My Take On Declining Turkeys

Dear GON,

I subscribed to GON at last year’s Outdoor Blast and now look forward to every issue. I enjoyed the Turkey Special edition in March.

As a relatively new resident of Georgia, I am concerned about the decline of the turkey population. At a small gathering, some friends and I had the opportunity to talk with a wildlife professional. My friend asked him why deer corn says not to be used for livestock on the bags? The gentleman explained that “deer corn” can mold and the aflatoxins can have a negative effect on some animals, although it’s not harmful on deer. He said it can make turkeys sick. As we asked more questions, he advised that deer corn effects turkeys in other ways, also. By helping to feed hogs and raccoons, it puts more pressure on the turkey population.

I told him I had just read your Turkey Special and how WRD’s Wild Turkey Program Coordinator Emily Rushton recommended habitat improvement and food plots as being so much more beneficial than dumping deer corn. He absolutely agreed.

I realize that those who lease land may not be able to invest in a food plot, but are there maybe some other things we can do? Would putting out less corn but a safer grade work? What food plots would help for those of us with small plots?

During my three years in Georgia, I’ve seen habitat improvements work very well on rabbits. After clearcutting and before the trees return, the rabbits move in with enough briars to protect them from coyotes and the population increases. All they need is the right habitat.

Turkeys have a much bigger territory, but if we can do a little while stopping things that are hurting our birds,  maybe it can make a difference.

Tom Lowe, Carlton

GON Social

GON Facebook: Father and son Bradley and Brock Nelson, of Dalton, doubled up on these nice Hancock County bucks on Nov. 11.

GON Instagram: ABAC students Reese Waddell (left), of Eatonton, and Preston Wall, of Jefferson, with a Tift County hog they killed.

GON Instagram: Marah Johnson smiles after rolling this Pierce County gobbler.

GON Instagram: Peyton James caught this bass on April 20 in Lamar County. The big fish ate a green-pumpkin worm.

GON Twitter: @DElder17 tweeted on April 1, “Well after chasing thunder chickens, at the end of the day, my son and I are driving down a dirt road in the middle of the WMA, and this is the last thing you would expect to see in the woods. @GONMagazine.”