Got Nature? Blog

Each year, the Indiana DNR conducts its Turkey Brood Survey to determine wild turkey productivity. The DNR relies on Hoosier outdoor enthusiasts from across the state to report the number of hens and poults they see from July 1^st to August 31^st. This helps them calculate a Productive Index (number of poults per hen; figure 1) for counties across the state. Does this sound like something you are interested in? Here are four simple steps to be involved!

1. Register for the turkey brood reporting system.
2. Spend time outdoors from July 1^st to August 31^st.
3. Count the number of hens and poults you see while spending time outdoors (figure 2).
4. Report the number of hens and poults on the DNR’s online portal.

DNR biologists can’t collect brood observations across the state alone. In order to reach the goal of 3,000 observations this year, they need our help! If you’re interested in sharing your turkey brood observations with DNR, visit on.IN.gov/turkeybrood and register after June 10. Record observations any time from July 1 to August 31. Recording observations takes less than 5 minutes.

The DNR appreciates your help to document turkey broods around the state. Sharing observations is easy and critical to the management of wild turkey.

Figure 1. Wild turkey brood production from 1993 to 2019. Image is from the 2019 Wild Turkey Summer Brood Production Index.

Figure 2. Example of how to count and record turkey broods for the turkey brood survey. Image is from the Introduction to Documenting Turkey Brood Publication from the Indiana DNR.

As you enjoy the outdoors, whether it is for recreation or managing your property, we thank you in advance for helping with wildlife conservation.

Resources
Wild Turkey Hunting, Biology and Management, Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR)
Turkey, Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR)
Truths and Myths about Wild Turkey, The Education Store, Purdue Extension resource center
Forest Improvement Handbook, The Education Store

Jarred Brooke, Extension Wildlife Specialist
Purdue Department of Forestry and Natural Resources

Indiana Department of Natural Resources