SURVIVAL AND CAUSE-SPECIFIC MORTALITY OF WILD TURKEY HENS IN CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI

Most studies of hen survival of eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopa vo, silvestris) have been of short duration (<10 yr), and none have di stinguished reproductively active (RA) from nonreproductively active ( NRA) hens. We examined seasonal and annual survival of radiotagged wil d turkey liens and compared RA and NRA hens during 1984-94 in central Mississippi, Annual survival (8.224-0.770) of adult hens differed amon g years (P = 0.013), as did survival rates for all adult hens during b reeding and nonbreeding intervals (P = 0.013). Survival rates of nesti ng and nonnesting hens did not differ during years with low. medium, o r high survival (P > 0.05). During years of high survival survival rat es of NRA and RA hens did not differ (P > 0.05). Preincubation and fal l-winter interval survival rates did not differ within years (P > 0.05 ). Predation was the primary mortality factor, whereas illegal kill wa s low. Nesting hens experienced higher predation than NRA hens during) ears of low (P = 0.009) and medium survival (P < 0.021). Survival cos t of reproduction associated with nesting was low but unknown for broo d-rearing hens.