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T urkeys in Wisconsin

Discover the beauty of Wisconsin's largest game bird, the turkey. Learn about their physical characteristics, nesting habits, and senses. Explore the current status of turkeys in Wisconsin, including population statistics and hunting trends. Find out how conservation efforts are helping to expand and protect the state's wild turkey population.

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T urkeys in Wisconsin

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  1. Turkeys in Wisconsin

  2. Description • Wisconsin’s largest game bird • Ave. length Males are 48” & females 36” • Weight males 18-25 lbs.. Females 8-10lbs. • Body feathers are bronze, green, blue, red, purple • Body feathers are black tipped • Wing and tail feathers are barred with dark bands

  3. Fleshy growth called wattles Caruncles on the side and back of neck Snood or dew bill is fleshy growth across bill Head is red, white or blue When mating, wattle turns bright red Mature males have a beard MALE FEATURES

  4. NESTING • Leaf or grass litter. • Lightly spotted brown and black eggs. • She lays eggs for a period of 15-20 days. • Total of 10-15 eggs . • Hens stays on her nest for about 28days. • Hatching takes about 24-30 hours. • (Poults) remain in the nest 10-12 hours.

  5. POULTS • When hatched they can be 4-5 inches high. • They’re covered in down. • They can feed on insects. • Fly at seven days of age. • Hens stay with her young through winter. • They are sexually mature at one year of age.

  6. FOOD MANAGEMENT • Turkey s eat on whatever food is available. • They feed on insects,berries, green leaves and grass seed. • Adult gobblers feed very little during breeding season.

  7. SENSES AND DEFENSES • Run first and analyze later. • Incredible senses of sight and hearing. • Ability to spot even the slightest movement. • Sight to protect them from danger as well as to locate hens. • A turkey uses its ears to locating potential mates by sound.

  8. Turkeys use their voices and their ears in order to communicate and keep in touch with the remainder of the flock. • Turkeys with their long muscular legs are well equipped and very capable runners. • Like a rocket, they lift off in a short, yet very powerful, burst of speed.

  9. CURRENT STATUS IN WISCONSIN • Wisconsin wild turkeys population currently numbers about 320,000 • The DNR hopes to further expand the state’s wild turkey pop. • In spring 1999 Wisconsin hunters received a record of 111,792 permits and killed a record of 33,168 birds. • Spring of 1999 harvest ranked no.2 behind only Missouri.

  10. Wisconsin turkey hunting also receives high marks it produces some of the country’s heaviest birds .. • They also provide an uncrowded quality hunting experience. • It is not uncommon for WI gobblers to get as big as 25 lbs.

  11. Northeastern Wisconsin holds very few turkeys. have a limited habitat West Central. Missouri Strain turkeys were first reintroduced in Western Wisconsin NE and WC Wisconsin

  12. Central Landowners provide 90% turkey hunting land in the state High success rate Southeast Mild winter, plenty of food has increased the population. CENTRAL And SE

  13. WI FIELD REPORTS, SW • Wisconsin can expect another excellent year • There was an increase in permits . • Some of the best turkey range in the state. • Landowners are willing to allow hunting. • Wisconsin hunters are finding success during the afternoon.

  14. NW WI • Low population ,but is increasing each year • TURKEYS have been planted.

  15. IF BEN FRANKLIN had his way the turkey would have been our national bird. Today turkeys are an important source of food. The turkey is the main meal for many family traditions Turkey hunting keeps getting better THE BIG END

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