ECOLOGICAL AND BEHAVIORAL-CORRELATES OF VARIATION IN SEASONAL HOME RANGES OF WILD TURKEYS

We examined the effects of habitat distribution, age, sex, and body ma ss on variation in seasonal home ranges of eastern wild turkeys (Melea gris gallopavo silvestris). During 1992-94 we obtained and analyzed 11 ,354 locations of 156 wild turkeys in the Arkansas Ozarks. In particul ar, we tested the prediction that home range size and seasonal range j uxtaposition covary with social status and physiological condition of an individual. Participation in breeding, age, and body mass strongly influenced spring and summer range sizes and range use in both sexes. As predicted, adult wild turkeys had smaller home ranges during the br eeding season and greater overlap among seasonal ranges than yearlings . Successful females had a higher probability of using their breeding area during fall and winter than unsuccessful females. Habitat availab ility and distribution and acorn harvest were significant correlates o f winter range size and use for females. Spring and prenesting ranges of females in our study area were the largest reported for eastern wil d turkeys. We attributed this pattern to high nest predation which mig ht cause extensive nest site selection movements.