The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is looking for landowners to help with a large-scale study of wild turkey movements, survival, and harvest. In January 2016, DEC will begin the final year of a four-year study in which wild turkey hens will be captured and fitted with leg bands. The objective of the banding study is to examine harvest rates, survival rates, and movements of hens. All work is done by DEC personnel on public and private lands from January through March.
DEC seeks landowners who would be interested in allowing birds to be trapped on their land, as well as alerting project coordinators when they see turkeys on their property. After turkeys are trapped and banded, they will immediately be released at the same location. Not all locations are suitable for deploying capture equipment, so landowners should contact their regional project coordinator to discuss the suitability of their property.
DEC would appreciate reports from landowners, hunters, bird watchers or otherse about winter turkey flock locations anywhere in New York State. Observations of turkey flocks (of even a few birds) during January through March can be reported to the project coordinator for your region.
If you are interested, please contact:
Karl Parker
(518) 357-2154
NYSDEC, Bureau of Wildlife
11150 N. Westcott Rd.
Schenectady, NY 12306
For more information, contact DEC at (518) 402-8886 or by e-mail at wildlife@dec.ny.gov (subject line “Turkey Study”).
