Habitat Use by Female Eastern Wild Turkeys in Southeastern Oklahoma

Abstract

We radiomarked 41 adult female eastern wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) to determine home range and habitat use on intensively managed forests in the Ouachita Mountains, southeastern Oklahoma. We monitored turkeys during 1983-84 on a 19,000 ha management area consisting of naturally regenerated stands (66%), 1-13-year-old pine (Pinus spp.) plantations (31%), pastures and hay meadows (2%), and developed areas (1%). Mean seasonal home-range size was 225 ± 90, 865 ± 85, 780 ± 161, and 459 ± 125 (SE) ha in winter, spring, summer, and fall, respectively. Use patterns in 5 age classes of pine plantations were related to stem densities and potential food production. Turkeys avoided (P ≤ 0.05) 11-13-year-old pine plantations during all seasons and all pine plantations during the winter. Pine plantations were used most during the summer and least during the fall and winter.