As fall fades into winter with holidays on the horizon, turkey is likely to be front and center at many holiday meals. Unfortunately, turkey is often only present on the menu rather than the minds of private landowners during this time of year. 

During the autumn and throughout the winter, turkey habitat management falls to the wayside among the numerous hunting seasons. Active implementation of turkey management practices often yields exceptional results if performed during the autumn and winter, so here are some management activities that you ought to be implementing for your local turkey population this time of year.

Prescribed Fire for Turkey Habitat

Unquestionably the most efficient and cost-effective management tool in any landowner’s turkey management toolbox is prescribed fire. For turkey management prescribed fire is exceptional at promoting reproductive habitat (i.e., Nesting and brood rearing habitat). Reproductive habitat largely drives turkey populations but often receives little focus in stimulating said habitat. Nesting habitat for turkeys is composed of a diversity of herbaceous forbs and legumes, native grasses, and scattered woody shrubs and vines. Native grasses and herbaceous vegetation (forbs/legumes) provide lateral screening cover at the ground level and scattered woody brush species provide the overhead cover. 

One will commonly find turkey nests at the base of a shrub or tree where adequate lateral and overhead cover is present. Prescribed fire promotes nesting habitat by “resetting” the habitat to an earlier successional state. As vegetation grows, debris and thatch build up and plant densities, specifically woody shrubs and vines can become too dense to be used efficiently by turkeys for nesting and brood rearing.

Cool Season Disking

Brood rearing habitat is probably the least intentionally managed for habitat types but undoubtedly one of the most important to minimizing mortality for turkey poults and increasing turkey populations. Brood rearing habitat is composed of a mixture of herbaceous (i.e., weedy) vegetation that provides overhead cover with a bare dirt component that allows for ease of movement for poults.

This type of habitat can be managed by utilizing cool season disking. In areas adjacent to nesting habitat (see Rx Fire section), lightly disk (3” +/- deep) during these cooler months (November – early February). This activity breaks up the soil profile and reduces thatch/debris as well as stimulates the seed bank promoting the growth of predominantly herbaceous vegetation. 

Disking during the summer months is more likely to favor plant species that are aggressive or invasive and/or in densities that may limit poult movement/access. Limit this activity to the cooler months and avoid performing in areas where erosion is a concern or where soils are very sandy or drought-prone. Underutilized food plots, logging decks, or logging roads are excellent spots to perform this management activity.

Trapping

Trapping is a controversial topic within the field of wildlife management with varying degrees of evidence of efficacy. Of course, most management activities are highly dependent upon the context in which they are used. However, trapping can be useful in aiding the local turkey population in cases where habitat management is limited or not feasible (i.e., lack of active forest management, rx fire, etc.). 

Trapping during the autumn and winter just prior to and through nesting season can reduce the number of predators in an area that would otherwise target hens, nests, and poults. Focus specifically on nest predators if possible, such as raccoons, possums, skunks, coyotes, etc. High numbers of nest predators in poor habitats can result in high nest losses and adult hen predation. More successful nests on a property ought to yield higher poult numbers and hopefully more adults.

Supplemental Food Plots for Turkey Habitat

If you’re reading this, you’ve already likely planted your food plots with the intention of drawing in deer for harvest or to supplement the resident population through the winter months. A lot of folks here in Mississippi prefer to plant a 3-way or 5-way mixture that often includes a couple of cereal grains (wheat, oats, rye, etc.) and maybe a legume (clovers, peas, etc.), brassica (turnips, kale, etc.), or a combination of the two. These mixtures are great for drawing in deer and have some value for turkeys looking to add some green to their diet. However, these mixes tend to be aimed more at the deer than turkeys. 

For turkeys, consider increasing the planting rates or varieties of legumes and forbs (e.g., clovers. Partridge pea, etc.) and avoiding certain grasses (e.g., ryegrass). Turkeys will get some immediate usage from the greenery provided during fall/winter but food plots focused on turkeys really shine during the brood rearing season when turkey poults have extremely high requirements for protein primarily obtained from insects. 

Food plots with a variety of leafy vegetation attract numerous insects to fulfill these requirements. The inclusion of cereal grains (wheat, rye, oats, etc.) will provide seed heads for food as well as overhead cover from aerial predators while poults and hens are feeding. Consider enlisting the assistance of a local natural resource professional for specific rates and species compositions for your property’s soil and climate conditions.

Reclaim Old Logging Roads and Loading Decks

Most timberland tracts managed for timber production have at least a couple of loading /delimbing decks or logging roads/skidder trails. These spots often go idle and “grow up” until the next time a forestry activity is performed. However, these areas provide an excellent opportunity to actively manage for wildlife, specifically turkeys. 

Reclaim these spots by removing the debris and/or vegetation, depending on how long since the last timber operation. Gathering debris into burn piles is a cost-effective way to remove said material. Avoid creating one large burn pile but rather create several smaller piles. When one large pile burns, the resulting intensity of the fire can sterilize the seedbank beneath the pile and create a “moonscape” of bare soil. If possible, burn the resulting piles as soon as possible, weather conditions permitting, to minimize the usage of piles as dens for predators (raccoons, skunks, coyotes, foxes, etc.). 

If possible, re-distribute any remaining debris across the area and lightly disturb the soil profile (light discing) to stimulate growth of native vegetation. Manage these areas as described in the “Cool season disking” section above. If the area is not conducive to soil disturbance, it may be managed with mowing during the cool season and applying prescribed fire to remove debris/thatch.

These habitat management practices can all play a part in producing and maintaining a healthy turkey population but landowners should carefully consider whether these practices will provide value in your wildlife management regime. The indiscriminate application of wildlife habitat management techniques without first fully assessing whether habitat needs are being met can lead to a lot of wasted time and money.