Brood-rearing Period Cover Use By Wild Turkey Hens in Southcentral South Dakota

Brood-rearing period cover use by wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) hens with broods and those without, in Gregory County, South Dakota, was determined in order to formulate management suggestions for grassland/riparian woodland habitat. Two hens with broods and 12 hens without broods were studies through telemetry and direct observations form 5 July through 2 August and 3 August through 17 August of 1982 and 1982. Vegetational data were collected in 1983. Hens with broods selected for the grass/forb-dominated understory and 52% open canopy of south-facing savannah woodlands while their broods were less than 4 weeks of age. After 4 weeks, broods moved to the shrubby understory and 7% open canopy of north-facing bur oak forest. Broods hens did not appear to use cultivated fields, farmsteads, or bottomlands, and grasslands were avoided or used in proportion to availability. Hens without broods used cultivated fields, farmsteads, and bottomlands in proportion to availability, generally avoided grasslands, and selected woodlands