While turkeys are currently a staple of Thanksgiving feasts, future harvests of these iconic birds may prove to be more challenging.
Ongoing research from the University of Georgia suggests that if hunters persist with their current methods and turkeys maintain their usual patterns, it may become increasingly difficult to harvest them.
Nickolas Gulotta, the study’s lead author and a PhD student at UGA’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, stated, “Hunters need to be adaptable because turkeys are also changing their behaviors. If we keep harvesting birds near risky areas tied to hunters, these turkeys will modify their actions, making them harder to see and catch.”
Gulotta’s research involved monitoring the risk-taking and exploratory behaviors of 109 wild male turkeys in Georgia’s wildlife management areas, examining how they responded to hunters and predators. The findings revealed that the turkeys’ movements and the risks they took were significantly influenced by hunting activities and natural threats.
Risky Behavior Isn’t Always Advantageous
The majority of the male turkeys studied exhibited bold behaviors.
They often roamed near where hunters parked, as well as popular trails, roads, and open spaces. This is beneficial for hunters but poses dangers for the turkeys themselves.
Gulotta explained, “When turkeys stay close to open areas, it makes them easier targets for both hunters and predators. In general, turkeys that displayed more daring behavior were more likely to be caught.”
This situation may initially favor hunters. However, as future turkeys observe the outcomes for those that took risks, they are likely to alter their behaviors.
Consequently, hunters might need to employ more inventive tactics and practice greater patience in their efforts to locate birds.
“Turkeys are clearly learning that being near risky areas can lead to their demise. Some are adopting safer behaviors that make them less noticeable,” Gulotta noted. “If hunters continue to target the boldest birds, it could become harder to find turkeys because they may be left with individuals that are more elusive.”
The Predator-Prey Dynamic Adds Complexity
Turkeys that steer clear of areas advantageous to hunters tend to stay still or in dense cover to escape danger.
One of the most telling signs for hunters is the sound of turkeys gobbling. Therefore, when turkeys refrain from moving or making noise in open areas, it complicates the hunters’ job.
However, turkeys don’t know the hunting schedule, so when hunters leave and the turkeys revert to their relaxed habits, predators may take advantage.
“To survive the hunting season, turkeys often rely on traits like hiding in well-covered areas and limiting their daily movements. Yet, this can backfire; if they remain stationary and don’t cover much ground, they’re more vulnerable to predators,” Gulotta pointed out. “It’s a tricky situation—while surviving the hunting season may ensure their safety for a while, being predictable in their movements increases their risk from predators.”
Learning Together: Turkeys and Hunters
There is considerable variability in individual turkey behaviors, and survival strategies can indeed be passed down.
This study highlights the importance of crafting specialized hunting strategies based on local conditions. In areas where hunters frequently appear, turkeys may become more difficult to hunt over time. According to Gulotta, this trend could negatively impact hunting license sales and overall hunter satisfaction in the long run.
“Turkeys that tend to linger near hunter-accessible areas are the ones typically harvested,” he stated. “If hunting practices continue as they are in the Southeast, there’s a risk we could fundamentally change wild turkey behavior, making them harder to harvest.”
Published by the Royal Society, this study was co-authored by Patrick Wightman and Michael Chamberlain from UGA’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, along with Bret Collier from Louisiana State University.
