Turkey capture will occur on the Stone Valley and Weaver Forests during the winters of 2006-2009. Turkeys are captured with rocket nets at sites baited with corn. Beard and spur length are recorded and all turkeys are released at the capture site.

This study is a cooperative project of the National Wild Turkey Federation, Pennsylvania Game Commission, New York Department of Environmental Conservation, Ohio Division of Wildlife, and U.S. Geological Survey, Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at Penn State. Male turkeys (both jakes and gobblers) will be leg-banded to estimate harvest rates, survival rates, hunter reporting rates of harvested birds, and non-hunting mortality rates. These rates, largely unknown in Pennsylvania, New York, and Ohio are important for evaluating the effects of hunting and regulation changes on turkey populations.

Each state is attempting to capture 300 gobblers each year over four years (2006-2009). Birds will be captured on both public and private lands. More information on this project can be found at the Pennsylvania Game Commission's website (http://www.pgc.state.pa.us/pgc/cwp/view.asp?Q=167604&A=11).