12 Nebraskaland • July 2025
Citizen scientists are key components to many aspects
of biological research, including Nebraska's wild turkey
population. This year, the public can help biologists learn
more about turkeys and their reproductive success by
participating in the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission's
annual summer turkey survey, which starts July 1 and goes
through Aug. 31.
This research provides useful estimates about annual
production by wild turkey hens and the survival of
young turkeys, or poults, through the summer months —
information essential for turkey management.
During the two-month survey participants are asked to
record all turkeys they see, including hens, poults, males
and those you couldn't classify. Visit OutdoorNebraska.gov
and search "turkey brood survey" for reports since 2020,
including the Rural Mail Carrier Survey, and instructions for
this year's survey. The survey link can be bookmarked on a
phone for easy use in the field or printed off and submitted
later.
"Turkey surveys are truly the lifeblood of population
management," said Carlie Saline, wild turkey manager with
Game and Parks. "Without baseline knowledge of abundance
and reproduction, we could not responsibly set hunting
season parameters. Records of sightings give us an index
of where and how many individuals are utilizing certain
parts of the state, and poult-per-hen ratios lend insight into
females' nest successes and poult survival. We are grateful
to the volunteers who have offered their knowledge over the
years so we can best conserve this species and our hunting
heritage."
Information gathered through the survey includes:
•
Average brood sizes of poults per documented brood.
•
Percentage of adult hens with poults.
•
Percentage of males in the adult portion of the population.
•
Annual Production Index = total number of poults/total
number of adult hens.
These results will be evaluated annually, helping managers
understand why populations are succeeding or not.
By Julie Geiser
PARTICIPATE IN THE SUMMER
TURKEY SURVEY
Citizens are encouraged to participate in this year's summer turkey survey, which provides valuable information to biologists
regarding wild turkey management throughout the state. JUSTIN HAAG, NEBRASKALAND
IN THE FIELD
