Final Exam

What I enjoyed most about Will Gilmer's lecture was that he used social media to get his farms name out there and talks about all the stuff they do on their dairy farm.  I did not know that social media was so involved in agriculture like he was talking about.

Turkey Hunting on Public Lands

When it comes to hunting turkeys on public land, the "challenging" aspect of the hunt gets kicked up a notch. Mississippi has over 27 different Wildlife Management Areas all across the state and they are home to some of the best turkey hunting the state has to offer.  There is some great turkey hunting on public land in Mississippi if you want to get out and do some scouting, do some walking, get some exercise, and get away from the roads where you have easy access. 

Top Predators In Mississippi on Wild Turkeys

Wild turkeys are hunted by almost everything in the woods, including us.  They are so cautious because everything in the woods is out to get them they feel like.  The main predators in Mississippi are racoons, bobcats, coyotes, fire ants and people.  Proper predator management is a must if you expect to keep a large turkey population on your place.

Tips on How to Make Turkey Poppers

The five main things you will need to make turkey poppers are wild turkey breasts, jalapeno peppers, bacon,  
cream cheese, and tooth picks.  You should have about a dozen jalapenos and gut them before preparing the
meal.  The first thing you need to do is marinate your wild turkey breast in your favorite brand of Italian dressing for about a day.  Cut turkey breast into pieces that will fit inside the pepper halves.  The next thing you will need to do is spread the cream cheese inside the pepper and place the turkey strips inside that.  The next thing you should do is wrap a piece of bacon around the pepper and secure it with a tooth pick.  After you have done this you are ready to throw them on the grill.  After you let them cook for about fifteen to twenty minutes you will be ready to eat and enjoy.

Tips on How to Kill a Turkey on public land

When hunting turkeys on public land it is way different then hunting on a private place.  When hunting public birds remember that rain is your friend.  Most hunters are fair weather hunters, which means they normally arent going to be out pressuring the birds in the rain.  You will have a better chance at bagging a bird because you will be the only one out there.  Another major tip is get in early and stay late.  Pressured birds usually arent very vocal but if you wait it out and dont over call eventually that bird will come find you.

Turkeys and Agriculture

With an increased population of wild turkeys in agricultural regions, the number of perceived conflicts between wild turkey and agricultural producer over crop damages has increased dramatically.  They have made studies on how much damage wild turkeys had on crop damage.  The studies came back and said they have minimal damage and is usually caused by other animals such as deer.  Researchers have put tracking devices on turkeys and they generally they in wooded areas.

How to cook a wild turkey

One of the best meals in the woods is the breast of a wild turkey. Many people think of a Thanksgiving turkey when they think turkey but this is not the same as a wild bird. Wild turkey can be prepared many different ways but my personal favorite is frying. To do this you must cut the breast out of the turkey one half at a time. After you cut out the brest cut them into 1 inch wide pieces while the breast is still vertical. These strips can then be cut into however long strips  you want to make. After all the cutting is done, soak the strips in milk overnight. The next night you will be ready for a feast. Flour the strips and add your favorite seasonings. The final step is to fry the pieces until they are golden brown. Let the strips rest on a paper towel after they come out of the grease for five minutes then enjoy.

NWTF Turkey Festival

Turkey season is right around the corner so the turkey banquets and festivals are about to begin.  On March 10, 2013, there will be the 15th annual turkey festival at the collisium in Jackson Mississippi.  The festival will begin at 5:00 pm Friday through Sunday.  There will be live auctions food and fun.  There will also be turkey calling contest and a number of different special guests such as Michael Waddell, Preston Pittman, and Eddie  
Salter.  We look forward to seeing you there.      

The Impacts of Predation on Wild Turkeys

The wild turkey has many different predators around North America. The impact of predation on wild turkeys nearly brought turkeys to extinction. The main predators for wild turkeys across North America are coyotes, bobcats, racoons, fire ants, hogs, mountain lions, and people.  The National Wild Turkey Federation has many predator management programs that they distribute across the country to help keep the predator numbers down.  By killing coyotes, bobcats, and racoons on your property, you are saving more and more turkeys lives.

Turkey Forage and Habitat

Wild Turkeys forage on the ground and occasionally mounting shrubs and small trees.  Acorns, beechnuts, cherries, ash seeds, small seeds and insects are primary food sources.  Turkeys also eat corn, wheat, millet, alfalfa, and millet.  Hen turkeys like to nest on the ground in thick cover, such as cut over and thick grasses, to be hidden from predators.  Gobblers like big open woods so he can strut around with his hens.

Hard Mast Trees and Shrubs make a Better Wildlife Habitat

If you want to see more turkeys on your place you have to give them a reason to stay for the summer.  Hard mast trees and shrubs provide an annual fall crop that delivers important carbohydrates and fat for wildlife during the critical months of winter.  Some estimates say that hard mast trees represent 70 percent of fall diet for deer and turkey.  Another benefit for hard mast trees and shrubs is that they provide more woody cover to protect turkeys roosting and deer bedding when harsh weather comes along.

North American Wild Turkey Management Plan

As wild turkey populations continue to increase across the United States, it is important to look toward the future of wild turkey management to ensure North America's largest game bird for generations to come. The North American Wild Turkey Management Plan looks at managing a healthy wild turkey population all across the country.  Mississippi is home to the Eastern Wild Turkey.  The Eastern Wild Turkey is the most widely distributed, abundant and hunted turkey of all the subspecies of wild turkey.  Proper management from the NAWTMP will ensure that the Eastern Wild Turkey in Mississippi will thrive for future generations to come.

Timber Stand Improvement

When it comes to managing a forest for turkeys, there are times when it is better to have fewer quality trees than a larger quantity of not so great trees.  Just think how fast weeds can take over a garden.  It is much the same with a forest.  Vegetation will quickly occupy any available growing space, so the only way to alter the forest, or control its compositon, is by killing undesirable trees and forest floor vegetation.  If you practice all of these forest management strategies, you will improve your turkey habitat tremendously. 

Timber Stand Improvement

When it comes to managing a forest for wildlife, there are times when it is better to have fewer quality trees than a larger quantity of not-so-great trees. Just think of how quickly weeds can take over a garden. It is much the same in a forest. Vegetation aggressively occupies any available growing space, so the only way to alter the forest, or control its composition, is by killing undesirable trees and vegetation. Doing this on your property and using proper timber management strategies, you can improve your turkey population tremendously. 

Primary Predators of Wild Turkeys

There are many different predators of a wild turkey.  The raccoon is a primary predator of turkey eggs, fire ants, and other small rodents will also feed on turkey eggs.  Fox, coyotes, and bobcats are probably the number one predators of a wild turkey in mississippi.  There are many ways to control these predators such as hunting or trapping them.  If you control these predators you turkey population will be doing much better.

Prescribed Burning To Improve Turkey Habitat

Prescribed burning is done on areas of land that are thick and have heavy vegetation in the forest floor. Although some people are against prescribed burning but the benefits greatly outweigh the costs. It is very important that you use extreme caution when doing a prescribed burn. It is not smart to burn when their is a high wind or if the area is exceptionally dry. Disking around the area that is to be burned is also advised instead of relying on a natural boundary such as a creek. For any questions or comments you might have about prescribed burns I highly recommend going to the National Wild Turkey Federation at http://www.nwtf.com/ These people really know their stuff and will help you with any questions you have.