Da. Miller et al., REPRODUCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS OF A WILD TURKEY POPULATION IN CENTRAL MISSISSIPPI, The Journal of wildlife management, 62(3), 1998, pp. 903-910
Long-term investigations into wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) reprod
uction are needed to allow for annual fluctuations, illuminate trends
not evident From short-term data, and provide data for effective susta
inable management of the wild turkey resource. We used 13 years (1984-
96) of continuous data to estimate reproductive parameters of a wild t
urkey population in central Mississippi. Mean rates of reproductive pa
rameters were 72.3% for first-nest initiation rates, 27.9% for first-n
est success, 34.8% for renest initiation, and 24.6% for renest success
. Median date of incubation ranged from 12 April to 1 May. Juvenile he
ns did not contribute to reproduction. Hen success declined significan
tly over time and reflected a decreasing population. Most (51.1%) nest
failures were attributed to predation. Poult survival until late July
-August was 25.5%. Winter weather did not influence reproductive param
eters, and hen experience did not increase nest success. Mean hen succ
ess for this population was the lowest reported fbr ally eastern wild
turkey (M. g. silvestris) population. Low hen success via lack of prod
uctivity from renest attempts, lack of juvenile hell reproduction, and
low nest success may have contributed to the population decline. A si
mplistic population model indicated that, given current reproduction a
nd hen survival, maintaining wild turkeys as a closed population on ou
r area is doubtful.