Rio Grande Wild Turkey Predator Poster and Management Calendar

I have always been fascinated with turkeys and have spent a significant portion of my educational and professional career studying various aspects of turkey ecology and management. It began when I was a student at Stephen F. Austin State University and several re-stocking efforts of eastern wild turkeys were occurring throughout the Pineywoods and Post Oak Savannah. Then I got the opportunity to monitor released turkeys at the Gus Engeling Wildlife Management Area. After a long move out to Alpine in western Texas, I had several opportunities to help trap and monitor Rio Grande and Merriam’s wild turkey in the Fort Davis Mountains with my buddy Shane King. It was a unique and unforgettable experience. I then made my way back to east Texas and Texas A&M University where my research was part of a large scale Rio Grande wild turkey project in the Edwards Plateau which was funded by Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

Lots of great information has come from those projects and in particular, a study on turkey nest predators highlighted the numerous species that predate hens, eggs, or poults. In my current role as an Extension Associate for Texas AgriLife Extension Service, I educate people about the biology and management of wildlife. Recently, my partners and I developed 2 new extension publications: Rio Grande Wild Turkey Predators and Rio Grande Wild Turkey Life History and Management Calendar. The Rio Grande Wild Turkey Predator poster features 13 color photographs many of which are trail camera photos of predator events at actual turkey nests. The 24 x 30 inch poster also includes some helpful information on predator management and can be purchased for $5.00 at the Texas AgriLife Extension Bookstore.

An additional product which will be available on the Texas AgriLife Extension Bookstore soon is the Rio Grande Wild Turkey Life History and Management Calendar. It is an 8.5 x 11 inch, color, glossy paper that opens into a 17 x 11 inch poster. Inside is information for land owners and managers concerning the timing of life history events such as breeding and nesting seasons. The calendar presents the preferred timing of management activities like burning and brush management to benefit Rio Grande wild turkeys as well as appropriate time to collect population monitoring data such as roost counts or hen-poult counts. Both posters are attractive and would be an informational addition to any ranch office or lodge. They could also be used for educational purposes in class rooms or outdoor educational facilities. We hope you enjoy these 2 new posters and tell your friends about them.