Movement Ecology and Habitat Use of Rio Grande Wild Turkeys in the Texas Cross Timbers

Rio Grande wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo intermedia) population dynamics (survival, reproduction) and habitat selection and use have been documented primarily within three ecoregions of Texas: 1) Edwards Plateau, 2) Rolling Plains and Panhandle, and 3) South Texas Plains. Little research has been conducted in north-central Texas within the Texas Cross Timbers ecoregion. Using advances in micro-GPS technology my focus was to determine wild turkey movements within a mixed-oak landscape. I focused on 1) identifying wild turkey demographics during the breeding season, i.e., nest success, nest rate, clutch size, nest site vegetation, and 2) evaluating hen movements during the pre-nesting period to determine if hens undergo habitat selection when choosing a nest site. Results from my research provide a better understanding of turkey movement and habitat use associated with varying life-history strategies, temporally and spatially