Turkey season may be over, but the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) is still encouraging people to keep their eyes out for these birds. The Annual Wild Turkey and Quail Population Survey is now open for submissions.
Anyone spotting turkeys is encouraged to fill out the survey as it will help the AGFC gauge the success of this year’s hatch as hens that went to nest at the peak of gobbling season begin to pop out of the cover.
Historically, the turkey brood surveys were conducted by biologists with the AGFC and partner organizations, but in 2019 the survey was opened to include input from the general public.
AGFC Turkey Program Coordinator David Moscicki says “AGFC Biologists still record valuable brood survey data while they are conducting habitat work throughout the state this time of year. In the last five years, the addition of public sightings has helped paint a more complete picture of the hatch. It also helps us gauge the success of habitat work as well as locate areas that may have seen a decline where we can focus future habitat efforts.”
Data shared in the survey will be generalized across counties or regions, allowing hunters and observers to provide specific coordinates without giving away their personal hotspot.
The survey includes a visual guide to help estimate the age of young birds, which an be used to calculate when they hatched and when the hen first began to nest. This information is critical to decisions on hunting season dates and management activities.
Along with tallying turkeys, the AGFC is also interested in surveying quail locations.
Clint Johnson, AGFC Quail Program coordinator, says “Quail populations are a bit more patchy throughout the state than turkeys. Quail can be found in every county in the state, but some areas have healthier populations than others. We want to identify those patches and focus our habitat efforts to strengthen them. The data also will help us verify any population increases in areas where habitat work has taken place to show us that we’re on the right track.”
The survey so far has already seen over 1,500 submissions for turkey sightings. Baxter County has seen reports of nearly 400 turkeys spotted, more than 100 in Fulton County and submissions from Marion County show over 300 turkeys sighted.
Quail sightings have been reported in nearly 500 individual submissions. Nearly 50 quail have been reported in Baxter County, Fulton County results indicate just over 30 sightings while Marion County has had less than 10 quail spotted.
To view or participate in the survey, visit https://www.agfc.com/education/game-bird-surveys/.
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