Turkey Call All Access

The Rio Grande turkey occupies a variety of regions across the country thanks to translocation, but it is primarily known as the bird that occupies the more arid regions of the country, spanning from Texas north to Kansas.  This bird also is characterized as being more "gobble-friendly" than its relatives to the east, and for it's caramel colored tips of the primary and covert tail feathers. To close out the four-part series on the main subspecies needed for a wild turkey grand slam, the NWTF's Paul Campbell and Pete Muller are joined by Texas-native and wild game chef Jesse Griffith and wild turkey researcher Bret Collier to talk about all things Rio Grande wild turkey. While recounting some stories from the field, Rio Grande turkey's history, geographic distribution, current research and much more for a podcast you won't want to miss! Also make sure to check out Jesse Griffith's "The Turkey Book" to grab some of the great recipes discussed on the episode. 

To bag a Merriam's wild turkey, hunter must head west to the more mountainous regions of the country. While these birds may be known for weaker gobbles and some of the shortest spurs and beards of all the subspecies, the snow-white tips of the tail fan for Merriam's turkeys keep turkey hunter heading to the high country year after year! On this episode of Turkey Call All Access, the NWTF's Jesse Warner and Chuck Carpenter are joined by Jason Phelps, of Phelps Game Calls, to recap a hunt they shared in the Pacific Northwest. They cover the tactics they used and the challenges met afield, they dive into research that has been conducted about Merriam's wild turkeys in the region and they chat about the outlook of the bird in the future. Learn more about the NWTF's efforts to ensure Healthy Habitats and Healthy Harvests by visiting www.nwtf.org.

Easterns are the most widely distributed subspecies of the American wild turkey and primarily are found east of the Mississippi River. They are also the most abundant. In fact, you can find them in 38 states and numerous Canadian provinces. Known for their chestnut-brown tip, strong gobbles and longer beards, these birds draw countless hunters to the turkey woods each spring.  To cover many of the things that make this subspecies special, we welcome guests Spring Legion's Hunter Farrior, NWTF Editor Matt Stewart and the wild turkey doc himself, Dr. Michael Chamberlain.

Renowned outdoor writer and Wisconsin-native Brian Lovett received the NWTF's Tom Kelly Communicator of the Year Award at the recent 2025 Convention and Sport Show in Nashville, Tennessee for his ability to share the message of the NWTF's efforts nationwide.  While chasing turkeys in South Florida, the NWTF's Pete Muller sat down with Lovett to talk about a Lovett's career as an outdoor communicator, the changes that have come to the world of turkey hunting, what aspiring outdoor enthusiasts could do to follow in his steps, the continuing role of communicators to save the sport of hunting and so much more!

In this episode, the NWTF's Paul Campbell sits down with renowned wild turkey biologist Dr. Mike Chamberlain to dive deep into one of the most fascinating developments in modern turkey research — the wildturkeyDNA project. They explore how a casual Super Bowl Sunday conversation sparked a groundbreaking initiative to uncover the origins of odd plumage in wild turkeys and what it could mean for conservation. Dr. Chamberlain breaks down how turkey hunters can contribute to this innovative study, what the team hopes to learn about color variations, hybridization and genetic diversity, and why these findings could help shape the future of wild turkey populations across North America. The two also share some entertaining hunting stories, discuss the influence of legendary biologist Lovett Williams, and talk about the launch of the new 'Spurred' video series coming from Wild Turkey Lab. If you've ever seen a turkey that looked just a little "off," this episode will have you rethinking what might really be behind those feathers. And if you're a turkey hunter, this is your chance to be part of the science. Learn more or get involved: wildturkeyDNA.com  Follow on Instagram: @WildTurkeyDNA

In the lower 48, spring wild turkey seasons begin in early March with the opening of the south Florida zones allowing hunters to chase the Osceola wild turkey.  The dark-winged beauties are one of the five subspecies of the American wild turkey and they occupy the states swamps, pastures, orange groves, oak hammocks and more,. They are a highly desired bird by turkey hunters as they are limited in range and the harvest could mark a completed wild turkey grand slam.  Today, we are joined by Mike Tussey and Bo Meador to talk about the birds, the landscapes they inhabit, the challenges they face and things hunters should consider if they chose to head to Florida to chase these birds. 

Robin Clark of Virginia & Dan Ferraro of Arizona are NWTF award recipients for helping people with disabilities discover or re-discover their passion for the outdoors.   From hunting spring gobblers in Virginia to hunting javelina and doves in the deserts of Arizona, these two gentlemen have gone above and beyond what it means to be a mentor, live the mission of the NWTF and embody what it means to be a nation united by the life-changing power of the outdoors.   Amongst the hustle and bustle of the 2025 NWTF convention, we sat down with Robin, Dan and  NWTF Arizona State Chapter President Roy Crain to discuss the facets of being a disabled hunter in the 21st century. From gear choices, access issues, regulatory issues, how to get involved, how to recruit new hunters with disabilites and more, this is sure to be an entertaining episode. Enjoy!

Renowned conservationist and outdoorsman, Will Primos, recently announced a partnership with the National Wild Turkey Federation, Congressional Sportsmen's Foundation, Ducks Unlimited, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and Pheasants Forever and Quail Forever to bring awareness to what conservation is and the role sportsmen and women play through the 'Truth About Conservation.' During the NWTF's Convention and Sport Show, Paul Campbell sat down with Primos to talk about his 'first hunting love,' the roots of the Truth Series, the upcoming auction of the Purdey hammer shotguns and more. Learn more about the Truth About Conservation.

In 2013, John Wallace launched his Wild Game Cook Instagram page as a way to provide everyday outdoorsmen and women with ideas for easy-to-make meals using wild game meat. Nearly 10 years later, he has taken this passion for food and education about wild game cooking, processing and more and made it a full-time gig. At SHOT Show 2025, we sat down with Wallace to chat about raising kids to appreciate wild game, easy wild game recipes for wild turkey legs, the necessity of simplicity in cooking wild game, the role wild game cooking on social media can play in the fight to ensure the future of our hunting heritage and more! To learn more about Wallace's and Wild Game Cook, visit https://wildgamecook.com.

Foster Bartholow, of Rapid City, South Dakota, is an accomplished trap shooter, an avid outdoor enthusiast and also is a talented videographer and photographer. When not spending his time dedicated to any of these pursuits, he also enjoys helping others with shooting techniques and getting kids into hunting. ​At SHOT Show, we sat down to talk about some of the new offerings from Browning and Winchester, which are sponsors of Bartholow's. And, we talk about the shared love of chasing Merriam's turkeys in the Black Hills. Learn more about Bartholow by visiting www.trapshootingbros.com/.

During the 2025 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, we had a chance to sit down with Cody Gill and From Field to Plate chef Jeremiah Doughty to talk food, getting new people involved in the life-changing power of the outdoors and much more! Doughty is known for his recipes and food photography found on his social outlets, as well as Turkey Call magazine. And, Gill is involved with the NWTF mission through his local chapter, but also dedicates his time to getting people outdoors through his project "West Texas Outfitters."

The National Wild Turkey Federation Convention and Sport Show is a celebration of a year of successes in delivering on the mission and bringing people together through the life-changing power of the outdoors. And, this year will be bigger than the last with new events and chances to win, a bigger Sport Show with more vendors and experiences, and more ways to honor and celebrate NWTF volunteers leading the way in their communities.   Join in as the NWTF's Paul Campbell, Pete Muller, Barry Woods and Jesse Warner sit down to talk about a host of events, things that are new for 2025, honoring the NWTF's most dedicated volunteers and supporters, auctions an raffles, and countless other ways to experience the mission of the NWTF.

During SHOT Show 2025, we got a chance to sit down with King Pedford - retired boxer and host of Haymaker Hunting - to talk about his passion for turkey hunting and more.  Pedford's show on Sportsman's Channel is described as a show that is meant "to educate and to share the joys, challenges, excitement, and my passion for hunting and fishing with youth and dedicated hunting fans of all colors.  Even if you've never hunted in your life, it is never too late to start enjoying this sport with your family and friends. We want to bring you "hunting reality" where not every hunt brings a trophy buck or record catch, but builds character and lasting memories." Learn more about Pedford and his show at https://haymakerhuntingusa.com.

This past fall, the NWTF launched its newest landscape-level, conservation initiative, Forests and Flocks. At the heart of this Northestern initiative is the NWTF's dual mission to conserve the wild turkey and preserve our hunting heritage. On this episode of the Turkey Call All Acess podcast, the NWTF's Paul Campbell sits down with two of the biologists from the Forests and Flocks region — Cully McCurdy and Mitchell Blake — to talk about how Forests and Flocks will establish critical nesting habitat in the spring, brood-rearing habitat in the summer, and practices that benefit hard and soft mast-bearing trees and shrubs that help wild turkeys make it through the winter in good condition. The initiative also focuses on the NWTF's mission to preserve our hunting heritage. This will boost the regional support for hunting and increase our voice against recurring proposed legislation that is antithetical to the NWTF's mission. Photo Credit: Steve Gulledge

Adventures are out there for those who are willing to take the path, or even water, less traveled.  On this episode of the Turkey Call All Access Podcast, the NWTF's David Gladkowski and Pete Muller sit down with Nashville recording artist and wild game chef Justin Adams to chat about the adventures had on a coastal island adventure, a trip full of fishing, hunting, crabbing, foraging for oysters and mussels, and the life-changing power of the outdoors. 

Christina McGannon Jones, of Oxford, New Jersey, has helped countless women get their start in the outdoors through the National Wild Turkey Federation's Women in the Outdoors outreach program, but she wears many other hats.  Today, she sits down with NWTF Northeastern R3 Coordinator Jess Warner to discuss her start in hunting, her journey to becoming involved with NWTF's education and outreach efforts and much more!

The tradition of telling hunting stories goes back to some of the earliest discovered cave drawings known to man. While the medium for telling these stories has changed over millennia, stories of the hunt are how we share and connect with something that is so fundamentally human. Whether it's the tales of the hunt, the misadventures, our passions for the pursuit or our love of wildlife and wild places, sharing the story is how we connect to something that awakens the soul. On this episode of the Turkey Call All Access Podcast, the NWTF's Paul Campbell sits down with Brent Rogers, Doc Weddle and Michael Simpson to revisit the Bottomland Book Club seminar from the 2024 NWTF Convention and Sport Show and talk turkey history, literature, hunting and more!

On this episode of the Turkey Call All Access Podcast, the NWTF's Paul Campbell travels to West Point, Mississippi to visit with the Mossy Oak Gamekeepers crew.  Campbell is joined by Bobby Cole, Lannie Wallace and Dudley Phelps of the Gamekeepers to share a few turkey hunting stories and discuss all things private land conservation, turkey research and the future of our cherished bird.

Programs designed to share the life-changing power of the outdoors are a key component of the NWTF's mission to conserve the wild turkey and preserve our hunting heritage.  On this episode, NWTF R3 Coordinator for the Northeast Jesse Warner sits down with Bre Bashford and Coral Minchey to discuss two programs in Georgia — Artemis Georgia and Academics Afield — that are introducing the outdoors to women and college students.  Learn more NWTF education and outreach programs that are reaching women, youth or those with disabilities.

Hunter advocacy plays a crucial role in preserving our hunting heritage. As threats to public lands, hunting access and wildlife habitats grow, the need to advocate for America's hunters is more important than ever to protect our outdoor traditions. For the final podcast discussion of NWTF Conservation Week, NWTF's Morgan Evans and Jesse Warner join NWTF Storyteller Hannah McKinney to dive into national R3 efforts, the Hunt for Good Campaign, the importance of policy and ways you can get involved to make a difference.

It's NWTF Conservation Week, and today's discussion is about fire. NWTF Storyteller Hannah McKinney is joined by a panel of NWTF staffers — NWTF biologists Dave Nikonow and Ricky Lackey, NWTF Director of Conservation Operations West Patt Dorsey and NWTF Wildfire Crisis Strategy Manager Molly Pitts — for a talk about fire across the landscape and the impacts on turkeys and other wildlife. Check out the whole conversation to learn about the history of fire in this country, implementation of fire in the southeast vs the west and also learn what landowners may be able to do on their own properties in regard to fire.

NWTF Conservation Week continues with a deep five into a topic that will surely pique the interest of turkey hunters — wild turkey reproduction. Ensuring hens are able to successfully reproduce and recruit poults into adulthood is critical for maintaining a stable wild turkey population across the country. For today's discussion, NWTF regional biologists Chuck Carpenter and John Burk join NWTF Managing Editor of Web and Digital David Gladkowski to discuss the nuances of wild turkey reproduction between their two differing regions and all that goes into making sure hens are able to create more turkeys year after year. 

Wild turkeys and a host of other game and non-game species thrive in a patchwork of habitats, including forests, open grasslands, agricultural fields, water corridors and more. For Conservation Week 2024, NWTF district biologists Derek Alkire, Ryan Boyer and Mitch Blake sit down with NWTF Managing Editor of Web and Media David Gladkowski to talk about the NWTF's efforts to ensure the wild turkey's annual cycle needs are met through habitat diversity and how members and landowners can help. 

Who was it that once said, “To talk about conservation and not talk about water is just dry conversation.” As the NWTF celebrates its 4th Annual Conservation Week, we would be remiss to not talk about the incredible importance of water and its integral role to the NWTF's mission to conserve the wild turkey and preserve our hunting heritage.  NWTF regional biologists Annie Farrell and Clayton Lenk, Western Water Specialist Travis Smith and Director of Conservation Operations Central Jared McJunkin sit down with NWTF Storyteller Hannah McKinney to talk about the NWTF's Waterways for Wildlife Initiative and other projects geared toward improving the element that connects us all: water. 

Taking its support of wild turkey research into new territory, the NWTF recently established the first-ever National Wild Turkey Federation Distinguished Professor position with the University of Georgia's Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources. Coming on the heels of the NWTF officially naming Dr. Mike Chamberlain as the chair of this position, the NWTF's Paul Campbell sits down with the Wild Turkey Doc himself and Mark Hatfield, NWTF national director of science and planning, to talk about the landmark announcement and what it means for wild turkeys. Learn more about the NWTF's investments in research.

Paul Campbell and Pete Muller of the NWTF are joined by Leslie Thompson, the "Niche to Meet You" podcast host, to talk about her new miniseries that was just launched this past week covering wild turkey conservation.  While Thompson chronicles her journey to learn about the history and conservation of our cherished bird and the people who play an important role in continuing one of America's greatest conservation success stories, there are few spoilers about the story she tells in her four-part series. You'll have to check out the series on your own to learn all the details. Her website teases the series as "a 4-part mini-series about the weird, wonderful Wild Turkey and the effort to conserve it. It's an important story about mending seemingly irreparable gaps and changing the world." Photo Credit: Leslie Thompson

Jesse Warner, the NWTF's Northeastern R3 coordinator, is on location in Mobile, Alabama for the 2024 R3 symposium where more than 220 R3 professionals gathered to engage in and discuss hunting and shooting sports participation.  Warner is joined by Bre Bashford, Georgia R3 coordinator, and Michael Addison, Nebraska R3 coordinator, to recount their spring slates of education and outreach successes, talk about the need to grow the ranks of those who support the outdoors pursuits and more!  Visit www.nwtf.org to learn more about the NWTF's dual mission to conserve the wild turkey and preserve our hunting heritage.  

That's a wrap! Turkey season is over and we're joined by Beau Brooks and Maggie Williams to talk their favorite moments from the season, traveling for turkeys and more.  Cover Photo by Casey Lyon. Become an NWTF member here.

Conservation is contagious! On this episode of the Turkey Call All Access Podcast we're talking with the NWTF North East R3 Coordinator, Jesse Warner, NWTF National R3 and Relevancy Coordinator Morgan Evans and Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife R3 Coordinator Astrid Huseby about all things R3. R3 stands for recruitment, retention and reactivation. Whether that's outreach through mentored hunts, JAKES days or other efforts, R3 is a core part of the NWTF mission. 

On this episode of the Turkey Call All Access Podcast, we're talking the 200 year cicada hatch! This convergence of two periodical cicada broods only happens about every 200 years and we are lucky enough to witness it in our lifetimes. Colton Zirkle of the Missouri Hunting Heritage Federation and NWTF District Biologist talk the life cycles of cicadas, their impact on turkey recruitment and more.  Learn about MHHF here.  Get connected with NWTF Events here. 

On this episode of the Turkey Call All Access Podcast, we're talking with Jonathan Wilkins, hunting guide, turkey fanatic, writer and cook. We cover everything from Kentucky Burgoo to DIY hunting vans. He is the owner of Black Duck Revival, a lodge in Arkansas, which you can learn more about here. Get connected with an NWTF Chapter in Arkansas here.

In this episode of the Turkey Call All Access podcast, we're talking with James and Cody Harrison of Harrison Custom Calls about the oldest calling competition in Missouri, insights into the competition calling world and more!  Find local calling competitions here

On this episode we're with the Hunting Public as they talk hunting pressured turkeys. From strategies on how to deal with hunting pressure to calling tips, there's something useful for everyone! 

It's Turkey Week! We're sitting down with Jason Phelps and James Harrison of Phelps Game Calls to talk turkey calling with locator calls, MeatEater's Turkey Week and more.  A special thanks to our partners, Nomad, Sawyer and Bass Pro Shops! Learn more about Phelps Game Calls here and make sure you check out the Turkey Week Episode from the MeatEater Podcast here!   Photo Credit: Monte Loomis

On this episode of the Turkey Call All Access Podcast, we're talking with Matt Light, 3x Super Bowl Champ and founder of the Light Foundation, an organization that focuses on connecting youth with outdoors experiences and building the long term values and skills they need to be successful! Matt is a lifelong outdoorsman and passionate turkey hunter. We're excited to share this conversation! You can support the Light Foundation's mission by entering their Turkey Touchdown Raffle and get a chance at winning a once in a lifetime turkey hunt. Enter here.

We caught up with Bret Collier, Mike Chamberlain and Mark Hatfield to talk wild turkey research, questions about turkey behavior and more.  Learn about our recent partnership with the Wild Turkey Lab here as well as our record investment in wild turkey research here! Photo Credit: Jeff Perot

This episode is all about convention! Get the scoop on some of the most exciting auctions, seminars and events at the 2024 NWTF Convention and Sport Show in Nashville. Whether you're watching the best turkey callers show off their skills at the GNCC or perusing the hundreds of vendors available on the show floor, it's sure to be a great time. If you haven't purchased event tickets, there's still time! Get registered here. Don't forget to check out our online auctions, where you can bid on once in a lifetime hunts and more! Learn more here.   

We sat down with BuckVentures at 2024 SHOT Show in Vegas to talk our new partnership and shared passion for conservation! Founded in 2003, BVO has gained acclaim for its high-quality outdoor shows, including “BuckVentures” and “The Woodsman.”  As part of the partnership, BuckVentures Outdoors Productions will feature NWTF's conservation efforts in episodes of “BuckVentures” on the Outdoor Channel, “The Woodsman” on the Sportsman Channel, and on their YouTube channel. This collaboration is expected to bolster the NWTF's membership outreach and create new avenues for engagement across the nation.

On this episode of the Turkey Call All Access Podcast, we're sitting down with Brian Wright of Williams Gun Sight Company to talk their new Low Reflex Sight, specifically designed with turkey hunters in mind! If you're looking to upgrade your turkey gun in anticipation for the 2024 spring season, you won't want to miss this!  You can learn more about the LRS sight here. 

On this episode of the Turkey Call All Access Podcast, we're sitting down the former NWTF CEO and turkey hunting legend Rob Keck! We talk the beginning years of the NWTF and some of the challenges of laying the groundwork for fifty years of conservation work. If you missed our other conversation with Rob Keck, you can watch the full thing here!

This episode is all about the five gift rule! It's the holidays and if you're looking to get a thoughtful gift for someone who loves the outdoors, you know it can be tricky to pick something. The five gift rule is giving someone a gift they want, one they need, something to wear, something to read and an experience. We hope this holiday prompt sparks your creativity!  Check out our Holiday Gift Guide here. To join the NWTF or gift a membership, you can sign up here. 

On this episode of the Turkey Call All Access Podcast, we're talking bourbon, white oaks and how all that ties back into wildlife habitat! We're joined by Ryan Boyer, Heather Wortley, Nick Mueller and Brandon Nutt. White oak trees are a vital part of a healthy forest ecology, occupying more than 104 million acres of public and private forest land across much of the central and eastern U.S. The importance of these majestic oaks is difficult to overstate in terms of their economic and wildlife habitat impacts. Sales of white oak trees generate billions of dollars annually, providing needed materials for furniture, flooring, cabinetry and the wine and spirits industry. In addition, white oaks are a key component of habitats supporting a diverse range of insects, pollinators, birds and mammals. That's why we're working hard to invest in the future of white oaks through the White Oak Initiative.  You can learn more about the White Oak Initiative here.

We're talking with Ryan Boyer, Pat McFadden, Doug Little and Scott Fetters about an exciting project that's establishing diverse, native plant habitat on golf courses! With their expanse of acreage — well over 100 acres on average ― golf courses provide untapped potential to benefit wildlife. That is why the NWTF is partnering with the U.S. Golf Association, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Pheasants Forever and other partners to facilitate new research being conducted by Purdue University's Turf Science and Entomology departments.  You can read more about the project here. 

This episode of Turkey Call All Access is all about the Farm Bill and what it means for wild turkey conservation! Matt Lindler, Doug Little and Jared McJunkin dive into programs funded by this legislation and how it benefits both private landowners and the general public.    Read more about the Farm Bill here.    

On this episode, we're talking with Joe Bartozzi, President and CEO of the National Shooting Sports Foundation and Jared McJunkin, Director of Conservation Operations in the Central Region. Whether you're a new gun owner or firearms have been in your family for generations, firearms safety is one of the most important topics to stay fresh on. We cover tips on how to create safe habits for firearms both in the home and field, how to introduce children and new hunters to firearms, and more!  Learn more about Project Childsafe and how you can prevent firearm accidents and suicides here: https://projectchildsafe.org/

The Rio Grande wild turkey, a distinct subspecies of North American wild turkey found primarily in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, New Mexico, and Nebraska, face many threats, such as habitat loss, urbanization, climate change, disease and parasites, and these factors play a significant role in impacting the overall health of Rio Grande wild turkey populations. Recognizing their importance, a new study emphasizes the critical need to closely monitor the health of these populations to ensure their long-term survival. This project is one of 10 new research projects across nine states the NWTF is funding, with $582,374 invested among these vital projects. These research projects are part of a nearly $9 million investment into wild turkey research in 2023, supported by the NWTF and its partners.

A new study in Florida is trying to better understand the survival of hens, their choices in habitat selection, nesting chronology and nest site selection. It will look at survival rates of Osceola wild turkeys, including both adult birds and their poults, while closely examining the factors that are linked to their mortality. It will also focus on quantifying the survival and behavior of adult male wild turkeys in hunted and non hunted populations. Researchers aim to gain insights into the impacts of harvest management strategies and season structure on wild turkey populations. This project is one of 10 new research projects across nine states the NWTF is funding, with $582,374 invested among these vital projects. These research projects are part of a nearly $9 million investment into wild turkey research in 2023, supported by the NWTF and its partners.

Through our 2023 commitment to wild turkey research, the NWTF has granted funding to an ongoing research project in Oklahoma. It aims to understand the decline of wild turkey and brood survival in the state.Through monitoring hen survival, poult survival, habitat selection and exposure to disease, researchers are taking a comprehensive approach to understand these issues at a deeper level. This project is one of 10 new research projects across nine states the NWTF is funding, with $582,374 invested among these vital projects. These projects are part of a nearly $9 million investment into wild turkey research in 2023, supported by the NWTF, its state chapters and its partners.  

Wildlife managers in numerous Eastern U.S. states have observed decreasing patterns in yearly Eastern wild turkey offspring and have proposed that a diminished number of successful hatches could influence declines in local populations.  In Wisconsin, a new research initiative intends to shed light on crucial aspects of turkey survival, recruitment (when new individuals are added to a population) and population dynamics (the factors that affect the increase, stability and decrease of populations over time) using innovative methods and technology. We talk with Christopher Pollentier about the project and wild turkey populations in Wisconsin. Read more here: https://www.nwtf.org/content-hub/integrating-data-sources

As part of its 2023 investment in wild turkey research, the NWTF is helping fund a new project led by Kansas State University; the Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks; and the U.S. Geological Survey, Kansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit. To establish a poults-per-hen ratio of two or higher, the success of a hen raising a healthy brood and recruiting poults to juveniles is essential. The emerging research will examine the diets of poults and hens in their most critical stages for recruitment: the first two weeks for poults and nesting periods for hens. This project is one of 10 new research projects across nine states the NWTF is funding, with $582,374 invested among these vital projects. These projects are part of a nearly $9 million investment into wild turkey research in 2023, supported by the NWTF and its partners.

In 2019, a report in Science made headlines worldwide, stating that North America's bird population had decreased by 3 billion birds since the 1970s. Researchers deciphered this staggering number using advanced statistical methods integrating wide-ranging data sources, including multiple annual bird censuses, historical data and even weather radar data that can quantify migratory birds. Now, researchers at the University of Florida want to take a similar approach with wild turkeys, painting a clearer picture of wild turkey abundance across the country. “Currently, there are few methods to reliably estimate wild turkey abundance, meaning that managers and practitioners often rely on indices, such as poults per hen and hunter harvest, to track trends in populations,” said Corey Callaghan, Ph.D., assistant professor of global ecology at the University of Florida. “Our approach will utilize these indices as well as multiple large-scale datasets to develop a method to estimate wild turkey abundance at multiple spatial scales, which will benefit state agencies in decision-making processes.” Read more here: https://www.nwtf.org/content-hub/integrating-data-sources