Field Notes: Wildlife study will help gobblers grow

Wildlife agencies engage in surveys and studies that try to bring new light on wildlife and fisheries management issues. It may be health monitoring such as with chronic wasting disease; angler surveys for fish catch and growth rates; aerial waterfowl surveys observing migration distribution, progress or habitat effects; telemetry studies; bird and fish banding; or analyzation of citizen observation reports ... the list goes on. Some of these studies are unique and often find their way into journals related to wildlife and fisheries management, or are presented at Wildlife Management Institute conferences or other learned gatherings. They are most often initiated by wildlife agencies, colleges, universities and conservation organizations. Many will gather information that reaches far beyond the scope of the areas studied and into other states, regions and even countries, offering important information and insights that can be used to improve conservation's future. One interesting South Carolina study has been announced concerning how wild turkey populations are impacted in an area where they are not hunted. Conducted by the University of Georgia, Louisiana State University, the USDA Forest Service and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, funding is being assisted by the National Wild Turkey Federation. This novel research will examine movements, gobbling activity, nesting and habitat use when there are no hunters roaming the woodlots. The project will occur on the 200,000-acre Savannah River Site owned by the Department of Energy that is located in Aiken, Barnwell and Allendale counties. The professionally managed area consists of exceptional turkey habitat made up of upland and bottomland hardwoods, mixed-pine hardwoods and planted stands of longleaf pine and loblolly pine. With outstanding wild turkey habitat, a vigorous population and virtually no hunting, the area provides a rare look into the life of an unhunted wild turkey population. During the 1970s, while turkey restoration efforts were in full swing, this area had been regularly stocked and maintained to provide birds for trap-and-transfer projects. The stellar population helped reestablish wild populations in South Carolina and assist other state agencies with their stocking efforts. Between that late 1970s through the early 2000s, approximately 1,000 turkeys were trapped and transferred from the area to new woodland homes. It's now been over 20 years since the last trapped turkeys were removed from the Savannah River Site, but that's about to change. Turkey trapping won't be used to relocate birds, but it will help wildlife managers learn how to best frame hunting seasons and address regional declines. For each of the next three years, up to 40 hens and 20 gobblers will be captured, aged and marked with aluminum leg bands equipped with GPS-VHF transmitters. Those bands will provide location points every hour and one roost location each night. The information will be used to evaluate survival, habitat use and movements. Researchers will also be using acoustic recorders to monitor gobbling activity. Will gobblers on the project site be more vocal than hunted birds elsewhere? If so, when and how frequently? And how does that play into the turkey hunting season? These are just a few questions waiting to be answered. Researchers have also collected data from hunted populations that can then be compared to the new study. They hope to improve their understanding of how hunting affects turkey movement, gobbling frequency and types of habitats chosen. Other anticipated insights include hunted versus unhunted survival rates, when males choose to gobble, and when females nest including preferred nesting vegetative cover and terrain preferences. "Not only are we studying male behavior, but we're extensively studying reproduction to see how nest success and brood survival on the site compares to the many hunted populations we've studied," said Mike Chamberlain, Ph.D., Terrell distinguished professor of wildlife ecology at the University of Georgia. "Collectively, this work will assist agencies with understanding how wild turkeys function in the absence of hunting, which will help them better understand how harvest and harvest regulations can be best implemented to ensure sustainable populations through time." "No matter how intently one studies the hundred little dramas of the woods and meadows, one can never learn all the salient facts about any one of them." – Aldo Leopold Along the way During its July 13 meeting, the Ohio Wildlife Council received several notable proposals that could soon adjust some of the state's wildlife regulations. One proposal would allow a maximum of three lines while fishing statewide. If approved, the proposal would align statewide rod and reel regulations with those already in place for the Lake Erie Sport Fishing District, Ohio River fishing units and Pymatuning Lake by increasing the limit to three lines. The goal of the change is to streamline fishing regulations, and it would take effect on Jan. 1, 2023. Hoover Reservoir is looking is also looking at a potential change. Currently, regulations for Hoover Reservoir protect all catfish between 18 and 28 inches with a four-fish split daily limit, while statewide catfish regulations limit an angler to one blue catfish 35 inches or longer and one channel catfish 28 inches or longer, with no restrictions on shorter fish. An introduced proposal would remove site-specific catfish regulations for Hoover Reservoir and align the popular fishing destination with statewide rules. Division of Wildlife experts said that removing the special regulations would improve fish growth, reduce the time for fish to reach trophy lengths and simplify harvest regulations. The Division of Wildlife's Class A, B and C firearms ranges were also a target of a proposal. It would specify that an annual shooting range permit, required of those 18 and older, would expire one year from the date of issue. Under current regulations, an annual shooting range permit expires on the last day of February each year regardless of the date of purchase. Other proposals included: • Remove the size limit on crappie in the Mahoning River downstream of the Lake Milton dam. • Extend camping dates in Woodbury Wildlife Area to include the Friday before Memorial Day to be sure to include the wild turkey hunting season. • Update the descriptions and boundaries of the restricted migratory bird hunting zone in Muddy Creek Bay so that it can be located using readily available modern technology. • Amend fishing regulations so float line restrictions apply only to waters owned or controlled by the state. Step outside • The ODNR Division of Wildlife has purchased an additional 6,898 acres at Appalachian Hills Wildlife Area in southeast Ohio. The acquisition brings the total acreage of Ohio's largest wildlife area to 54,525 acres of public land for hunting, fishing, trapping, birding and outdoor recreation. This is the final installment in a series of additions that have taken place since 2020. Funding for the cumulative purchases came from $68 million in capital improvement and wildlife funds. Appalachian Hills Wildlife Area lies in Guernsey, Morgan, Muskingum and Noble counties, near McConnelsville. It connects a network of habitats between Jesse Owens State Park in addition to The Wilds, an outlet of the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium. If you're interested in visiting Appalachian Hills Wildlife Area or any other wildlife area, you can find maps, species information, fishing tips and additional resources at wildohio.gov. Download the HuntFish OH mobile app for free resources on the go. • Tomorrow: 3D archery match, mixed animal targets; Field and Stream Bowhunters, 11400 Township Road 109. Registration opens at 8 a.m. Public welcome. Contact Harold Spence at 419-423-9861. The club will not be charging shooters an entry fee for this match as a thank you for supporting Field and Stream and to help you keep a little gas money in your pocket. • Thursday and Friday: Trap and skeet, open to the public; 5 p.m.; UCOA, 6943 Township Road 243. • Thursday through July 30: National Convention of the National Trappers Association, hosted by Ohio's own State Trappers Association. Allen County Fairgrounds, Lima. Over 100 vendors and displays, both men and women led demonstrations and the national awards banquet. General admission, $10 for one day, $20 for a three-day pass. 12 and under enter free. The July 28th banquet admission is $35 per person, $400 for a table for eight. Banquet tickets are limited. Contact 812-277-9670 or visit www.nationaltrappers.com/convention.html • July 31: Last day for the Ohio Controlled Hunt Application period, which opened on July 1. Hunts are held on select areas around Ohio and are available through the Division of Wildlife and the Division of Parks and Watercraft. Find hunt and rules information at wildohio.gov on the "controlled hunts" page. • Aug. 3: Summer trap shootout; 5:30 p.m; UCOA, 6943 Township Road 243. Open to public, no teams required. This is a six-week program, occurring on each following Wednesday. $20 per week. • Aug. 6-7: Annual two-day muzzle loader competition, patched round-ball only. Public welcome. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Black Swamp Muzzle Loaders, Township Road 19, quarter-mile west of County Road 139. Contact Kevin Thomas at 419-722-5063. • Aug. 14: 5-Stand Shotgun Shoot; 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.; UCOA, 6943 Township Road 243. Open to public, no teams required. Contact George Bruen at 734-344-8299. Breakfast available. Abrams is a retired wildlife officer supervisor for the Ohio Division of Wildlife in Findlay. He can be reached at P.O. Box 413, Mount Blanchard, OH 45867-0413 or via email at jimsfieldnotes@aol.com