Wild Turkey Restoration: Cluck, Purr, Gooble
I love it when a plan comes together especially when the plan is restoring habitat. Wild turkey should be the poster child of game for successful game restoration. This week while commuting to work on the Shore Line East train, I noticed a handsome tom puffed out and strutting not far from Route 95. If you are unfamiliar will this stretch of road count yourself as darn lucky. It is one of the busiest corridors of traffic on the east coast, making a line from Boston to New York. But that tom was convinced an admiring hen was nearby. When I hear that the National Wild Turkey Federation (NWTF) relocated 1,958 wild turkeys last year to 14 states and one Canadian province, I know there are organizations, state and federal agencies that are really making a difference. A total of 69 Gould's, 393 Merriam's, 1,355 Rio Grandes and 141 Eastern wild turkeys were released. It is hard to believe but wild turkeys were nearly nonexistent in the early 20th century. Today, the population is about 7 million; their numbers have doubled since 1990. Most birds are trapped and relocated. Wondering if your state or province has been re-gentrified with wild turkey, read on:
- Alberta: 39 Merriam's were moved from the Lees Lake area near Pincher Creek to a site on private land near Turner Valley, which is close to Wildlife Management Unit 406.
- Arizona: 69 Gould's were transferred to southeastern Arizona's Pinaleà Mountains and Galiuro Wilderness Area to the Galiuro Wilderness Area and Chiricahua Mountains; 34 Merriam's were transferred within Yavapai County; 85
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For some reason there are still hunters who insist wild turkeys are to blame for devastating quail populations. They assert the turkey eat quail eggs and chicks. Well the scientific community has weighed in and the reason quail populations are low is a lack of quality quail habitat. Quail thrive in early growth habitat. Early growth is recognizable by small shrubs, weeds and grasses. This habitat provides ground cover for quail to avoid predators while providing a food source. Wild turkeys, on the other hand are pure opportunists and can thrive and use all types of habitat including early woodlands to mature forests. Plus turkeys travel farther in one day than quail do in a year. As turkeys travel they have more opportunity to find food and shelter. What is missing from the 21st century landscape are the small farms that dotted the landscape in the early to mid-20th century. Quail populations thrived during this time. Check out your state game and fish department website. Many have quail habitat improvement programs for landowners. And if you are not a landowner convince your neighbor that the program will benefit him (or her) and their land and the quail. C’mon do it for the quail.
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MassWildlife’s 
Have a conversation with anyone who hunts grouse and the subject of diminishing habitat comes up. The increase in mature forests has a direct correlation to lower grouse populations. And fewer farms mean that less land is being cleared. Grouse and woodcock, as well as other wildlife, depend on forest habitat that has been clear cut.
The Ruffed Grouse Society (RGS) along with three other Vermont forestry groups are giving a thumbs-up to the U. S. Forest Service decision to re-think the Green Mountain National Forest Plan. The crux of the problem that RGS and others had with the Green Mountain National Forest Plan was a "potentially significant" error in the calculation of the allowable amount of timber to be cut. The plan failed to document why it chose a 150-year timber cut rotation instead of a 120-year cycle. Timber harvest reductions as outlined in the proposed plan would hinder the development of young or early successional habitats needed by ruffed grouse, American woodcock, whitetail deer and 43 species of migratory songbirds. Early successional habitats develop only after timber has been harvested. Bottom line is clear cuts aren't pretty but they sure are useful.
This is a little out of Uplandfeathers.com’s range, but really encouraging news. The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department 
When you hear about land grabs it is usually bad news. Some developer buys your favorite covey grounds and once again you need new spots to hunt old ruff. Well this land grab in PA benefits bird hunters. The 
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