The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources is asking anyone through the month of July and August who observes wild turkeys in the Commonwealth, enter some basic information about their sightings to an online portal.
Data collected through this survey, officials say, will help the department better understand turkey population trends over time.
To report sightings, visit fw.ky.gov and enter the key words “turkey survey” in the search bar to access the portal.
Also, a printable form of the survey may also be downloaded, printed and filled out, then scanned or photographed with a smartphone and emailed to info.center@ky.gov.
The turkey program compiles data from these observations from interested citizens and staff into a statewide index of hatch and survival of young turkeys, or “poults.” This index helps department biologists to assess reproductive success, which is important to the sustainability of the wild turkey population.
Kentucky turkey hunters have reported near-record statewide harvests each of the past two spring hunting seasons, hunters across the southeastern U.S. have reported seeing fewer turkeys in recent years.
