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.