EFFECTS OF FALL EITHER‐SEX HUNTING ON SURVIVAL IN AN IOWA WILD TURKEY POPULATION

Abstract

Recently restored populations of eastern wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) are thriving in smaller, more fragmented habitats in Iowa than are typical of most eastern turkey range. Fall either‐sex hunting has the potential to decrease turkey survival and subsequent population levels unless hunting mortality replaces or is compensated for by some other mortality factor. Effects of either‐sex fall hunting could be greater in fragmented habitats if turkeys are more vulnerable to hunters. Survival rates of adult male (AM), adult female (AF), juvenile male (JM) and juvenile female (JF) turkeys were estimated using radio‐telemetry before and after fall hunting was initiated. Before the advent of fall hunting, annual survival rates were 40‐49% for males and 63‐64% for hens. Spring hunting and predation during nesting/brood rearing were the major mortality factors. After fall hunting was allowed, annual survival rates declined 21‐23% for AM, JM, and JF, and 6% for AF. Fall hunting mortality was additive to existing mortality factors for 3 of 4 age‐sex groups and was the primary cause for the lower annual survival. Turkey populations varied directly with annual variations in poult production, but did not respond as quickly or completely to good production after fall hunting was allowed. Fall either‐sex hunting mortality that exceeds 10% of the population should be viewed as potentially decreasing annual turkey survival unless other factors are known to compensate for the additional loss of birds.