2023 Dr. Andy Little (Publications) (IG) (X) AWESM Lab (Website) (IG) (Facebook) (X) Dr. Marcus Lashley (@DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile) Dr. Will Gulsby (@dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile) Turkeys for Tomorrow (@turkeysfortomorrow) UF DEER Lab (@ufdeerlab) (YouTube) Watch these podcasts on YouTube: Wild Turkey Science YouTube Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org. Help us help turkeys by rating this podcast and sharing it with your friends and family. Music by Artlist.io Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak

Will provides us with updates on his ongoing, hunter-led AL project quantifying fertility indexes in wild turkeys and how it relates to behavior and disease. Then, an update from Marcus on the FL genetic study assessing habitat connectivity and gene flow made possible by hunter-donated feathers. And finally, a look into Will's next project inspired by our listeners. Resources: AL Update: Is there a dominant gobbler? Status of turkeys in FL (Part 1/2) Status of turkeys in FL (Part 2/2) FL Wildlife Corridor NY Times: Wild Turkey Decline Dr. Marcus Lashley (@DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile) Dr. Will Gulsby (@dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile) Turkeys for Tomorrow (@turkeysfortomorrow) UF DEER Lab (@ufdeerlab) (YouTube) Watch these podcasts on YouTube: Wild Turkey Science YouTube Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org. Help us help turkeys by rating this podcast and sharing it with your friends and family. Music by Artlist.io Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak

Marcus and Will kick off the holiday season by reviewing a newly published predator-prey diet selection study, discussing fall diets for turkeys during poor oak masting years, and touching upon the American tradition of fall turkey hunting. Resources Youngmann, et al. (2023). Assessing springtime vertebrate prey of sympatric mesopredators in the southeastern United States using metabarcoding analysis. Plos one, 18(10), e0293270. DrDisturbance IG Reel Dr. Marcus Lashley (@DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile) Dr. Will Gulsby (@dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile) Turkeys for Tomorrow (@turkeysfortomorrow) UF DEER Lab (@ufdeerlab) (YouTube) Watch these podcasts on YouTube: Wild Turkey Science YouTube Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org. Help us help turkeys by rating this podcast and sharing it with your friends and family. Music by Artlist.io Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak

Marcus and Will pull from the literature to discuss the science-based management strategies across fire, silviculture, herbicide, and more, that can help turn your hardwoods into turkeys. Listen to Part 1 of this episode here: https://sites.libsyn.com/453219/WildTurkeyScience/managing-hardwoods-for-turkeys-part-12-52 Resources: Bogdziewicz, M., Crone, E. E., Steele, M. A., & Zwolak, R. (2017). Effects of nitrogen deposition on reproduction in a masting tree: benefits of higher seed production are trumped by negative biotic interactions. Journal of Ecology, 105(2), 310-320. Dey, D. C., & Schweitzer, C. J. (2018). A review on the dynamics of prescribed fire, tree mortality, and injury in managing oak natural communities to minimize economic loss in North America. Forests, 9(8), 461. FOOD PLOTS, FEED OR FIRE: THE REAL COSTS PER POUND OF DEER FORAGE Lashley, M. A., McCord, J. M., Greenberg, C. H., & Harper, C. A. (2009). Masting characteristics of white oaks: Implications for management. In Proceedings of the Annual Conference Southeast Association Fish and Wildlife Agencies (Vol. 63, pp. 21-26). Lashley, M. A., Harper, C. A., Bates, G. E., & Keyser, P. D. (2011). Forage availability for white‐tailed deer following silvicultural treatments in hardwood forests. The Journal of Wildlife Management, 75(6), 1467-1476. Mann, D. P., Wiedenbeck, J. K., Dey, D. C., & Saunders, M. R. (2020). Evaluating economic impacts of prescribed fire in the Central Hardwood Region. Journal of Forestry, 118(3), 275-288. Marschall, J. M., Guyette, R. P., Stambaugh, M. C., & Stevenson, A. P. (2014). Fire damage effects on red oak timber product value. Forest Ecology and Management, 320, 182-189. McDaniel, J. K., Alexander, H. D., Siegert, C. M., & Lashley, M. A. (2021). Shifting tree species composition of upland oak forests alters leaf litter structure, moisture, and flammability. Forest ecology and Management, 482, 118860. Stanis, S., Wiedenbeck, J., & Saunders, M. R. (2019). Effect of prescribed fire on timber volume and grade in the Hoosier National Forest. Forest Science, 65(6), 714-724. Turner, M. A., Gulsby, W. D., Harper, C. A., & Ditchkoff, S. S. (2020). Improving Coastal Plain Hardwoods for Deer and Turkeys with Canopy Reduction and Fire. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 44(4), 705-712. Turner, M. A., Gulsby, W. D., & Harper, C. A. (2021). Mixture of triclopyr and imazapyr more effective than triclopyr alone for hardwood forest stand improvement. Forest Science, 67(1), 43-48. Wiedenbeck, J. K., & Schuler, T. M. (2014). Effects of prescribed fire on the wood quality and marketability of four hardwood species in the central Appalachian region. In In: Groninger, John W.; Holzmueller, Eric J.; Nielsen, Clayton K.; Dey, Daniel C., eds. Proceedings, 19th Central Hardwood Forest Conference; 2014 March 10-12; Carbondale, IL. General Technical Report NRS-P-142. Newtown Square, PA: US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 202-212. (pp. 202-212). Wolgast, L. J., & Stout, B. B. (1977). Effects of age, stand density, and fertilizer application on bear oak reproduction. The Journal of Wildlife Management, 685-691. Dr. Marcus Lashley (@DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile) Dr. Will Gulsby (@dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile) Turkeys for Tomorrow (@turkeysfortomorrow) UF DEER Lab (@ufdeerlab) (YouTube) Watch these podcasts on YouTube: Wild Turkey Science YouTube Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org. Help us help turkeys by rating this podcast and sharing it with your friends and family. Music by Artlist.io Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak

Marcus and Will pull from the literature to assess various management strategies across fire, silviculture, herbicide, and more, that can help turn your hardwoods into turkeys. Part 2 of this episode releases next Monday. Resources: Bogdziewicz, M., Crone, E. E., Steele, M. A., & Zwolak, R. (2017). Effects of nitrogen deposition on reproduction in a masting tree: benefits of higher seed production are trumped by negative biotic interactions. Journal of Ecology, 105(2), 310-320. Dey, D. C., & Schweitzer, C. J. (2018). A review on the dynamics of prescribed fire, tree mortality, and injury in managing oak natural communities to minimize economic loss in North America. Forests, 9(8), 461. FOOD PLOTS, FEED OR FIRE: THE REAL COSTS PER POUND OF DEER FORAGE Lashley, M. A., McCord, J. M., Greenberg, C. H., & Harper, C. A. (2009). Masting characteristics of white oaks: Implications for management. In Proceedings of the Annual Conference Southeast Association Fish and Wildlife Agencies (Vol. 63, pp. 21-26). Lashley, M. A., Harper, C. A., Bates, G. E., & Keyser, P. D. (2011). Forage availability for white‐tailed deer following silvicultural treatments in hardwood forests. The Journal of Wildlife Management, 75(6), 1467-1476. Mann, D. P., Wiedenbeck, J. K., Dey, D. C., & Saunders, M. R. (2020). Evaluating economic impacts of prescribed fire in the Central Hardwood Region. Journal of Forestry, 118(3), 275-288. Marschall, J. M., Guyette, R. P., Stambaugh, M. C., & Stevenson, A. P. (2014). Fire damage effects on red oak timber product value. Forest Ecology and Management, 320, 182-189. McDaniel, J. K., Alexander, H. D., Siegert, C. M., & Lashley, M. A. (2021). Shifting tree species composition of upland oak forests alters leaf litter structure, moisture, and flammability. Forest ecology and Management, 482, 118860. Stanis, S., Wiedenbeck, J., & Saunders, M. R. (2019). Effect of prescribed fire on timber volume and grade in the Hoosier National Forest. Forest Science, 65(6), 714-724. Turner, M. A., Gulsby, W. D., Harper, C. A., & Ditchkoff, S. S. (2020). Improving Coastal Plain Hardwoods for Deer and Turkeys with Canopy Reduction and Fire. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 44(4), 705-712. Turner, M. A., Gulsby, W. D., & Harper, C. A. (2021). Mixture of triclopyr and imazapyr more effective than triclopyr alone for hardwood forest stand improvement. Forest Science, 67(1), 43-48. Wiedenbeck, J. K., & Schuler, T. M. (2014). Effects of prescribed fire on the wood quality and marketability of four hardwood species in the central Appalachian region. In In: Groninger, John W.; Holzmueller, Eric J.; Nielsen, Clayton K.; Dey, Daniel C., eds. Proceedings, 19th Central Hardwood Forest Conference; 2014 March 10-12; Carbondale, IL. General Technical Report NRS-P-142. Newtown Square, PA: US Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northern Research Station: 202-212. (pp. 202-212). Wolgast, L. J., & Stout, B. B. (1977). Effects of age, stand density, and fertilizer application on bear oak reproduction. The Journal of Wildlife Management, 685-691. Dr. Marcus Lashley (@DrDisturbance) (Academic Profile) Dr. Will Gulsby (@dr_will_gulsby) (Academic Profile) Turkeys for Tomorrow (@turkeysfortomorrow) UF DEER Lab (@ufdeerlab) (YouTube) Watch these podcasts on YouTube: Wild Turkey Science YouTube Donate to wild turkey research: UF Turkey Donation Fund , Auburn Turkey Donation Fund This podcast is made possible by Turkeys for Tomorrow, a grassroots organization dedicated to the wild turkey. To learn more about TFT, go to turkeysfortomorrow.org. Help us help turkeys by rating this podcast and sharing it with your friends and family. Music by Artlist.io Produced & edited by Charlotte Nowak