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Forage Extension Program
Merriam's Turkey
Habitat Management Suggestions
for Selected Wildlife Species
By R.J. Mackie, R.F. Batchelor, M.E. Majerus, J.P. Weigand,
and V.P. Sundberg
"When
available, the seeds of ponderosa pine are a preferred
food." |
The Merriam’s turkey is Montana’s newest
upland game bird. A native of the pine-oak woodlands
of Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona, it was first introduced
into central Montana in 1954 from birds obtained in
Colorado. Subsequent releases were made in the Long
Pines of southeastern Montana near Ekalaka and near
Ashland. As turkeys prospered in these areas, surplus
birds were trapped and transplanted to other parts of
the state. Since the early 1950’s, all areas of
the state considered to be suitable wild turkey habitat
have received transplanted birds. There are at this
time about 25 Merriam’s turkey flocks with huntable
populations occurring in seven areas of the state. Wild
turkeys have been hunted in Montana since 1958 with
the hunter harvest varying from about 90 to nearly 1,000
birds a year.
Merriam’s turkey habitat in Montana is generally
restricted to open ponderosa pine woodlands in rugged
terrain. Turkeys have been most successful in woodlands
where about one-half of the vegetative cover consists
of ponderosa pine with the remainder grasses, deciduous
trees, and shrubs in scattered openings and drainageways
throughout the woodland.
In summer, especially in southeastern Montana, grasslands
receive a great deal of use by turkeys. During winter,
turkeys move into lower drainages that are occupied
by deciduous trees and shrubs. Properly distributed
small openings and a mosaic of vegetative types that
maximizes the edge effect are essential elements of
good turkey habitat.
Food
Merriam’s turkey eat a wide variety of nuts,
seeds, fruits, tubers, flower heads, green leaves, and
insects. When available, the seeds of ponderosa pine
are a preferred food. Fruits and berries in the turkey’s
diet vary from year to year depending on their availability.
Cultivated grain--oats, barley, and wheat--are eaten
when available, especially during winter. Frequently,
the better turkey populations occur in the vicinity
of grain fields. Snowberry, bearberry, hawthorn, serviceberry,
chokecherry, and rose hips are eagerly taken by turkeys
as are grasshoppers and spiders. A number of turkey
populations subsist through the winter on grain provided
by landowners.
Habitat Management Suggestions
Management of wild turkey habitat in Montana woodlands
depends on the maintenance of relatively open stands
of ponderosa pine with adequate ground cover and a variety
of age classes from pole size to mature and over-mature
trees.
Selective cutting during timber harvest to preserve
roost trees; thinning dense sapling stands, creating
small opening during harvest; seeding of grasses and
legumes in woodland openings, skid trails, and haul
roads following logging; prescribed burning to reduce
understory debris; and providing water where unavailable
are practices beneficial to wild turkeys.
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