Wild Turkey reproduction in SC continues on Low Steady Trend

Annually since the early 1980s, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) has conducted a Summer Turkey Survey to estimate reproduction and recruitment of wild turkeys in the state. The survey involves agency wildlife biologists, technicians and conservation officers, as well as many volunteers from other natural resource agencies and the general public. This year approximately 220 observers recorded 1,297 unique observations, seeing over 8,000 turkeys across the state in July and August. Although wild turkeys nest primarily in April and May in South Carolina, the survey does not take place until late summer. Therefore, the survey statistics document poults (young turkeys) that actually survived and entered the fall population. Reproduction in turkeys has generally been low for the last twelve years. This year, average brood size of 3.7 poults remained good, but the Total Recruitment Ratio (TRR) was 1.7, a less than desirable figure.