![]() Turkeys, however, can thrive in pine forests with some undergrowth and near agricultural areas, provided that suitable stands or strips of mature hardwoods are preserved nearby. ![]() Clearing too much land or planting all of your land to pines will limit the amount of turkeys that can live in an area. Perhaps the most important land management technique to promote wild turkey habitat is not cutting too many mature oaks and other mast-producing trees. ![]() Land management techniques to attract wild turkeys Groups of these bunches, allowing for access gaps and open spaces in between, serve as cover for nesting and foraging turkeys. Penn State Cooperative Extension notes that landowners also may do well to promote the growth of warm-season grasses, also known as "bunch grasses." These dense grasses grow in thick bunches instead of spreading. Turkeys don't often roost in the same place each night and so need access to multiple sites suitable for roosting. Turkeys also will use natural land contours, such as rolling hills in pastures, as a form of cover to hide from predators. Since turkeys often travel in flocks, you may want to cooperate with other adjacent landowners to maintain a habitat of suitable size.Īccording to Clemson Extension Forestry and Natural Resources, nesting cover and mature timber for roosting are critical. High-quality turkey habitat will support one bird per 30 acres or a flock of 18 to 20 turkeys per square mile, according to North Carolina state forestry specialists. Wild turkeys will range over several miles to find suitable areas for roosting and food. Clearings also serve as brood range, where baby turkeys (poults) can find protein-rich insects and spiders that make up their primary food sources during their first month of life. Turkeys prefer to reside in the forest during the winter and near the edges of clearings in the summer, where they can forage but also quickly take cover. In addition to food, turkeys need access to water, open areas, cover and suitable areas for nesting and roosting.
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