The resurgence of the wild turkey in Missouri during the past 30 years has rekindled interest in this majestic bird. New generations of turkey hunters are entering the woods with hope of bagging one of the most prized North American game birds, while veteran hunters continue to partake in the challenge and tradition of turkey hunting. This web site is intended to help all turkey hunters enjoy the hunt and perhaps improve their chances of bagging a turkey. In addition, much of the information presented will serve as an aid to those people who wish merely to enjoy wild turkeys from a non-hunting perspective.
History of Wild Turkeys in Missouri
Wild turkeys are native to North America and are believed to have originated in Mexico. Six subspecies or races currently are recognized, with the Eastern race present in Missouri. During the 1800s, the North American continent was home to an estimated 10 million wild turkeys. However, destruction of habitat and unregulated hunting reduced the North American population to approximately 300,000 birds by 1950.
In Missouri, wild turkeys were found in large numbers throughout the state. From 1840 until about 1900, historians recorded "too many wild turkeys even to consider raising tame birds," and "turkeys so numerous and easily obtained as to be scarcely worthy of consideration." Sixty years later the Missouri turkey population had been reduced from 250,000 to approximately 3,000 birds, and most were limited to remote Ozark regions. Destruction of timber by fire and axe, increased agriculture and grazing, and market hunting brought the turkey to near extinction within Missouri's border.
From 1925 to 1943, an effort was made to halt the decline in turkey numbers. Approximately 14,000 game farm turkeys were released to supply more breeding stock. The hunting season for turkeys was closed in 1937. However, turkey numbers still decreased, and the release of game farm turkeys appeared futile. Research studies were initiated in 1938 to determine why the game farm turkeys failed. These investigations were interrupted during World War II, but resumed in 1951. It was learned that game farm birds, even the wildest stock obtainable, were not the answer--only a truly wild bird would survive.
It now as evident that restocking wild turkeys to unoccupied range was the solution to restoring the species, but it would not be done easily. First, a source of native wild turkeys was needed. Secondly, a method of trapping wild turkeys had to be developed, and finally, captured turkeys would need to be released in areas where their chance of survival was great.
To ensure a source of wild birds, the Department of Conservation bought a large tract of land in the southern Ozarks where there were still a few native wild turkeys. Providing protection to the birds, and restoration of food and cover on this tract of land paid off. By 1954, the population on the 23,000-acre Peck Ranch Wildlife Area has increased from nine turkeys to 32. Trapping began in 1957 on an 11,000-acre intensively managed portion of the ranch that supported about 100 birds. Management practices on Peck Ranch demonstrated that turkeys could be abundant again.
An efficient method of turkey trapping still needed to be developed. A few turkeys were taken incidental to deer trapping, but the large cumbersome deer traps were not adaptable to an intensive turkey trapping program. The answer was an adaptation of the cannon net trap used for capturing waterfowl. The only problem was getting the turkeys to the trap site; this was achieved by baiting.
Finding suitable release sites for captured turkeys also involved many considerations. An important component was that a favorable public attitude exist in the area of the release site. Communities that submitted a request for restocking were evaluated for general habitat conditions. Early in the restoration program, a ratio of 70 percent timber/30 percent open land over a minimum area of 15,000 acres were considered to be optimum for turkeys in Missouri. Because of the great number of acres required, people living inside the area had to agree to protect the birds after this release. Department of Conservation personnel held town meetings to explain the program and outline community responsibilities. A "gentlemen's agreement" was then made between the Department of Conservation and the people living in the community stating the turkeys would be protected.
The restoration program was begun in 1954. When the program was terminated in the spring of 1979, turkeys had been moved to 142 acre as in 87 counties. A total of 2,611 turkeys have been trapped and released in Missouri. the normal stocking rate was two hens to each gobbler, with 12 to 24 birds released on each site. Most releases were successful in re-establishing turkeys. All 114 counties now have huntable turkey populations with 101 of these counties having populations as a result of restocking.
Missouri also has made important contributions to restoration programs in other states by swapping Missouri wild turkeys for other wildlife species. Since the 1960s, Missouri has traded turkeys for ruffed grouse, otters, pheasants, prairie chickens and various fishes.
As research continues and populations expand further, our understanding of the wild turkey improves. For example, our ideas regarding optimum habitat have changed greatly. Highest turkey densities now occur in agricultural regions of the state where cropfields, old fields and timber are well interspersed. High turkey populations exist in counties with less than 20 percent timber. Obviously, the wild turkey is much more adaptable than thought previously, and prospects for continued high population levels of wild turkeys in Missouri are excellent.
For more on this topic, go to "Let's Talk Turkey".
For more information on the wild turkey, consult the following books:
- Brady, James F. 1973. Modern Turkey Hunting. Crown Publishers, Inc. N.Y. 160pp.
- Davis, Henry E. 1949. The American Wild Turkey. Small Arms Technical Publishing Co. Georgetown, S.C. 328 pp.
- Dickson, J.G. 1992. The Wild Turkey. Biology and Management. National Wild Turkey Federation and U.S. Forest Service. 640 pp.
- Elliott, Charles. 1979. Turkey Hunting with Charlie Elliott. David McKay Co., Inc. N.Y. 275 pp.
- Harbour, Dav. 1983. Advanced Wild Turkey Hunting and World Records. Winchester Press. 284 pp.
- Hanenkrat, William Frank. 1974. The Education of a Turkey Hunter. Winchester Press, N.Y. 216 pp.
- Hewitt, O.H. ed. 1967. The Wild Turkey and its Management. The Wildl. Soc. 589 pp.
- Latham, Roger M. 1956. Complete Book of the Wild Turkey. Stackpole Co., Harrisburg, PA. 265 pp.
- Lewis, J.C. 1973. The World of the Wild Turkey. J.B. Lippincott Co., N.Y. 158 pp.
- Mosby, Henry S. and C.O. Handley. 1943. The Wild Turkey in Virginia: Its Status, Life History and Management. Commission of Game and Inland Fisheries, Richmond, VA. 281 pp.
- National Wild Turkey Federation, Inc., 1992. Guide to the American Wild Turkey. Part 1: Status--Numbers, Distribution, Season, Harvests and Regulations. Nat. Wild. Turkey Fed., Inc. 149 pp.
- Schorger, A.W. 1966. The Wild Turkey. Univ. of Oklahoma Press. 625 pp.
- Turpin, Tom. Hunting the Wild Turkey. 1966 ed. from Penn's Woods, Delmont, PA. 54 pp.
- Williams, Lovett E., Jr. 1981. The Book of the Wild Turkey. Winchester Press, Tulsa, OK. 181 pp.
