Volunteers needed for SCDNR summer turkey survey

COLUMBIA, S.C. – The S.C. Dept. of Natural Resources is looking for volunteers to help with their annual summer turkey survey.

Since 1982, the agency has conducted the survey to estimate reproduction and recruitment of wild turkeys in South Carolina. The survey involves agency wildlife biologists, technicians and conservation officers as well as volunteers from other natural resource agencies and the general public.

Conducted in July and August, the information gathered during the survey allows biologists to calculate many factors essential for sound turkey management, including average brood size, percentage of hens with and without young, gobbler to hen ratio and overall numbers of turkeys seen.

"The summer turkey survey is designed to monitor annual nesting success of hens and survival of their young, which has the greatest influence on wild turkey population dynamics," said Charles Ruth, SCDNRs Deer and Wild Turkey Program coordinator.

Combined with harvest data, the information allows SCDNR to make scientifically based recommendations to the S.C. General Assembly in order to manage the wild turkey population now and in the future, according to Ruth.

If you are interested in participating in the annual summer turkey survey, additional information including instructions and recording forms can be found on the SCDNR website here: http://www.dnr.sc.gov/wildlife/turkey/volunbroodsurvey.html.

Additional information on wild turkeys in South Carolina can be found on the DNR website here: http://www.dnr.sc.gov/wildlife/turkey/index.html.