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Staff with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR) captured and banded wild turkeys with silver and green metal leg bands during the winter for a research project conducted in partnership with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) and Tennessee Tech University (TTU).
This multi-year study helps wildlife agencies evaluate hunting regulations and estimate wild turkey harvest rates in Kentucky and Tennessee.
The harvest rate is the proportion of male turkeys in a population that is harvested by hunters. It is a key indicator of hunting pressure on each state’s turkey population.
Biologists also collect blood and other biological samples to assess turkey health and long-term population condition.
Band reports help improve turkey population models, guide hunting regulations, and evaluate the success of long-term management efforts.
Watch and Learn More with Kentucky Afield: Trapping & Banding Kentucky's Wild Turkeys
Follow Kentucky Wildlife biologists in the field as they trap and collar turkeys for turkey research and conservation management.
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