NWTF Free State Chapter

This Turkey Tuesday is about roosts, and the factors that influence how wild turkeys select them. Obviously, wild turkeys roost above ground at night to ensure their own safety – turkeys have excellent daytime vision, but their nighttime vision is relatively poor. So, sleeping above many of the predators that would harm you makes sense! Turkeys also sometimes roost in places to protect themselves from the elements, and to allow them to access particular foraging areas within their home ranges. But for toms during the spring, roost selection is a bit more complex and involves other factors. For instance, toms must select roosts that allow them to fly down and readily find hens, so the roost must be in areas that facilitate travel to various areas of their home ranges. Furthermore, toms start gobbling each morning from their roosts because calling from an elevated perch improves their ability to transmit sound. When they fly down, sound attenuation becomes more problematic – in other words, their gobbles are reduced in amplitude or strength, so the sound doesn’t travel as far. Interestingly, toms will roost in the same locations for multiple generations, suggesting there are certain places on the landscape that are ideal for not only safety and protection, but also for transmitting sound. The take home is roost selection is an important decision for wild turkeys, but for toms during the breeding season, which roosts to use is influenced by a complex set of factors. Pic by Josh Van Ommeren Wild Turkey LabThe National Wild Turkey Federation

These jakes are going deer hunting with mom . Ithink they like the tree house. Except for the wasp. Mom you made it happened. Almost

This sunday at mollys

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Our 5 prize raffle is SOLD OUT!
Thanks for all your support.
Our regional director will be doing the drawing live this evening via Facebook.

Sales have taken off today and probably getting close to being half sold out. If you are interested hop on it ASAP before you regret it!

National Wild Turkey Federation Event Management System Healthy Habitats. Healthy Harvests.™

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This Turkey Tuesday is about water, a critical resource for wild turkeys as the heat of summer really gets ramped up. In my part of the world, the brutal heat of summer is in full force – long hot days and sporadic rainfall equate to conditions that are challenging for us humans and wild turkeys alike. But turkeys can obtain water in creative ways that speak to their adaptability. One, turkeys obtain water from dew – those humid days when temperatures cool at night results in lots of dew on plants in early morning – turkeys can then forage on those green plants and obtain nutrition and water. Two, turkeys eat insects at this time of year, which provides them with water indirectly. Three, turkeys will do like the tom in this picture, that is, drink directly from free-standing water whether it be from permanent water sources or even puddles that form after rains. Interestingly, while trapping during summer many years ago, I once watched a hen stand at a mud puddle and scarf up tadpoles for 5 minutes – she not only obtained water from that puddle, but she also benefited from the water inside the tadpoles. And while it is true that turkeys in the eastern part of their range rely less on free-standing water because they obtain much of their water from what they eat, during hot and dry periods they will drink water. This requirement becomes more important as you move out west, where turkeys live in drier environments and vegetation is less succulent. The take home is, having readily available sources of water is important to ensuring wild turkeys can effectively navigate challenging times of year when environmental conditions become extreme. Photo by Brian Machanic. Wild Turkey Lab The National Wild Turkey Federation

A dear friend & long time member of our chapter passed away July2, 2024. Fred Gillotte you will be missed

Our thoughts & prayers go out to his wife Alison & the remaining

Dedicated member & volunteer.

Hello all let’s get this sold out!! Such a great package.

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National Wild Turkey Federation Event Management System Healthy Habitats. Healthy Harvests.™

Took our live auction winners out today for their fishing trip. Of course we limited out put them on the fish! Don't miss out next year on your opportunity to fish with the best!

Hello NWTF freestate members , and fellow wild turkey enthusiasts,

It's time for our Annual Summer Wild Turkey Survey. If you have helped in the past, THANK YOU! Your data has helped estimate trends in Maryland's turkey population and inform management decisions. If you haven't participated before, please consider helping this year. Every observation is important!

The survey is very simple. Just record any turkeys you see during the months of July and August. We only need the date, county, and number of poults, adult hens, and gobblers seen.

You have 2 options to report sightings again this year:

The online reporting form found at this link -

https://forms.gle/3bRxoWBUaR1zA9C76

Or you can report observations using the attached survey form in either WORD or PDF formats. Then email or mail the completed forms to me by September 10.

Or option 3 text or call me and tell me what you saw in which county.

Remember to record ALL turkeys you see, not just broods.

Thanks

Wild Turkey Summer Observation Survey Thank you for participating in the annual wild turkey summer observation survey! This survey allows us to monitor population trends and better manage wild turkeys in Maryland. ---> Reporting period is JULY 1 - AUGUST 31. ---> Each time you see wild turkeys, use this form to report the date, county,....

She list 3 chicks in two days