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Texas Turkey Talk TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE Texas Turkey Talk by Ralph Suarez Wildlife Biologist TEXAS TURKEY TALK by Ralph Suarez Wildlife Biologist,TPWD ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my sincere appreciation to all Texas Parks and Wildlife Department personnel who contributed to this publication. This work would have been incomplete without their valuable assis- tance. I would like to especially thank John Burk,Turkey Program Leader - TPWD, for the eastern turkey section and Mike Hobson,TPWD District Leader - District 1, for the section on Merriam's turkey. Thanks also to Steve Jester,TPWD District Leader - District 3 and Joe Herrera, TPWD District Leader - District 8 for assistance with the Rio Grande turkey section. I would also like to acknowledge Robert L. Cook and Horace Gore for the original TPWD publication “Learn About Turkey,” which provided valuable ideas and information. A special thanks to the Clemente Guzman III for the use of his beautiful painting as our cover art. AUTHOR’S NOTE This booklet was written to provide updated infor- mation on the different types of turkey found in Texas. This is intended to be a general information booklet that will hopefully encourage interested indi- viduals to study further on the topic of Texas turkeys. The suggested reading list provides sources of more detailed information on wild turkey. This booklet should also provide educa- tors with a publication that can be easily read and followed by students of many ages. NOTICE The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department receives federal financial assis- tance from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Under Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, and Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the U.S. Depart- ment of the Interior and its bureaus prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex (in educational programs). If you believe that you have been discriminated against in any Texas Parks and Wildlife Department program, activity, or facility, or if you desire further information, please call or write: The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Office for Diversity and Civil Rights Programs - External Programs, 4040 N. Fairfax Drive,Webb 300,Arlington,VA 22203, (703) 358-1724. History of the Turkey in Texas Turkeys are native to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Depart- species needed in Texas for Americas and probably ment (TPWD) has trapped over restoration purposes. The turkey- evolved from pheasant-like 30,000 Rio Grande turkey since restocking program has been ancestors. Native the 1920’s and restocked them to very successful and serves as a Americans ate turkeys and suitable habitats throughout the model for land managers and used the feathers to adorn state in an effort to restore the sportsmen showing the positive themselves and their bird to its historic range. impact that translocation of weapons. Cortez, the Additionally,TPWD has partnered native species can have on Spanish explorer, found with the National Wild Turkey wildlife populations. the Aztecs and other Federation (NWTF) and other natives in Mexico in state agencies to restore the possession of domesti- eastern turkey to East Texas. cated turkeys in 1519. These turkeys (7,200) were The explorer Vasco de trapped in other states and Gama introduced released at 321 release sites turkeys into Europe. in East Texas during the last 20 years with 97% being Turkeys were almost released since 1989. extirpated from Texas by the late 19th century, at Turkey populations, thanks to which time protective conservation-minded landowners, efforts outlawing trap- hunters, conservation groups and ping for five months of agencies like TPWD, currently the year were initiated. occupy most suitable turkey In 1903, a bag limit of habitat in Texas. Consequently, 25 turkeys per day significant stocking efforts in throughout a five- Texas were discontinued in 1999. month season was Limited supplemental stocking of established. These eastern turkey continues and liberal regulations TPWD supports national turkey Limited supplemental stocking of turkey and lack of resources restoration efforts by providing continues in some areas of Texas. ©TPWD to enforce them did Rio Grande turkeys to other not help the turkey states. The Texas “Rios” are on most of its range. exchanged for other wildlife In 1919, the legislature created a bag limit of three bearded gobblers per season. Increased protection by conserva- tion-minded landowners and additional game wardens in the 1920’s helped turkey popula- TPWD has trapped several thousand tions recover throughout turkey and much of the state. restocked them to suitable habitats Native Americans ate turkey throughout the and used the feathers to state in an effort to adorn themselves and their restore the bird to weapons. ©Thomas E. Mails its historic range. ©TPWD TEXAS TURKEY TALK HISTORY OF THE TURKEY IN TEXAS Types of Turkey in Texas There are three subspecies of a 400-mile wide band of vegeta- the Guadalupe and possibly turkey found in Texas. East Texas, tive cover types associated with Franklin Mountains of Texas. The a 57 county region that includes 18 to 35 inches of annual precipi- Merriam’s habitat predominately the Post Oak Savannah, Piney- tation including South, Central consists of ponderosa pine but woods, and Gulf Coast Prairies and North Texas. Rio Grande Douglas fir, southwestern white and Marshes, typically receives turkeys can be found throughout pine, piñon pine, and assorted 35 to 65 inches of annual precipi- these regions in very large num- junipers and oaks may also be tation. This humid environment bers along rivers and other water- found throughout their current and the vegetative communities courses. The Merriam’s turkey, range in Texas. Merriam’s inhabit associated with it are habitat for Meleagris gallopavo merriami, arid mountainous territory with the eastern turkey, Meleagris is the least common subspecies of an average rainfall between gallopavo silvestris. Thanks to turkey in Texas and is located in a 15 and 23 inches, steep terrain TPWD restocking efforts, many few isolated mountainous areas of (>50% slope), temperature range East Texas counties now have West Texas. The historical range between 35 to 100 degrees huntable populations of the of the Merriam’s turkey occurred Fahrenheit, and at elevations eastern wild turkey. The Rio throughout the western conifer- ranging from 3,500 to 10,000 feet. Grande turkey, Meleagris ous forest mountain regions of Presently, viable populations of gallopavo intermedia, occupies the United States including the Merriam’s inhabit the Davis states of Arizona, New Mexico and Mountains and Guadalupe Colorado. Populations existed in Mountains in Texas. Eastern turkey ©TPWD Merriam turkey ©J G Dickson USFS Eastern Rio Grande Merriam RG/M The Rio Grande turkey is the most abundant of the three subspecies of turkey. The Eastern is the second most abundant followed by the Merriam’s which accounts for only a small percentage of the total turkey found in Texas. Rio Grande turkey ©TPWD TEXAS TURKEY TALK TYPES OF TURKEY IN TEXAS General Biology of the Turkey Normally, the eastern turkey is Gobbler darker, larger and has a thicker beard (specialized feathers found on the breast) than the more Snood Snood Hen common Rio Grande turkey. A mature Rio Grande gobbler (male) averages 16 to 18 pounds, while easterns average 19 to 21 pounds. The Merriam’s sub- species is similar in size to the Caruncles eastern turkey with larger toms (males) weighing over 26 pounds. Whitish tail tips and a white patch on the rump distinguish the Merriam’s from other subspecies. The gobbler is usually easily iden- The gobblers snood is pink or red and elongates hanging down next to the gobblers tified by its larger size, darker face while the snood of a hen is inconspicuous and covered with small black hair-like color and by the presence of a feathers. The caruncles are large and red on the gobbler and small and pink to flesh beard. Gobblers appear darker colored on the hen. because they have black tipped breast feathers, whereas hens Turkey hens are roughly half the The caruncles, the fleshy wart- (females) have buff tipped breast size of gobblers weighing an aver- like growths at the base of the feathers and appear drab brown. age of 10 to 12 lbs. Like the gob- neck, are large and red on the bler, some hens (~15%) also have gobbler and small and pink to beards that increase in size and flesh colored on the hen. The thickness with age and are as pro- turkey has no wattles (which in ductive as hens without beards. the domestic chicken are the paired appendages of the comb The way to differentiate between that hang down from either side sexes is by the coloration and fea- of the bill). Spurs are a second- tures of the head and neck. With ary sexual characteristic of the the exception of a sparse cover- male turkey and rarely exceed ing of black bristles, the gobbler’s 1 3/4 inches even in old birds. head and neck is featherless Spurs are made of horn, similar to while the hen’s neck and head is human fingernails, around a core covered with small buff colored of bone and occur occasionally feathers. The coloration of the on hens. gobbler’s head is white on top, with blue cheeks, and a red neck while the hen’s head is drab Spurs are a secondary blue/gray. The snood (the fleshy Spur sexual characteristic protrusion between the turkeys of the male turkey eyes) is pink or red and elongates and rarely exceed 1 3/4 inches.
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