Got Nature? Blog

MyDNR, Indiana’s Outdoor Newsletter: Donate your harvested deer to feed hungry Hoosiers. In Indiana, you can enjoy a great day hunting and also help Hoosiers in need. In fact, one donated deer can provide 200 meals for a Hoosier family!

Follow these simple steps:

1. Enjoy a deer hunting experience.
2. Harvest a deer.
3. Drop off the field-dressed deer at a local participating processor.
4. Processing fees are paid for by Hunt for Hunger (at no cost to you).
5. The processor creates healthy venison burgers to distribute to food banks.

This is a part of the program Indiana Hunt for Hunger (also known as Sportsmen’s Benevolence Fund).  The Indiana Department of Natural Resources launched this in 2008 to provide an easy way for hunters across Indiana to help hungry Hoosiers in need. Since its launch, the program has grown across the state to collect thousands of deer donations, providing hundreds of thousans of meals for Hoosiers.

For more information, visit the Hunt for Hunger page.

To subscribe to the newsletter, visit MyDNR Email Newsletter.

Resources:
Ask an Expert: Wildlife Food Plots, video, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel
Handling Harvested Game: Episode 1, Field Dressing, video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Handling Harvested Game: Episode 2, Hanging & Skinning, video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Handling Harvested Game: Episode 3, Deboning, video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Handling Harvested Game: Episode 4, Cutting, Grinding & Packaging, video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Deer Harvest Data Collection, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – FNR
How to Score Your White-tailed Deer, video, The Education Store, Purdue Extension Resource Center
White-Tailed Deer Post Harvest Collection, video, The Education Store
Age Determination in White-tailed Deer, video, The Education Store
Handling Harvested Deer Ask an Expert? video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
How to Build a Plastic Mesh Deer Exclusion Fence, The Education Store
Bovine Tuberculosis in Wild White-tailed Deer, The Education Store
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners: Managing Deer Damage to Young Trees, video, Purdue Extension – FNR YouTube Channel
Integrated Deer Management Project, Purdue FNR
New Deer Impact Toolbox, Purdue Extension-Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR)

Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Department of Fish & Wildlife

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Purdue Extension’s annual report showcases the accomplishments, outcomes and activities that highlight the impact of Purdue Extension across Indiana. Extension specialists and educators provide educational programs and research-based knowledge to help families, individuals, and communities prosper and thrive.

The Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources specialists featured:

Private Woodland Owners Make Decisions and Take Actions to Improve Acreage Value – project specialist include Lenny Farlee, Ron Rathfon, Don Carlson, and Jarred Brooke, along with county extension educators Dave Osborne, and Phil Woolery. Indiana has 20% forest lands, most privately owned. Forests are important habitats for wildlife and provide environmental and social benefits. Purdue Extension offers Forest Management for the Private Woodland Owner, in-person and virtually. The in-person program has eight 2.75-hour evening sessions and two Saturday three-hour field day tours. Purdue Extension and local forestry and natural resource professionals provide presentations and direct activities. Participants receive a tree measuring stick and a flash drive containing more than 100 publications and resources.

Participant forest management knowledge improved after the program. More than 90% found it useful for making decisions, and 80% plan to take actions in the next year. A participant said, “This course provided exactly the information I needed to understand the DNR forester’s report on my classified forest and to act on it. It will also help form a land management plan of my own (beyond what the forester provided), find programs to help manage and expand the forest, and earn a little money from the property in future years.”

Furniture Production Addresses Workforce Development and Rebuilds Lives in Indiana – project specialist include Dr. Eva Haviarova and Dr. Henry Quesada. Most U.S. school furniture is made overseas and from nonrenewable materials (steel, plastic, and composite). Increasingly, the product sustainability, the circular economy, and the benefits of natural materials are being shown to be important in learning environments.

To create a new market for low-value hardwoods, urban woods, and plantation resources by designing and producing innovative products, including wooden school furniture, Purdue’s Wood Research Lab has tested all strength and environmental attributes. At the same time, Purdue Extension is focusing on workforce development for Indiana’s wood products industry. An approach is to provide potential employment and entrepreneurial opportunities to residents with troubled pasts, underprivileged workers, and those needing a second chance in life by partnering with Purposeful Design, the Forest Service, Indiana Hardwood Lumbermen’s Association, Urban Forest Products and other industry players to train workers in furniture production and qualify for future work.

To view full report visit: Purdue Extension Showcase.
To learn more about Purdue Extension visit: About Us.
For all Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources publications, videos, webinars and initiatives view: Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources.

Resources:
A Woodland Management Moment, Playlist, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources Youtube Channel
Invasive Species, Playlist
Woodland Stewardship for Landowners, Playlist
Invasive Plant Species Identification, Video
Invasive plants: impact on environment and people, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
Investing in Indiana Woodlands, The Education Store
Woodland Invaders, Got Nature? Blog
District Forester, Indiana DNR Division of Forestry, for over 10 acres of woodlands
Directory of Professional Foresters, Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association (IFWOA)
Indiana Woodland Steward E-newsletters, Eleven Member Organization
Conservation Tree Planting: Steps to Success, Purdue Extension – FNR Youtube Channel
Forest Improvement Handbook, The Education Store
Joint Design Manual for Furniture Frames Constructed of Plywood and Oriented Strand Board, The Education Store
The Shrinking and Swelling of Wood and Its Effect on Furniture, The Education Store
Performance Test Method for Intensive Use Chairs – FNEW 83-269: A Description of the Test Method with Drawings​, The Education Store
How Baby Bear’s Chair Was Made, The Education Store

Purdue Extension

Diana Evans, Extension & Web Communications Specialist
Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

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Agricultural & Natural Resources (ANR) Newsletter: This fall marks the conclusion of the fourth consecutive year of the American Citizen Planner – Indiana program. Launched during the pandemic in 2020, the program has successfully been offered statewide twice a year and has trained more than 250 community leaders. Participants come from diverse backgrounds, such as elected officials, professional planners, members of plan commissions, boards of zoning appeals, surveyors, engineers, and engaged citizens interested in local planning issues.

Tailored for Indiana’s planning statutes by the Purdue Land Use Team, the program has evolved to include new modules on Environmental Planning and Community Engagement, Enhancing Equity in Planning, and features invited guest speakers, alongside 28 online content modules. The core curriculum covers a wide range of topics essential for planning including ethics, decision making, a wide range of comprehensive planning and zoning topics, and engaging the public in the planning process. Registration for the 16-week virtual program opens each February and July, with Purdue Extension educators meeting with participants online four times throughout the course to facilitate discussions and interactive scenarios.

Feedback from participants underscores the program’s positive impact on their communities. A recent long-term follow-up survey revealed that many have utilized their newfound knowledge to update codes and ordinances, incorporate natural resource planning, and about 75% indicated they would share insights with their peers. One participant noted, “As a member of the town council in a community of about 230, this course has greatly enhanced my understanding of the planning process in our county. I feel much better equipped to evaluate zoning requests and look forward to leveraging planning to further develop our community!” Those who complete all course requirements are eligible to take the comprehensive exam and earn a course certificate.

The American Citizen Planner – Indiana program is available in your community. Follow Extension’s social media for registration updates and reach out to your local ANR educator to request an in-person workshop.

Resources:
Implementation Examples of Smart Growth Strategies in Indiana, The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s resource center
Conservation Through Community Leadership, The Education Store
Climate Change and Sustainable Development, The Education Store
Climate Change: Are you preparing for it?, The Education Store
Enhancing the Value of Public Spaces: Creating Healthy Communities, The Education Store
One Water Approach to Water Resources Management, The Education Store
Community Soundscape Planning Guide: Controlling Noise & Protecting Natural & Cultural Sonic Spaces, The Education Store
Agricultural Best Management Practices, The Education Store
Urban Best Management & Low Impact Development Practices, The Education Store
Rainscaping Education Program, Purdue Extension
Conservation Through Community Leadership, Sustainable Communities Extension Program (SCEP)
Community Planning Playlist, Purdue Extension-Forestry & Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel
Rainscaping and Rain Gardens, Purdue Extension YouTube Channel
Conservation through Community Leadership, Purdue Extension You Tube Channel
Enhancing the Value of Public Spaces Program, Purdue Extension YouTube Channel
Tipping Point Planner, Purdue Agriculture YouTube Channel
Indiana Creek Watershed Project – Keys to Success, Partnerships and People, Purdue Extension You Tube Channel
Subscribe to Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources YouTube Channel

Dan Walker, Community Development regional Educator
Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources/Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant/Purdue Extension

Kara Salazar, Assistant Program Leader for Community Development and Sustainable Communities Extension Specialist
Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources/Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant/Purdue Extension

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The Indiana Natural Resources Teacher Institute (NRTI) is an annual multi-day conservation education workshop and tour of forest management, forest industry and forestry research in Indiana. The purpose of the institute is to provide an introduction to the impact sustainable forestry has on our state’s environment, economy, and quality of life, and to equip teachers to apply that knowledge in the classroom.

The 5-day workshop advances effective teaching and learning about Indiana’s forest resources and their management. Participants will learn how to approach the teaching of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) concepts and principles from a natural resource perspective through exposure to professionals, researchers, and industry leaders and hands-on experiences in the field. Participants develop a curriculum project to be implemented with their students, bringing natural resource science and management topics and activities into the classroom.

Several partners and many sponsors and supporters facilitate this program. The Indiana DNR Division of Forestry Project Learning Tree Coordinator, Lexi Eiler, serves as the lead on this project, and the Division provides housing for the participants at the Morgan Monroe State Forest Training Center. Donna Rogler, the originator of the Indiana NRTI, Lenny Farlee, Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources Extension Forester, and Mary Cutler, Tippecanoe County Parks and Recreation Naturalist, serve as Instructors/facilitators with Lexi for the week of activities and tours. Each of these individuals is also an alumnus of Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources!

Presenters from several agencies, organizations, and companies assist with field tours and presentations, including a tour and activities on the Hardwood Ecosystem Experiment site at Morgan Monroe State Forest. The connection with this long-term, large-scale research project provides a unique STEM application teachers can take back to their classrooms.

The NRTI program can accommodate up to 16 teachers, with emphasis on primary educators, but welcoming to educators from all ages and backgrounds. Many past participants have called this week the best professional development training they have attended. Some comments from our most recent class in June of 2024:

“It was amazing. I am grateful for the activities and all the fantastic materials provided.”

“I learned so much about forestry and forest ecology. I can’t wait to share my lesson with the students.”

“Loved my time at the Indiana Natural Resources Teacher Institute! I learned so much and can’t wait to share and do activities at school this year.”

Educators interested in the workshop can visit this DNR website to find out more about schedules and applications – https://www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/programs/education/

Resources:
Purdue Forestry and Natural Resources Facebook Page
Project Learning Tree
Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry
The Nature of Teaching, Purdue Department of Forestry and Natural Resources
The Nature of Teaching: Trees of the Midwest, The Education Store
The Nature of Teaching: Adaptations for Aquatic Amphibians, The Education Store
Trees of the Midwest Webinar, Nature of Teaching YouTube channel
Indiana Forestry Educational Foundation, Indiana Forestry & Woodland Owners Association
Forest/Timber, Playlist, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources YouTube Channel
Natural Resources Teacher Institute Takes Forestry to the Classroom, Purdue FNR News
Purdue Extension

Lexi Eiler , Coordinator
Indiana Project Learning Tree

Lenny Farlee, Sustaining Hardwood Extension Specialist
Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

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Quality of life encompasses individuals’ overall well-being, goals, expectations, standards, and concerns. Various factors shape a person’s perception of quality of life, such as physical and mental health, economic stability, social connections, education, and the environment. Access to healthcare, education, employment opportunities, and recreational facilities significantly influences a person’s ability to meet their needs and achieve their goals (World Health Organization, 2012).

Discover the power of quality of place and placemaking through this new publication by Kara Salazar, who is the Assistant Program Leader for Community Development for Purdue Extension along with being the Sustainable Communities Extension Specialist for Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant. Placemaking is the process of planning, designing, and managing public spaces to enhance quality of life and foster community.  Effective placemaking, whether through tactical interventions like pop-up parks or strategic projects that reshape entire neighborhoods, revitalizes communities. By involving residents in the process, we create vibrant spaces that reflect local culture and values. These efforts not only improve quality of life but also attract investment, support local businesses, and promote sustainability.

To receive the free download, visit the Purdue Extension’s resource center: The Education Store – Quality of Place and Community Development.

Resources:
Implementation Examples of Smart Growth Strategies in Indiana, The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s resource center
Community Development, Purdue Extension
Enhancing the Value of Public Spaces Program Video, Purdue Extension
Enhancing the Value of Public Spaces: Creating Healthy Communities, The Education Store – Purdue Extension’s resource center
Enhancing the Value of Public Spaces Curriculum, The Education Store
Sustainable Communities Extension Program Website, Purdue Extension
Conservation Through Community Leadership, The Education Store
One Water Approach to Water Resources Management, The Education Store
Rainscaping Education Program, Purdue Extension
Indiana Creek Watershed Project – Keys to Success, Partnerships and People, Video, Purdue Extension You Tube Channel
Subscribe to Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources YouTube Channel

Kara Salazar, Sustainable Communities Extension Specialist
Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

 

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MyDNR, Indiana’s Outdoor Newsletter: Every May, wild turkey chicks (poults) begin to hatch in Indiana, and DNR needs your help counting turkey broods (hens with poults) and hens without poults.

Brood reports have been collected every year since 1993 to calculate the annual Wild Turkey Production index, which informs biologists about population status and guides management decisions for the species. Please share your 2024 observations with us online from July 1 until Aug. 31. Recording observations takes less than five minutes, and no login is required.

In 2023, DNR received more than 2,203 reports across all 92 counties in Indiana, and we’re hoping for even more this year. Our goal is to receive 3,000 total observations with at least 25 per county.

Why count turkeys?
Brood surveys provide useful estimates about annual production by wild turkey hens and the survival of poults (young turkeys) through the summer brood-rearing period. Summer brood survival is generally the primary factor influencing wild turkey population trends. Information on summer brood survival is essential for sound turkey management. Information gathered through the brood survey includes:

• Average brood sizes (hens + poults). For example, in the photo above there is one hen with seven poults, for a brood size of eight.
• Percentage of adult hens with poults.
• Production Index (PI) = total number of poults/total number of adult hens

What is a wild turkey brood?
A wild turkey brood is composed of at least one adult hen with young (poults). As the summer progresses, multiple broods may gather into what is termed a “gang” brood with several adult hens and multiple broods of poults of varied ages. During summer, adult gobblers (male turkeys) play no role in raising a brood and either form small male only “bachelor” flocks or are observed as a single gobbler.

The Indiana Department of Natural Resources – Department of Fish and Wildlife rely on your observations to calculate their Production Index, so every report counts! Indiana DNR appreciates your participation.

Jarred Brooke, extension wildlife specialist with Purdue Forestry & Natural Resources, shares how you can participate in the Indiana Department of Natural Resources’ annual turkey brood survey in a quick video.

 

To learn more, visit DNR: Turkey Brood Reporting.

To subscribe to the newsletter visit MyDNR Email Newsletter.

Resources:
Four Simple Steps, Help Indiana DNR Estimate Wild Turkey Populations, Purdue Extension – Forestry & Natural Resources
Truths and Myths about Wild Turkey, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
Wildlife, Playlist, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources YouTube Channel
Forest Improvement Handbook, The Education Store
Turkey Brood Reporting, Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR)
Wild Turkey, Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR)
Wild Turkey Hunting Biology and Management, Indian Department of Natural Resources (IDNR)
Subscribe to Purdue Extension-Forestry & Natural Resources YouTube Channel, Wildlife Playlist

Indiana Department of Natural Resources

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Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) has recently added to its YouTube Channel new water safety videos, which share what to watch for and how to stay out of those scary situations that can become dangerous very quickly.

Water Safety Basics: Water safety is more then just knowing how to swim. You need to what can cause hazards, what type of water bodies have hazards and how to avoid or survive those hazards.

Water Safety – What to Know Before You Go to the Beach: On average every year, 87 people die in the Great Lakes, half of them are in Lake Michigan. Ocean waves are very different from Great Lake waves.

Water Safety – Winter Beach Hazards: Water safety is so important during the winter. When covered in snow and ice, it’s difficult to tell where the beach ends and the lake begins. Shelf ice is beautiful but dangerous. There are many places where it cannot support a person’s weight, which may cause a fall into freezing water below, so you should never walk on shelf ice.

Water Safety – How to Escape Dangerous Currents: Of the five Great Lakes, Lake Michigan has the highest number of drownings and rescues each year. Lake Michigan is freshwater. This is so different from an ocean. It doesn’t have the salt, so it is lacking that buoyancy already. If waves get super high and rip currents start to form and that water gets volatile, it is going to be much harder to get out of the situation if you start struggling while you are swimming.

Water Safety – Southern Lake Michigan: Lake Michigan has also had more than 250 recorded cases of swimmers caught in rip currents since 2002, which is double the combined total of the other four Great Lakes. Make sure you check the forecast before you come and have a safety plan. In the ocean you can get hit by two waves in 15 seconds but in the Great Lakes you could get his with five waves in that same time period. Learn more about high frequency waves and how dangerous it can be.

Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant combines research, education, and outreach to empower southern Lake Michigan communities to secure a healthy environment and economy. The program is funded through National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) via the National Sea Grant College Program, as well as the University of Illinois and Purdue University. IISG also works in partnerships with key organizations, institutions, and agencies in the region to reach more audiences and multiply opportunities for success. IISG brings together scientists, educators, policy makers, community decision makers, outreach specialists, business leaders, and the general public to work towards a healthy environment and economy.

Subscribe to the Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG) YouTube Channel.

More Resources:
Implementation Examples of Smart Growth Strategies in Indiana, The Education Store, Purdue Extension’s resource center
Conservation Through Community Leadership, The Education Store
Conservation Through Community Leadership, Sustainable Communities Extension Program (SCEP)
Conservation through Community Leadership, Purdue Extension You Tube Channel
Rainscaping Education Program, Purdue Extension
Rainscaping and Rain Gardens, Purdue Extension YouTube Channel
Tipping Point Planner, The Education Store
Tipping Point Planner, Purdue Agriculture YouTube Channel
Enhancing the Value of Public Spaces, The Education Store
Enhancing the Value of Public Spaces: Creating Healthy Communities, The Education Store
Enhancing the Value of Public Spaces Program, Purdue Extension YouTube Channel
One Water Approach to Water Resources Management, The Education Store
Community Development, Purdue Extension
Community Planning Playlist, Purdue Extension-Forestry & Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel
Indiana Creek Watershed Project – Keys to Success, Partnerships and People, Subscribe to Purdue Extension-FNR YouTube Channel
Climate Change and Sustainable Development, The Education Store
Climate Change: Are you preparing for it?, The Education Store

Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant

Diana Evans, Extension & Web Communications Specialist
Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

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Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant Newsroom: The U.S. Department of State and the Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board announced earlier this year that Kwamena Quagrainie of Purdue University received a Fulbright Specialist Program award. Through April and May of 2023, Dr. Quagrainie completed a project at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, training faculty and graduate students about the economics of aquaculture. The project’s aim was to exchange knowledge and establish partnerships benefiting participants, institutions, and communities both in the U.S. and overseas through a variety of educational and training activities within the field of agriculture.

Dr. Quagrainie is one of over 400 U.S. citizens who share expertise with host institutions abroad through the Fulbright Specialist Program each year. Recipients of Fulbright Specialist awards are selected on the basis of academic and professional achievement, demonstrated leadership in their field, and their potential to foster long-term cooperations between institutions in the U.S. and abroad.

The Fulbright Program is the flagship international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. government and is designed to build lasting connections between the people of the United States and the people of other countries. The Fulbright Program is funded through an annual appropriation made by the U.S. Congress to the U.S. Department of State. Participating governments and host institutions, corporations, and foundations around the world also provide direct and indirect support to the Program, which operates in over 160 countries worldwide.

For full article and videos please visit Kwamena Quagrainie receives Fulbright Specialist award to Ghana – IISG

Resources
A Guide to Marketing for Small-Scale Aquaculture Producers, The Education Store
A Guide to Small-Scale Fish Processing Using Local Kitchen Facilities, The Education Store
Marine Shrimp Biofloc Systems: Basic Management Practices, The Education Store
Aquaculture Industry in Indiana Growing, Purdue Today
Walleye Farmed Fish Fact Sheet: A Guide for Seafood Consumers, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
Sustainable Aquaculture: What does it mean to you?, The Education Store
The Benefits of Seafood Consumption The Education Store, Purdue Extension Resource Center
Walleye Farmed Fish Fact Sheet: A Guide for Seafood Consumers, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
Pond and Wildlife Management website, Purdue Extension
Fish Cleaning with Purdue Extension County Extension Director, Got Nature? Blog, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources
Aquatics & Fisheries, Playlist, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources
Eat Midwest Fish, Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant online resource hub

Illinois-Indiana Sea Grant (IISG)

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Purdue Extension is launching the Purdue Broadband Team (PBT) to harness the power of Indiana’s land-grant institution to help expand broadband access, adoption, and use as an essential catalyst for economic growth in the state. The Purdue Extension PBT is part a collaborative effort between Purdue, the Indiana Broadband Office, and the Indiana Office of Community and Rural Affairs. Coordinated by Purdue’s Office of Engagement, the Purdue Broadband Team will include Purdue Extension, 4-H, the Purdue Center for Regional Development and the Purdue for Life Foundation. View Purdue News – Purdue launches broadband team, effort to increase high-speed internet access, adoption and use throughout Indiana.

“The lack of affordable high-speed broadband affects economic development and quality of life in various communities in our state,” Purdue President Mung Chiang said. “Continuing our long-standing tradition as Indiana’s land-grant institution, Purdue is honored to play a small and hopefully useful role as the state government plans the next-level broadband deployment.”

To learn more about the PBT and how you can get involved, along with how to test your internet connection, view the : Purdue Broadband Team website.

Resources:
The Time for Broadband is Now – Purdue University is Playing its Part, Purdue Extension News
Thinking Broadly About Broadband, Purdue Extension News
Purdue Extension Community Development, programs include: Digital Ready Business; Digital Ready Community; Remote Work Certificate Program; Essential Digital Employability Skills Program; and much more.
Broadband, Purdue Center for Regional Development
Connecting Indiana: Broadband for the Future is Now, Purdue Center for Regional Development

Diana Evans, Extension & Web Communications Specialist
Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

Purdue Extension

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Wild Bulletin, Indiana Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Fish and Wildlife: Your contributions to the 2023 Turkey Brood Survey surpassed the goal of 3,000 observations. Between July 1-Aug. 31, you contributed a whopping 3,639 observations of wild turkey hens with or without poults. Thank you!

After DNR Division of Fish & Wildlife biologists removed duplicates and reports without exact locations, 2,203 brood observations are being factored into regional production estimates.

Because of your help, we can continue to track population trends and make important management decisions to foster healthy ecosystems in Indiana.

Why count turkeys?
Brood surveys provide useful estimates about annual production by wild turkey hens and the survival of poults (young turkeys) through the summer brood-rearing period. Summer brood survival is generally the primary factor influencing wild turkey population trends. Information on summer brood survival is essential for sound turkey management. Information gathered through the brood survey includes:

• Average brood sizes (hens + poults). For example, in the photo above there is one hen with seven poults, for a brood size of eight.
• Percentage of adult hens with poults.
• Production Index (PI) = total number of poults/total number of adult hens

What is a wild turkey brood?
A wild turkey brood is composed of at least one adult hen with young (poults). As the summer progresses, multiple broods may gather into what is termed a “gang” brood with several adult hens and multiple broods of poults of varied ages. During summer, adult gobblers (male turkeys) play no role in raising a brood and either form small male only “bachelor” flocks or are observed as a single gobbler.

To learn more please visit DNR: Turkey Brood Reporting.

Subscribe to Wild Bulletin.

Resources
Truths and Myths about Wild Turkey, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
Wildlife, Playlist, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources (FNR) YouTube Channel
Managing Your Property for Fish & Wildlife, Ask an Expert. FNR YouTube Channel
Forest Improvement Handbook, The Education Store
Help With Wild Turkey Populations, Video, Purdue Extension – Forestry and Natural Resources YouTube Channel
Turkey Brood Reporting, Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IN DNR)
Wild Turkey, Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IN DNR)
Wild Turkey Hunting Biology and Management, Indian Department of Natural Resources (IN DNR)
Subscribe to Purdue Extension-Forestry & Natural Resources YouTube Channel, Wildlife Playlist

Indiana Department of Natural Resources

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