A review of harvest and population monitoring methods for western wild turkeys

Abstract

AbstractSeveral subspecies of wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) are managed throughout the western USA for wildlife viewing and hunting, including Merriam's (M. g. merriami), Rio Grande (M. g. intermedia), eastern (M. g. silvestris), and Gould's (M. g. mexicana) wild turkey. In addition to the variety of subspecies, the West also comprises a wide variety of occupied vegetative communities throughout an array of state and federal jurisdictions. In 1993, the Colorado Division of Wildlife published the Management Guidelines for Merriam's Wild Turkeys (Hoffman et al. 1993). Since that time, harvest and monitoring methods have evolved. Harvests are monitored through mandatory or voluntary phone surveys, online surveys, mail surveys, email surveys, mobile phone applications, field checks, and wing or foot collections. Populations are monitored through harvest indices, summer brood surveys, winter flock counts, winter classifications, summer classifications, presence‐absence surveys, camera traps, forward‐looking infrared, aerial surveys, telemetry, weather indices, citizen science reports, and a variety of modeling approaches. We provide a limited review highlighting the substantive strengths and challenges associated with each population monitoring technique to provide agencies and organizations involved in monitoring harvest and populations of turkeys with an overview to assist in selecting appropriate tools for use in their jurisdiction.