Productivity of Bearded Wild Turkey Hens in South Texas

Abstract

The productivity of bearded Rio Grande wild turkey (Meleagris gallapavo intermedia) hens was investigated on the King Ranch in South Texas from June to September, 1968. Field observations indicated there was no significant difference (P < 0.05) between the ratio of bearded or non-bearded hens with or without poults nor in brood sizes. The purpose of this paper is to assess the reproductive capabilities of bearded wild turkey hens in South Texas. The beard of the wild turkey is normally a characteristic of the male. Beards have, however, been reported on hens in a number of studies ( Table 1 ) . Walker ( 1950:3 ) reports that in Texas, bearded hens are common in the Rio Grande turkey. Schorger (1957:445) reports an incidence of 10 percent of females with beards. The beard has been used as a crude indicator of age for the wild turkey (Mosby and Handley 1943). Young (1955:453) states that, with age, there is an increasing tendency towards maleness in female birds. Schorger (1957:445) notes that the beard is a poor sex character because castration of males does not prevent beard growth. If the beards on hen wild turkeys signify lack of reproductive capability, it follows that this segment of the turkey population could be harvested as legal game along with the males. This study was conducted from June 8 through September 10, 1968. Three divisions of the King Ranch in South Texas were selected as sites for three study areas. The northwestern part of Kleberg County was the site for the 26,800-acre mesquite (Prosopsis juliflora)-brushland study area on the Santa Gertrudis division of the ranch. A 12,200-acre live oak (Quercus virginiana) 1 Research was supported by King Ranch, Inc. and the University of Wisconsin. area was selected on the Eneino division in Kennedy and Brooks eounties, and a 16,000-acre live oak serub ( Q. oleoides ) area was located on the eoastal seetion of the Laureles division in northeastern Kleberg and southeastern Nueees counties. I extend thanks to R. A. MeCabe of the University of Wisconsin and W. H. Kiel, Jr., King Raneh, Ine. for advice and assistanee throughout this project, as well as in the preparation of the manuseript.